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Broad Ripple Random Ripplings
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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v08n17)
Buzzing Around Town - by Nora Spitznogle
posted: Aug. 19, 2011
Between my love of music and the Indiana State Fair, some of my favorite times have been leaning against the Grandstand stage at the State Fair waiting for a show concert to start. As you know, I typically write about the smaller shows - the ones that happen in living rooms and church basements and front porches and midsize venues.
I occasionally get to write and shoot photographs with the big kids. I always appreciate the generosity of the Indiana State Fair media team in granting me a photo pass for the Grandstand shows.
As is typical with most big acts, the photographers are allowed to the photo pit, right in front of the stage, before the show starts. Traditionally you get to shoot the first three songs the band plays and then they hustle you out of the way.
I remember being just giddy with excitement before the Rick Springfield show last year. It was a great feeling standing there, photographing one of my teen crushes, on the grounds of my beloved State Fair and getting to publish the photos for others to see. Doesn't get much better than that for this farm girl.
I know that all of the folks that work in the business of live music have the same passion. Although the musicians are the main attraction, it literally takes a village to produce a show. There are the stagehands that set the stage and the backdrops and carry the gear, the sound technicians that make everything sound good in all corners of the room/stadium/outdoor venue, the lighting crews that climb up the rigging to make sure the lights hit the right spot every time, and the security people that make sure no one gets hurt during the show. And the fans - the people who love the music and everything that goes with it.
The tragic accident at the Grandstand Stage took the lives of some of that village.
The Indianapolis music community is incredibly tight knit. Once word got out about the accident, folks were texting and calling and tweeting to check on each other. The bad news started rolling in pretty quickly. And the news of heroic efforts Hoosiers made in lifting the trusses that had crashed on the stage to free the people trapped and the folks caring for each other, came quickly too.
As tragic as it was, it reminded me of why I love the State Fair and the music community. As Governor Daniels reminded us, "There was a hero every ten feet on Saturday night."
The State Fair folks canceled the Fair the next day. Which was absolutely the right thing to do. We all needed time to process. The Fair would reopen with a Remembrance Ceremony the next day.
It was eerie walking in to the Fairgrounds Monday morning. The familiar sounds of laughter and midway rides and tractors and animals was replaced by solemn silence.
I thought they did a marvelous job with the ceremony. I was struck by how appropriate it was that State Fair Queen, Sara Lynn Alford did not wear her crown. Husband and wife team Steven and Amanda Potaczek of the band 1000 Generations sang their original song Fail Us Not.
Governor Daniels, First Lady Cheri Daniels and Lt. Governor Skillman gave moving talks lauding the heroics of the audience. My burst-into-tears moment was when the Pioneer Village volunteers formed a funeral parade with antique tractors and bunting on their wagons.
My laugh-out-loud moment came after I learned that the Pioneer Village folks had "borrowed" the black tablecloths to make the bunting from a catering site on the Fairgrounds.
The accident reminds us that we're all part of music community. Hug a stagehand next time you go to a show.
The funeral parade at the fair.
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
image courtesy of Nora Spitznogle
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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