Broad Ripple Gazette, vol 6. no 11

Musical Family Tree presents Math Bats reunion show w/ The Last Digit, Bramble Grit, Cheeses from France.
Friday, May 29, 3009
Birdy’s, 2131 E. 71st Street
9:00, 21+, $6.00

I am continually amazed at how things in my life circle back around, especially in the music world. Cue the flashback music, and travel with me to 1979. The year that young, innocent, wide-eyed, braces wearing Nora went from zero to punk rock musically. We didn’t listen to much music when I was growing up. I got most of my music education from the AM radio, singing, “Run, Joey Run,” at the top of my lungs on the tractor.

So you can imagine how my little mind was blown by punk rock. And I wound up with a front row seat for some the most amazing things that were happening in the Midwest (and national) scene. After a chance meeting in the Purdue Student Government office (I’d snuck in one night to use the typewriter) I was the assistant to the treasurer of the student government and hanging out with the punk band crowd of Dow Jones and the Industrials. They were the smartest, hippest and most fascinating people that I knew. It truly changed my life and gave me the courage to be my own person.

The Last Four (5) Digits was one of the bands I was seeing play at parties and backroom concerts, including a memorable gig at the Sigma Nu House at Purdue – forever dubbed as the Sigma Nu-wave House in L5D history. The band followed up their wildly successful 1982 east coast tour – including a CBGB gig with Marky Ramone in the audience with a raucous Bill Levin promoted headlining show at the Vogue. And then they broke up (see band name timeline below).

The original band lineup was: Brad Garton (Mr. Science from Dow Jones and the Industrials) Mike Sheets, Julie Huffaker, John Koss, and A. Xax (Dave Fulton). The lineup Friday includes everyone but Mr. Science.

The Last Four (4) Digits last played at a benefit show for the late Dow Jones and the Industrials drummer Tim North six years ago. I got the chance to catch up with them after a Last Digit practice last week. I’ll admit to being awestruck. They are working on new stuff for the show – including a mash-up of one of their songs with an E-In-Brino tune.
This will be a great show if you’re an old school punk rock fan, or if you want a peek in to new wave history. I’ll be there for sure.

Here is my attempt of a L4D timeline. Ground Zero: Joint Chiefs of Staff to Last Four (5) Digits to Last Four (4) Digits to Weird Jimmy Hoffa. They are playing this show under the name of The Last Digit.

www.myspace.com/lastfourdigits
www.birdyslive.com

JJ & Kai Tribute
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Jazz Kitchen
5377 N. College Avenue
7:30 & 9:30 pm, $12.


Trombonists Tom Garling and Dave Dickey will be giving a special tribute to trombone legends J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding. Original arrangements J.J and Kai did in the 50s, plus new arrangements will be performed. 
The band includeds Jeremy Allen on bass, Jason Tiemann on drums and Chip Stephens on piano.
www.thejazzkitchen.com

54th and Monon Art Fair (Reese Kitchens)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
54th Street and the Monon Trail

This always feels like the kickoff to summer for me. The juried fair features more than 60 local artists. Free hot dogs, lemonade, music and balloons and great artwork are featured. Good stuff!

Reviews:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition viewing party
May 17, 2009
Locals Only

We laughed, we cried. Big thanks to the folks at Locals Only for opening up on a sunny Sunday so we could all watch. It was really cool to see our city featured in the two-hour season finale. If you missed it, you can still catch it at www.abc.com.

Willie Nelson
May 18, 2009
Vogue

What more could be said about Willie Nelson that has not been said already? The show was excellent. He started with Whiskey River and played two hours of rock and roll. The Vogue was sold out for the show. I loved standing in the middle of a packed venue. There are a good chunk of shows that I see that I’m one of a dozen people in the room – including the band. The crowd was multigenerational and enthusiastic. It did my little heart good to stand with hundreds of people on a Monday night listening to live original music. Don’t ever miss a chance to see Willie Nelson in concert. You won’t be sorry.

Last Four (4) Digits, Friday, May 29th

Here is a preview for the Last Digit show at Birdy's May 29th.
It's hard to do justice to a band that you watched 25 years ago with wide-eyed, slam-dancing amazement -- in 300 words or less.
last-digit-return-indiana-new-wave

Drakkar Sauna and Dawes at Locals Only

Here is my NUVO review of the Drakkar Sauna and Dawes show at Locals Only on May 14, 2009.

Previews:
ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Indianapolis edition
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Locals Only
2449 E. 56th Street (just off of 56th Street and Keystone Avenue)
smoke-free, 21+, doors 6:30

If you’ve been around me at all in the last month you know how much I loved hanging around the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition site. The day has finally come – the special two-hour season finale will air Sunday, May 17. I had a blast being on the building site each day and I can’t wait to see what the inside of the house looks like. I’m also looking forward to seeing how they piece the show together. This photo is of a scene that they shot several times in front of the house. Think it will make the cut?

The lovely folks at Locals Only are opening up the pub for a viewing party. If you’ve never been to Locals Only this is the perfect time to check it out. The food is wonderful and the kitchen will be in full swing. There is plenty of room for everyone to sit and watch the show.
This is the kick-off to my birthday week (I like to stretch the celebration out) that also includes the Willie Nelson show and a Phillies game in Cincinnati. I’ll be the one in the Home Makeover tee shirt. I’ll try to restrain myself from wearing the hard hat. I’ll see you there!

http://localsonlyindy.com
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome

Vulgar Boatmen
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Spencer’s Stadium Tavern
802 S West St Indianapolis
21+, 9:00

This is should be on your short list of shows this week. The Vulgar Boatmen are playing an acoustic show at Spencer's. And they don’t play often. They had an especially fun time when they were there last. We've played there twice before and had an especially fun time last spring.

www.spencerstavern.com
www.myspace.com/vulgarboatmen

Reviews:
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart
Big Roots Show
April 30, 2009
Locals Only

The Thursday Big Roots Show continues to host great local and touring musicians. I was really looking forward to this show. I first saw husband and wife team Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart in 2002 (before I ever dreamed about writing about music) and I have been talking about her talent and quirkiness ever since. Think honky-tonk folk.

Stacey Earle is a great storyteller. She led in to a song about mother’s intuition with a story about the tablet the song was written in and a trash bag. She walked among the crowd singing and charming us all. Mark Stuart is an amazing guitar player, but switched to the piano to accompany Stacey for her last song. They ended the show with a piano duet – Chopsticks.
You can hear another member of the Earle family, Stacey’s nephew Justin Townes Earle, June 5 at Radio Radio.

www.myspace.com/thebigrootsshow
www.staceyandmark.com
http://localsonlyindy.com

Scott Ballantine and Karen Irwin
May 7, 2009
Wine Cellar (Corner Wine Bar)

Scott Ballantine and Karen Irwin are playing every Thursday in May in the Wine Cellar at the Corner Wine Bar. Karen Irwin has a bigger than life voice and it is fun to see her in this intimate venue. Scott Ballantine is a terrific guitar player – he is amazing to watch. They play a mix of standards and classic pop songs.

The Wine Cellar serves the wonderful food -- including the 12.95 Filet Mignon special and has a full bar along with the great wine selection that you would expect in a wine cellar.

From there I headed to The Big Roots Show….

www.cornerwinebar.com

Jason and the Punknecks
Big Roots Show
May 7, 2009
Locals Only

I’d joked; half seriously that Jason and the Punknecks scared me. I had a much better time watching them than I did the last time I saw them (at the now defunct Sam’s Saloon). Husband and wife team, Jason and Polly Punkneck could not be any different than Mark Stuart and Stacey Earle that I saw on the same stage the week before. Honky-tonk folk to honky-tonk folk.
Jason and Polly play with great enthusiasm. Polly assured us that, “we like morality, just not normalcy.” Good to know.

www.myspace.com/jasonandthepunknecks
http://localsonlyindy.com

Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon music reviews

I walked the 13.1 mile route and reviewed the bands along the way. 

Read all about it here:http://www.nuvo.net/sports/article/nora-walks-and-reviews-mini

I had a blast and got a sports byline all at the same time!

Broad Ripple Gazette, vol 6. no 9

first published in the Broad Ripple Gazette

After three and a half years I’ve decided to mix it up a bit and put the reviews first. We can all adjust, right?

Previews:

Broad Ripple Farmers’ Market
Beginning Saturday, May 2, 2009
1115 Broad Ripple Avenue
(behind Broad Ripple High School)
8:00 – noon

It’s springtime and the farmers’ market is back! Yippee! I had the honor of booking the musicians for season. These talented folks are donating their (early-morning) time. Be sure and stop by and tell them hello.

May 2 – Cara Jean Wahlers
May 9 -- Caleb Hawkins
May 16 – Gamblin’ Rovers

www.broadripplefarmersmarket.com
http://carajeanwahlers.com
www.calebhawkins.com

Adrienne Anemone, Dave End, Jordan O'Jordan
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Indy Hostel House Concert Series
4903 Winthrop Ave
7:30, all-ages, $5.

The Indy Hostel House Concert Series is in full swing. The Indy Hostel is a wonderful place to see music; intimate and comfortable. They host singer-songwriters from all over the world. This edition features: Adrienne Ameone, who hails from Brooklyn, Dave End from NYC and Philadelphia and Jordan O’Jordan from Olympia, Washington. This promises to be a great evening of folk music.

God Made Robots, Sick of Sarah, Von Iva
Sunday, May 3, 2009, 8:00 pm,
Birdy’s Bar and Grill
2131 E 71st St
(317) 254-8971
8:00, 21+, $6.

When you see a band in a movie do you wonder who the musicians are? I do. And you have a chance to see one of those movie bands up close. Von Iva, the San Francisco all-woman trio plays the band that fronts Zooey Deschanel in the film Yes Man with Jim Carrey is leaving the bright lights of Hollywood behind for a jaunt to the Midwest.

Touring with Von Iva, all-woman band Sick of Sarah, hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are known for their thoughtful and humorous songs.

Indianapolis based, God Made Robots opens the show. They are not an all-woman band, but they have Sarah Jane Mills, and she’s worth at least three women.

www.birdyslive.com
www.myspace.com/godmaderobots
www.myspace.com/sickofsarah
www.voniva.com

Broad Ripple Gallery Tour
Friday, May 8, 2009
5:00-10:00

I love the gallery tour. Broad Ripple is chock-full of art on a typical day and nontraditional venues also open their doors to artists for the gallery tour. All of the gallery sites are fairly walk-able, but there is a free shuttle circulating the route all evening. Just look for the shuttle stop signs along the tour.

The art offerings range from ModUrn – durable ceramic urns for your loved one’s, you know, spirit at Demerly Architects to vintage Indiana art work at Fine Estate Art & Rugs. The artwork includes pieces by T.C. Steele, Frank Hohenberger, William Forsyth, Leota Loop and several other well-collected Hoosier artists.

If you have not had a chance to check out the new digs of Big Hat Books and Marigold now is your chance. Big Hat is hosting several artists including one of my favorites, ceramicist Mary Jo DeMeyer. Marigold is hosting jewelry-making sisters from New York, Julie Tought and Lisa Valentine. And, this just in – I’ll be working at Marigold that evening. Stop by and say hello.

I’m also looking forward to seeing the new works from VSA. They have created special edition ceramic bowls and trivets for the Gallery Tour. They will be on sale at nine of the tour locations.

For more information visit www.DiscoverBroadRipple.com or grab a brochure from almost anywhere in village.

Brooks Ritter, Lovely Houses, Cara Luft
Friday, May 8, 2009
Indy Hostel House Concert Series
4903 Winthrop Ave
7:30, all-ages, $7.

Locally acclaimed Lovely Houses is led by David Campbell. Cliff Snyder says, “He's got an amazing vocal range, uses dynamics like you wouldn't believe, and has some lyrics that you'll chew on long after the show."

Lousiville’s Brooks Ritter plays original rock, folk and soul.

Winnapeg’s Cara Luft, of the Wallin’ Jennys, is a nationally recognized musician. A powerfully elegant guitarist, Cara also plays mandolin and banjo. And she’s a damn good storyteller.


www.myspace.com/brooksritter
www.myspace.com/lovelyhouses
www.myspace.com/caraluftmusic

Indianapolis Songwriters Café
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Earth House
237 N. East Street

Since the Indianapolis Songwriters Café lost their home when Boulevard Place Café closed a few months ago the series has been floating around. Host Cliff Snyder is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the café with a special Saturday night show.

Joe Welch (Born Again Floozies), Cara Jean Wahlers and Linda McRae will be playing in the round, trading songs and stories. Joe and Cara are Indianapolis based, and Linda is from Canada. Joe is the man behind the charmingly quirky band, The Born Again Floozies. Cara Jean Wahlers is putting the finishing touches on her first solo album as you read this and Linda McRae’s bio list so many songwriting awards it makes my head spin.

I had the task of choosing the top five events in the singer-songwriter folk realm for 2008 for NUVO. I had no trouble coming up with the number one thing: Indianapolis Songwriters Café. I hope you get a chance to soak in the good music and congratulate Cliff on a year of great music.

www.indianapolissongwriterscafe.com
www.lindamcrae.com
www.myspace.com/bornagainflooziesband
http://carajeanwahlers.com

Extreme Makeover Viewing Party
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Locals Only
2449 East 56th Street

I’m really looking forward to the season finale of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. As you might know the home is in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood in Indianapolis – it was all I could talk about for two weeks. I’ll have more details in the next issue of the Gazette, but mark your calendars.

www.localsonlyindy.com

Reviews:

Dyngus Day
Monday, April 13, 2009
Chatterbox Jazz Club

Dyngus Day, or Easter Monday is also called Wet Monday in honor of the water based pranks that are traditionally pulled off on that day. My dear South Bend-born brother-in-law Ron Trojanowski introduced our family to the holiday. And David Andrichik of the Chatterbox gives us a place to celebrate.

Rain or shine, David cooks kielbasa on the grill and the band, Polkamotion has people dancing in the street. The Chatterbox used to be the point of departure for newspaper folks covering the political festivities in South Bend. Eventually the party just stayed at the Chatterbox.

Polkamotion has played at the Chatterbox every Dyngus Day for the last twenty years. Robert Klemen and Fred Riffel have been playing together just as long. Jeff Strayer and Joe Petruzzi are the “new guys” in the band.

And the Chatterbox is the only bar the band ever plays in (you can next catch them at Holy Rosary Church’s festival on June 12 and 13). The band is big polka fun – instead of a line of guitars on the stage there were two kinds of accordions. na zdrowie!

The most bizarre thing that happened that evening? I joined a bowling league. I blame the kielbasa. I’m a Chatterbowler! I’m having a blast (just don’t ask me what my average is)!

Record Store Day
Saturday, April 18, 2009
LUNA Music

My sweet little sister Ann was visiting from Phoenix, and I had a lovely lunch with her and sister Beth in Zionsville so I missed most of the Record Store Day festivities. From everything I heard it was a roaring success. I did have time to drop off a skirt at LUNA to have the logo silk screened on. It was not ready until after I started my shift so I snuck out for a minute to grab the skirt and change on the street in front of the store. Those old gym class tricks still come in handy.

I look forward to Record Store Day next year.

www.lunamusic.net


Cousin Roger
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ale Emporium
8617 Allisonville Road

Cousin Roger is one of those bands that I’ve had on my radar for quite a while, but had not had a chance to see. The stars aligned and my friend, Novella Nedeff and I headed north. We had a great time. And I always love looking at the photographs after Novella and I hang out. Novella attracts the most interesting people.

The Ale Emporium has been known for their amazing beer selection for a long time – in fact, they’ve been around since I turned 21. They opened up the back room last year for music. There is a great stage and plenty of tables, great service and room to dance.

Cousin Roger, ironically does not have a Roger in the bunch, but they do have a whole bunch of Jasons and one Mark on the roster. Vocalist-guitar player Jason Brown and drummer Jason Stahl played in the wildly popular band, Push Down and Turn. They joined keyboard player Jason Barth and bass player Mark Bertram to form Cousin Roger three years ago. They mesh perfectly and were a joy to watch. It’s a pleasure to see a band having fun on stage.

They play a great mix of songs you love and songs you forgot that you fell in love to. Jason Brown has great range and Mark Bertram adds beautiful harmonies and one of my favorite things – mandolin to some songs. They had people dancing almost all night.

I look forward to seeing them again.

www.cousinroger.com
www.ale-emporium.com

Mini Marathon Music

I've always been intrigued by the music along the 500 Festival Mini Marathon 13.1 mile route. There are over 100 groups that perform for up to four hours. For free. At 7:30 on a Saturday morning. 

One of my favorite musicians, Chad Mills has been playing along the race route for five years, here is my interview with Chad about his experiences. Click here to read it. 

I will be walking the Mini Marathon route Saturday and reviewing all of the bands along the way. Woo hoo!