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Upcoming shows for March/April

Kristina — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:37:41 +0000

It’s a packed week and tight space, so Oscars aren’t the only ones bumping up in contenders for your attention. Here’s what’s coming up concert-wise and event-wise in the coming months.

MARCH
NOW – “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” at IU Auditorium.
3 – Pattern is Movement, at the Bishop.
5 – Magnetic Fields, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6 – Carrie Newcomer (CD release), at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6-13 – Pit Stop Music Marathon, various locations.
14 – Young Widows, Phantom Family Halo, at the Bishop.
18-20: Tim Wilson, at the Funny Bone.
23 – Woods / Real Estate, at The Bishop.
23 – Yo-Yo Ma, at IU Auditorium.

25 – Cave Singers, at the Bishop.
26 – Javelin, Totally Michael, at the Bishop.
27 – Citay, at the Bishop.
**27 – Collective Soul, at French Lick.
27 – Girl Talk, Murat, Indianapolis.
29 – David Bazan, Headlights, at The Bishop.
31 – Joanna Newsom, White Antelope, Robin Pecknold, at Buskirk-Chumley.

APRIL
2 – The Strange Boys, at the Bishop.
2 – Fanfarlo w/ Robert Francis, Lawrence Arabia, at the Bluebird.
5 – Henry Rollins, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6 – The XX, JJ, Nosaj Thing, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
7 – Dark Dark Dark, at the Bishop.
**9 – REO Speedwagon, at French Lick.
10 – Joe Jack Talcum and the Powders, at Rhino’s.
13 – Lonnie Smith, Bishop
13 – Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Mike Adams, Magical Beautiful, at Russian Recording.
18 – Rogue Wave, at the Bluebird.
19 – Martin Sheen, at IU Auditorium.
**22 – The Flaming Lips, IU Auditorium (Little 500 show)
23 – “Fruits of Labor” CD/book release, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
**24 – Indigo Girls, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
28 – Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, at the Buskirk-Chumley.

MAY
26 – Tallest Man on Earth, at the Dome House.

JUNE
14 – Mumford and Sons, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, at the Bluebird.
26 – Tortoise, at the Bishop.

Live from Kirkwood

Kristina — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:24:03 +0000

Downtown passersby may notice something unusual about the Buskirk-Chumley’s marquee this weekend. As part of ArtsWeek and a followup to its event, the Dirt Song Collective will take over the sign at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. During the two-hour public performance art pieces, messages will come and go, as well as stage directions, on the sign that holds only 22 characters at a time. (Take that, Twitter.) Instead of pointing to performances, the marquee will become the stage and the public the performers. Dirt Song Collective artists include Tim Andreae, Catherine Bowman, Mark Harrison and Daniel Peltz. Says Bowman, Ruth Lilly Professor of Poetry at the IU Department of English and the group’s founder: “Our hope is too heighten and gently provoke perceptions of the immediate environment, if only in the slightest way by asking those on foot or driving by to, for example, sound out a spontaneous love note to the traffic or in three minutes notice three kinds of impacts.”

“Symphony of the Dead” film screens at IU

Kristina — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:41:33 +0000

Here’s something unique that Ryder viewers can see on the IU campus this weekend. It’ll be like a concert at Auer or the MAC, but not quite.

The opening credits for “Elect the Dead Symphony” roll. An orchestra queues up as the lights dim. Dressed in a white suit, Serj Tankian walks out onto the stage, stepping up to the mic like an opera singer. And at times, his soaring voice makes you forget he’s the frontman for hard rock group System of A Down, or that his lyrics and melodies aren’t quite the normal classical music fare.

On his “Elect the Dead” solo debut, Serj mixes elements of psychedelia, classical and surrealism with skewed time signatures, and you can definitely trace back to SOAD days. While this is decidedly a rock album, the “Symphony” concert takes it to a whole new level. The sweeping scores, arranged by Serj specifically for the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, capture the energy and scope of Serj’s songs. They’re sprinkled throughout with hard-driving political and social commentary on the world today. The two-hour film unfolds like a unique, special concert that the Auckland audience is sharing with us after their excitement and cheers swell and fade. And cry “encore.” You can hear the rock influences in the repertoire, but nary a single electric guitar or hard driving drumbeat. From “Sky Is Over” and “The Unthinking Majority” to “Money,” “Feed Us” and “Beethoven’s C***,” Serj’s words come through with the help of violins, triangles, horns, clarinets, and of course, his powerful (at times intentionally very nasal) vocals.

Saul Williams writes on Serj’s official site that the “Lebanese-born Armenian-American poet gone wild has blossomed beyond voice and hair into true fire and brimstone, melodic visionary perched on a cannonball soaring light speed through the heavens.” On his solo project, Warner Bros artist and Grammy winner Serj plays “just about every instrument” and “shows more range than the US Missile System.” His debut project showcases his frantic inventiveness as first seen via SOAD; this film is yet another step in that refreshing direction.

The numbers pass and the show ends on a powerful, singalong note. You won’t find much in the way of behind-the-scenes documentary style, though; this not “This Is It.” For curious instrumentalists and musicians and classical enthusiasts, as well as hard/alt-rock fans, you might find “Dead” to be quite lively.

A hearty dose of events for Valentines, Mardi Gras

Kristina — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:55:34 +0000

Bloomington offers almost as much variety for the holiday as a Hallmark card stand. Here’s what you can find this week (not even going into NEXT week’s V-day events…).
On another note, I (Kristina Wood) am transitioning over from the arts desk to the night desk, where I will handle news on the local, national or world level, depending on my shift. (I doubt I’ll ever address the online audience as “nation” in a Web video, though.) It has been great covering the scene over the last 10 years and working with you all. Now, onto the list:

Pay it forward
Sunday — Valentine’s Day Canvass for Hoosier Hill’s Food Bank. Join Volunteers for Change canvassing to benefit Hoosier Hill’s Food Bank as they go door to door collecting donations. Meet up at 1 p.m. at Rachael’s Cafe.
Meanwhile, from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, the Players Pub and Curtis Cantwell Jackson host a ”Love Haiti” benefit with nearly a dozen acts. The so-far-announced list includes Curtis Cantwell Jackson, Jenn Cristy, Janiece Jaffe, Doug Enoch, Mark Menefee, Nelson “Hajee” Batalon, Layton Jaymes, Bill Headley, Elmo Taylor and Natalie Coffin. ($5)
Over in Nashville, the Brown County Humane Society has its chocolately fundraiser at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Seasons. ($10)

Smooth and classic
Thursday’s Jazz Fablers will have a special “My Funny Valentine” concert with Janiece Jaffe & Friends — Curis Cantwell Jackson, David Miller, Monika Herzig, Ron Kadish and Steve Such. 5:30 p.m. start at Bear’s Place. ($6)
On Friday, Arthur Murray staff, students and special guests will share their favorite dance routines in the “The Love Of Dance Showcase,” at 8 p.m. on the Buskirk-Chumley stage. ($15-$20)
At 7 p.m. Saturday, Panache hosts a semiformal dance and bolero lesson at its studio. ($6-$8)
At 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra visits for a concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church. ($5-$20)

New wave
Saturday, if you’re feeling a little Duran Duran, head to New Wave Night 0013: New Romantic Tribute at Farm’s Root Cellar on Kirkwood. 9 p.m. start. ($3)

Human nature
Also that night, the Michael Jackson tribute act Who’s Bad returns to the Bluebird. (Cover at the door)

Skull hearts
Trade cupid for cannonballs when “Captain Kid” Kazooey and his merry miscreants the Pirate Flags step into the Waldron Firebay for WFHB’s Saturday’s Child that morning at 11 a.m. (free)

Artsy homemade
Visit local galleries if you’re in need of a special art gift for your significant other. The Venue has pulled out jewelry, ceramics, cards and even truffles to peruse, and Wandering Turtle has Fossil Rain creations on hand.
For those looking to give the gift of art as an experience, WonderLab hosts an event where Christina Knipstine will show how to make a huge mosaic from tiny tiles at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. (admission fee)

Dose of culture
If you’re going with a worldly theme, stop by the Raas Royalty (a high energy rhythmic dance of Indian origin) competition Saturday night in the IU Auditorium. Area universities will compete, and IU’s own team will perform.

Madly in love
Two IU productions explore the realm of insanity — the opera “Luci Di Lammermoor” and the asylum-set revolution-commentary “Marat/Sade” Friday and Saturday.

Heartbreaker
Annie Palmer of the Castanets Anna Vogelzang of Tiger Saw tour the Midwest with their heartbreaking Americana and awesome sing-along songs. Hear them at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Bishop. ($3)
Feeling hardcore? Check out F—ed Up at the Bluebird Sunday, another show brought to you by Spirit of 68 Promotions. Kurt Vile, Slam Dunk and Kate Stelmanis also perform at 8 p.m. ($10)

Darkly touching/fondly weird
The Ryder Film Series shows its annual favorite off-kilter romance, “Harold and Maude” this weekend. Meanwhile, on Friday IU’s City Lights/Underground film series shows “North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959).

Seriously funny
Maria Bamford of Comedians of Comedy fame (among many other voice, TV and stand-up roles) returns to town to the Funny Bone, where she debuted locally last May. ($15-$20)

Sweet tooth
Boxcar Books celebrates its eighth birthday with a two-day sale and a special crazy cupcake party (7 p.m. Saturday) at the store. Come by and celebrate with staffers and volunteers, and preview the Rock and Roll Prom.

Honky tonk
On Friday, the Dew Daddies bring their honky-tonk country music to the Players Pub spotlight, with live music at 8 p.m. Grab some grub and hunker down for dancin’. ($5)

Flying hearts
Going for ooohs and ahhs of stage acrobatics, Cirque du Soleil performs its “Alegria” show at Conseco Fieldhouse. (Looking ahead, Michael Buble croons on his “Crazy Love Tour” June 29 at the arena.)

Up in Indy, (full list by Metromix here), you can see such groups as Totally Michael, Punch Brothers and Fat Tuesday festivities.

Speaking of Mardi Gras …
Lest we not mention the other holiday this week — even if post-Superbowl clouds hang over Hoosiers’ heads when it comes to New Orleans — the Monkeyheads holds its eighth annual wild shindig, complete with a 4:30 p.m. procession Tuesday, led by the Jefferson Street Parade Band from WHFB to the square (5 p.m.) and down to the Players Pub, where live music abounds. Beaded revelers will hear the B’town Bearcats, Sarah’s Swing Set, Flying with Eyes Closed, Crazy Chester, Afro Hoosier Intl. and the Hucklebucks. ($12)
For the all ages crowd, North’s jazz bands host an annual Mardi Gras celebration with live music, catered dinner and kids’ games. ($7-$12)

R.I.P., Howard Zinn

Kristina — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:38:22 +0000

BigThink sent me this video clip late last week, with the passing of historian, activist and author Howard Zinn:

Zinn’s legacy (1922-2010) may most clearly be seen with his seminal 1980 book, “A Peoples History of the United States.” His works shed light on social and political inequities throughout the U.S. history, and the activists who worked to change it.
For many, his voice helped “The People Speak.” And close to home.
In 2002, Howard Zinn told the standing-room-only crowd gathered at the Buskirk-Chumley, that behind nearly every act of terrorism is a grievance that sparked the action. Zinn talked about his life, sharing how he worked in a shipyard at age 18 and later took part in World War II as an Air Force bombardier. “It didn’t occur to me that I was dropping bombs on people,” he said. “What I came away with was that war doesn’t solve anything.” Zinn came to town via Union Board’s lecture series.
Fast forward to a few years ago, when Bloomington South grad Anthony Arnove sat down with Zinn to begin working on a companion book to Zinn’s original work, called “Voices of A People’s History of the United States.” This led to “The People Speak,” a 90-minute documentary of dramatic readings from the letters, diaries and speeches of the people who spurred social change throughout American history. It aired on TV late last year. It included such dissident voices as Frederick Douglass, Henry Thoreau, Sojourner Truth. Thanks to Arnove, Bloomington audiences got a sneak peek at the film.
Once the “Voices” book came out, celebrity readings sprang up across the country, with such stars as Danny Glover, Viggo Mortensen, Sandra Oh, James Earl Jones, Marisa Tomei, Wallace Shawn, Alice Walker, John Sayles, Patti Smith and many more. A lot of those names ended up in the film, which Matt Damon co-produced. (It also had music by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Eddie Vedder, John Legend and more.) Damon has long been a fan of Zinn’s work. In the 1997 film he co-wrote and co-starred in, “Good Will Hunting,” Damon’s character talks to actor Robin Williams’s character about Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and its significance in highlighting the contributions of average people who did extraordinary things.
Zinn has made, and will continue to make, great strides in educating the American people about its history, its government and the ever-pressing need to advance social change.

New Music Happy Hour

Kristina — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:03:48 +0000

Feel like you’re falling a little behind, as far as what’s up and coming in the overall music scene? Landlocked Music staffers have the answer.
At a new monthly party, called New Music Happy Hour, the Landlocked crew will DJ the newest and best upcoming tunes. (Who better to introduce hot up-and-comers than those whose hands unwrap new releases and get them spinning every week?)
The first-ever session starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Bishop. Both admission and schwag (bands and record labels’ posters, stickers, samplers, etc.) are free. Since the event includes drink specials, it is for those 21 and older.

MLK Day and Cleveland’s pending visit

Kristina — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:31:54 +0000

In just half an hour, the Rev. Jesse Jackson will give his speech to the gathered Bloomington community, seated at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, watching from nearby City Hall Council Chambers or surfing via live broadcasts, including the H-T’s here.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Orchestra, who was to perform a chamber concert tonight at IU, went on strike and has been in talks today with negotiators. There’s still a chance that an agreement will be reached and the group’s residency and big concert (Wednesday night at the IU Auditorium) will go on as planned. We’re still awaiting word on this and will update via Twitter and here (and also the news side) once we know more.

TUESDAY UPDATE: We learned this morning that all Cleveland Orchestra events at IU — aside from a couple talks/presentations (one today at 4 in the MAC) — have been cancelled.

What’s up with Dunnkirk

Kristina — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:40:26 +0000

So, apparently U.Fester’s went quietly into the night late last fall, to make way for the new 902’s nightclub and sports bar/grill Hoosier Knights upstairs. We swung by over the holidays, but to not much avail as there wasn’t a flier or hours info or contact to be found. Just the two slick signs “902’s: Out on Top” and “Hoosier Knights” and hints of the nighttime parties that went on during bar-hopping, late-night hours.
Now that IU is back in session, the party space is back open for business. Next on the club’s event cal is Friday’s show by local alt-rock group White Roberts. In the band’s own words: “Inspired by the alternative rock movement of the 90’s, songwriting team Mike Cionni and Hank Whitaker combine clever lyrics with groovy tunes to create a sound that we have affectionately termed “dude rock”. Our message is simple: You don’t have to change your clothes to listen to us. It’s a party, and everyone’s invited.” If you check the main page of 902’s, there’s a Facebook (where everyone lives these days — that and Twitter, of course) link to a snippet of their Kings of Leon cover. It doesn’t open before 9, but stays open till 3. As a day-shifter, perhaps I’ll get to check it out this weekend. If I can brave joining the throngs of college-age fans on a dancing buzz, that is.

Upcoming shows – winter 2010

Kristina — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:04:11 +0000

Here’s a preliminary rundown of what early 2010 holds for you, starting with next week. This week holds in store some hot jazz, New Orleans jazz, textiles, chain mail jewelry and Elvis’s birthday. More to come.

The Bowerbirds

JANUARY
14 – Bowerbirds / Julie Doiron, at The Bishop.
15 – Bear in Heaven, at the Bishop.
20 – Cleveland Orchestra, at IU Auditorium.
23 – Foreigner, French Lick Casino.
26 – Tea Leaf Green, at the Bluebird.
28-30 – Christian Finnegan, at the Funny Bone.
28 – The New Deal, at the Bluebird.
28-31 – PRIDE Film Fest, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
30 – Jookabox, at the Bishop.
30-6 – Week of Chocolate, various locations.
FEBRUARY
10/11 – “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” at IU Auditorium.
11 – Dr. Dog, at the Video Saloon.
11 – Robert Earl Keen, at the Bluebird.

12 – Luke Bryan, at the Bluebird.
12-14 – Maria Bamford, at the Funny Bone.
13 – Krista Detor (CD release), at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
14 – F—ed Up / Kurt Vile, at TBA.
16 – Drakkar Sauna, at Russian Recording.
18-28 – ArtsWeek: “Arts and the Environment”
19 – America, French Lick Casino.
20 – “The Welcome Table,” at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
24 – Canadian Brass, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
25 – Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, at IU Auditorium.
27 – Balmorhea, at Russian Recording.
MARCH
2-4 – “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” at IU Auditorium.
3 – Pattern is Movement, at the Bishop.
5 – Magnetic Fields, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6 – Carrie Newcomer (CD release), at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6-13 – Pit Stop Music Marathon (location TBA)
18-20: Tim Wilson, at the Funny Bone.
23 – Woods / Real Estate, at The Bishop.
23 – Yo-Yo Ma, at IU Auditorium.
29 – David Bazan, Headlights, at The Bishop.
APRIL
5 – Henry Rollins, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
6 – The XX, at Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Goodbye 2009, hello 2010

Kristina — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:50:37 +0000

There’s no way around it: 2009 was a rough year. But now that it’s nearly over, and a fresh calendar sits on my desk, it’s time to look forward to the future, the new year, as an exciting 365-day package of possibilities.

Looking back
Early in 2009, here at the office we lost a dear longtime coworker and friend, Kurt Van der Dussen (whose last touching and telling entry can be found here), as well as a freelance writer, Peter Noble-Kuchera, within the same week. PNK’s movie reviews could be heard on WFIU and read in the H-T. He split his work-time between those essays and his day job, raising funds for WTIU. (He once told me he actually slept underneath his desk one busy weekend.) We received many comments on his loved film column, “The Glowing Screen,” and most of them positive.
The biggest national story had to have been the string of celebrity deaths in what would have been a slow week in June: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and of course, Michael Jackson. Tributes and tweets sprang up faster and bigger than the number of times his “Thriller” tracks spun on stereos in the ’80s. Other buzz generated from reality-meets-reality-tv scandals.

Other national notables that left this world include John Updike, Billy Powell (of Lynyrd Skynyrd), Will Rogers, Dave Arneson (founder of D&D), Dom DeLuise, Jay Bennett (ex-Wilco), Koko Taylor, David Carradine, Walter Cronkite, Les Paul, Don Hewitt (“60 Minutes”), Patrick Swayze, Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary), Ken Ober (MTV’s “Remote Control”) and Brittany Murphy.
In local news, later in the year, we lost a very special jazz musician, bandleader county council member, Al Cobine, and a major concert hall, the Little Nashville Opry, burned down. The video store Cinemat closed, and later the space was reborn as a full music venue and bar, the Bishop. Controversy spread in the Bloomington arts community, as arts groups came at odds with financial changes such as the Waldron’s rental hikes and canceled programs.

On a less heavier note, the 30th anniversary of “Breaking Away” was commemorated with a bike tour and special screening. Little 500 headliners rolled into town: Flight of the Conchords, Ludacris, Soulja Boy. Comedian/star Robin Williams performed in the fall to near-sold-out crowd at the IU Auditorium at a show postponed from the spring when he had heart surgery. Other famous performers that visited Bloomington were folk icons (Joan Baez, Bob Dylan), punk royalty (Tommy Ramone), Latin legends (Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys), Motown masters (The Temptations), bluegrass beauties (Sara Watkins), R&B crooners (Aaron Neville), rockin’ singer-songwriters (Lucinda Williams) and even a theater legend (Stephen Sondheim). Taking acoustic turns were performances by Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and Over the Rhine.

Comedy characters Doug Benson, Arj Barker, Maria Bamford, Tim Wilson, Brian Posehn, Josh Blue, Kristin Key, and dozens of stars and wannabes (the first-ever comedy festival/competition) rolled through town, with the Funny Bone packing in a major contender nearly every week and Comedy Caravan holding down the fort at Bear’s.
The “Chickens (came) Home to Roost” (former Screaming Gypsy Bandits members) mid-year. Museums went on a summer scavenger hunt; galleries again walked through art. Cardinal Stage climbed ev’ry mountain, including a holiday round of “The Sound of Music.”
Spirit of ‘68 Promotions brought in quite a roster of major indie acts, from Grizzly Bear to Elvis Perkins in Dearland. Dunn Meadow had its re-greening, following 1000s of peoples’ foot traffic for the Victoria’s Secret concert by Girl Talk and Cobra Starship. The Lotus festival had another successful year. Hoosier rock star John Mellencamp had an event-full ‘09, from the inauguration concert to Pete Seeger birthday bash to Farm Aid and his own summer tour and live album.

Several honors came to Hoosiers. “Musical America” dubbed Joshua Bell the instrumentalist of the year. IU-related musicians receiving awards included soprano Angela Brown, pianist Menahem Pressler, violinist Stanley Ritchie, cellist Janos Starker, ballerina Violette Verdy and soprano Camilla Williams. The Singing Hoosiers sang at the Indiana Inaugural Ball following President Obama’s inauguration. The Hoosier Youth Philharmonic went to France for D-Day anniversary concerts. IU students Daniel Stein (on flute) and Dash Nesbitt (viola) took part in the first-ever YouTube Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The IU-run Web site GameZombie.tv again got a Webby nod. Two local blues acts — Mark Galup and Nine Below Zero — took regional blues challenge titles. And “D Tour” made its national TV debut on PBS’ “Point of View” show.

Looking forward
Now, let’s see what 2010 holds for us. You can kick it off Thursday with any number of local New Year’s Eve parties. If you choose to partake in libations, city groups are having free cab rides that night, so party responsibly. In Sunday’s paper, we’ll have a sampling of what’s to come as far as live events in early ‘10. There’s already much to look forward to.