Also tonight: Hospital’s traveling show
From the last e-mail I could get to this afternoon:
Art Hospital Transport Exhibition
First Friday opening reception:
Sept. 5, 6 p.m. to midnight at Big Car gallery in Indianapolis.
Show remains up until Sept. 26
read more of this entry »
Mural unveiling tonight
If you happen to be downtown this evening, drop by the Bloomington Playwrights Project’s building on Ninth Street for a little unveiling celebration for its new mural, 4-6 p.m. today. The public is invited to view the finished work and meet the artist over light refreshments. Then stay for the ongoing production, “Doubting Thomas,” which shines a spotlight itself on an unusual topic (finding “the right thing” and resolving conflicts of self and faith) through Sept. 13. (Courtesy photo.) 
Of course, there’s plenty for the art lover tonight, with opening receptions galore (think edible tidbits, mingling and gazing at new works of art, discussing them with the artists and your neighbors) around town and First Friday activities (discounts, people walking around, an overall good time to be downtown).
Penrod this weekend
If you have a tank of gas to spare (and if you do, kudos to you), you can head up to Indy for more of what Fourth Street art festival had to offer: the annual Penrod Art Fair. Now in its 42nd year, the 300-artist-packed booth extravaganza takes over the grounds at the Indianapolis Museum of Art all day Saturday.
And if you are so inclined to make art full-time on your own, did you know that you’re among nearly 30,000 other Hoosiers who do so?
The Indiana Arts Commission announced that will unveil a new campaign highlighting the arts in Indiana during Penrod festivities. It will share info about artists you may not know are from Indiana, as well as facts about the arts. Check them out at booth D-10.
In search of treasure
Among quirky, limited-time events that passed our way today, the Treasure Hunters Roadshow and Decorate Your Digs! sale made us stand up and take notice.
A semi-Open House
The basement/undergound music scene has a long tradition here, and is still going strong. I don’t have time to engage in the debate about whether these shows are semi-legal, essential to artistry growth/freedom, a rite of passage or a noise nuisance (I’ve heard them called all of the above in the past). However, the music forum continues to offer announcements for the creatively named locales of band sanctuary every week.
One such venue-of-the-moment is the “Open House” on South Walnut, which has these shows in the works:
Saturday: A Light Sleeper (Chicago), Couch Forts (Columbus, OH), Kings & Queens (Indy), The Sunflowers ($3-$7 suggested donation)
Sept. 13: Pillars & Tongues (Chicago), Normanoak, Drekka, Apache Dropout ($3-$5)
Sept. 19: Iwanttokilleveryhuman (Dallas), Jigsaw Rhetoric (St. Louis), Robe (Columbus, Ind.), Drekka
Sept. 20: Tirra Lirra (Chicago), Estrogen & Blush , Dust from 100 Years, Yoni Manor ($3-$5)
As long as safety’s kept in mind and crowds managed (or minimalized), it sounds like a fun off-the-radar time.
Mechanical bull rides tonight
In the mad dash that is the post-long-weekend scramble, several things have come to my attention to take note. Here you go:
- Tonight, take in country karaoke with your zany host, Jason Groth, along with mechanical bull rides. You read right. Be at Jake’s at 9 to take in the spectacle (or a ride…) with at least $2 in your wallet for cover.
- Mark your calendars for Lotus in early October — one of many, many artists seen below in their recently released lineup:
- Bon Iver will be on Conan Sept. 8 (that’s next Monday), according to his reps at our local record label juggernaut Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian.
- And 35.7 k visitors passed through this weekend’s Fourth Street Festival, organizers report.
Now to get this calendar together…
Tribute to tributes
Can’t get enough of your favorite songs? Local and touring bands know this; we see tribute bands all the time in our listings. (And yes, occasionally on stage; we’re busy folks and can’t see as much as we’d like.) Usual suspects include ’80s metal, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Guns N Roses, Dave Matthews and hip hop artists.
Friday (10 p.m. doors), you can catch an ’80s Dance Party at Fester’s to the sounds of the Cure (A Fire in Cairo), the Pretenders (The Pretenderers) and the Talking Heads (A Tribute to Talking Heads).
Saturday night, get visions of Bono, The Edge and crew when a U2 tribute band takes to the Bluebird stage.
Last-minute show announcements
In the midst of all the busy-ness of the week, we get wind of two shows (one local, one in Indy) to call your attention to. EDIT: Okay maybe more than two. You know how it goes.
On Friday, Ritmos Latinos Salsa Group will have a Social Latin Dance Party. The 7 p.m. lesson will be followed by the dance, till 11 p.m. It’s free. They’ll have authentic Cuban food, and DJ Isaac Salazar will be spinning the tunes.
Tonight in Indy, Musical Family Tree brings you a show by Gentleman Caller, Everything, Now! and Visitations (”a cool electronic band from Georgia with Elephant 6 ties”) at 8 p.m. at Spin Nightclub, 6318 Guilford Ave. MFT Records will be releasing records by Gentleman Caller and Everything, Now! this fall so looks for those titles soon. Cover is $3.
Also tonight, a send-off for Jimmi Mann (who’s headed to Japan) will have husband&wife and either/or jamming at 8:30 p.m. at the Pourhouse Cafe (314 Kirkwood Ave.), $3 cover. And the Cinemat will be showing Barack Obama’s speech from the Democratic National Convention at 10 p.m. on the big screen. The fun starts at 8:30 p.m. “And you can tap the mat, just like the dems are tapping the rockies, according to the daily show anyway,” an e-mail says.
Back in Indy, the Melody Inn’s last minute addition to its August schedule is a Sunday show by Gorgeous Frankenstein (featuring guitarist Doyle from The Misfits) along with Bella Morte and Car Bomb. DJ Coppertop and friends will kick up festivities at 6 p.m.; live bands start at 9 p.m. $12 cover.
To battle!
We just learned about a new Battle of the Bands set for the fall, to be hosted by Jeff Shew and Josh Johnson. Where will bands throw down? The Uncle Fester’s stage, with the first out of six preliminary rounds starting Sept. 16. That’s a Tuesday, for those of you who don’t have your calendars handy. If you’re in a group and want to get in on the action, sign-up deadline is Sept. 8, $20 entry fee. The 36 available slots will be filled on a first come/first serve basis, the e-mail announcement says. Pick up an entry form at Fester’s or e-mail bookingfesters@hotmail.com for more details. Look for more info soon here.
In memory of Travis Crider
The local music scene suffered another loss in the past few days, with the passing of Travis Crider. The 35-year-old was a guitarist and member of several different groups and performed all around the area. The obituary in the H-T reads:
“Travis faced many incredible challenges and adversity during his short life, beginning in 1989 with the diagnosis of leukemia. Then liver disease required Travis to have a liver transplant in October of 2007. He survived both of these illnesses despite very slim odds. Through all, Travis faced these challenges with strength, courage and a positive attitude. …. He was an amazing husband and soul mate to his wife, Kim, and a wonderful father to his son, Nich. He was also a huge fan of the rock band KISS, whom he met during his battle with leukemia.
“Travis was a rock star and an entertainer. He always gave every performance his all regardless of how many people were in front of the stage — 5 or 5,000 — and for those of us who were privileged to know him, Travis was a living legend and local music icon.”
As a musician, Travis “taught, inspired and awed so many.” Some of the groups that he performed with include Lawless, Tom Foolery, Fist and Black Earth and Betrayed With A Kiss.
A blog post on Betrayed’s site (which had this photo) says: “Our friend and Brother in metal, Travis ‘Wrath’ Crider … was an amazing musician, a husband, a father, a son, a hero, and the greatest friend I’ve ever had. … Even after going through so much in his short life, Travis never complained about it, could always make you laugh, and was always looking forward. We had begun writing songs for a new Betrayed With A Kiss album recently, and Travis, having survived the transplant despite very slim odds, approached this effort with a renewed vigor and enthusiasm we’d never seen before — and the material he brought to the table was nothing short of brilliant. Travie, my Brother, you will be sorely missed.”
Funeral services will be held at noon today at Chandler Funeral Home in Ellettsville.
Feel free to share your thoughts here.
News of the Weird time
Ah, Mondays. Practically one of the weirdest days of the week, usually, like a sidestep into the “Twilight Zone” post-weekend living. What better time for Chuck Shepherd’s report?
Great moments in capital punishment
Prosecutors in Portland, Ore., took the death penalty off the table for Tremayne Durham in July, accepting a minimum-30-year prison term for an “aggravated murder” over a business deal. Durham agreed to plead guilty when prosecutors relented to his additional demand of two pig-out meals (featuring KFC, Popeye’s and Haagen Dazs right away, and pizza and lasagna on the day the judge accepts the plea). Prosecutors said they hated appearing to cater to the whims of a murderer, but eyeing the expense of a long trial and lengthy appeals, as well as the turmoil for the victim’s family, they agreed. In August, the judge accepted the deal.
Can’t possibly be true
Though it has been on national cable TV since mid-July, ratings have not been spectacular for the G4 channel’s show, “Hurl!” leaving many Americans unaware of precisely how far standards of taste have fallen. “Hurl!” contestants are forced to gorge themselves, then are purposely, rapidly, twirled and shaken on carnival-type rides, with the last player to retain his stomach contents declared the winner. Wrote a Washington Post reviewer, it’s “for people who found ‘Fear Factor’ much too nuanced.”
Carol Miller’s mural, art on display
Courtesy photos by Patrick Mcmanus
You can walk into the Players’ Pub currently and see some new artwork on the walls — the whole walls. Carol Miller has put together a mural (as well as this logo) for the music venue. They’re celebrating with a reception and art sale 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the pub, 424 S. Walnut St. Escape from the onset influx of new and returning IU masses with a little art.
In memory of Mr. Dynamic
The Scene was saddened to learn that James J. “Mr. Dynamic” Hartfield, 67, died Monday. Born in Brooklyn, the Dynamics’ lead vocalist moved to Bloomington in the early ’70s. The obituary in the H-T reads:
“James was a devoted husband, co-worker, and retired from the Schulte Corp. factory in 2003. Mr. Hartfield is better known to the Bloomington community as ‘Mr. Dynamic’ of the famed Jazz and Blues band, ‘The Dynamics.’ He loved music and the entertainment business. He was a devoted member of the B.G. Pollard Lodge #1242 and past state president of the Elks Lodge. He was also a long-time member of the Masons as well as a lifetime member of Bethel A.M.E., where he was a choir member. James “Mr. Dynamic” Hartfield was loved and gave love to his wife, children, grandchildren and friends.”
Visitation is 6-8 p.m. today at Bethel A.M.E. Church, with a funeral service there at 1 p.m. Saturday. The family suggests memorial contributions be given to the James J. Hartfield fund at Monroe Bank. Online condolences may be sent to www.forevercare.org.
“I.O.U.S.A.” screening tonight
When: 8 p.m. Where: Showplace 11, east
The gist: “The United States faces an enemy of epic proportions. It’s not something you can see on CNN or YouTube. It’s not as overtly in your face as wars, natural disasters or terrorism. But this invisible, insidious monster is rapidly growing into a behemoth, threatening to spark an unthinkable catastrophe that will impact the future of the nation and the lives of every single American, no matter who you are. This monster is the national debt - now at a gargantuan $9.5 trillion and counting - and it’s the subject of a powerful and entertaining new movie, I.O.U.S.A., that hits theaters right on the brink of one of the most exciting Presidential elections in decades. According to polls, no subject occupies the public’s mind right now more than the state of the U.S. economy. But can a movie turn the ins and outs of debt and deficits into something
dynamic, fun and even inspirational?”
Jazz Fables, the Thursday regular
Off Ramp Quartet
Every Thursday, at 5:30 p.m., jazz fans file into Bear’s Place. It sits just off of the IU campus on Third Street, next door to the T.I.S. college bookstore. Those who live outside of walking distance will want to add in a little time for parking, as it can be tricky to learn where to go at first.
Nearly every week of the year, for around $5, you can sit at one of the small tables or booths and catch local or touring jazz notables performing at Jazz Fables on the tiny stage in the back room of the restaurant/bar. Friends chat and catch up, or people watch and relax. Fables organizer David Miller can usually be seen greeting guests, when he’s not on trumpet himself. But when the music begins, all eyes move to the musicians. Up tonight is the Off Ramp Quartet, featuring veteran Bloomington jazz artists Ron Kadish, Robert Stright, Nate Johnson and Danny Deckard (pictured). They’ll pick up their respective instruments and offer original modern jazz compositions by their members. They’ll also share their arrangements of works by the likes of Duke Ellington, Gerry Mulligan, Astral Project, Guido Sinclair.
Next Thursday, it’s the Mike Hackett Quintet that takes center stage, with post hard-bop pieces and classics and standards from Hackett’s CD, “Circles.” Then Sept. 4, the local living legend David Baker will perform with his septet, in celebration of Fables’ 19th anniversary at Bear’s. Baker directs the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, chairs the IU jazz department, is a distinguished professor and is virtuoso on multiple instruments, including the cello.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the local jazz scene goes, anchored by IU’s renowned music hub and longtime local jazz enthusiasts, with other spots including Jazz at the Station, Cafe Django, Tutto Bene, DeAngelo’s and many other restaurants and concert halls thrown into the mix.
area event calendar
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hot upcoming events:
| 1. 25th Annual Wild magic Gathering - 20080918 2. Craig Brenner at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market - 20080913 3. Matt Sheehy - 20080912 4. Performer Diploma Recital - Alexandra Gorlin-Crenshaw, Piano - 20080912 5. Craig Brenner & the Crawdads at the Sullivan Corn Festival - 20080919 6. Doctoral Recital - Andrea Boudra, Organ - 20080912 7. Special Sale: Decorate Your Digs! 8th Annual Frame, Poster, and Book Sale - 20080911 8. Driftwood Valley Music Festival - 20080927 9. PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - Leonard Slatkin, Conductor; Joshua Bell, Violin - 20080917 10. Astronomy Day - 20080913 |
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