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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v03n13)
Buzzing Around Town - by Nora Spitznogle
posted: Jun. 30, 2006
Reviews
The Stills
Luna Music-Midtown
5202 N. College Ave
Monday, June 19, 2006
The Stills are one of the hot "The" bands (The Damwells and The Strokes) The Montreal band, known for their post-punk sound played an acoustic set at Luna Music.
The core of the band has known each other since the age of 12 and formed The Stills in 2000. They were soon recording and touring the UK and North America. This year they released their latest CD, Without Feathers, and are on the road to support it. Their sound on this record is rootsy and robust, a departure from their usual new-wave sound.
I really like in-store performances. It is a great chance to see a band play a stripped-down version of their rock show. At this show, I was enjoying the crowd just as much as the music. The Stills were playing at Birdy's later that evening, so this was the one chance these under 21 year-olds had to see them. I think most of the group wanted a full-out show, and I got the idea they had not heard the new record yet. Combine that with the band not feeling comfortable playing their older tunes unplugged and I got the feeling that this was the first realization for some people that bands are not human juke-boxes.
The thunderstorm was the perfect backdrop for the introspective songs. As an old-punk rocker, I loved The Stills' previous record, but I know Without Feathers will spend a lot more time in my CD player.
The Impalas
Meridian Kessler Twilight Tour
56th & Pennsylvania
Friday, June 23, 2006
The Twilight Tour is the kick-off for the MKNA Home Tour, and the theme for the party was Viva Las Vegas. The Impalas were a great choice for the event. They played classic cover tunes: James Brown, Van Morrison, The Commodores and Stray Cats, to name a few. Singers Mike Wiltrout and Jamie Ridpath did a great job integrating the theme and the crowd. The band features a three-piece horn section, and their enthusiasm and energy were infectious.
Joel Henderson and Joel Weir
Indy Hostel
4903 Winthrop Ave
Saturday, June 24, 2006
It felt a bit like a family reunion for me. Both Joels had played at CATH. Henderson had even recorded a song for his EP, High Risk, at the coffeehouse.
Newlywed Henderson was full of new songs and old favorites. He is now living in Louisville, KY and is getting radio play there. This gig was Joel Weir's third show of the day. He'd played two Farmers' Markets and was happy to play to a more traditional crowd. I always enjoy hearing about the songs and the banter between songs.
Susan Cowsill
The Upper Room
Above The Broad Ripple Steak House
June 24, 2006
Susan found Broad Ripple a welcoming shelter from Hurricane Katrina (BRG Volume 2 #19). She sought refuge here in the post-hurricane chaos, and was happy to be back in Broad Ripple under better circumstances.
Susan is the youngest member of the iconic pop family band The Cowsills. The Cowsills enjoyed great success in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The family was offered a television series, but the producers had already cast the mother, so the family declined. The show? The Partridge Family. The Cowsills disbanded in the early 1970's - the boys had grown up, and the constant touring had taken a toll on the family finances.
Susan eventually joined the Continental Drifters. She spent 10 years with the band, touring extensively, recording several critically acclaimed albums, winning awards and starting a family. Susan and her husband, drummer Russ Broussard, left the band in 2002 and stayed in New Orleans.
Susan finally had the chance to begin her solo career. Her songs are introspective and full of history. The beautiful Crescent City Snow was recorded this year, just one of the songs she says are lined up patiently waiting to be finished. The song is full of hope for New Orleans, recalling good memories and fun times. It also includes a favorite joke "I can tell you where you got those shoes." I guess the Broad Ripple bridge kids didn't make that up. Her record Just Believe It was released in Europe in 2004 and in the States October 11 of last year, after the hurricane.
Susan and Russ are now back in "beautiful, soulful, limpin'-along-like-a-dog-that-got-hit-by-a-car New Orleans. But we're putting a REALLY big cast on it." They are leaving their beloved town for a two-month tour of the Midwest and East Coast.
Susan's touring band is made up of husband Russ and Indianapolis favorites Tad Armstrong and Aaron Stroup. Tad and Aaron most recently played together in the band Middletown. Tad is squeezing the tour in between gigs with his current band, The Benders. Aaron relocated to Austin, TX, last year and has spent the last eight months working in a New Orleans relief kitchen.
Broad Ripple was the third stop on their tour and they sounded great. Tad and Aaron's talents are a good fit with Susan and Russ. Tad and Susan's voices harmonize well, and Aaron's guitar playing adds a great deal to Susan's songs. The band also played some Middletown favorites, including crowd favorite 1000 Magic Fingers.
It was nice to see the newly remolded Upper Room full of musicians and music fans.
Previews
Sam Shaber
Boulevard Place
4155 Boulevard Place
Friday, June 30, 2006 - 7:30pm
All ages, non-smoking, $8
Sam spends a good chunk of the year touring. She made CATH coffeehouse (and my sofa) her Indianapolis home.
Sam is an award winning (John Lennon and Billboard) songwriter known for her driving melodies, smart lyrics and soaring voice. Shawn Mullins, recording artist (Lullabye is his radio-friendly pop hit) and producer is so impressed with Sam that he produced her latest studio album eighty numbered streets.
Sam recorded her latest CD live, in my bones in Chicago this winter. She played a whole show of fan requests - the set list was dictated by the crowd. She spent a whirlwind day in Indianapolis getting the CD mixed and mastered. I'm not exactly sure what mixing and mastering involves, but I do know that Sam was excited when she landed at my house that evening.
Some Sam history: she is the daughter of the late screenwriter David Shaber (The Warriors, Nighthawks) and artist Alice Shaber. She married last year and relocated from hometown NYC to LA. She is funny and has a great observational eye, which are reflected in her songs.
Local favorite Leisl Downey will open the show.
Not-for-profit director by day, music writer by night, Nora Spitznogle reviews music that happened and previews music and events around Broad Ripple Village. Nora managed CATH Inc coffeehouse at 54th Street and College Avenue for seven years. During that time she hosted hundreds of local and touring musicians, both at the coffeehouse and her home. When CATH closed in 2004 and the music was no longer coming to her, she had to wander from her corner of Broad Ripple to see what is happening elsewhere. You can find her at Second Helpings during the work day, waitressing at the Red Key on Saturday nights and prowling Broad Ripple music venues the rest of the time. Visit Nora's Web site nora-leona.blogspot.com, send any questions, comments or suggestions to Nora@BroadRippleGazette.com
nora@broadripplegazette.com
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