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Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v07n04)
Buzzing Around Town - by Nora Spitznogle
posted: Feb. 19, 2010
I must start with an apology. Have you ever wanted something so badly you changed the details in your head to make it fit? I did that with the Saint Valentine's Day Eve show the Northside News Café. Cara and Tad and Stasia and Pholly played on Saturday, not on Friday as I reported in the last issue. I hear the show was great - I was flipping burgers and slinging beer at the Red Key that night.
Previews:
Kate Lamont and Devon Ashley (music)
Mike Graves and Justin Cooper (art)
Friday, February 27, 2010
Indy Hostel - 4903 Winthrop Avenue
7:30 gallery opening, free, all-ages, non-smoking
8:30 music, $7, all-ages, non-smoking
The Hostel is combining a terrific art show with a great concert. The gallery opens at 7:30 and the music starts at 8:30.
Mike Graves has been producing art (and music) in Indianapolis for the last 15 years. He uses a wide range of media and subject matter to create diverse pieces. His works portray an intense image-maker, illustrator and painter showing the real to the surreal. "I think of my work as a free flowing experiment in motion. Utilizing collage elements, painting and mixed media, my mission is to produce work which will relate to and inspire the modern mind."
The very talented Kate Lamont will release her first solo album After the Traffic next month. You might recognize her from her varied projects, Mad Lab, Blueprint Music and the Undefeatable Beats. Kate has a gorgeous voice whether she's singing trip-hop or something bluegrassy. She refers to the new album as a minimalist collection of piano-based songs. I don't know Kate very well, but she also strikes me as one of the kindest souls in the music community. I'm thrilled for her that she has a record all her own. I look forward to hearing it. She'll be joined by the talented percussionist, Devon Ashley. Devon has drummed his way across the world - we're happy to have him play in our little corner.
Mustard Plug, Lockstep, Like Bats, and One Punch Knockout
Saturday, February 27, 2010
ES Jungle 6151 Central Avenue
7:00-11:00 pm, $10, all-ages, non-smoking
Okay, I'll say it up front - the band name Mustard Plug intrigues me, is a gross way. I'm not a big mustard user so when I annually grab the bottle from the fridge, invariably the tip is jammed with crusty mustard and, well, you can picture the rest. I think that naming bands must be way harder than naming children. After all, it's acceptable to have a bunch of kids named Silas running around but two bands with the same name is trouble. It was only a matter of time before a band was named Mustard Plug.
This is not Mustard Plug's first at time in the ES Jungle, they were a big hit before. They will be joined by local bands Lockstep, Like Bats, and One Punch Knockout.
If you haven't been to a show at ES Jungle you're in for a treat. It's exactly the kind of venue you picture for all ages shows in a basement. There is a low stage, plenty of room to either dance or stand with a smattering of sofas around the room and parents hanging in the back of the room. I've been to some great shows there - check it out.
Reviews:
I didn't get the chance to see any music in the last two weeks - unless you count the band playing in the hotel in the Bahamas (I just had to throw that in) and I goofed up on the date of the show I'd really been looking forward to (see apology above). So I'll pick back up where we left off at the Austin City Limits Festival in October. We're up to day two of the three day event.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Austin City Limits Festival
Where we left off: I had a photo pass for the show which means that I got to be in the photo pit, right in front of the bands for the first three songs of their set. I quickly caught on to the etiquette and rules of the pit. Almost everyone was great and helpful, and I spent the first day mostly trying to stay out of the way of the "real" photographers and their thousands of dollars of equipment. I had my extra lens in a pouch clipped to my over-the-shoulder Marigold bag and an extra memory card. The other guys (I say guys because the photog ratio was about 90% men, not that I was complaining) had two or three cameras and bags full of lenses and little step stools and accessories.
I didn't want the story of Saturday to be about the rain, but it was raining. Hard. For a long time. I soon discovered that it leveled the field in the photo pit. For one thing the pit was a pit. Mucky and muddy. Luckily I'd hauled boots with me and all of our camera equipment looked the same under trash bags with holes poked in them for the lens to stick out. We looked like a classy bunch. None of were as concerned with keeping ourselves dry as we were about the equipment.
The first show I hit was Deer Tick. I'd just seen the charming lads the month before at Locals Only. They did a great job and I was thrilled to be among thousands of folks watching them instead of standing with fifty other people.
With liberal stops to the media tent for drying off, well it was not so much drying off as sluicing the water from my poncho, I saw The Felice Brothers, Mute Math and Grizzly Bear. It was really pouring by the time Flogging Molly started.
Flogging Molly in the rain at ACLF.
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
The American Celtic punk band joked that the weather reminded them of a nice day in Ireland. They played an intense set to a very soggy crowd. I'm a bit of a worrier and I was concerned about the rain/electric instrument mix but everyone was okay.
I hated to go back to the media area between bands but it was the only way to half-way get the water off and dry off the camera. The area had a few open tents in the middle so we'd all crowd under them for a few minutes until the water that was pooled at the top splattered on us.
With a quick stop at the. . . And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead set I walked to the big stage where The Levon Helm Band was playing. Levon Helm is a rock icon (drummer for The Band) who has been a part of the rock scene since there's been a scene. He'll be 70 this year and has survived throat cancer. He now hosts The Midnight Rambler Sessions at his home studio in Woodstock featuring live performances by the likes of Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello.
I loved every second of Levon Helm's set. He sounded great and looked genuinely happy. His drum kit was at the front of the stage and he kept looking out on the crowd and laughing. And the sun came out during is set. We were all able to peel of a few layers of plastic and sloshed out of the photo pit laughing.
Levon Helm
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
I swung by The Decemberists set to check out the Portland, OR indie band. They are worthy of all of the buzz. Lush songs layered with accordion, organ and upright bass played by ethereal pretty youngsters. What's not to like?
I was starting to get nervous about my next photo gig. Having a photo pass did not get you automatic entry to all of the stages, some bands required extra credentials. In a cocky moment back in Indianapolis I applied for all of them. All of the applications asked for concert photo samples so I sent photos from the Indiana State Fair tractor parade. I almost fell over when I saw my name on all of the photo lists but one (Pearl Jam). Either no one looks at that stuff or they had a sense of humor.
And that is how I came to have a photo pass for Dave Matthews. I'll put it right out there. I'm not a rabid Dave Matthews fan. I don't dislike him, I've just never been tempted to go to a concert or buy a CD or tee shirt. And now I was standing just five feet from the stage where the extra beefy security dudes went over the rules with us. Which were basically the same rules (no flash, only shoot during the first three songs) as everywhere else but delivered by someone that I was sure could pick me up with one hand.
Dave Matthews
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
All of the stages had a dedicated place for the photographers to enter. I soon learned that "stage left" was my right. Not that I'm real handy with the left/right thing. The big stage had an awkward entrance. First of all it was the opposite side of the other eight stages and it was tucked against a beer vendor, and rows of Porta Potties. Add that thousands of people had been waiting for hours in the rain to see Dave Matthews and getting to the entrance was no picnic. Luckily I'd given myself half an hour to make the five minute walk and I got there with just a few minutes to spare.
Photographers
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
All twenty of us were herded into the pit just in time for the rain to start again. I talked to some fans that had been staking out their spot for twelve hours! I offered to take their photo with their camera and soon I was handed dozens of cameras. Just as I was wondering if I'd broken some sort of cool photographer code I noticed some of the other guys doing it too.
Once the music started I came to have a new appreciation of Dave Matthews. He's good at what he does and plays like he's enjoying himself. And watching the crowd was a treat. Tens of thousands of people twirly dancing and singing along was amazing.
Once the three songs were over the security dudes literally pushed us out. I was already packed up and near the entrance when the group toppled in to a sudden stop. There was no way out. The crowd was blocking the entrance. Behind us were beefy guys yelling, "out!" In front of us were drunken barefooted fans pushing us back.
My timid, just hang back and observe the photo pit days were over and my years of waitressing instinct kicked in. "Camera's up!," I yelled, holding mine over my head like a cocktail tray and I snaked us over the people through the beer tent (with a polite, "excuse us please") and behind the potties. When we finally popped out behind the crowd we stood in the rain and laughed and high-fived. I felt like one of the gang.
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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