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(02/25/11 1:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The largest inspirations for the members of local band Fly Painted Feathers have been drinking Yoohoo before shows and road tripping to see the band Native.Fly Painted Feathers’ lead singer Harlan Kelly said he and drummer Daniel Versweyveld have been Native fans since they saw Native play a show with another band from their hometown of Madison, Ind.Kelly said the band has been one of their largest influences as musicians and it was always their dream to play with them someday.That “someday” is Sunday.“When we think about it we’re still like, ‘Dude, we’re playing for Native,’” Kelly said. “It’s definitely an honor to play with them and the other bands as well.”Fly Painted Feathers has only been playing together since October 2009. However, the band is starting off much like its idol, Native.“The music scene in Bloomington already exists, but in Madison we had to really work for it,” Kelly said. “Since we began in my basement, we have definitely grown a lot.”Kelly said change in music is inevitable. Native guitarist Ed O’Neill said he agreed and said music is a process.“People often criticize us because our music has changed so much since our start in 2007,” O’Neill said. “I think people grow accustomed to what they like, and they don’t like when things change.”O’Neill said he wishes people will at least listen to the new stuff.“As we grow, we want our music to grow with us,” he said. “It’s going to happen naturally.”O’Neill, who is currently working with the other band members on an album they hope to release next fall, said Native’s past albums were about growing up and relationships. He said the members’ current project is more about stepping outside of themselves and looking at social consciousness as a whole.“We went from playing with kooky pedals to a more embracive sound that reflects our moods,” O’Neill said.For its Sunday show at The Bishop, the band is playing with Fly Painted Feathers, Xerxes and Clouds As Oceans.“We plan to play some old songs but a few of the new ones, too,” O’Neill said. “It’s the new ones that best represent where we are at right now as a band.”Native is currently signed with record label Sargent House, and the band’s Facebook page has more than 4,100 fans as it continues to fill venues with every show.“Bloomington will be our last stop before our tour starts,” O’Neill said. “We hope The Bishop show will be our best yet in Bloomington.”After playing Cultureshock in 2010, O’Neill said he finds Bloomington to be a hip college town and looks forward to visiting the nature-filled campus.“We hope to create a comfortable atmosphere for people who enjoy loud music,” O’Neill said. “We hope people will appreciate it.”
(02/24/11 3:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>High philanthropic ambition mixed with a love of high fashion was the initial inspiration for what is now known all across campus as Strut for Smiles. However, when the idea for the fashion benefit show first entered the minds of IU freshmen Amy Chen and Samantha Loeffler back in October, neither would be able to predict the amount of hype the project would create. “It’s much bigger than I ever imagined,” Loeffler said. “Originally I was thinking of hosting 50 guests, but I never guessed we would be able to pair with Midwest Fashion Week.” With the partnership and guidance of Midwest Fashion Week creator and designer Berny Martin, the event immediately set its aspirations higher. Now the project is planned for 7 p.m. Monday and will be at the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall.“We took a dive, but we didn’t know where to begin,” Chen said. “We no longer wanted a little fashion show; we wanted a huge production.”Chen and Loeffler were able to gain monetary support from Compass Fellowship, an on-campus entrepreneurship group, and Midwest Fashion Week for marketing, photographers and host site. However, their work was only about to begin. Though they had a formal model casting call, Chen was proactive, approaching people in Starbucks and asking people she knew.The final cut produced 26 models who had a training session with Martin, who emphasized choreography and runway etiquette.However, their strut will carry more purpose than the typical runway model because the night has a larger cause with all of the proceeds going to charity.“We wanted to do something to give back, and we chose Operation Smile because it’s a great program,” Loeffler said. Operation Smile has been an active agent in providing free surgical reconstruction to children who suffer from cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. “I couldn’t imagine any child having to live with that,” Loeffler said. “This organization helps these kids to smile.” So far 50 tickets have been sold at $10 each, and $1,200 dollars has been donated via www.strutforsmiles.com. However, Strut for Smiles’ goal is to sell out the event, making the grand total of proceeds surpass $6,000. “I know we’re all starving college kids and paying $10 isn’t fun,” Wels said. “But the cause is definitely worth it.”Along with their personal strives for ticket sales, the greek community is getting involved. “Whichever greek house has the most ticket sales will get 10 percent of the proceeds for their own charity,” Chen said.The Strut for Smiles volunteer coordinator, IU freshman Christopher Kauffman, is currently working with DJ Jordan Davis for the production’s music, and said it is a big deal for him to stand back and look at something in awe.“I have never seen a student organization so put together,” Kauffman said. “With the way everything has come together, I feel like it has come straight out of Vogue.”Also in support of the production will be guest speaker and Operation Smile foreign volunteer Dr. Scott Walker and hip-hop dance acts JMUSE and Hip Hop Connxion. Chen said the hip-hop performances will be during the intermission of the show and connect the style between the two parts of the show.“The theme will be ‘The Corners of New York: From Brooklyn to the Hamptons,’” Chen said. “The edgy hip-hop will not only be entertaining and add diversity to the show, but link the artsy fashions of Brooklyn to the class of the Hamptons.” With a mix of both local boutique showcases such as Cha Cha and national brands like Lacoste, Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, Free People, Calvin Klein, Tulle and American Rag, provided by Macy’s, the production will serve a wide variety of tastes. Kauffman said the show will set an all-new level of expectation as to how campus events are held. “I would like to see people walk out with their jaws to the ground because they too underestimated our generation’s potential,” Kauffman said.Chen said she hopes it will be something people will remember and something she and Loeffler can do next year with the focus on a new charity in order to “spread the love.”“I can’t wait,” Wels said. “It will be a night we can all have fun and strut.”
(02/17/11 3:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>3rd Eye Visionaries teaches old-school hip-hop a lesson in contemporary beats. “Our music is a modern tribute to old-school hip-hop with a new-school twist and flavor,” said Philip Stringfellow who performs as Philmatic with the 3rd Eye Visionaries.The two-person band is a new project of Stringfellow and Roy Waterford, who is known as R-Juna on stage. The two will perform 9 p.m. Friday at The Bishop. “I first got serious about hip-hop about four years ago. I started playing with a different crew called 2 Mics and a Kit around town at house parties and bars,” Waterford said. “But about six months ago our MC moved to Colorado and we ended things.” The news of the group’s breakup had impeccable timing for Stringfellow. After attending college at Full Sail University in Florida, Stringfellow had been touring with a band called Righteous Mic. However, after controversy between the members, the band split up and Stringfellow was looking for a new project. “I had liked what R-Juna had been doing so I sent him a couple e-mails and a couple of beats,” Stringfellow said. “It turns out that he was looking for something too.” Almost immediately, the two started to call themselves 3rd Eye Visionaries, and their success was quick-paced after that. Though they create a popular house party band, they are known to play conventional venues as well and opened for headlining artist Freddie Gibbs in November at The Bishop. Stringfellow said he thinks their success is based on the band’s ideals. “The fallout with Righteous Mic was over the fact that the group was trying to go more bubblegum-y and trying to get a certain image to get fans,” Stringfellow said. “That’s not what hip-hop should be about. It’s about positivity and bringing people together.” Waterford agreed and said hip-hop spreads a deeper message of equality through beats and rhymes.“It’s all our lyrics talk about is unity and respect for all people, which would ideally be the solution to all of the world’s problems,” Waterford said.With this as its basis, the duo works together to maintain this integrity of old school hip-hop while giving it a new feel. Currently 3rd Eye Visionaries is working on a 10-track album which is self-recorded and will be mastered by a studio at Full Sail University. Stringfellow and Waterford said they plan to release the album at the end of March and said they hope it will serve as an introduction for what’s to come. Waterford said they plan to play mostly off of the upcoming album for their show at The Bishop.“I love all of the tracks, but I’m most excited to play ‘My City,’ which tends to be a big hit,” Waterford said. “The crowd really digs it, and it gives a shout-out to where we come but is also about loving your own hometown and loving B-town.”The song popularly known for its crowd “hype and response” is most recognized from local house party shows. Both natives of Bloomington, Stringfellow and Waterford have a local support base giving them a number of personal venues. “I would have to say my favorite are the house shows and the energy level that comes from a basement full of music heads,” Stringfellow said. “It’s so much more personal in that atmosphere where everyone is sweating and having such a good time together.”Senior Kelsey Shea said she enjoys how the band’s music gets the crowd involved and complimented its stage presence. “I love 3rd Eye Visionaries because their music comes from the soul and makes you move,” Shea said.Waterford said the reason the band is pursuing more conventional venues is to reach out to additional audiences. “We want people who are hungry for music, hungry to hear good music and who are not afraid to dance,” Waterford said. “We need young folks who aren’t too cool for a good time.”Though the band might be reaching more mainstream popularity, Shea said she is glad that it has kept its sound authentic. The duo said they aspire to remain exactly that — authentic. “Music is self-expression and hip-hop is about positivity and relaying life experiences,” Stringfellow said. “That’s what makes us who we are — staying true.”
(02/17/11 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Fred Erskine met his wife in a Chicago café eight years ago. Three years ago, after the couple moved to Indiana for family, she brought up the idea of Erskine starting a band.“She’s the one that pushed me to get this band going,” Erskine said, “She’s a big support, and she’s at every single show.”After writing some songs, Erskine collaborated with some of his wife’s old high school guy friends, and soon they were officially Freddie T and the People. Erskine said it was magic. “I have a great group of guys who are really fun, easy going, hardworking and dedicated to this amazing experience,” Erskine said. The band has an upcoming show at 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop.Though Freddie T and the People is Erskine’s recent project, it is certainly not his first. Growing up in Omaha, Neb., Erskine said he has also spent a good amount of time in Washington, D.C., and Chicago and has been playing music through it all. “I don’t really have a count of the number of bands I’ve been in, maybe twenty-something, but that might be an exaggeration,” Erskine said. “But for most of the ’90s, I spent a good deal of time on the road immersed in the music world.”Erskine said he has played bass for 25 years and guitar for 14. Currently he is lead vocalist and guitar player for Freddie T and the People. However, the band’s bassist Chris Saligoe also has an impressive amount of experience playing in bands.“I’ve been dabbling since age 11 and in a band since age 15,” Saligoe said. “At this point I’ve been in a band for more than half of my life.”Saligoe said the four members were all essentially punk-metal guys and that with this new style they hope to show they’re not just “one trick ponies” by adding a melting pot of new styles, including African-inspired guitar, Caribbean, R&B and soul.One common factor in the genre switch seems to be the influence of family. “At this point we’re a band of fathers,” Saligoe said. “Fred’s lyrics are a lot about being a kid, having a family and that kind of stuff, and I definitely understand it in a different way now that I have a daughter.”Erskine agreed and said though he feels like anyone who can hear it will like it, the theme of his life experiences in being a family man in the working class and having a love for life.“This is the first time in my life I can say I fully own all of the material,” Erskine said. “I create all of the songs start to finish, and I have a great pride in that.”With the upcoming show at The Bishop, the band has high hopes and plans to release its first LP, “People In.”“We’re looking for double platinum and Grammys next year,” Erskine joked. “I just want it to be heard, I want it to find people.”Saligoe said he hopes people come ready to dance and pass it along to friends afterwards. “Those who are vinyl purists will be satisfied,” Saligoe said in reference to the band’s limited edition vinyl record. “But if they’re not satisfied with that, we’ll have free download cards for people to walk out with, too.” The record album art, by Damon Locks, will tie together a piece of a life story by featuring a photograph collage of commuters on the transit in Chicago, the city where Erskine first met his wife and inspiration for Freddie T and the People. Erskine remains a simple family man who loves music. “It’s like walking out into the sunlight,” Erskine said. “It changes your entire mood, your entire being, and it’s something I’ll never be able to leave.”
(02/11/11 1:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A woman scrutinized a group of University Players board members after they passed out posters for the new play “Speech and Debate” outside of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater during Bloomington’s PRIDE Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Questioning Film Festival.The posters read, “Are the homos recruiting your children?” But despite their offensive diction, the posters were actually mocking oppression group tactics such as those used by the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. “We’re hoping that it will show the harshness of oppression but also be enough to grab people’s interest to come and see the play,” said junior Sarah Twait, “Speech and Debate” ensemble member.Much like the blatant character of the posters, the play directly addresses some of the most controversial topics of modern society.“It had a really good message, but it’s a show not many people are brave enough to do because it puts issues like abortion and homosexuality immediately in your face,” said freshman Julian Ramos, “Speech and Debate” ensemble member. “I’ve never done a show before that takes these topics and just puts it out there without being afraid.”The play, written by Stephen Karam, is about three teenagers who are involved in a sex scandal in Salem, Ore. With a dark comedic twist, the play deals with contemporary issues such as sexual identity, teen pregnancy, conformity, self-acceptance and friendship.“It’s really new, and that’s what makes it so attractive,” said Stephen Hammoor, director and Indiana Daily Student opinion editor. “Its content is full of dark humor, and there will be points where you laugh but then hopefully might second-guess yourself as to why you’re laughing.”The production will be Hammoor’s 10th but his first full-length production with the University Players. The show is set to open 7 p.m. Friday at the Studio Theater with another showing at 10 p.m. The play will show Saturday at 10 p.m. Working with Hammoor will be stage manager Catie Connors, a design team and a six-member ensemble who will rotate roles for all three shows.“I like to work with ensembles because it builds a great unity with the cast and gives them each a perspective of the oppressed and the oppressor,” Hammoor said.Hammoor said he hopes the play will have the same effect on the audience as it does the cast.“I hope we have an audience that needs to be there or an audience that is willing to explore with the people on the stage,” Hammoor said. “I hope it leads to an understanding and leads them to have a conversation with the cast after the show, but also after they leave.” Hammor said while directing he pulled from his own life experiences, and he hopes it is evident in the final product. Freshman Christine Conigliaro said she plans to attend the play and said theater has great potential to form a personal intimacy with the characters on stage.“I think people will be accepting of the issues in this play, and I hope it opens their minds to how much theater can influence our society and the community around us,” Conigliaro said.Twait said she agreed with Conigliaro and said the issues discussed are something we all can relate to because oppression is something we all have to fight.“I hope people see it to broaden their spectrum of current events and issues teens and college kids are facing,” Twait said.In regard to current events, viewers are challenged by Hammoor to recognize the underlying complexity and not just write the dark comedy off as all laughs.“With the recent suicides and extreme acts of oppression, we need to realize that these are issues that are being faced right now by many high school kids and even college students,” Hammoor said. “Outside will be GBLT groups with information, and my hopes would be that people reach out for information on discovering these things for themselves. That’s what’s beautiful about this play, it creates a starting point for conversation.” Hammoor finished by saying it is the mere existence of these controversies that offend people but the fact is that they need to be addressed.“I want to see this play because it is an experience of intimate personal theater realism,” Conigliaro said. “These topics need to be faced, and I think it will force people to be at the edge of their seats.”
(02/02/11 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With contemporary music genre titles like psych-ambient-folk-hop and shoegaze, Bloomington band Charlie Patton’s War prefers to keep things classic.“After a show, I want people to come away knowing that good, old-fashion rock and roll and blues music is still happening, people are still making it and it’s right here in Bloomington,” Charlie Patton’s War drummer Aaron Frazer said.The band will be performing 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop. Named after Charlie Patton, the father of the Delta Blues, the band is a new project by four Jacobs School of Music recording arts majors. Though they spent the majority of last semester playing house shows, the band is a current competitor in IU’s Little 500 Battle of the Bands and is broadening its audience. “We played at The Bluebird last semester for Battle of the Bands and now we’re in the finals there on February 24,” Frazer said. Though the band has made it to the final four in the competition, they said they don’t have specific hopes for the outcome.“We’re just going to try and go up there and have people like us,” lead vocalist Blake Rhein said. “I guess we just hope that no one is plugging their ears.” Despite the outcome, Battle of the Bands will most likely assist the band in getting its name out there. “Our main focus right now is to play more shows and get people to recognize us a bit,” Rhein said. Besides the competition, the band will be having its first headlining show Thursday.“This is only our second show out of a basement,” Frazer said. “Dirty basements and house shows are where we thrive, but it will be interesting to play at a more conventional venue.” Frazer said they plan to play some new songs that have been in the works along with a few older originals for Thursday’s audience. “I think my ideal crowd would like to listen to the blues but at the same time maybe have some people who really don’t,” Rhein said. “Hopefully the show will encourage those people to listen to other types of music by making blues accessible.” Freshman Rachael Fernandez first started listening to Charlie Patton’s War after meeting Frazer at The Bishop for another show. “As soon as their music started playing I immediately thought that it had that blues feel,” Fernandez said. “The melody and guitar just had that tone to it.” Rhein said for him, playing the blues is about playing what he feels. “It’s about putting everything you have into it,” Rhein said. “It’s writing what you feel, and if there’s no hard emotion at the moment, you just rock with it.”Fernandez said she plans to attend the show Thursday and looks forward to hearing them play live. One thing she said she admires most about their music is the fact that she can tell they are all educated musicians. “All of us have been a part of different bands and as recording arts majors we pay a little more attention to detail and we’re slightly more articulate with our instruments,” Frazer said. Frazer and keyboard player Justin Hubler, are also members of The Natives and Mr. Johnson’s Family Reunion. Frazer said their collaborative experience is one contributing factor to the ease and enjoyment of their creative process in Charlie Patton’s War. “I think they enjoy what they do, and if they enjoy playing, the crowd will enjoy it too,” Fernandez said. “I really think it will be great seeing them live.”
(02/01/11 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The winter advisory could not have been more of a contradiction to the warm psychedelic surf rock of the Triptides at The Bishop on Monday. Though attendance was limited due to the early icy sleet, a few individuals braved the cold to make an appearance at the local band showcase and support the Triptides’ limited edition tape release.Freshman Olivia Stewart walked across campus from her dorm in Forest for the occasion. “I was expecting more people to be here,” Stewart said. “But then again, we weren’t expecting this mother storm.”Stewart, one of the few crowd members who was not a part of the line-up, kept a positive attitude toward the situation. “I almost prefer the small crowd size because I’ll probably get a chance to talk to the bands afterward and it makes the show a lot more personal,” Stewart said. Despite the slow start, Outdoor Velour finally took the stage after an hour of joining in discussions about the weather. Immediately, the pop-like duo seemed to melt the frigid air, and more people started to trickle in. Though the release show might not have lived up to the Triptides’ original hopes, the band said they were still happy to play. “As long as one tape sells and one person claps then I’m good,” lead vocalist Glenn Brigman said. Apparently the weather was not the only obstacle the band has had to overcome this week. After a minor setback, the Triptides had to find a new drummer. “I’ve always wanted to play with these guys,” drummer Shaun Snyder said. “And at 6’4”, 6’4”, and 6’5”, we are now the tallest band in Bloomington, on average.” The band’s laid-back attitude about the evening seemed to be a direct reflection of the musical style of its new cassette. “It’s largely about the nostalgia of summer,” bassist Josh Menashe said. Though the band played a few songs off the release, it also performed two new songs, which it hopes to release on an EP later this spring. “I think our plan is to keep releasing EPs until someone thinks we’re good enough to sign,” Brigman said.Currently, the band’s new limited edition cassette, as well as a digital album, is available for listening and purchase via the bandcamp site at triptides.bandcamp.com. Despite life’s little setbacks, the band said it will continue to play.“We’ll keep making music until it’s not fun anymore,” Brigman said. “But that will probably never happen.”
(01/26/11 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The lifestyle of a touring musician is one Cameron McGill knows all too well. Currently, McGill plays keyboard for Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s but has also been touring with his own band, Cameron McGill & What Army. “I’m gone twice as much with touring, and it definitely can be difficult,” McGill said. “But I make it work because that’s part of life as a full-time musician, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” McGill said the bottom line is that it is good to be around good songs and being a part of two bands has influenced his music.“When you’re involved closely with a song’s structure, whether by playing it or just listening, it certainly influences you,” McGill said.McGill said his musical projects with Margot, such as the recent album release “Buzzard” in 2010, has inspired his work with Cameron McGill & What Army.“Certain things find their way into my mind, and there’s always glimpses of certain influences in my music that can be traced,” McGill said. On April 12, Cameron McGill & What Army intend to release the new album, “Is A Beast.” The album’s primary focus will be in the melodies with something that McGill considers to be “folk ’n’ roll.” “It’s a little bit of both, but to me this record has a different feel in that it captured more of a live recording approach,” McGill said. “There was no preconceived idea, so there was really no limits. We had an open point of view, which left plenty of room to experiment.”McGill said since the members of the band live so far apart, their writing has always had an “in the moment” approach. “It’s on a fairly first-impression basis because touring is really the only time we have together,” McGill said. “It’s what mood we feel right then, and we don’t have a lot of time to think about it.”McGill said making records and self-funding is a battle, but he will continue as long as he is able to because the process of it all is what he finds rewarding.McGill joked that his ideal crowd would be “just drunk enough.” Though he said he doesn’t have an exact reaction he looks for in a crowd, intense listening with intense having fun would be great.“The beauty is just creating something and then letting it go,” McGill said. “It’s leaving it in the hands of people that will hopefully take the time to get to know it.”McGill played a show at The Bishop last October and will be a part of a free WIUX-sponsored show 9 p.m. Thursday along with local band The Calumet Reel and The Spruce Campbells. “Not only are the bands really awesome, but it’s free and we hope everyone is going to come out,” Meredith Dover, a junior and DJ at WIUX, said. “It should be really exciting.”McGill enjoys performing in Bloomington and is looking forward to his future in music.“I want to do this for my entire life on an exciting level where just to keep going is its own little victory,” McGill said. “I love the atmosphere in Bloomington because I can tell the people there are having just a much fun as I am. I look forward to coming back.”
(01/24/11 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When John Plenge received a phone call inviting him back to Indiana for the 25th anniversary of Live From Bloomington, he immediately accepted and booked a flight from his home in New York City.“I didn’t know it was still in existence until I got that call,” Plenge said. “It was like getting a call from a son. It was a wonderful surprise.”In 1986, Plenge was a Jacobs School of Music student with a vision, one that would become Union Board’s Live From Bloomington and would raise money for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.“My original idea was to create an album that was composed of jazz, rock, blues and other representations of the various musicians and genres in Bloomington’s local music scene,” Plenge said. “I always wanted the main focus to be raising money for the hungry though.”Even though Plenge graduated the year after he founded LFB, the idea was not abandoned. In the past 25 years, LFB has raised more than $75,000, not including this year, and a quarter of a million pounds of food for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. This year’s director, Caroline Shurig, kept LFB’s purpose and invited back Plenge and Larry Jacobson, director of the production of the fifth LFB album, to serve as a reminder for this initial purpose.“You could see generations,” Jacobson said. “John was the one who first brought the album to vinyl. I brought it to CD, and now Caroline will be digitalizing the album for the first time. Soon all of the past 25 albums will be available digitally.”Accompanying the modernization of technology, Shurig along with Loren Gurman brought a new twist in content to the LFB album.“The Live From Bloomington album has always been a collaboration,” Gurman said. “This year was different in that we gave the album a theme and had different bands and musicians record a song they wrote for the album which involved Indiana in some way.”Gurman’s project was named the Brio Pop Society, and from that 12 songwriters each wrote a song to perform for the album which was recorded with Jake Belser of Farm Fresh Studios. Topics ranged from John Dillinger to the Bloomington Cutters to Gurman’s own song about one woman’s ability to forgive.Though the concept album by the Brio Pop Society’s initial aim was to “invigorate the founding spirit” of LFB, not all reactions were in support of the idea.“I was approached by someone who asked if I was a part of the Brio Pop Society, and then he told me that I murdered Live From Bloomington,” Gurman said.Despite this opinion, most seemed to be in support of the renovation, and Friday’s sold-out show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater was a reflection of its success.“Personally, I think it was cool,” Jacobson said. “John’s initial idea for LFB’s album was thinking outside of the box, and I think the Brio Pop Society’s album supports that by doing something different but still collaborating different local musicians and raising funds for The Hoosier Hills Food Bank.”Senior Robbie Kleinberg, a collaborative musician from this year’s album, said he enjoyed the work that went into the album’s production and that it was a positive experience. Even though the Brio Pop Society had positive feedback, Gurman said after talking with Jacobson, it seems to be a “sensible solution to develop the Brio Pop Society as a separate entity from LFB.”The brief controversy seemed to have no effect on the evening’s impassioned feel. The crowd left their seats and gathered at the front of the stage when headliners Murder By Death took the mic.“I’ve known about LFB for many years now, and it’s cool because I only live a couple blocks away from here,” Murder By Death lead singer Adam Turla said. “It’s a great thing, and I hope it helps a lot of people.”On stage, Turla and the rest of his band had people clapping along and swaying to the indie rock music. LFB member and sophomore Bridget Borrowdale danced in the back in her usher suit.“I wanted to get involved because it’s a good cause and I love music,” Burrowdale said.A good cause, music and community is exactly what LFB has always been about. “I hope that one day we won’t have to be doing this to feed the hungry. Hopefully, that will not be a problem our society will be facing anymore,” Plenge said. “I think it would be great in upcoming years if LFB could focus on issues such as renewable energy and raising funds for other environmental causes.”With the introduction of LFB’s next director, Brandon Washington, all that is certain is that its directors hope to keep LFB an honorable event for all of the Bloomington community.“I can’t believe it has lasted for 25 years,” Jacobson said. “I wish the best for the 26th year, and I look forward to being invited back to the 30th anniversary.”
(01/20/11 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A room full of cowboy boots and Levi Strauss still left plenty of room for dancing Wednesday night at The Bishop. Dressed in a metallic gold suit with a tan cowboy hat and aviators, Leon Chance and His Long Shots definitely set the tempo with a little thing they liked to call honky tonk. Encouraged by the lively music, swing dancing soon became the center of attention. IU juniors Eric Hutson and Julia Spiegel dance regularly with IU’s Ritmos Latinos Salsa Group but decided to adapt to the night’s performance. “Latin and honky-tonk dance have similar forms if you stretch it a bit,” Hutson said.Even when the music slowed, the crowd’s liveliness resisted and the slow country twang was accompanied by whoops and hollers. Spiegel said even though she came because she was looking forward to the folk genre, she was pleasantly surprised by the honky-tonk band.“I liked them a lot. They looked great and had a fun sense of humor,” Spiegel said. “I appreciated their style.”Taking the stage next, adding a feministic touch with a painted guitar, crocheted strap and a feather in her hair, was Texas’ Amanda Shires. She opened with a delicate ballad with strong lyrics, and the crowd immediately fell quiet as they listened to the folk singer. “Her lyrics were dark but just really honest,” Spiegel said. “I even wrote some down.”The line Spiegel recorded talked about heartache, which seemed to be a focus for Shires.“I guess I would say it’s therapeutic, drinking and sharing things with strangers,” Shires said. Lit in a soft blue light, the now packed room seemed fully engaged as Shires began to pick things up with her fiddle.“Her voice was beautiful. Her songs were really nice,” Hutson said.In fact, the only thing that broke the sound of her songs was the applause in between and a few comical remarks from Shires. “I think my favorite thing about her would be her friendliness towards the audience,” Spiegel said. “She has this genuine camaraderie about her, and the audience was into her so hard.”Shires announced to the crowd that though this was her first time in Bloomington, she had already decided that she wants to move to Bloomington. She also complimented the crowd, saying that they were the handsomest group of people she had ever seen. “It might just be that I am used to toothless people from touring the Southeast, but I have to say that Bloomington has the best-looking people,” Shires said. “People here are just so friendly.” Finishing the night was local artist Aaron Persinger, who first introduced Shires to the Bloomington venue.“Listening to country and folk, I would have to say that the night was very entertaining,” senior Zach Anno said.
(01/19/11 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Lucas Finney, a doctoral student in music at IU, has been playing guitar for 20 years. For 10 of those 20 years, he has also been teaching.“If I’m not playing, I’m teaching,” Finney said. “It’s either one of the two, and both are great.”Finney plays guitar in a local group, the Clayton Anderson Band, which has opened for Kenny Chesney. Lately, though, his time has been focused on a new experiment that involves his passion for teaching.“Teaching is most rewarding whenever you see a beginner start to develop,” Finney said. “It’s a good feeling.”With Finney’s latest project, he plans to teach an intense eight-week beginner guitar course allowing student interaction via webcams. He said his hope is to utilize modern technology and increase his student audience.“There is a lot of new technology and web platforms not being used a lot to interact with a wide audience,“ Finney said. “I’m kind of running a big experiment with this and testing the waters for a guitar webinar.”Freshman guitar player Michael Hoffman said the idea has been attempted before via Skype and YouTube. The difference is that Finney will be making himself available for the viewers’ immediate questions and building a network of about 100 participants.“This will be a great way to meet people with the same interests, and students will be able to hear questions from others, which they might have not thought of on their own,” Finney said.The sessions will consist of weekly half-hour lessons and will be followed by a one to two hour question and answer forum. The sessions will be free and recommended for people in their teens and adults who are interested in beginning guitar. No musical background is necessary; however, if interested, people are suggested to act quickly because there will be a 100-student cap.“This is a completely independent endeavor,” Finney said. “I have set up a website where people can sign up, and those who do not make the cut will be placed on a waiting list.”Since the new course is Finney’s independent campaign, he also wants to talk with anyone who has had experience with guitar and is interested in assisting with the project.“I’d like to get as many people on board with this as I can in order to make online lessons a huge reality and making everything more versatile for both the students and the teachers,” Finney said.Sophomore Chris Thompson has been playing guitar for six years. Though he was self-taught, he said he believes taking a formal class would likely help most people.“It might be hard online if there was a delay or lag with the video streaming,” Thompson said. “However, it would be cool because you wouldn’t have to travel much and you could practice in your own room.”Another benefit of the online approach is that students will be able to go back and view the archived lessons. Finney said he also sees the benefit of online classes for those that live far from guitar educational resources.“As a teacher, I’d really like to see people in rural communities who might not have access to a professional teacher take advantage of this,” Finney said.Finney said his responsibility as a teacher is to be readily available to his students, regardless of their skill levels, and to answer any questions they might have.“I really think that using this technology for a music class is going to be very beneficial since it’s interactive,” Finney said.The class will be at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and will start Feb. 1 and continue through March 22. In order for the “webinar” to be fully effective, mandatory attendance is recommended. “It’s like a personalized virtual meeting room in the capacity of your own home,” Finney said. “I’d like to get as many beginning students as possible and see how it goes.”How to Join: Both interested students and teachers can visit www.guitarfuze.com to register or contact Finney at info@guitarfuze.com.
(01/13/11 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One of the only things indie-rock, opera, comedy and classical piano have in common is Timothy Reed.After transferring from Cleveland State, Reed attended Ohio University to continue his studies in music and liberal arts. Reed moved in with his brother Dan Reed who, along with other members, made up the indie-rock pop band The Creatures.“Our parents were divorced so it was a great time for us to kind of reconnect,” Reed said. “We were a mix between U2 and the Talking Heads and toured all over New England, but we broke up after we ran out of steam.”However, the band’s break up would not be anywhere near the end of Reed’s career in music. After he graduated from Ohio, Reed would later pursue a degree at IU, focusing on opera.“While I was in school, I started to lean more and more towards making my own music,” Reed said. “Eventually, performing my own music won out.”Since that resolution, Reed has dabbled in composing and performing a genre that he claims is a “harmonious blend of classical, new age and pop.” In addition to his career, Reed has also begun sharing his talent with others by teaching piano and voice. This is how he came across Bloomington siblings Lauren, Lilly and Jenna Brown.“My sisters and I had been fans of Tim’s brother’s a cappella group, Monkey Puzzle,” Lilly Brown said. “But my older sister Lauren and I met Tim when he started to give us piano lessons.”Though the sisters were young when they first started lessons, Reed recognized their unique talent and in 2005, Lauren Brown and Reed wrote their first song together. Reed and The Brown Sisters have been working together ever since.“Their voices are flexible in that we are able to cover a lot of different genres,” Reed said. Lilly Brown, current student at Syracuse in New York, said she does not see herself pursuing a professional career in music.However, she likes to keep her creative side active.“The most rewarding part is being able to sing with my sisters,” Brown said. “Growing up, we’d break into harmony all the time, and since we’re on opposite sides of the country now, we rarely get to sing together.”For their latest album, “Euphoric Owls,” Timothy Reed and company will have a CD release performance at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.“‘Euphoric Owls’ is a solo piano CD with voices but no lyrics,” Reed said. “I’ve described the voices as ethereal in that they soar really high as if into an ethereal realm.”However, The Brown Sisters and Reed plan to play some pieces off of their upcoming album, “Carry Me,” which differs from their previous CD because it includes actual lyrics.“In a concert, it is kind of nice to have a variety,” Reed said. “It gives a little something for everyone, and I’ve always had a hard time sticking with all of the same kind of music.”Reed said the night will feature serious songs along with some comedic additives.“One song is about this guy who falls in love with his telemarketer,” Brown said. Along with Reed and The Brown Sisters, Dan Reed, Buff Brown, Ariel Simpson and Brian Allen will perform. For each “Euphoric Owls” CD sold, $1 will be donated to the Monroe/Owen County Chapter of the American Red Cross.“I enjoy just being able to sing and make all different kinds of music,” Reed said. “I hope everybody loves it.”
(01/07/11 1:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Jerry DeCicca was 17, he would drive from Columbus, Ohio to Bloomington all because of a girl. However, during the next decade DeCicca visited Bloomington for a different reason — his band, The Black Swans.“I love Bloomington,” DeCicca, now 36, said. “There always seems to be something happening, and it’s a town all unto itself.”The six-member band has previously played at Bear’s Place and The Bishop, but only two band members will return to The Bishop at 9 p.m. Saturday.“Bloomington’s music scene really has that communal vibe,” guitarist Tyler Evans said.Evans, a former banjo player for the band Super Desserts, will be accompanying DeCicca on the tour.“It was really a logistical thing in that I was in a position in my life to drop everything and just hit the road,” Evans said. “The past two months we have toured the South, Texas and the East Coast.”Evans, 22, is the youngest member and newest addition to The Black Swans. He said he appreciates the experience of the other members.“I’ve never been one to turn down playing music, and since I’m used to playing in rock or indie-pop bands, I’ve learned a lot about other scenes through these guys,” Evans said.The Black Swans have remained loyal to their “weird folk-rock” genre, as DeCicca labels it. From the band’s 2004 debut album “Who Will Walk in the Darkness with You?” to its 2010 release “Words Are Stupid” on Bloomington label St. Ives, the band’s sound has remained constant. However, Evans said the band plans to mix things up a bit with its next release, “Don’t Blame the Stars” in 2011.“This one is a bit more up-tempo, and a lot is written in major keys,” Evans said. “Jerry (DeCicca) also has these spoken interludes which are narrative-like, and that’s probably what’s most distinguishable in the new direction.”DeCicca said the album is special to the band because it features former band member Noel Sayre who passed away in 2008.“Our album planned for April of this year will be the last record my friend ever played on,” DeCicca said.The album’s theme will focus on placing faith in friendship and music instead of a higher power.“It’s always nice when people are listening,” DeCicca said. “I continue to play because I love music, I love writing songs, and I continue to learn more and get better with every performance.”The Black Swans are also looking forward to touring in Europe in the spring.“We’re working with new people, and we have a label that has a wider distribution and that is really enthusiastic about promoting,” Evans said.However, before the band goes overseas, they’ll complete one more tour in the U.S.“We’re heading west,” DeCicca said. “Bloomington will be our first stop.”
(12/02/10 12:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bluebird, named Bloomington’s best venue, has been chirping since 1973 and stealing the title as Bloomington’s Best Music Venue for the past several years, with 2010 being no exception.“Thanks for voting us best,” Bluebird owner Dave Kubiak said. “We are pleased to win.”The Bluebird has been host to a number of musicians throughout the years, also serving Bloomington as a venue and bar. Headlining both local bands and national acts such as John Mayer and Umphrey’s McGee, The Bluebird aims to entertain a number of styles.“We have all genres come through. We’ll take anything that appeals to the college fan base,” Kubiak said. “We’ve had everything from hip-hop, rock and country to reggae and bluegrass.”Senior Sam Glover said The Bluebird’s diversity in taste is what he likes most about the venue; however, there are a number of elements making it a Bloomington favorite.“It’s one of the largest venues, and it’s located in one of the most vibrant parts of downtown,” Glover said. “I think that’s why a ton of people go there.”Kubiak said he agreed with Glover. “The Bluebird is unique because it’s not only located in an historic building, but the energy of the performances are always very high,” Kubiak said. “The crowd seems to be a little bit louder here, and there’s definitely a kind of fun factor.”Junior Tyler Brown described The Bluebird as an “awesome South Beach party in the middle of Indiana.”“Before I turned 21, I’d always check out the marquee for upcoming shows,” Brown said. “It used to make me want to get a fake ID strictly for the music.”Though the venue is often criticized for excluding the younger college crowd, Kubiak said the logistics of the building would simply not allow the separation between the bar and stage. Therefore, it is a law to restrict anyone under the age of 21 to enter the venue. However, some believe the age restriction makes the venue that much more appealing.“Since you can’t get in at that age, when you do finally turn 21, it’s almost automatic — it’s time to go check out the ’Bird,” Glover said.Brown is among the students who decided to include The Bluebird in his 21st birthday plans.“The drinks are great and reasonably priced,” Brown said. “But it also has that atmosphere that creates a great place to listen to music and have a night out with friends.”Fitting the economic and entertainment demands of IU students, the bar’s popularity only continues to grow.“It’s a quick essential bar to hangout and go see live music,” Glover said. “I think it humbly fits between trashy and classy.” Glover said he believes that this mix makes The Bluebird relatable to college students, and Brown said he agreed.“Everything is so upbeat,” Brown said. “It’s the perfect place for college kids.”Looking forward to 2011, The Bluebird’s owner said he hopes to continue to thrive as one of Bloomington’s best venues.“We want to keep the level of entertainment on a consistent basis,” Kubiak said. “We’ll continue to invite music of all genres on the local, regional and national level.”Kubiak said The Bluebird is currently working on a ton of shows for next semester that he believes people will like.“I saw Bone Thugs N’ Harmony and the Nappy Roots this semester, and I will keep checking the line up for next,” said junior Adam Twer. “It’s the perfect place to see live bands.”
(11/19/10 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The store once known as Midwest Discount Knives has a new name and a new prerogative — musical instruments. Now known as Music & Mayhem, the store has relocated to 3872 W. Third St.“Guys tend to think of it as the best of both worlds,” owner Steve Jessie said. “We still sell knives, but we’re now expanding to sell instruments too.”Jessie said he has been playing the guitar and writing songs for more than 30 years. “Music has always been my passion,” he said. “I always wanted to do something to help future generations create an interest too.”It is that passion along with an expired lease that led him to finally make the move and expand the store’s selection. He said he has high hopes for his store.“I always try to promote a generally fun atmosphere — one that is hopefully an asset to the community,” he said. Music & Mayhem is also currently looking to hire a staff that has a strong background in music. “I want to be able to go out of my way for customers by educating them on what to look for when buying a guitar, bass or drum,” Jessie said.Jessie said he is a strong advocate when it comes to music education, and Music & Mayhem looks to support the cause by offering music lessons. “I believe people should learn to read music,” he said. “There’s a difference in teaching someone to play a song and then really giving them the knowledge to do so.”Freshman Michael Hoffman, who is majoring in recording arts, said he also believes education can be an important factor in composition.“Songwriting is still a creative outlet whether you know theory or not,” Hoffman said. “However, with that knowledge comes improvement. Knowledge definitely makes the music more interesting.”Hoffman, who said he has been writing songs and playing guitar for almost nine years, said the ability to read and write music is like learning a universal language. “With it, you can communicate with someone who doesn’t even speak the same language simply through your music,” Hoffman said. Jessie said he also hopes Music & Mayhem will be a venue for young artists, such as Hoffman, to come and play. “I really want Wednesday nights to be dedicated to a session for songwriters,” Jessie said. However, Hoffman said he believes the unique store might push away some customers, and the store might be better if it narrowed its focus. “If you think about it, if people want to play guitar, they want to go somewhere that focuses on only music,” Hoffman said. “I feel like the split concentration is like doing two things half way.”Though Jessie has a vast experience in both fields, he said he does hope to eventually make Music & Mayhem a music-only store.“I really like this community, and I want to stay here,” Jessie said.With an additional store in Nashville, Ind., Jessie said he is considering moving all of the knives to the second location. For now, he encourages everyone to visit the current store.“People should go ahead and check it out,” Hoffman said. “I mean you can’t really judge anything until you’ve been there.”
(11/19/10 4:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Along with cream and sugar, students had music with their coffee at the Indiana Memorial Union Starbucks on Thursday for the Union Board’s second Singer-Songwriter Night. Junior Brant Craft, Live From Bloomington concert coordinator, said the committee hopes to provide students with a coffeehouse environment where artists can convey their message to a crowd.“Our main goal is to give local musicians a place to play and get their name out to people,” Craft said.Opening the evening was 19-year-old Crescent Ulmer.New to Bloomington from her hometown of Avon, Ind., Ulmer said she moved here for the music scene.“It’s a cool town with way more opportunities for music than where I come from,” she said.Ulmer has only been playing guitar for a little more than a year. “She has a great voice,” senior Ian Mathews said. “She reminds me of an early Dave Matthews back when he used to play in malls.”Mathews said he was not aware that it was Singer-Songwriter Night until he saw the flyer; however, he said it was a nice surprise.Other students seemed to enjoy the entertainment as well.One viewer even shouted out “five more, seven more” when Ulmer announced her last song.Following Ulmer was Mark Harper, who played rather political lyrics.“It was a little out there, but as far as the poetry goes, I guess I would say that I was impressed,” junior Anna DeNeve said. “I think it was just not what I’m used to.”After Harper, things seemed to simmer down again as Jessica Russo took the stage.“I might not be as interesting,” Russo said into the microphone in reference to the previous act. “Most of my songs are just about boys and spirituality.”However, the crowd seemed to disagree with her, and by song two, seats were beginning to fill.“She’s introspective, and I want to sing along with it,” DeNeve said. “The lyrics are just something I think we can all relate to.”The last performer, David Gittinger, finished the evening with his Americana set, including a Marvin Gaye cover and an original about the Bloomington Cutters Little 500 team.With the response the singer-songwriter nights are getting, Craft said he hopes Union Board will be able to schedule more.“We are already planning for next semester,” Craft said. Ulmer said as a solo musician she agrees that the idea is great and appreciates the Union Board’s efforts.“I try to write real music. It’s what I love doing,” Ulmer said. “I just hope I can keep getting opportunities to share it with the world.” If anyone is interested in performing, e-mail LFB@indiana.edu.
(11/08/10 5:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sophomore Clayton Blackwell said The Lagoon Brothers is more about a friendship than it is the music.In 2008, Blackwell and Edward Joyner’s hometown of Columbus, Ind., was under water in what many would later call the flood of the century.Both Blackwell and Joyner’s homes were affected by the high waters, but it would later be this experience that would help them to define the next two years of their lives.“We realized we were in the same situation,” Blackwell said. “We started to go down to the lagoon to just stare at the water and talk about simple things that common people would talk about, and really, that’s where it began.”Blackwell said that though the flood took a lot of things away, it really put what’s important into perspective, and it was that idea that inspired the two friends to start making music.“We just started to write songs,” Blackwell said. “It then eventually came down to realizing that we can start playing them at shows.”The folk duo has since been piecing together demos between jobs and school. Though they have yet to release a formal EP, they have a strong song list, which they casually titled, “It’s All Hearsay.” Joyner has also been working on a solo album about Indiana. The band has played shows in Bloomington and plans to play Tuesday at The Bishop along with Austin Hoke and the Mayors and The Natives.“We most look forward to playing our song ‘High Omens,’” Blackwell said. “It’s really a personal song. However, I think everyone who listens can take a piece from it.”The folk band pulls from the member’s own past experiences when writing. However, Blackwell said most of the music can be left open for the listener’s interpretation, and that’s the beauty in it. “The most we could ask is for a crowd that listens to the music and sees it through the lens which it was written but then takes it for something they can relate to,” Blackwell said. Junior Austin Hoke, lead vocalist of Austin Hoke and the Mayors, said he would like a crowd to simply listen, enjoy and dance.Similar to The Lagoon Brothers, Hoke said he likes to focus music around life’s little experiences. Hoke also said he can relate to The Lagoon Brothers in a different way.“We all go to IU now,” Hoke said in reference to the other members of his band. “But we’re all originally from Nashville, Tennessee.”Hoke shared how Nashville was recently affected by a flood as well, leaving many homeless. Though Hoke and the other members were not directly involved with the natural disaster, he said they relate to hometown roots influencing their music.With Hoke having a father who is a professional musician in Nashville, the country capital of the world, Austin Hoke and the Mayors definitely have an evident southern rock and country twist to the band’s otherwisefolk music. “We’re excited about Tuesday’s show,” Hoke said. “I’m really excited about our new song ‘Carnal Arm,’ which we plan to play last in our set.”Along with headlining band The Natives, both The Lagoon Brothers and Austin Hoke and The Mayors look to play a great show.“We hope you sit close, clap along and hopefully want to hear more,” Blackwell said.
(10/24/10 9:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A dim purple light covered the stage in the IU Auditorium as the members of Passion Pit walked out and took their places.This was the only still moment from Saturday’s show, which soon became a charismatic dance party of lights and dancing silhouettes.“It happened with just one band,” freshman Josh Moes said. “Most dance parties have a compilation of a lot of bands and a lot of albums, but they put on a show that everyone could get into the entire time.”The concert was sponsored by Union Board and also featured Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears. With everyone moving to the electric beats, the sounds seemed to amplify throughout the IU Auditorium.“You felt the bass, it was shaking the whole building,” Moes said. “The energy behind everything was just pulsating. It was crazy.”As soon as lead singer Michael Angelakos came on stage, the crowd was hooked.After a little prompting, fans began to clap along, and soon their claps burst into applause.“The best part of the show was when Michael fell to the ground and started rolling around,” freshman Patrick Hennig said. “I love it when musicians freak-out like that.” Echoing the lyrics “tears like diamonds,” Passion Pit engaged fans to sing along to its hit “I’ve Got Your Number,” which was the first song on the band’s first EP “Chunk of Change” in 2008. The band played a number of songs from its new album “Manners,” including the hit “Little Secrets.”Fans went crazy when the set list also included a cover of “Dreams” by the 1990s group The Cranberries. And though the high notes were difficult to sing along with, it didn’t seem to stop anyone from trying.“There was this one kid who was just singing and going crazy the entire time with just out-there dance moves, it was ridiculous,” said Allison Schten, an usher at Saturday’s concert.However, it was obvious that the night’s most anticipated song was the band’s popular single “Sleepyhead.” After the band exited the stage, fans vocalized their approval as “Sleepyhead” chants for an encore were immediately underway.Requests were satisfied when the band finished with “Sleepyhead,” and everyone began to truly let loose.“It was amazing, that moment at the end when they finally played it,” Schten said. “The whole auditorium was jumping up and down, and everyone was rushing to the front. It was really cool.”One complaint of the night was the constraints of the aisles, and by the end, security was overwhelmed by an enthusiastic crowd.“They were just so crazy. One, the music was awesome, and two, I couldn’t not dance,” Hennig said. “I was seriously dancing like crazy, and the worst part of the show was when security had to escort me back to my seat.”Overall, the Boston band provided an atmosphere complete with technicolor lights and techno-synth sounds.“You could just see the whole crowd getting into it,” Schten said. “That was one of the best moments of the year.”
(10/20/10 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Musician Bobby Long never said he wanted to be famous.“I only knew that I wanted to write and play albums and make a living out of it,” he said.Though Long’s initial intentions were not to become famous, people cannot help but to be drawn to his unique sound, and in a way, fame is coming naturally. “I think he’s different than the usual British rock,” junior Amelia Chong said. “He almost reminds me of Sufjan Stevens or Jeff Buckley. It’s easily listened to and everyone likes easy listening.”Though the British musician started playing the guitar at age 17, his work didn’t become widely acknowledged until his song “Let Me Sign” landed a spot on the “Twilight” soundtrack. Long has been brewing quite the fan base ever since. “The celebrity stuff freaks me out a bit,” Long said. “People came up to me in New York because they recognized me, and I’m just like wow that’s bizarre.” But people do not have to be a Twilight fan to appreciate his music.“I don’t watch ‘Twilight’ but as far as the soundtrack goes, Paramore and the other artists kind of have this dark, rock, alternative sound,” Chong said, “In that mix, his lighter folk sound stands out.”Currently, Long is working on his debut album, ”A Winter Tale,” which is set to release on Feb. 1, 2011. The record was produced by Grammy winner Liam Watson.After the “Twilight” soundtrack, Long’s market seems to appeal to the “Twilight” fan tweens. However, Long said he hopes that his music will get a positive response from college-aged groups as well.“The album is something I am proud of,” Long said. “I hope I have created something that doesn’t falter, fade or become forgotten. I want to create a lasting impression.” As of Oct. 18, Long began his North American tour where he hopes to promote his upcoming album. “I’ve always wanted to come over here,” Long said. “It’s such a big country and everything is just so different. I really like the south.” Long will perform with Michael Franti & Spearhead at 8 p.m. today at Bluebird Nightclub. Chong said she believes Long will do well in Bloomington. “Bloomington markets itself as a very artsy place,” Chong said. “Folk music reminds me of fall and nature, and that’s the vibe here. All around it’s a very chill sound which people will like.” Long said he plans on playing some of his new songs including “Isis Take Me Home.”“It’s always nice playing new songs, it’s fresh and enlightening,” Long said. “If you’re enjoying what you play, so will other people.”
(10/20/10 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since Bloomington was always on Justin Vollmar’s “cultural map” in college and after graduation, it just made sense that he would make it his permanent home. His music, on the other hand, will always be rooted in his hometown of West Virginia. “The town is on two rivers, the Kanawha and the Ohio,” Vollmar said. “Some of my recent songs have to do with the rivers there.”Vollmar has been writing songs since he was 16 years old. Ten years ago, he started his own band self-titled Vollmar. Though he sometimes plays with band members Nathan Vollmar and David Brant, he usually plays as a solo act. Now celebrating eleven years of performing, Vollmar is continuing to tour including a show here in his current residence of Bloomington at 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop.“The best part about playing in your own town is that after a show you can be home and in bed within thirty minutes,” Dylan Metrano of Tiger Saw said. Tiger Saw, Michael Bushman from Redbird, and Winter Sons will be joining the folk band Vollmar Thursday. “The Bishop usually has a pretty attentive crowd,” Vollmar said. “I’ve seen a lot of different crowds but people here appreciate the arts. They know what they want to see, and that’s what they come to see.” Vollmar also said he is excited to play with the other bands including Michael Bushman and Tiger Saw whom he has played with before. Metrano is looking forward to reconnecting as well. “We’ve played in Bloomington before, and we played with Vollmar,” Metrano said. “I really like the directness in their approach and sensitivity in their lyrics. It’s easy to take in being not too obscure but well-crafted.”Vollmar said he is often thrown into the folk category, but all he is really looking to do is ”present his own voice.” Metrano said Tiger Saw has complementary goals. “I think we are doing similar things,” Metrano said. “We’re exploring and creating quiet music with stories in them.”Along with promoting Tiger Saw’s new album “Nightingales,” which will be in stores Nov. 2, Metrano said he is excited to just travel — visiting place old and new.Vollmar also plans to play some songs off of his current album “Tell the Dirt.” However, he said he hopes to incorporate some covers as well.“I might cover a song originally done by Ben Richter called ‘Breakfast Nook’ which is about a man who writes a book called ‘Breakfast Nook’ and then has a nervous breakdown when a pretty woman asks him to sign it for her,” Vollmar said. “I think its great and very catchy. It’s the perfect opportunity for audience participation.” Overall, Metrano and Vollmar just hope to share their music with Bloomington. “Hopefully we play a decent set, enjoy the evening and meet some friends,” Vollmar said.