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Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
The news from Broad Ripple
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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v05n24)
Buzzing Around Town - by Nora Spitznogle
posted: Nov. 21, 2008
Happy Anniversary to me! Three years, seventy-eight columns, hundreds of bands and over 150,000 words. And I think I've only turned the piece in by the official deadline once. So Alan-here's to a new year and new habits.
My life has changed in the time I've been writing Buzzing Around Town. I'm now the director of operations for Second Helpings. I purchased the house I've been living in for the last twelve years, my home now has Internet access - I now longer have to stand outside the Northside News to transmit my column and I've gone from being the "worst photographer" Alan's ever seen to half-way decent.
A good chunk of my life is the same. I still work at the Red Key most Saturdays and Marigold one Sunday a month. I still drive the same truck, have the same cat and love living in the neighborhood.
Some really cool things have happened because of the column. I'm now freelancing for NUVO - and had a cover story in May. I got to attend the Austin City Limits Festival with a press pass. Most importantly I've met tons of cool people who keep this music community rolling - musicians, soundmen, venue owners, promoters, bartenders and doormen. The other music writers have been helpful and kind. I vote on the Top Ten Live list every week and Queen Bee is a reoccurring character in the Barfly comix. In fact I'm going to be a little braggy and tell you that I was the subject of Wayne "Barfly" Bertsch Heroes of the Scene series last week. I'm still all giddy and blushy.
It's been a great three years, thanks for being part of it. Now, on to the music. . .
Reviews
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Monumental Marathon
The first-ever Monumental Marathon was a great success. The run benefited several IPS programs. I want to thank all of the people who got out and cheered on the runners, hosted entertainment and played. I heard from several runners that the stretch through Meridian-Kessler and Broad Ripple Village were the best on the 26-ish mile route.
I loved the scene around Mile 11 on 5600 block of Washington Boulevard. The very generous Altemeyer family loaned their front porch for entertainment and rallied the block to get out a cheer. And the Long's doughnut was delicious also, although it felt weird to be munching on a pastry as marathoners were running by.
The talented metal band, Condemned played on the porch. They were loud and good and perfect for an early Saturday morning. The band is made up of Chatard students Alex Koch, Corey Sauer and Drew Schroeder. In case you're wondering how an electric rock band mixed with Meridian-Kessler neighbors, the answer is: beautifully. Both groups have volunteered to do it next year.
I loved it also. I actually got all misty standing on the street watching it all unfold. We do live in the best neighborhood. Thanks Teresa, Alex, Corey and Drew and all of the other musicians and all of the other makeshift venues.
Holiday Preview Night
Broad Ripple Village
Marigold, Corner Wine Bar, Wine Cellar, Upper Room
Friday, November 14, 2008
I started out the evening by working at Marigold, which is always a blast. It reminds of when Mom convinced us kids that it was more fun to be home greeting trick-or-treaters than going out ourselves. And she was right, it is cool to be all dressed up and be a hostess. Everyone was in a festive holiday mood in spite of the cruddy weather.
After work Linda and Elizabeth Shikany and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Corner Wine Bar. The tomato soup rocks, perfect cold night. During dinner we could hear the melodic sounds of Touch of Grass wafting from the Wine Cellar below.
After dinner I headed downstairs to hear the band. The room was packed - and with good reason. The very talented Touch of Grass was playing sing-along favorites. The band is made up of a core group of very talented musicians with special guests rotating in. You can catch them every Friday and Saturday. The Wine Cellar is a cozy nonsmoking room. And all of the food and drinks from the Corner Wine Bar are served down there also.
I stopped at the Upper Room on my way home - it really was on the way. Finest Grain was playing. The duo, Sean Jackson and Kent Vernon play together beautifully. They play a great mix of originals songs and cover tunes. In fact I got to see them play twice in twelve hours. Ameriana Bank is playing local music in all of their banks and Finest Grain is one of three artists' they choose. They played at the Fishers bank opening the next day along with Tad Armstrong and Lani Williams.
Finest Grain at the Upper Room.
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
Jason Wilber
Fields of Bluegrass House Concert Series
Sunday, November 16, 2008
It's house concert season-yippee! Cyndi's soup and Jason Wilber were a perfect way to end the weekend. I clearly remember the first time I saw Jason perform. It was the Elbow Room and he was playing with Tim Grimm. CATH Inc. wasn't really doing music yet, but I boldly wrote a note on his mailing list saying that I managed a coffeehouse if he ever wanted to play there. Next thing you knew there were 50 people crammed into CATH.
Jason Wilbur and Norbert Krapf.
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
Jason played the night before with John Prine at the IU Auditorium. Jason said that he hadn't been on that stage since his high school graduation. He has been playing with John for thirteen years and it was the first time they'd played in Bloomington.
Jason is a terrific songwriter and storyteller. One of my favorite things about house concerts is that you usually get to hear about how the song was inspired and the process behind song writing. Jason was very generous with telling us his inspirations. Some songs start with a spark and others take years to finish.
His songs cover a lot of ground, both musically and subject wise. He writes ballads, Americana and sing-along pop tunes. He sang about circus romance, fishing, Great-Uncle Jim, possible SCUBA foul play and lazy afternoons. Not all at once, of course. His guitar playing is very melodic and wonderful to listen to.
Our own Indiana poet laureate, Norbert Krapf recited his wonderful poetry during the break. Norbert's prose for the evening was focused on Indiana's farm heritage - red barns, fiddlers, milking music and cows on New York Street. It was perfectly lovely.
I went home with a head full of good cheer and a belly full of banana bread. A good evening indeed.
The Tonic Ball
November 21, 2008
The King vs. Queen - $20, 7:00, nonsmoking
Radio Radio - 21+ / Fountain Square Theatre - all ages
Tonic Ball night is by far my favorite night of the year. Sorry July 4th, birthday and Christmas - you guys are all in second place. Speaking of second-the show benefits Second Helpings.
The premise is this: each band will play two songs. The first song covering the artist of the room - either the King (Elvis Presley) or Queen and the second one of their own. You can travel between both venues (if you're 21) on the same ticket. It is definitely a rock show, jeans are fine.
Without further ado, here is the line up:
Elvis stage (Fountain Square Theater)
7:00 The Turnipseeds
7:15 Luke Austin Daugherty
7:30 Fair and Square
7:45 Susan and The Desperate Seekers
8:00 We're Not Squibnocket
8:15 The Innate
8:30 CW and The Working Class Trio
8:45 Brian Deer
9:00 Creepin' Charley
9:15 Bars and Tone
9:30 Sanuk
9:45 Jennie De Voe
10:00 Frankie Camaro's Atomic Bombay
10:15 Mandy Marie & The Cool Hand Lukes
Queen stage (Radio Radio)
8:00 The Misprintz
8:20 Mars or the Moon
8:40 The Odyssey Favor
9:00 Everest
9:20 Jeff Byrd and The Wingmen
9:40 Bigger Than Elvis
10:00 We're Not Squibnocket
10:20 The Common
10:40 Retromeo
11:00 Yoko Moment
12:20 Dale Lawrence
11:40 Vess Ruhtenberg
mid Everything Now!
12:20 Red Light Driver
I didn't know much about the band Bars and Tone, so I asked band member (and Second Helpings volunteer) about the history of the band. Here's his story.
"I guess you could say that we really got our start doing jazz worship at Jazz, Jeans and Jesus, a service put on by Northminster Presbyterian church. That was under the leader ship of another Tim, Tim Moore. During that time we worked with local legendary bassist Mingo Jones who taught us, a bunch of 40ish white guys, to swing. It all lasted for a summer. But, when it was over, John, Mike and I wanted to keep going. So after that came Tim Taylor and Friends, the core of the band being me on drums, Mike Freese on piano and John Scofield on sax and guitar. Most recently, my son Matt has joined us on bass. All of us have played in various rock bands over the years, but we're big jazz and blues fans, so we put a group together mostly to play standards.
"Last year Ken [Honeywell, Tonic Ball founder] invited us to play for Tonic Ball on the Madonna stage. We wanted to put our own stamp on a Madonna song so we did Material Girl as a swing. This year we've got the same group back plus P.J Yinger on trumpet and Trevor Williams on trombone. Given the material, Elvis tunes, we wanted a group big enough to be a tribute to Elvis's brand of rock n' roll while being true to our jazz roots.
"This sounds like a lot of hooey and it is for the most part. We play because we like to. The band name comes from the fact that John and I are both producers in film and video and we're used to the term "Bars and Tone," which comes from a reference to color bars and audio tones at the start of any video recording.
"We love playing for Tonic Ball because it's a terrific fund raiser for a terrific cause. Our charts are put together by Bill Mallers and as he puts it, "Everyone is pro-food.
"Also, Tonic does such a great job of making the musicians feel appreciated and valued."
Thanks Tim-I'm looking forward to hearing you guys again.
I hope to see everyone at Tonic Ball. I'll be the one running around like a nut with a big goofy grin plastered on my face.
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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