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(12/09/10 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At 18, Pittsburgh native Mac Miller has managed to create some of the freshest material to hit the hip-hop scene in quite some time — and people are noticing. With collective buzz to the tune of “the next up and coming rapper out there,” Miller has mastered smart rhymes and paired them with beats reminiscent of the early days of his genre, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.In the heat of his recent “Incredibly Dope” tour, Miller will be making a stop at The Bishop and The Bluebird Nightclub today. The Indiana Daily Student was able to catch up with him and ask a few questions about his rise to fame, inspirations and dream collaborators. IDS When did you realize you could pursue rapping as a career?MILLER I have always had a strong belief in myself. Since day one, I knew that I could do it if I really worked at it. When I was 17 and started getting more buzz, that’s when I got really serious about rapping as a career.IDS What has been your favorite touring experience so far?MILLER The first time I was in Orlando was crazy. There must have been over 7,000 people there — the place was just packed. People were wall to wall, standing on tables, and they all knew the words. IDS What puts you most in the mood to write your lyrics?MILLER You have to be in different moods to write different songs. If I’ve just gotten home from a really crazy party, I’ll be in the mood to write a crazy party song. If I’m in a mellower mood, a calmer song will come out. I just let the mood-telling factors dictate what I write.IDS: Your beats are also really different. How do you come up with the beats that match your lyrics?MILLER: It actually depends. Someone will send me a beat, and I will listen to it and write lyrics for it, or I can write lyrics first then find a beat to match. But sometimes I’ll write lyrics and come up with a beat at the same time. It’s never a routine thing for me.IDS: If you could collaborate with any other artist, who would it be and why?MILLER: Right now I have a couple of dream collaborations, but number one would have to be Kanye. I am a huge Kanye fan, and he is huge right now — that’s the dream.IDS Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years? What are your plans?MILLER My plan is to just not have a plan. Everything is so great right now but was very unexpected — it all came so fast. Right now I’m working on a new project called “Best Day Ever” set to drop early next year. I collaborated with some of my favorite people ever for it and am really excited for it.
(12/06/10 4:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While partygoers were dancing wall to wall and screaming out the words to Lil’ Jon’s “Get Low” at the top of their lungs, Blake Vissing and his bandmates were busy setting up for a show in the basement. More than 50 people crammed into Vissing’s small living room for the second Frankfest of the semester. “We had the first party in the beginning of October just to get people together for fun and to play a few songs in the basement.” Vissing said. “Everything sort of picked up after that,” Frankfest got its name in homage to Will Farrell’s character in “Old School.”Vissing is the frontman and guitarist of the band, with Drew Frasure on bass and Asher Igra rocking the drums. Though Frankfest part two was only the fifth performance as a band, the members have been playing individually and on other projects for more than 15 years collectively. Around midnight, Vissing announced to his guests that the show would be starting shortly. A few green bulbs and colored Christmas lights were the only source of light in the small cinderblock room, which had piles of laundry in one corner and a small stage with equipment in the other. “How’s everybody doin’?” Vissing screamed through the mic. “I’m Blake, and we are Stink Finger and the Midnight Gravy Train.” The crowd yelled back, and a few of the rowdy guests began banging on the furnace ducts overhead. Just then Igra started a solid beat followed by Vissing plucking out the chords to The White Stripes’ “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground.”“My brother always said that if he had a rock band it would be named Stink Finger, so we sort of adopted that in the beginning and then tacked Midnight Gravy Train onto the end. But now we are just Midnight Gravy Train,” Vissing said of the final decision on the band’s name. What’s in a name, though? The cloudy confusion surrounding Gravy Train’s title certainly hasn’t stopped them from attacking different genres all the while holding onto their incendiary sound. “Does anyone have any requests?” Vissing said after the set was five songs deep. Someone in the crowd jokingly barked out, “Hendrix!” and without missing a beat, Vissing strummed out the first notes to “Foxey Lady.” The next notch added to Gravy Train’s belt was Frankfest 3D — a show which attracted an even larger crowd. With the band Sorry About Last Night warming up the crowd, Vissing and his Gravy Train seemed rowdier than ever. With 3-D glasses and notable additions to their set list such as “The Weight” by The Band, Midnight Gravy Train jammed into the early hours.While Gravy Train might still be in its infancy, with gigs only being booked by word of mouth or self-organization, the band’s ambition and talent has set hopes high for success to come. Frasure said the next step for the Gravy Train would be writing original songs. “This is the first band I’ve been in that has really given me a reason to pursue recording and performing,” he said. “I feel something special forming here — we definitely all have the talent and great chemistry for it.”
(12/03/10 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whether it was the rainy birch forests of Portland, Ore. or the blend of Renaissance music that inspired Casey Dienel to write her latest White Hinterland album, the finished product, titled “Kairos,” is something she says she feels most proud of.White Hinterland, along with Bloomington’s Dreamers of the Ghetto will be performing Sunday at The Bishop.“I have really found direction and meaning from my first album to forming White Hinterland,” Dienel said. “Wind-Up Canary,” Dienel’s first album, was released when she was just 19 and didn’t even consider herself a musician. Since then, Dienel has teamed up with Shawn Creeden to form White Hinterland — the duo has released three albums together. “Shawn and I have similar musical goals and both use music as an escape,” Dienel said of the pair.Of her performance style, Dienel said that she is used to fighting for attention while on stage. “I am very used to the bar-type venues where the atmosphere is rowdy and loud,” she said. “I find it to be a real treasure when the audience is quiet and attentive. It’s very generous.”After applying the finishing touches on “Kairos,” an unexpected honor struck White Hinterland. Gretchen Jones, Project Runway season eight winner and friend to Dienel asked to feature one of White Hinterland’s songs during the season finale’s fashion show. Dienel and Jones had known each other in Portland. Dienel said she was honored when she received the secret e-mail from Jones about the project. “The song we chose to feature was a different version of ‘Icarus’ from ‘Kairos.’ Because the songs featured couldn’t have lyrics, we created a special instrumental version. The finished product was so different from the original, listening to it on the finale was like an out of body experience,” Dienel said.All else aside, for the members of White Hinterland, making music is all about transporting themselves and the audience to another place. “It is such an amazing experience seeing what space elements of the music you make can take you to,” Dienel said. “The juxtaposition of hard beats with a feminine voice is something we really tried to exemplify.”WHITE HINTERLAND, DREAMERS OF THE GHETTOWHEN 8 p.m. SundayWHERE The Bishop, 123 S. Walnut St.ADMISSION $5 in advance, $8 day of showMORE INFO Tickets may be purchased at The Bishop, Landlocked Music, TD’s, the Buskirk-Chumley box office and online www.atthebishopbar.com.
(12/01/10 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Imagine life post-graduation. Some graduates see themselves entering the workforce with degrees in hopes of finding high-paying jobs; however, a recent article in the New York Times has shed light upon problems facing this generation of young adults — dubbing them the 20-somethings.These post-grads have inspired 11 BFA photography majors to present a special photography exhibition entitled “The 20-Somethings” Friday at the Paper Crane Gallery.In the Times article, the 20-somethings are characterized as kids who face a high rate of moving back in with their parents and career change.The article also suggests that 20-somethings are taking much longer to settle into adulthood than ever before, and this stage of emerging adulthood is something future generations will face. The question of “what’s taking the 20-somethings so long to grow up?” is complex, but the BFA students set out to answer it with their new exhibit.Senior Molly Quanty chose to illustrate the future effects of social security on the 20-somethings. “My shot was taken at the Monroe Courthouse and shows a college-aged person in nice clothes begging for money for their retirement,” Quanty said. “Social Security doesn’t seem like a big issue now, but when we are older and the baby boomers have all retired, our funds for Social Security will be at risk.”All photographers collaborated with each other during the shoots, each assuming different jobs on set for each photo. Each individual shoot took up to five hours to complete. “The benefits of working with a large group of creative people is that the ideas are constantly flowing,” senior Valerie Leeksaid. “We had to keep reminding ourselves to keep our spirits high because doing eleven full production photo shoots throughout the semester can really knock the wind out of you.” Leek chose to play upon the concept of Peter Pan for her photo because she said many people refer to the 20-something generation as the “Neverland Generation.” She said this concept refers to her particular age group because trends are showing that they are taking longer to grow up and endure adult responsibilities in comparison to previous generations.“Each college graduate faces the choice to go into the real world and get a job or stay in Neverland and never grow up,” Leek said.Another issue looming over the heads of the 20-somethings is military enlistment. Senior Kristen Endres said this issue is personal to her because she has friends who have enlisted in the Air Force and the Army. “I chose to depict a job fair in which a long line is present at the reenlistment table and no one seems remotely interested in the business type table,” Endres said. Leek said she is excited that the group chose a concept that they could all relate to and be enthused about.“This project isn’t necessarily meant to discuss how the 20-somethings are doing everything wrong, but rather to enlighten people about how they are doing it differently,” Leek said."The 20-Somethings"WHEN 8 p.m. Friday through Dec. 13WHERE Paper Crane Gallery, 401 W. Sixth St.ADMISSION FreeMORE INFO Eleven BFA photography majors will present an exhibit discussing the current generation of post-grads.
(11/19/10 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mike Gordon is in the mood to get funky, and he said there is no better place to do so than a small, intimate venue.“I love playing bars because you can really get a tight and funky sound when the walls are close and the ceiling is low,” he said. Luckily for Gordon, who came to fame while playing bass with the popular jam band Phish, the Bluebird Nightclub is the perfect location to embrace the fun in being funky. After 27 years playing with Phish, Gordon said he has developed a telepathic groove with his band mates, but there aren’t many differences between touring with Phish and his backup band now.“I only had three days coming off the last Phish tour onto this one, so there wasn’t much time for practice at the beginning,” Gordon said of preparations with his band for the current tour. “But for what we lacked in the beginning we have certainly made up for on the road.”To also make up for lost time, Gordon said the band has put in the extra work at sound check.“We work hard on our sound to find the perfect creative control,” he added.Gordon’s enthusiasm about how this tour is shaping up was apparent, and he said he is excited about bringing high levels of energy to every show.“My new album is very bass-oriented, so listeners will have a good chance to hear a lot of different and interesting sounds they may not have heard me play before, and that’s very exciting to me,” Gordon said. While he is fairly new at designing set lists, he said the audience’s vibes are always something he keeps in mind while performing.He said he varies his set list each night to keep things interesting.“If they’re dancing, I might avoid the slower songs for a while,” Gordon said about feeding off the audience. “But it’s got a lot to do with trying to make connections with them and supplying an infinite sameness with infinite variety.”Mike GordonWHEN 9 p.m. FridayWHERE Bluebird NightclubADMISSION $20MORE INFO Mike Gordon, who came to fame while playing bass with the popular jam
band Phish, will perform on stage with his own backing band.
(11/17/10 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Let’s talk about sex, Debbie. And while we’re at it, let’s sing about porn.That is exactly what junior Ben Schillmoeller and his cast are planning to do during their production of “Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical,” which opens at 8 p.m. Friday at the Lodge.A spin off of the late 1970s pornographic film by the same name, “Debbie” centers around high school cheerleader Debbie Benton and her squad. Doe-eyed Debbie has been selected as the newest addition to Texas Cowgirl Cheerleaders, whose headquarters is located in Dallas. With no cash to pay her way, Debbie and posse resort to some pretty risky business to get her to Dallas and in that uniform.While it certainly would have been safer to recreate “High School Musical” as Schrillmoeller originally considered when he signed on with University Players for the production, he knew there was only one way to do it. “For me, there is no such thing as going too far,” Schrillmoeller said. “I am accustomed to pushing the envelope with my sketch comedy troupe, so it was easy to face the explicit sexual humor head on.”From men in tight gold spandex to orgies and bikini car washes, “Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical” is stuffed with double entendres and innuendos. But why should this subject be so taboo? “Porn is such an influence in today’s society, but no one feels like they can talk about it with strangers or in public,” Schrillmoeller said. “It’s out there anyway, so it should be able to be joked and sung about.”The musical is performed by University Players, a student-run theater organization that provides opportunities in performance, production, and management to undergraduate students.“I think it was very important for University Players to put on ‘Debbie Does Dallas’ because it was a challenge for kids our age to be doing a show with such adult content,” choreographer and senior Eric Schaefer said. “We definitely are showing that we have the talent to handle this material with a classy, comedic feel.”Junior Stephanie Cohen, who is majoring in musical theater and playing the role of Debbie, said the musical was an awesome opportunity to perform off the main stage and be part of a group that consists of her peers. “Those affiliated with a University Players show work just as hard, but we still get to be surrounded with friends and are learning from people our own age,” Cohen said.‘Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical’WHEN 8 p.m. Friday and SaturdayWHERE The Lodge (formerly Space 101), 101 E. Sixth St.ADMISSION Free
(11/15/10 3:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Sometimes you write a set list, but when you get to a show you have to feel out the vibes,” singer-songwriter Ben Kweller said as he sat down at his piano and the lights changed from a honey gold to a deep purple. “And you guys seem like a mellower crowd. Why don’t we slow things down a bit?” Relaxed and mellow were two common vibes permeating the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday when Kweller took the stage. But rather than the screaming groupie-type fans to which Kweller seemed accustomed, he was met with the calm eyes of Bloomington. “We were kind of nervous coming tonight,” freshman Kendra Nelson said after hearing indie musician Julia Nunes, who opened for Kweller. “We really like old Ben Kweller music and hope he sticks to that.” It was apparent that Nelson wasn’t alone. As Kweller took the stage, through the energetic screams of audience members, people in the crowd could still feel a haze of uncertainty around Kweller’s set list. After an introduction, Kweller dove in with “On My Way” from his second album.This opener seemed to be enough to ease the doubts of fans and supplied momentum for Kweller’s hour-long swoop of songs. Transitions and small talk were deemed unnecessary, giving the audience full opportunity to drink in Kweller’s musical sound — a mix of light, acoustic and boisterous strumming with a rock ’n’ roll feel.“I love that his personality shines through during every song,” freshman Sarah Silcox said. “His sound is so natural, it’s like he doesn’t have to try at all.”
(11/10/10 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Director Rick Alverson, who goes by R. Alverson, gets half the writing credit for his first full-length film, “The Builder,” but his name won’t be found anywhere on the screenplay. That is, simply, because an actual screenplay doesn’t exist.Often writing scenes while riding a train from Virginia to New York hours before a weekend of shooting, Alverson’s finished written version of “The Builder” was just a few pages, something equal to an open-ended skeletal frame. “I approach writing scripts in the same way,” he said of his creative writing process. “They have a certain formal structure, but also leave room for intuitive thinking and interpretation.” A screening of “The Builder” will be at 7 p.m. today at Rawles Hall 100 including a Q&A with Alverson to follow. Equipped with a solid vision, Alverson set out to create a film of hyper realistic affinity. Aspects of “The Builder” have a certain spontaneity, which should not be confused with improvising. This approach creates a real-life tone throughout the film, and is seen in the cast. Alverson said every actor but Colm O’Leary, who co-wrote the film, was inexperienced. “This worked in our favor; we utilized their personalities and natural instincts as people rather than actors, which gave a very naturalistic feel to the film,” Alverson said. “They didn’t have a set script to go on, rather just small terms and narrative points to address in character while using their own vernacular.”When it came time to release the film, Alverson turned to local label Jagjaguwar, who has released ten of Alverson’s albums.“The Builder” was Jagjaguwar’s first film project. Since, they have since signed on to work on Alverson’s next film, “New Jerusalem,” which is set to release this winter.“When I approached Chris (Swanson) about ‘The Builder,’ he put a hell of a lot of trust in me,” Alverson said. Swanson helps run Jagjaguwar.What The New York Times fondly refers to as a “DIY film,” “The Builder” is best experienced up-close. To fully comprehend it, Alverson urges students to try to undo what years of watching television have taught us. He said students should watch the film without trying to decode it or uncover any kind of thinly veiled metaphors. “I would like to challenge you to see “The Builder” as a string of unconstructed, spontaneous actions,” he said. “Do not think of it as a movie, rather something you could see happening on the streets around you.”
(11/02/10 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“I am very excited about coming back to Bloomington,” lead singer and guitarist of Maps and Atlases Dave Davison said. “We love college towns in general, but Bloomington is such a fun town to do gigs at.”Davison, along with the rest of Maps and Atlases will be returning to campus at 9 p.m. today at The Bishop. After making it through a Chicago style traffic jam, Davison had the chance to chat about “Perch Patchwork,” the band’s first full-length album, the band’s layered sound and their recent European tour. IDS How does Maps and Atlases new album, “Perch Patchwork,” differ from the band’s previous recordings and EP’s?DAVISON There is a lot more of a diverse sound and instrumental tone than our previous recordings. We were very excited to branch out and try new and different sounds that provided a lot of different textures and layers within each song. We tried to spread out the overall flow of the music to make it something that would leave a longer impact on the audience.IDS It’s noted on your Myspace that your sound is “intricate and organic.” What creative process allows you to blend such smooth vocals with rough beats and guitar sounds?DAVISON We learned just by playing together for so long what works naturally and intuitively for us. As a group we have learned what works well when we play together, and try to think of different sounds to create the most concise and clear music possible.IDS Who does a majority of the songwriting? Is it a collaborative process?DAVISON It has changed over the course of our band’s existence. Sometimes I will bring in lyrics and then the band will work out music, other times Erin (Elders) and I will collaborate to writing the music and lyrics.IDS Your recent European tour received good reviews, where would you say your music is best received, Europe or the United States?DAVISON The one month tour in Europe was great. We had a blast, even when playing the smaller shows we still were able just to sit and chat with people and keep the personal feel in each show. We had the same experience with our tour in the U.S. over the summer though, too. Our fans have been great and really received the new music well.
(10/29/10 2:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Get ready to “Rot the Night Away” at The Bishop. The gritty rock band Dreamers of the Ghetto will be headlining this Halloween thriller while other local artists are collaborating to form cover bands of Nirvana, Suicide, The Misfits and The Wipers.“All artists involved were given free reign to organize which band they were going to cover and how they wanted to perform,” Lauren Jones, a member of Dreamers of the Ghetto said. “Everyone has taken a real initiative to make this a really cool experience.” Lauren, along with her husband Luke Jones and his brother Jonathan Jones, make up Dreamers of the Ghetto.The bands will rock the stage at 8 p.m. Sunday. They will perform for about a half an hour each, with Dreamers of the Ghetto taking the stage at midnight. Following the live acts, there will be dancing with DJ’s Zayla, McVicious and SJ playing until 2 a.m.Dreamers, the only band of the night playing their original music, is ready to end the show with a bang. Luke Jones said his band is collaborating with Marty McVicious to make this the first live show Dreamers of the Ghetto have performed with electronic beats. “We tend to be a very vocal band and use all three members to create harmonies and a certain romance in our music,” Luke Jones said. “It will be energetic to say the least.”Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. Lauren Jones said everyone performing will be dressed up as well.“It’s going to be really fun,” Lauren Jones said. “(Rumors) is planning a big costume change in the middle of our set. I can’t give too much away, but a lot of spandex will be involved.”The Bishop is a venue with a loyal fan base, but Jonathan Jones said he expects this event will draw an even larger crowd than usual. “We have had people tell us that they moved their Halloween parties so they won’t conflict with this show,” Jonathan Jones said. “Local concert goers are excited for this event, and we encourage everyone to stop by while making their Halloween rounds in Bloomington.”
(10/27/10 1:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To put it simply, Neal Anderson is stoked, and Tyler Ray is extremely nervous.The mixed emotions coming from these singer-songwriters are undoubtedly stemming from their upcoming performances today at the Starbucks in the Indiana Memorial Union. Freshmen Anderson and Ray will be joining three other artists at 6 p.m. for the showcase presented by Union Board. Brant Craft, the chief organizer of the event, said this is the first singer-songwriter night of the semester.“I know some of the performers are bringing their own equipment, and I think we’ll have a great turnout,” Craft said. “It’s free and you get to chill out and learn about some of Bloomington’s solo acts.” For the performers, this show has proved to be a great networking experience. “My sister actually had a lot of connections with the local music scene in Bloomington, and I visited a lot so I knew the local venues and other musicians before moving here in August,” Anderson said. Originally from Zionsville, Ind., Anderson has considered himself a singer-songwriter since the seventh grade.Each artist is coming into this performance with his or her own different styles, which vary from indescribable electronic to mellow acoustic.“I take inspiration for my music from a lot of things; my muses vary from emotions in my past, to the people I care about around me,” Ray said. Though he is fairly new to the Bloomington music scene, Ray is ready to let audiences experience his music.A mellow vibe is expected because of the coffeehouse setting, something Anderson said he doesn’t mind adjusting to. “My songs are going to be stripped down acoustic, which is slightly different than the music I play with my band Specific Oceans,” Anderson said. “I love to write random lyrics with deeper meaning — songs with strong lyrics that can be performed in electric or acoustic situations.”
(10/26/10 2:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For die-hard fans of any musical group, the term “tribute band” usually stirs a mix of feelings. A genre of their own, tribute acts tend to consist of iconic wannabes dressed up in period garb attempting to strum out classics in and oftentimes subpar manner. In a field where many have jammed and failed, one band has managed to surpass the stereotypes surrounding tribute bands.Dark Star Orchestra, a band Rolling Stone called “the most talented and accomplished tribute band out there” is set to recreate an original Grateful Dead show live at Bluebird Nightclub on Oct. 28.“We absorb through the core of our bones and work very hard to play as effortlessly as possible,” drummer Dino English said. “We’re physically there trying to play the best we can for the audience and recreate the Dead. We have recreated a show that members of our audience have actually seen live by the Grateful Dead. Their feedback has been very enthusiastic.”That tradition of recreating specific Dead shows is truly special about DSO. “You can stream every Grateful Dead concert online now and listen to their tapes, but for those too young to have actually seen a concert live, DSO is the next best thing,” publicist and IU alumnus Dave Weissman said.As for which show will be recreated at the Bluebird, that will not be revealed until the encore. However, there are some hints audience members can use if they want to find out before the final song. Tips such as the setup of the stage or an extra microphone can reveal the decade of the show and whether or not Lisa Mackey, who sings the part of Donna Jean Godchaux, will make an appearance.The Grateful Dead is generally included among the first true jam bands, meaning the band is known for spontaneous solos and set lists with songs of various genres. “What makes playing Grateful Dead music night after night so much fun is that there is so much room for personal expression and real-time musical conversation,” said Jeff Mattson, the newest addition to DSO, who plays frontman Jerry Garcia. “It’s not a dusty museum piece. It’s a living, breathing musical experience. When the music is really happening, it feels like we don’t have to try at all.” Deadheads have been around since the 1970s, but there seems to be a new generation dawning. The strong following of the Dark Star Orchestra are beginning to refer to themselves as “Starheads,” making it evident that this tribute band breaks the mold to form a whole new breed of tribute band. The DSO is not simply recreating history; they are making it.
(10/21/10 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ask DJ Drekka, also known as local resident Michael Anderson, and DJ Eade, who is senior Brenden Eade about a Jamaican sound clash and their answers will be very different.Both DJs will be guiding an audience through the history of reggae during their free performance Friday at Rachael’s Cafe.Both Anderson and Eade have a passion for reggae, but this clash between the two DJs will feature the vast flavor of sounds typical of this music.“It will be interesting to listen to the pairing of classic with new dub music,” said 2010 graduate and local musician Dylan Ettinger, who said he is no stranger to Bloomington’s music scene. “The audience will get to see the full evolution of how this genre came to be.” Anderson said he and Eade plan on playing the show in chronological order. “I will start with the more mellow, early dub and dancehall, and he will pick it up with some of the newer music,” Anderson said.This is the second time Rachael’s is welcoming Anderson and Eade, but both are used to various types of venues. Eade said dorm parties are his favorite to DJ because there tend to be a lot of people in a tiny space, which he said tends to equal good things. “Those crowds tend to be the most energetic and receptive,” Eade said. “But we have a solid mix of students and Bloomington residents that are regulars at Rachael’s, and we hope to draw a diverse crowd on Friday as well.”
(10/21/10 3:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Members of Snaarj are speechless when asked about their specific musical sound. Other than that, the progressive jazz band, who are all students in the Jacobs School of Music, talked about the shock value of Lady Gaga’s meat dress, the rom coms they love to watch with their moms and the definition of a “snaarj.”Snaarj will be performing at 8 p.m. Friday at The Bishop. Senior Dustin Laurenzi can play several instruments but is mainly responsible for the band’s distinctive tenor saxophone sound. The band formed in March 2009 and released its debut album “Road Snacks” in June 2010.“When you’re in a music school like Jacobs, you want something that is your own,” Laurenzi said, “and we wanted to do something different than the typical jazz.”Just as Laurenzi was trying to explain Snaarj’s qualities, sophomore band member Ben Lumsdaine hopped in the line for coffee at Starbucks. “Maybe he can help explain our sound better,” Laurenzi said.Lumsdaine had no problem catching up with the conversation, but quickly took it in a direction further away from the yet-to-be-defined Snaarj sound. However, the chatter that ensued did determine what Snaarj isn’t.“We don’t need to wear meat dresses or matching outfits to make our music good,” Lumsdaine said. Providing the versatile percussion, drummer Lumsdaine plays everything from soft, mellow rhythms to loud clanging on the band’s tracks.Josh Johnson, alto saxophonist, offered explanations about song titles and the album cover art, which features animals with mismatched heads and bodies. “We really like bears and birds,” Johnson said. “We don’t really know what the obsession with them is, but it has a lot to do with free association. Almost every aspect of our band can be related back to free association.” This is when ground is broken on Snaarj’s musical definition of sound. “Free association is in us and our music,” Johnson said. “I think the music we play incorporates elements of all the music we like.” Johnson said as a band, Snaarj tries to put a sound together in an organized and clear way; influences are fair game.Specific influences of the band members vary, but Katy Perry was notably in the top three.“She has the ability to write well-crafted pop music,” Johnson said. “If you can write a song that gets stuck in someone’s head, you’re doing your job as a musician.”As the idea of free association was still fresh, more digression ensued. “It’s Halloween in Starbucks,” bassist Bobby Wooten said, referring to the seasonal pumpkin spice latte he had just ordered.The musical dynamic of Snaarj can be considered different from traditional jazz. It’s form can be described as a more accidental art. “We all know what is fun to listen to, and we try to play music that is exciting to us and the audience,” Lumsdaine said. “There is definitely a difference between self-serving art and listener friendly music.”Actually, calling Snaarj a jazz band at all might not be totally accurate, Laurenzi said. “We don’t really sell ourselves as a jazz band. We all study jazz, but tend to shy away from the preconceived jazz notion that’s usually assumed of our band,” Laurenzi said. “All of our influences vary from pop to alternative to electronic, and that really shines through in our free association of jazz music.”
(10/01/10 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though the Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band claims they are not out for notoriety, notoriety has certainly found them. As Indiana’s prime folk artist, the band has been selected to perform for two concerts as part of the 2010 Homegrown Concert Series put on by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The first concert will take place at noon Oct. 13 at the Coolidge Auditorium in the American Folklife Center. Another concert will be at 6 p.m. the same day at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Doug Harden, a mandolin player, wasted no time diving into stories of past band mates and their graduation to “bigger and better” bluegrass endeavors. “Bluegrass is all about everyday folks, even though we don’t get a lot of radio play,” said banjo player Brian Lappin.Early members of the Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band have gone on to play with bluegrass singer-songwriter Alison Krauss and Bloomington native John Mellencamp.“We have all had our own opportunities to tour and move up, but that has never been the main focus for our band,” Harden said. “We are just a group of good pickers who like the slower pace of making music.”The band started with weekly jam sessions, which Harden said, “really brought the neighborhood together.” But the band’s level of talent soon catapulted them to perform at the Bluebird Nightclub in Bloomington. “The Bluebird is where we got our start. From there we played other clubs and bars in the area, but most of them have closed down since then,” Harden said. “Our band’s inside joke is that we have closed down more bars than Prohibition.” Playing together for more than 20 years, the band attributes their musical start to their families. However, that does not mean every member was always an avid bluegrass fan. Guitarist Brady Stogdill claims his early influences were more of the Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails variety.“I wanted to learn how to play by ear, and my father agreed to teach me,” Stogdill said. “My focus was learning how to play rock songs, but after my first bluegrass jam session, I was hooked.”The camaraderie of these seasoned artists was unmistakable. But according to Stogdill, that is exactly what bluegrass is all about. “It is not uncommon to meet other players at a festival and just sit down to jam with them, famous or not,” Stogdill said. Stogdill said for most of these artists, bluegrass is considered a family affair, and all of the artists keep in touch with their roots.“It isn’t age- or income- specific either and really is growing to touch a wider range of people,” Harden said.
(09/28/10 3:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While the media may be focusing on issues like health care reform or energy taxes this election season, political thinkers on campus said decisions on these issues have no weight unless people vote.After Indiana’s Democratic turn in 2008, the political stance of the state is still in question.Though Democrats seem confident in their voter base, many are wondering if they are capable of regenerating the excitement of Obama’s victory to keep control of Congress. Obama’s approval rating is below 50 percent, according to Gallup, and Democrats on campus are trying to compensate by recruiting more voters.“(The IU Democrats) have been working very hard to raise awareness and get people registered to vote,” said senior Daniel Herman, policy director for the IU College Democrats. “The outcome of this election will determine how Obama will spend the next two years of his presidency, and that’s always important.” Collective speculation is that a state of equilibrium will be put into place after this election, IU political science professor Gerald Wright said.“A substantial amount of seats won by the Democrats in the 2004 election were borrowed from Republicans,” Wright said. “If those seats are lost this year, it won’t necessarily be because of the wane in Obama approval, rather a restoration of balance.” The New York Times projections predict that Democrats will lose control of the House this year, and if that happens, IU College Republicans President and IDS columnist Justin Kingsolver senses a possible temporary inconvenience for the GOP.“The lame duck period will be crucial in Congress because Democrats will be trying to push the last of their bills through,” Kingslover said. “It will just be more work to undo come January.” Kingsolver said he was adamant about getting everyone to the polls regardless of their political beliefs and urged students to be informed about candidates’ stances on various issues.“It is the social issues that get candidates elected and the fiscal issues that govern,” he said.