News4U February 2023

FEBRUARY

TABLE of

COVER STORY

OVER THE EDGE 4 GRANTED Fundraiser benefits Children with Terminal and Life-Threatening Conditions

FEATURES & UPCOMING EVENTS

The Really Big Mystery Show Arc of Evansville Fundraiser is back with a Twist!

12

6 Guess I just don't have a Maverick Streak BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

14

WWE Friday Night SmackDown at the Ford Center

Exclusive Interview with Wrestler Karrion Kross

Buddy Guy "Damn Right Farewell" Tour at the Victory Blues Legend taking Victory Lap with Final Run of Shows

Hairball: A Bombastic Celebration of Arena Rock at the Victory

Exclusive Interview with Singer Dave Moody

Tauren Wells "Joy in the Morning" Tour at ONEP Christian Music Star prepping Life-Impacting Performance

Joe Gatto's "Night of Comedy" at ONEP Former Impractical Jokers Star coming to Evansville

Established in 1991 by Publisher

Brian Bennett

Operations Manager

Joshua Adams

Managing Editor & Writer

Thomas Ellis

Account Representatives

TJ Tanoos

CUISINE

& DINING 24

tj@evansvillemediagroup.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist

Kelsey Halbig

Contributors

Matt Alschbach, Freddie Bourne, Laurie Byers, Paul Bragin, Andrew Dyson, Russ Finn, Johnny Fletcher, GRANTED, Barold Hume, Marisa Patwa, Lindsay Rasure, Todd Zachritz

News 4U is published monthly and is distributed throughout the tri-state. For information about advertising, subscriptions, distribution or guides & lists, call (812) 426-6398 or write us at 125 N Weinbach Ave, Ste 510 Evansville, IN 47711. News 4U is published by EMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Distribution of the magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products, services or opinions within. Advertisers are responsible for content of their ads.

A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

As one who never tires of complaining about the weather, I was saddened that the arctic blast which swept across the Midwest in late December came too late for my previous editor's note. I briefly considered contacting News 4U's printer and begging them to hold off on production - thereby delaying delivery of the January issue - so I could squeeze a sentence or two in about the historic frigid temps we suffered, but reason won out; guess I just don't have a maverick streak - but I do still have a job. So let me take this belated opportunity to bitch and moan because the bitterly cold

bomb cyclone that detonated in the leadup to Christmas was totally nutso. And on a personal note, it appears to have brought death upon my home's newly-planted shrubs like some kind of landscape grim reaper. Let's just hope that February comes in like a lamb weather-wise. Highly unlikely, I know. On the positive tip, this month's cover story will warm your heart. You see, it's almost time for the annual OVER THE EDGE 4 GRANTED event in downtown Evansville. Proceeds from this charitable venture fund wishes and after the wish services for area children fighting terminal and life-threatening conditions. Read all about

it on page 8 and consider signing up to rappel down the side of the CenterPoint building to help raise money for the cause. If you're scared of heights, by chance, there's no better reason to face your fears. Be bold! In other news, we've got interviews with Hairball's Dave Moody, one of the frontmen for the nation's greatest arena rock tribute band (coming to the Victory on March 3) and professional wrestler Karrion Kross who's set to appear at the Ford Center on February 24 as part of the muchanticipated WWE Friday Night Smackdown. All that and more inside! - TE

OVER THE EDGE 4 GRANTED

Second annual charity event looks to reach new fundraising heights for local children facing terminal or life-threatening conditions

What if you could have an incredible adrenalinefilled experience, while also helping local children facing terminal or life-threatening conditions?

GRANTED, the community-based nonprofit, seeks rappelers to go OVER THE EDGE on Saturday, April 29, 2023. OVER THE EDGE is an urban rappelling event for GRANTED that challenges participants to fundraise for the opportunity to rappel down the 9-story CenterPoint Energy building in downtown Evansville. It’s a great way to change a child’s life and have fun while doing it.

The inaugural event held in 2022 raised $271,000. The money raised allowed GRANTED to expand Beyond The Wish programming and ensure that no qualified child is ever put on a Wish waiting list. All the funds raised stay local as GRANTED serves communities within 100 miles of Evansville.

GRANTED is a local nonprofit that serves children ages 3-18 with terminal or life-threatening conditions who live within a 100-mile radius of Evansville, Indiana, by facilitating each child’s greatest Wish, and therefore give them and their family a desperately needed respite from the physical, emotional, and financial burdens created by a life-threatening illness. Wishes provide strength, hope, joy, and a wonderful experience that the family can enjoy together and then treasure among their memories.

Cecilia, Wish Child Ambassador for OTE 2023

“What makes GRANTED unique is that we recognize when a Wish is complete, the child is still sick, and the family is still struggling on many levels,” said Susan Washburn, Executive Director of GRANTED. “Although Wishes can be life changing and even lifesaving, the Wish is just the beginning of our journey with each family, as we continue supporting them through a series of Beyond The Wish programming that includes special inclusive events, support groups, resources in their times of crisis, and close relationships to broaden their support network.”

“Children with life-threatening conditions show great courage in facing everyday obstacles related to their illness,” said Washburn. “We encourage the community to stand beside them through this sign of solidarity and bravery by contributing to our campaign.”

Event Chairman Jeff Purdue added, “We are blessed to live in a generous community that supports the needs of children facing tough obstacles. Our OVER THE EDGE

event would not be possible without the generous support and big hearts of our building partner and presenting sponsor, CenterPoint Energy.”

To participate in the rappelling event, individuals must commit a minimum donation of $1,000. There’s no age requirement, but those under the age of 18 require a parent or guardian’s signature to rappel. Anyone between 100-300 pounds can rappel. Participants are encouraged to challenge their friends, family and colleagues to assist with raising the funds needed to go OVER THE EDGE. “Raising your $1,000 will not be difficult as we have a strong planning team to support you and share fundraising ideas and best practices with you,” said Purdue.

Create a team of friends, family, and co-workers to share in the excitement and go OVER THE EDGE with you! - Courtesy of GRANTED

For more info, visit the OVER THE EDGE for GRANTED website at ote4granted.com.

WHAT MAKES GRANTED UNIQUE IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE WHEN A WISH IS COMPLETE, THE CHILD IS STILL SICK, AND THE FAMILY IS STILL STRUGGLING ON MANY LEVELS.

THE REALLY BIG MYSTERY SHOW

Annual Arc of Evansville production benefits community members with disabilities

Equal parts entertainment extravaganza and highly successful fundraiser, the Really Big Show is always one of the most anticipated community events of the year, benefiting Arc of Evansville and its mission to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their full potential. The longrunning production - written, created and overseen by a nearly all-volunteer cast and

crew - highlights some of the tri-state's most notable dancers, musicians, singers and more for an unforgettable evening of charity and inspiring performances. But this year, there's an intriguing twist...

While this all-star event will once again feature hosts WFIE weatherman Jeff Lyons and his trusty sidekick Marc Scott providing comic relief, for the 2023 edition the wonderfully wacky pair, along with a variety of talent from the community, will lead the way to solve a really big mystery that's sure to put you on the edge of your seat! Or to put it another way, it's elementary, my dear Watson. Yes, Sherlock Lyons and the good doctor are guaranteed to crack the case in the most

entertaining way possible so don't miss out on one of the year's most thrilling evenings!

And again, it's all for a great cause. The Arc of Evansville as an organization goes back over 60 years to a time when parents were encouraged to place their children with disabilities in institutions. But that simply wasn't good enough for a growing number of community members who envisioned a more compassionate and more productive solution. A group of determined parents dreamed of an accessible, educational environment for their children with developmental delays to learn and grow regardless of their ability levels. Over six decades later, Arc continues to serve a wonderful purpose with its many programs offered for individuals with disabilities. But they need your help to keep operating at an optimum level so please consider attending the Really Big Mystery Show or donating to the organization.

For the 2023 edition the wonderfully wacky pair, along with a variety of talent from the community, will lead the way to solve a really big mystery that's sure to put you on the edge of your seat!

WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN

On the short-list of things that are truly American - like baseball and pick-up trucks - professional wrestling is right near the top. For decades the WWE has produced a highly entertaining product with more plot twists than any daytime soap opera, all played out by an electrifying cast of heroes (babyfaces) and villains (heels) that routinely pack stadiums across the country, especially for the ever-popular Friday Night SmackDown. Currently, the latter group is led by the likes of six-time world champion Roman Reigns and the Uso brothers, but another bad boy that's deliciously drawing the ire of fans and challenging the top names for titles is Karrion Kross, a former NXT

champion. The 6' 5", 250 lb. brute loves to mix it up with the crowd and start trouble in the ring - something you can count on when he and his fellow WWE stars, including the aforementioned Uso brothers, Drew McIntyre, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Charlotte Flair and more, battle it out in the ring at the Ford Center late this month.

Kross kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of Friday Night SmackDown

During the January 13 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, things got quite personal between you and Rey Mysterio. Why does he get under your skin so much?

Nothing about Rey Mysterio gets under my skin; it's quite the opposite. I have successfully gotten under Rey Mysterio's skin now that all his personal information is out there. I don't necessarily believe any of the negative or derogatory things I say about Rey Mysterio, but the funniest part about it is that he actually believes it - and that's why he keeps saying it. And what people fail to understand is that when you're about to compete with somebody, the match and the fight itself doesn't start when the bell rings, because long before that, Rey Mysterio's already lost this fight, trust me.

As Karrion Kross, you play the heel to the hilt.

Karrion Kross on playing the heel, reacting to the mood of the crowd, dealing with disappointment and more

Is it something that comes naturally to you? You seem to be quite at ease in front of a packed arena.

As long as I'm in front of a charged-up audience and I have the time to be able to romance them into whatever story is at hand to tell, I'm in love with it; I really am. But to answer your question directly, heel work comes very naturally to me; I understand what the task at hand is. You can't have an excellent good guy without an excellent bad guy, and you need to embrace that. I'm not a fan, whatsoever, of people deliberately trying to be the cool bad guy. You're cutting the legs out of your babyface; it's incredibly selfish. Like, please just wear a black hat. Embrace being hated, for god's sake.

When you enter the stadium, is it important to get a feel for the mood of the crowd as you start to interact with them?

Absolutely. There are certain crowds who have had an entirely different wrestling history versus the other... Certain cities have grown up - I mean, this was a long time ago - with more storytelling-based wrestling. Like the mid-south - they were more of a WWE-heavy crowd, very much into gimmicks and engaging directly with them. And then some crowds are all about looking for the Hybrid Lucha Libre with the crash-and-burn stunts and dives and stuff like that. I'm a very big believer in watching the matches before you and seeing how the crowd is engaging with them as well. You know, a lot of it depends on what came on before you and

where you're at. There could have been a segment that sucked the life out of them before you came outsomething really sad happened, like, I don't know, a babyface got emasculated or they got beat down by six people or something like that. It's not exactly what people were looking for, but it's something that had to happen. So you're going to have some deflated people and you may have to change direction based on that.

When you were dropped from the WWE's main roster in 2021 - before ultimately returning nine months later - you handled the adversity with a positive attitude. Do you think you would have handled it the same way earlier in life or was your mature response a result, perhaps, of being older and wiser? You know, I've never thought of it that way; that's such a great question. I'll be honest with you - I think if I was in my early 20s and that had happened, I would have taken it a lot harder. I think the more challenges that you go through when you're growing up, from adolescence into an adult, you come to find that you can rely on yourself and trust yourself; you learn to adapt. You have to work on that ability, like, as a human being to adapt to situations because things don't always go the way you planned. And I think one of the biggest challenges that a person will ever go through in life is

disappointment. That is across the boarddoesn't matter who you are, how old you are, where you're from. Disappointment is a part of life. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and say how can I recover from this situation?

Finally, is there a particular championship belt that you're coveting? Do you want the biggest prize of all - the Universal Championship? Yes, I want the WWE undisputed Universal Championship and I've been very upfront about that from the very beginning. I want to kick Roman's head in; I want my shot. Obviously, it's very difficult to get near him for a variety of reasons - the Bloodline being number one. But this is the ultimate goal and it should be everyone's ultimate goal. I think Roman is the type of guy that wants to be challenged - he doesn't want this to be easy for himself. And in the same way, I'm like that - I've always gravitated towards the most difficult challenges in my life. However long it takes, I'm gonna get that guy.

For tickets and more info, visit fordcenter.com. The Ford Center is located at 1 SE MLK Jr. Blvd. in downtown Evansville.

You can't have an excellent good guy without an excellent bad guy, and you need to embrace that.

BUDDY GUY "DAMN RIGHT FAREWELL" TOUR

One of the most influential guitarists of all time, Buddy Guy needs no introduction. The 85-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a pioneer of West Side Chicago blues, has left his inedible mark on countless contemporary and legendary musicians, including Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr. and so many more. Notably, the Louisiana native racked up 38 Blues Music Awards during his illustrious career - a record number - and also received a well-earned Kennedy Center Honor, along with many other prestigious accolades.

Guy is perhaps best known for "Stone Crazy," a blistering gut-punch that Rolling Stone named one of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. His unpredictable playing style, peppered with sudden shifts in tempo or dynamics, possessed a unique flair that truly caught fire in a live setting. In short, the stage is where Guy belonged - and still belongs. With stage presence to spare, he commands attention, firing off blues licks from another planet at will. And that big smile of his lets you know he's getting joy out of every note ringing from his signature model Strat.

Incredibly, over 60 years after breaking into the Chicago blues scene and changing the face of music, Guy received his 8th Grammy Award for the 2019 album The Blues is Alive and Well, proving that age is truly just a number. Now he's ready to take a victory lap with a final run of shows to celebrate his remarkable legacy. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see a true music legend in downtown Evansville!

For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville.

Legendary blues guitarist taking victory lap with final run of shows

VICTORY THEATRE / FEBRUARY 26 / 7 P.M.

It's time once again to leave all our worries behind and let the good times roll with the nation's top arena rock tribute act, Hairball. Yes, the boys are back to clear the air and rock us senseless for a couple of hours with an absolutely killer set of songs by some of the greatest bands of all time: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Journey, KISS, Queen, Van Halen and many moreall performed with a rotating cast of spoton singers and plenty of pyrotechnics. As advertised, it's truly a bombastic celebration that will get your heart - and fists - pumping as you rock-out to all your

favorite music from the 70s and 80s.

Hairball's Dave Moody - former vocalist for the revered AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck - was brought on board back in late 2021. The engaging, raspyvoiced singer has slotted in perfectly, leaving fans, well, thunderstruck by his performances of "Back in Black" and classic songs by Twisted Sister, Cinderella, Quiet Riot, KISS and more.

Moody kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show at the Victory.

First off, allow me to offer my

condolences. As a big Steelers fan, you must be hurting after the team came so close to making the playoffs if not for a controversial late-game penalty that lifted the Dolphins over the Jets. You know what, it's ok. Our team played so hard and came back from [starting] 2-6; we had a rookie quarterback; we had construction cones up all year. But it's ok, we're gonna be fine. In the next year or two we're going to be dangerous. If our rebuild is a winning season, I'll take it.

You've now been a part of the madness of Hairball for close to two years. Are you still in one piece?

Vocalist Dave Moody talks football, which singers really belong in the Rolling Stone Top 200, the new crop of rock bands bowing down to the 80s and more

Photo Credit: Tommy Sommers

I need therapy [laughs]. Kidding. It's been phenomenal. We've made leaps and bounds in growth and the fans have been phenomenal; the shows have been phenomenal. Everybody that we talk to says this is the best version of the band because it's just so over-the-top and we just keep adding to it. It's just an amazing, amazing product that they've built and I'm just so honored to be a part of it - to be part of the legacy of Hairball has just been amazing. There's nothing better than being in the same room as the fans and celebrating the glory and the majesty of the gospel of rock & roll.

How can you go wrong?

I'm curious if you've seen the recent Rolling Stone list of the Top 200 Singers of All Time which really skimps on rock vocalists. There's less than 10 included. Well, first of all, they've got Ronnie James Dio at 165 - he can blow any of these singers off the list. And they've got him below Ozzy [Osbourne at 112] - it's just stupid. And I know they've got Bob Dylan

over Elvis. Talk about irrelevant that you've got to put something like that out - the clickbait that they put out. Those people [Rolling Stone] are absolutely horrible; they have no sense of what rock & roll is and they provide the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the people that they want inducted. They put Black Sabbath in but won't put Ronnie James Dio in with Black Sabbath. Don't get me started on that - it angers me to no end how clueless this place is. F*ck the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and f*ck Rolling Stone - and you can print all that.

Oh, I will. So who would you have included that wasn't on the list?

There are just so many phenomenal singers. [AC/DC singer] Brian Johnson is just beyond the pale - that voice is so hard to do and I'm not saying this just because I do it [in Hairball]. I'm saying it just because he's stellar. And you may not like him, but Michael Sweet of Stryper will blow you off the stage. And where's Paul Stanley [of KISS]? In his prime, one of the greatest singers of all time. And you know, what about David Coverdale [of Whitesnake]? You can go on and on.

Last time we spoke, you namechecked a number of young bands coming up that were keeping rock & roll aliveGreta Van Fleet, The Struts, Joyous Wolf, Rival Sons. Who's on your radar these days?

Tuk Smith is amazing. There's a lot of younger bands coming out these days that don't have record deals that I can tell you about - Stolen Prayer, Native Sons. Let's see here... AON (All Or Nothing) - which, their singer just joined Great White but they've still got All Or Nothing going. You know, there's a lot of bands coming out today that are in their twenties and they're just crushing it - they're worshipping at the altar of 80s rock & roll; they love it. It's starting to come back and whenever I meet these kids I get to tell them the stories of how it really was and how unfortunate [it is] that they were born in the wrong time because that was the most glorious time there ever was. But the fact that they're picking up the sword and walking forward makes me nothing but proud and happy.

For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville.

You know, there's a lot of bands coming out today that are in their twenties and they're just crushing it.

TAUREN WELLS "JOY IN THE MORNING" TOUR

Second time's the charm for Tauren Wells. The 10-time Grammy nominee was previously scheduled to perform at the Old National Events Plaza in the fall of 2022; however, that tour was postponed due to the impact of Hurricane Ian. But it's all systems go for this rescheduled date; Wells will take the ONEP stage to the delight of his loyal fans who feel a special connection with the 36-year-old Michigan native. To paraphrase the title of his 2022 full-length release, there's sure to be much joy in the evening on March 3.

Wells, a founding member of the Christian pop rock band Royal Tailor, has put out three critically-acclaimed albums since his debut seven years ago. In addition to Joy in the Morning, he's charted with 2017's Hills and Valleys and 2020's Citizen of Heaven - all three of which hit the US Christian top 5 and spawned multiple singles, including the massively successful "Known." The song reached number one on multiple charts, drawing listeners in with a contemporary sound reminiscent of John Mayer and the like. Award nominations quickly followed for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song at the 2019 Grammys and Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

In 2022, Wells got the nod at the GMA Dove Awards, winning Short Form Video of the Year for "Fake It," the lead single off Joy in the Morning. He comes to Evansville riding high on the reaction to his latest studio effort, determined to give a life-impacting performance.

For tickets and more info, visit oldnationaleventsplaza.com. The ONEP is located at 715 Locust St. in downtown Evansville..

Christian music star bringing life-impacting show to the ONEP stage

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / MARCH 3 / 7 P.M.

JOE GATTO'S "NIGHT OF COMEDY"

You probably know him best as a former star of the long-running Impractical Jokers series on TruTV - and for good reason. Since debuting in 2011, the critically-acclaimed improv comedy show has been watched by countless millions of viewers, making it a runaway success that continues to attract hordes of new fans with each passing season. The idea for this cable behemoth was born out of The Tenderloins, a comedy troupe based out of New York City that also included Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Brian Quinn. It was during these early days that Gatto began honing his freewheeling style of humor that played out to hilarious effect on IJ; he was fearless in the wild and wacky scenarios that his co-stars presented him with, no matter how humbling.

Gatto's scene-stealing abilities, in turn, won him a big audience outside of the show. As a solo act, he's sold-out venues around the world, including legendary arenas such as Madison Square Garden and the O2 in London. Now the former "Impractical Joker" is bringing his "Night of Comedy" tour to downtown Evansville for what promises to be one of 2023's most-anticipated performances. With Gatto, there's no telling what he'll say or do from one moment to the next; you'll be on the edge of your seat, braced for impact and waves of laughter - that's the only thing certain. Don't miss out on one of the comedy events of the year!

For tickets and more info, visit oldnationaleventsplaza.com. The ONEP is located at 715 Locust St. in downtown Evansville.

Improv comedian and television personality coming to downtown Evansville

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / MARCH 9 / 7:30 P.M.

ESCAPE EVANSVILLE PRESENTS: ESCAPE FACTOR

day. Are you ready to face your fears? Can you stomach the challenge? Then get a group together and put your courage to the test. Escape Factor demands that you put your big boy (or big girl) pants on and make it through round after round of ingesting foreign foods - i.e., live crickets, pig's feet and flaming hot peppers, just to name a few - while also dealing with the slimiest of objects, like blood, worms, snakes and more. Do you have what it takes? Or are you going to opt out? In fact, you can do the latter - but you'll lose any round you wuss-out on and forfeit any points. Just say no to being a baby - it's time to show the people in your life that you're a boss!

While Escape Factor is all about pushing your limits, it's also a total blast - a great way to connect with your peeps and do something together that's totally outside the box. Visit escapeevansville.com today and book a time to face your fears and win!

For more info, follow Escape Evansville on Facebook or visit escapeevansville.com. Escape Evansville is located at 600 N. Weinbach, Ste. 940 in Evansville.

With a whopping 85,000,000 views on TikTok, Escape Evansville has been garnering a record-breaking amount of attention for its endlessly entertaining break-out rooms that not only provide tons of fun for friends, families and co-workers alike but challenge the mind in the process as participants are tasked with solving a series of clues to beat the clock to freedom. It's a real life brain-teaser that takes various forms - you can choose to enter any of Escape's popular break-out rooms, including Superheroes, Survive and Escape Back to London. Or, if you're feeling stressed to the max these days - and who isn't? - Escape offers the Rage Room which certainly lives up to its name. Inside, you can bash everything in sight to your heart's content - glass bottles, pictures, consoles and more. Way better than meditation, by the way.

Now Escape Evansville is kicking things up a notch with Escape Factor, its own version of a certain TV show from back in the

The tri-state's premier break-out room business challenges you to face your fears and win!

WHAT'SCOOKIN'

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

PIZZA

1101

HARMONY WAY, EVANSVILLE, IN

If you're a local lover of the 'za then last month's Evansville Pizza Week - which neatly coincided with National Pizza Week - was surely a little slice of heaven, so to speak. With 14 area restaurants participating, all offering a specialty pizza for just $8, it proved to be a very tasty seven days, indeed. Now the long wait begins for the event's return... Thankfully, the featured establishments will be cooking up delicious pizza all year-long, so there's no need to sulk.

FYI, on the second day of EPW, we took the opportunity to check out the new kid on the block, Harmony Pizza on the city's west side, housed in the former Twisted Tomato building. In fact, GM Matt Lynn and kitchen manager Kyle Hendrick both worked for TT at the north side location and have now put their own pizza spin on things, creating a hybrid of sorts of the traditional cracker crust/square-cut style and Lynn's preferred New York style, meaning the dough has the pull of the east coast classic 'za. Combined, it all makes for a unique pizza experience.

Harmony owners Chip Alstadt, Andy Hoffman and Keith Sanderson were eager to make use of the great location after the double whammy of construction and Covid restrictions essentially forced Twisted Tomato to shut down. Once the building was accessible again, the three friends made the decision to go all-in, opening Harmony Pizza on September 26, 2022, much to the delight of the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. During our visit, we were treated to a tasting of the featured EPW pizza, The Green Meanie, as well as two of the restaurant's most popular menu items: The Harmony Classic and Stromboli. A specialty pizza for those who

like to stray a bit from traditional toppings and live a little, The Green Meanie is loaded with pesto, chicken, Italian sausage, feta and jalapeño. But if you're more of a pizza purist, then The Harmony Classic is definitely the way to go. It lives up to its classic status with six mouth-watering toppings, including pepperoni, Italian sausage, black olives, green peppers, onion and mushrooms. Last not but not least, we absolutely had to dive into the Stromboli as it's such an Evansville tradition. The sauce was spiced just right with a little kick and the bread was toasted to perfection with melted cheese oozing out over the seasoned crumbled meat - just

how it's meant to be.

All three items that we sampled were top-notch with high-quality ingredients and the aforementioned cracker crust/NY style combo is a winner - it's just different enough to offer something new without sacrificing any of the texture or feel that Eville pizza lovers are used to. Keep in mind that Harmony's menu includes a number of other Lynn/Hendrick creations that sound fantastic and will be sampled upon our return; in particular, The Loop (BBQ sauce, chicken, bacon & onion) and for the meat lover in all of us, The Vern (pepperoni, Italian sausage, crumbled sausage, bacon, ham, beef & chicken). Harmony also offers chicken wings, nachos, sandwiches, salads and more.

Considering the neighborhood location, it's no surprise that Harmony does a lot of carry-out business, but they also deliver - or you can pull right up to the front of the building and dine-in. The server that waited on us was extremely friendly and helpful and handled incoming patrons with ease. Simply put, this place has a small town feel that's a welcome relief from the big franchise operations. You'll definitely want to stop in and give Harmony Pizza a try; it's well worth the drive from any side of town. The restaurant opens at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and at 11 a.m. on the weekends.

Simply put, this place has a small town feel that's a welcome relief from the big franchise operations. You'll definitely want to stop in and give Harmony Pizza a try.

Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure

One thing that I’m very adamant about is not buying or making anything containing artificial dyes. When shopping around Valentine’s Day, if you take a moment to read the ingredients list you will find that many of the treats are loaded with red, pink, and even purple food dyes. Do not despair because you can easily make fun treats at home without all the junk! That’s exactly what I did with this recipe. If you like rich and decadent chocolate then this is a must try. You will not miss the food dyes, corn syrup, or artificial flavors that make their way into most commercial treats. The coconut milk offers a rich and creamy component without using traditional dairy. The freeze-dried strawberries pack a mouthful of flavor, and provide a vibrant pink color for decoration. Be prepared to want several!

CLEAN BITE

DARK CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY TRUFFLES

(Makes 16 truffles)

INGREDIENTS:

life

• 2 – 10 OZ. PACKAGES OF DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS (I LIKE TO USE 60% GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE CHIPS)

• 1 – 1 OZ. PACKAGE OF FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRIES BLENDED INTO A FINE POWDER

• ¾ C. OF UNSWEETENED FULL FAT COCONUT MILK

• 1.5 T. OF REFINED COCONUT OIL (CAN SUB. AVOCADO OIL)

• PINCH OF SALT

DIRECTIONS:

1. OPEN UP THE CAN OF COCONUT OF MILK AND STIR TO COMBINE THE CREAM WITH THE LIQUID. AFTER IT IS COMPLETELY MIXED ADD ¾ C. TO SMALL SAUCEPAN. HEAT COCONUT MILK AT MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL IT STARTS TO SIMMER.

2. WHILE THE COCONUT MILK IS WARMING PUT ONE 10 OZ. PACKAGE OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND COCONUT OIL INTO A HEAT-SAFE BOWL.

3. ONCE THE COCONUT MILK IS BROUGHT TO A SIMMER TURN THE HEAT OFF AND POUR THE COCONUT MILK OVER THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND COCONUT OIL. LET MIXTURE SIT FOR 1-2 MINUTES.

4. STIR THE CHOCOLATE MIXTURE UNTIL WELL COMBINED, AND THEN ADD ALL BUT ONE TABLESPOON OF THE FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRY POWDER. STIR TO COMBINE.

5. PLACE THE CHOCOLATE MIXTURE INTO THE FRIDGE FOR 2 HOURS.

6. AFTER 2 HOURS USE A TABLESPOON OR SMALL COOKIE SCOOP TO SCOOP OUT THE CHOCOLATE MIXTURE AND FORM INTO BALLS. PLACE THE BALLS BACK INTO THE FRIDGE FOR 1 HOUR.

7. AFTER 1 HOUR MELT THE OTHER PACKAGE OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS IN THE MICROWAVE FOR 30-SECOND INTERVALS, STIRRING BETWEEN EACH INTERVAL, UNTIL MELTED.

8. DIP EACH BALL IN THE MELTED CHOCOLATE AND SPRINKLE WITH THE REMAINING FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRY POWDER.

9. ALLOW THE CHOCOLATE TO COOL AND SET BEFORE ENJOYING THE TRUFFLES.

10. STORE TRUFFLES IN A COVERED CONTAINER IN THE FRIDGE.

FOR MORE RECIPES OR MEAL IDEAS YOU CAN FOLLOW LINDSAY RASURE ON INSTAGRAM: @CLEANBITELIFE OR HER FACEBOOK GROUP: CLEAN BITE LIFE

COUPONS!

PRESENTED BY:

IN TOWN & AROUND

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick

Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- UE Men's

Basketball

Lamasco Bar & Grill --

Karaoke

7:30 PM

Old National Events Plaza --

Shen Yun

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

O'Brian's Sports Bar --

Karaoke

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- College Night w/ Brad

Lemmons

KC's Corner Pocket -- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill --

Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Elliott Sublett

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts Hoosier Lottery/ First Responders Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- DJ AP

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ Jon J

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- DJ Dance Party

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- DJ

Randy

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar --

80's-themed DJ & Karaoke

O'Brian's Sports Bar --

Karaoke

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts Nickelodeon Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Xanderwolf, Dr. Rendezvous, The Chugs

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ Jon J

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Read Southall Band

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- The Smoke Rings

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Two for Flinching

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill --

Karaoke

Old National Events Plaza -My Fair Lady

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- College Night w/ Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar &

Grill -- Boscoe France

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- UE Men's Basketball

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- College Night w/ Stackin' Eights Trio

KC's Corner Pocket -- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Winter Jam

2023 w/ We The Kingdom, Jeremy Camp & more

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Dan Hall Duo

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts College Night

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Half

Stack'd

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Cage Willis

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Demon

Hunt World

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ Cliffy D

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- DJ Dance Party

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar --

Karaoke

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Dan Hall Duo

7:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza -The Really Big Mystery Show (Arc of Evansville fundraiser)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The Pits

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Beyond Blu

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ Jon J

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Stackin' Eights

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

1:00 PM

Ford Center -- UE Men's Basketball

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Side by Side

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free

Pool

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- College Night w/ Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Boscoe France

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

Old National Events Plaza -Valentine's Day on the Bridge

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- College Night w/ Josh

Merritt

KC's Corner Pocket -- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Elliott Sublett

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Little By Little

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Nick Cheek

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Brian Dawe

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Comedy Chaos w/ Brandon Baggett

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

11:00 AM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

3:00 PM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Elliott Sublett

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The BackBeats

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Little By Little

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Brian Dawe

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Glastone

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

11:00 AM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: The Sidemen

3:00 PM

Ford Center -- Disney On Ice: Into the Magic

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- College Night w/ Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry Night

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Boscoe France

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Trivia

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- UE Men's

Basketball

Lamasco Bar & Grill --

Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- College Night w/ Brad

Lemmons

KC's Corner Pocket -- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill --

Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Josh Merritt

6:45 PM

Ford Center -- WWE Friday Night Smackdown

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Drag Me to the Weekend w/ DJ Chidi

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ Jon J

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- DJ Dance Party

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- 2 Miles Back

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Josh Merritt

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts 80's Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- 3 O'Clock

Charlie

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- No

Governor

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Dueling DJs

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- That's What She Said!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Bokeh Big Band

3:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts Sunday Funday

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

Victory Theatre -- Buddy Guy

"Damn Right Farewell" Tour

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- College Night w/ Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Boscoe France

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Karaoke

DR. RENDEZVOUS

Big in outer space: Newly-expanded alt-rock band drops the Cosmic Dawn EP on the tri-state

It's been just over two years since we first got to know the genre-bending ways of Dr. Rendezvous. Back then the fledgling group functioned as a four-piece, melding elements of progressive rock, 90s-era rock and metal, all infused with a punk spirit. But even the combustible energy of the band - which, at the time, comprised the core trio of guitarist Josh Taleno, bassist Andrew Logan and drummer Tristan Arnold, along with original vocalist Dakota Madden - was no match for the pandemic which slowed their progress, keeping live performances sporadic at best. Still, the guys continued to work on material, recording demos and booking sessions with "the man in the lab," Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording. It was a

slow drip, to be sure. But as Covid began to recede, Dr. Rendezvous re-emerged on the stage, slimming down to the triple-threat of Taleno, Logan and Arnold and giving the wildly ambitious songs they were working on some air-time.

vocalist Jesse Collins into the fold as well as Idder's Jake Bethel on guitar. Locked-in as a truly formidable group of six and with 2023 on the horizon, it was finally time to announce the arrival of the Cosmic Dawn.

In the build-up to the band's overdue EP, the demos of "Atlas" and "Harakiri/Jigai" were released, the latter even getting a cool video treatment. These two tracks, in particular, display the duality of Dr. Rendezvous. Where "Atlas" is a lengthy progressive piece that veers more towards alt-rock with fantastic angular guitar work by Taleno, "Harakiri/Jigai" hits fast and hard, going full-on metal at times with (seemingly) down-tuned sections and shredded vocals from Thyler Courter. But even more musical diversity would be on tap for the eventual EP, partially as a result of the expanded lineup. In addition to Courter, Dr. Rendezvous welcomed keyboardist/

The announcement, made via social media on New Year's Eve, was great news for the local music scene. While a number of original projects surfaced during the summer and into the fall of 2022, there's been a dearth of creativity of late. But the Cosmic Dawn EP, packed with bangers, as the kids say, has put the focus back on songwriting. Actually, while this new release does indeed bang quite a bit, the nearly-instrumental title track and brief hip hop-influenced "Presence" (featuring former vocalist Madden) are majestically spidery with Taleno playing some other-worldly guitar figures. Then there's the Collins-sung "Skin" which dips heavily into 90s rock and "Bad Tendencies," a bad-ass Frankenstein of a song that uses all the colors of the Dr. Rendezvous palette with Collins and Courter trading vocals to great effect.

The band promises more new music in 2023 so stay tuned for updates!

Cosmic Dawn is available on Spotify and other streaming services. For more info, follow Dr. Rendezvous on Facebook.

BUT THE COSMIC DAWN EP, PACKED WITH BANGERS, AS THE KIDS SAY, HAS PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON SONGWRITING.

COVER ART: MEGAN BADGER

ANDY BRASHER

Owensboro country singer debuts

new song with live TV performance, continues work on upcoming album

Long one of the tri-state's most gifted songwriters, Owensboro's Andy Brasher has been a little quiet on the new music front since the release of 2020's excellent Myna Bird. The pandemic-timed release featured gritty, storytelling-based tracks like "Day of the Trial" and "Drugs in the Tip Jar" - the former recalling the best of Merle Haggard, the latter coming across like a country-tinged John Mellencamp with a hint of Georgia Satellites. Then there were acoustic-based, sentimental ballads like "If She Loves" - a true standout on an album of standouts - and philosophical musings on life in the form of "Last of Our Kind" and "House of a Thousand Corpses." But Brasher saved the best for last with the impactful title track, a gorgeous fingerpicked meditation on being free enough to speak one's mind. It was the perfect conclusion to a near-perfect album.

Post-Myna Bird, the multitalented country singer did something unexpected but totally in keeping with his years of involvement in the Owensboro arts scene: he opened Brasher's Little Nashville, a premier music venue that marries a big city concert experience with a hometown bar feel. Needless to say, overseeing such a venture has kept Brasher busy. However, he recently gave the tri-state a glimpse of what he's been up to in his limited spare time, debuting "Thank God for Wheels" on ABC's Local Lifestyles, a preview of his new album currently in production. Performing solo, a lone guitar accompanying his rich vocals delivered with a dash of twang, Brasher detailed the predicament of a man who's lost touch, who's severed the connection to what makes him whole: "It's been so long since I've been home and I'm just a stranger now/ If I got there fast could I change the past?/ I would if I knew how."

Yet there's consolation for the song's protagonist. As Brasher builds to the

moving chorus, he draws a parallel between the daily struggle and that long stretch of road we must often drive to return to our roots or to say goodbye; it may be a haul but it clears the mind: "Life will pass you like a speeding car/ You don't know where to turn/ But at least I've made good time today/ Thank god for wheels that roll/ When it's time for letting go/ Let there be peace on a back road/ Let the highway soothe my soul."

What shape this hit-in-the-making will take in the studio remains to be seen - or heard, more accurately - but Brasher's affecting performance sure made for a terrific album teaser. In the meantime, be sure to check out Myna Bird if you haven't already and stay tuned for updates.

For more info, follow Andy Brasher on Facebook

NEEDLESS TO SAY, OVERSEEING SUCH A VENTURE HAS KEPT BRASHER BUSY.

We don't wanna say we told you so, but last month News 4U predicted something big was on the horizon for Cage Willis following the release of his latest single, the euphoric "Hallucinate." To be fair, the southern Illinois rocker has been dropping a trail of breadcrumbs for awhile now, having been invited to open for Hairball at the Victory Theatre back in late 2021 and then recording with Black Stone Cherry guitarist Chris Robertson. That exciting collaboration has thus far yielded three show-stopping releases, including the aforementioned "Hallucinate," plus the heartfelt "Home" and emphatic "Who I Am." With each new dazzling single, Willis has shown a new side of himself, proving that he's a star in the making - a versatile talent with a marquis baritone and songwriting chops to spare.

Now the Mt. Carmel native has scored a truly coveted prize. Remember that "something big" we were predicting? Didn't take long to happen. Recently, Willis announced that he will be the supporting act on Foreigner's spring

tour. Yes, that Foreigner - the jukebox heroes. We're talking "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent," "Feels Like the First Time," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "I Want to Know What Love is" and, of course, "Juke Box Hero." You get the idea. It's hard to imagine a sweeter gig than warming up the crowd for one of classic rock's biggest bands. No doubt Willis is over the moon, thrilled to be gifted such a golden opportunity - the sort of opportunity that can make a career. Case in point: way back in the 80's, the Go-Go's tagged along with the world-beating Police on the trio's Ghost in the Machine tour. Within weeks, Belinda Carlisle and the girls had passed up Sting and the boys on the charts, rocketing to number one with Beauty and the Beat. Just sayin'.

Someone else who's fired up about the Foreigner tour is Dr. Rendezvous bassist Andrew Logan who's been a member of the Cage Willis band for a minute now. It's the chance of a lifetime to get out and play in front of huge crowds from Kansas to Pennsylvania, including a stop at the Old National Events Plaza on May 17!

FOREIGNER / CAGE

WILLIS TOUR DATES:

4/30 Park City, KS

5/2 Topeka, KS

5/3 Ralston, NE

5/9 Duluth, MN

5/10 Fargo, ND

5/17 Evansville, IN

5/19 Kalamazoo, MI

5/21 Salem, VA

5/23 Johnston, PA

For more info, follow Cage Willis on Facebook.

coveted opening slot on spring Foreigner tour

No doubt Willis is over the moon, thrilled to be gifted such a golden opportunity - the sort of opportunity that can make a career.

"

THE ROCK & METAL PROFS

WITH MATT ALSCHBACH & DR. COURT LEWIS

Associate professors at Owensboro Community College and Pellissippi State Community College, respectively, Alschbach and Lewis host the popular podcast The Rock & Metal Profs: The History & Philosophy of Rock & Metal. Now they're bringing their keen insights to the pages of News 4U with a monthly deep dive into some of the best bands of the rock/metal genre and thoughts on music in general.

DON T LET THE SNIVELERS

RUIN YOUR FAVORITE BAND

Metallica recently announced the upcoming release of their 12th studio album, 72 Seasons To build some momentum, they released a new song from the album that same day. Overall, the response was favorable, as devotees shared and downloaded the song millions of times over the subsequent weeks. But, as always, there were the detractors – longtime fans of early Metallica who were quick to offer their unsolicited criticism on the various social media platforms with cracks like, “72 Seasons? More like 72 Reasons not to listen to this crap.” After listening to just one track? Wow. There are many reasons to dislike any band, but Metallica seems destined to bear the brunt of online sniping anytime they release new material.

We thought a lot about why this is, and here’s what we’ve come up with. Metallica is the most successful and influential metal band of all time. And it is that very success that chafes the snivelers, but particularly fans (and former fans) who enjoyed the band in their early years. You know the type – self-proclaimed connoisseurs of what constitutes “good” music, and what “sucks.” Fans of a particular age and ilk who complain that Metallica died after the release of the "Black Album" in 1991. “They went mainstream, man!” “They’ve not produced anything worthwhile since …And

Just for All.” Really? Not a single consequential nor entertaining song in over 30 years? That seems unlikely. Sure, we bought into some of the negativity in the late nineties with the release of Load and Reload, but who didn’t? Interestingly, it was the announcement of 72 Seasons that prompted Court and I to go back and give their later catalog a thorough listen, and we are so glad we did. Their later albums are REALLY GOOD. Death Magnetic, in particular, is great from start to finish. Those same fans who whine that Metallica betrayed them by not reproducing some version of Ride the Lightning every few years would have absolutely LOVED Death Magnetic if it came out in 1983 and they’d never heard of Metallica prior.

We also have to point out that early Metallica fans loved the band precisely because they were so uncompromising. They didn’t care about radio airplay, MTV coverage, fame nor money. Fans respected them because they did exactly what they wanted to do musically. Yet

when James, Lars, Kirk and Jason/Rob decided to take the band in a new direction and to hell with the critics, fans complained because it wasn’t what they expected. But here’s another view – perhaps they just decided that making music was something they did as a means of self-expression and art, and that they write those songs as much for their own catharsis as they do for their loyal fans who love them.

The Rock & Metal Profs podcast is available on iTunes, Google and Spotify.

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: MATT ALSCHBACH AND DR. COURT LEWIS

A REBUTTAL TO THE ROLLING STONE TOP 200 SINGERS OF ALL TIME LIST

by Freddie Bourne

Notable local musician shares his thoughts on the recent controversial ranking of vocalists

When I saw that Rolling Stone announced this list - particularly after hearing that Celine Dion had been completely snubbed - I thought for certain that the publication had jumped the shark. And while I will stand by the fact that some of the choices and rankings were questionable, I also would like to eventually find a way to work for the magazine in some capacity; hence, great job to RS editor-in-chief Noah Shachtman for keeping people entertained and starting a debate to keep the name very much alive.

I will confess there were artists on the list that I was pleasantly surprised to see that I never thought Rolling Stone would consider such as Anohni, Karen O and Mahlathini. But to have powerhouses like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson not even crack the top 100, yet Bob Dylan, who is a phenomenal musician but cannot sing (I look forward to your angry letters), makes the top 20? That's illogical. You’re going to tell me that Celine was passed over for the likes of a man with a paper-thin range? Is this a list about the best singers or the best musicians, Rolling Stone? There is a clear difference.

While there's not room to rank 200 singers, here's my take on who should have made the top 5.

1. Aretha Franklin - RS got this one right.

2. Whitney Houston - Ditto.

3. Etta James - She was a master-class vocalist that was able to adapt to a number of genres flawlessly. From the R&B vibes of “Tell Mama” to the undeniable power in “I’d Rather Go Blind” and the swooning feel of "At Last," James paved the way for so many singers that have achieved great success and showed that women in music could truly do it all.

4. Adele - Say what you want about this choice, but I fell in love with Adele the first time I heard

“Chasing Pavements” and played it non-stop on my iPod while taking the bus to high school at 6:30 a.m. my junior year, hoping for death to strike me. Especially in today’s world, where singers are overdoing the vocal gymnastics, Adele can sing it straight without the thrills and trills and still move you. Yes, her new stuff isn’t as bombastic as 21, but I boil that down to the songwriting.

5. David Gates - Many of you are probably wondering, Bill Gates had a brother? And if you knew my mother, she would have told you this

as fact though the internet proved her wrong time and again. While the lead singer of the 70s soft-rock band Bread didn’t have the belting spirit in his voice, Gates had an earnestness and sincerity in his delivery, allowing simple songshits such as "Lost Without Your Love" and "If" - to be engaging and touching (the latter included a peculiar and tasty falsetto in the closing line). Also, the fact that Bread was nominated for just one Grammy makes me realize the music industry has made some questionable choices long before this list.

MOONLIGHT FILMS

Surely the most prolific film production team in the area, Ian Mair, James Stevenson and Deron Morgan - the core trio behind Moonlight Films - are fast approaching 20 releases since the debut of After Dark in 2012. The three close friends are horror fanatics and love to explore all facets of the genre, from straight-up slashers and classic monster movies to comedybased scarefests and psychological slow-burns. But regardless of the style, with each new film they've upped their

game in every way: the casting and acting, camera work, special effects, editing - it's all improved by leaps and bounds over the years, a testament to the team's perseverance and creative drive. So it's no surprise, really, that the hard work eventually paid off in the form of a distribution deal with S.R.S. Cinema, a long-running company headed by Ron Bonk who, last spring, agreed to release 2019's Blood Cove and 2020's Blood Cove 2: Return of the Skull - two of Moonlight Films' most lauded efforts - as a limited edition Blu-ray. That was followed by a wide-release DVD and the addition of streaming options back in November. Safe to say the guys were more than a little chuffed. "We feel like S.R.S. is a great home for our films," Morgan notes. "It's pretty amazing to know that the Blood Cove films are pretty much everywhere now. You

can go on all these online stores and buy them - Wal Mart, Best Buy, Amazon, Deep Discount, plus streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi and more."

But the Moonlight Films crew is hardly resting on its laurels. 2023 looks to be a very busy year with film shoots scheduled over the next few months, a Comic Con appearance in Robinson, IL, in April and the promise of two more productions to be released by S.R.S. When summer and fall come around again, the guys intend to be in full flight, with more film shoots on the agenda as they gear up for the premiere of a new project at the Tivoli Theatre in Spencer, IN - their first showing at the storied venue since 2019. As Morgan simply states, "We never stop working." As to what keeps the team pushing forward, it comes down to passion. "We all believe in the missionboth cast and crew," Morgan adds. "So we are going to just keep producing the best work we can as long as we can."

For more info, follow Moonlight Films on Facebook or visit srscinema.com.

On the heels of securing distribution deal, tri-state film production company preps for busy 2023, including fall premiere of new horror flick

We never stop working."

As to what keeps the team pushing forward, it comes down to passion. "We all believe in the mission - both cast and crew.

"

FIVE STEPS IN A CIRCLE

by Zach Lively

Newburgh's Zach Lively, a former vocalist for Exesion who currently fronts the pummeling metal band Null Valley, is a writer at heart. It's a passion that pre-dates his musical explorations but one that's just now getting his full attention in the form of an unexpected published work. Considering the sort of full-throated screaming Lively is known for on stage, few would have predicted he'd pen such a charming children's book with a philosophical bent born out of "mindful intention." In the author's words, Five Steps in a Circle "is about considering where our actions take us and finding a balance between repetition and randomness. We can never fully be free of the circles we travel, regardless if it brings us back to happiness or difficulties to overcome."

The genesis of Lively's interest in writing for children can be traced back 18 years to when his firstborn daughter was but three. Inspired by his little buddy, he wrote a touching book about her but kept

the story close to the vest, unsure of how to move forward with it. As time went on, he continued to compile writings but Lively often found himself too bogged down with life responsibilities to bring any of his ideas to fruition. He had also been holding out for a creative partner to share in the experience and to serve as an illustrator - but that, too, proved difficult and ultimately very frustrating. Feeling depressed about the lack of progress - and particularly regarding his employment situation - everything came to a head last year. Lively, ground down and tired of existing in a rut, finally decided to act, manifesting some crucial changes that put the wheels in motion for a transformation.

In addition to leaving an unsatisfactory job and starting anew, Lively began running on a daily basis to clear the mind and, most importantly, took the book project into his own hands, accepting that he alone could make it happen; it was a now or never epiphany. But which of his stories would resonate the most with young people post-Covid? Lively, after much consideration, surmised that with everything he'd been going through over the course of 2022 and what we all dealt with during the pandemic, the five steps concept seemed timely, something that children might feel a connection to and appreciate. Especially when taking into account the book's true aim - "to give encouragement to believe in oneself and add positive direction to the deviations we take as we find our way back to ourselves."

5 Steps in a Circle is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Local metal singer flips the script, publishes children's book with a philosophical bent

"Lively, ground down and tired of existing in a rut, finally decided to act, manifesting some crucial changes that put the wheels in motion for a transformation."

100 THINGS TO DO IN INDIANA BEFORE YOU DIE

Travel and lifestyle expert maps out the best spots to explore in the Hoosier state

We've probably all been guilty of complaining about our home state at one time or another, giving in to the cliché that the sum total of excitement in Indiana is basketball with a backdrop of rows of corn. Well, that's often the outsider's view, anyway. Hoosiers don't tend to get much love from the rest of the country, let's be honest; we're known to be the butt of more than a joke or two about the simplicity of life here or knocked for our "values" and other such malarkey. But whether people want to believe it or not, Indiana is not only a pretty great place to live, there's seemingly no end of fun and educational things to do and see, according to author Jamie Ward, owner of the travel and lifestyle blog, Cornfields & High Heels. She recently made a stop in Evansville for a book signing, autographing copies of her informative paperback, 100 Things To Do In Indiana Before You Die The title pretty much says it all.

In just under 200 pages, Ward lays out the case for where you should go and what you should do in the Hoosier state before leaving this blessed planet, with tips and ideas for the whole family. There's the Indy 500, for example, the greatest automobile race in the world. Or if you prefer life in the slow lane, how about kicking back and watching bison on a prairie? And while obvious recommendations like being a part of hoops hysteria are included, Ward goes much deeper, showing a side to Indiana that you may not be familiar with - yet. You'll be encouraged hit the trails at Turkey Run State Park; take an overdue vacation at the scenic French Lick Resort; visit Fair Oaks Farms for a truly inspiring agricultural experience; expand your mind at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites; even chow down at unique and storied eateries. All that and there's still 90 more things to do - this is just scratching the surface of what Ward has compiled.

Rest assured you'll come away with a new appreciation for Indiana - and soon be making a list of where you'd like to start your Hoosier journey. Many of us go through life without a sense of exploration, content to stay in our little corner but Ward's book will fill you with a newfound curiosity for all that our home state has to offer. So be sure to pick up a copy of 100 Things To Do In Indiana and start your adventure today!

100 Things To Do In Indiana is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major outlets.

"Rest assured you'll come away with a new appreciation for Indiana - and soon be making a list of where you'd like to start your Hoosier journey."

SCREEN TIME WITH MARISA PATWA

February cinema offerings include a long-awaited rom-com pairing, the return of Magic Mike and a Latin love story

YOUR PLACE OR MINE

Rom-com superstars Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon are finally teaming up for a film together. The two star as Peter and Debbie, long-distance besties who, despite having had a one-night-stand 20 years prior, have refrained from further romantic interaction ever since. But their latent feelings for each other are put under a microscope when the New York City-based Peter and Los Angeles-based Debbie switch homes for a week. Kutcher gets to babysit her inquisitive son while Debbie starts a new romance with Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams. The screenplay was penned by writer Aline Brosh McKenna (Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses), so you know sparks will fly on the screen. Zoe Chao, Rachel Bloom, Steve Zhan, Tig Notaro and Shiri Appleby all have supporting roles, while child actor Wesley Kimmel gives Kutcher a run for his money as a scene-stealer. Netflix 2/10

MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCE

Channing Tatum is back for the third film in the Magic Mike series which promises to be bigger, glitterier, and sexier than ever. As usual, Mike is broke and fighting for his dreams; after a business setback, he is stuck bartending in Florida. To add a spicy splash, Salma Hayek is stepping in as a rich socialite who wants to help him dance again. Instead of performing in Florida, Mike is showing off his seductive moves in London. His goal now is to recruit a new roster of strippers who can perform a big show at The Rattigan, an old classic theatre. This may be the last film in the showstopping series and I'm betting a lot of dollar bills the performances will be the best yet. Bring your umbrellas for this Steven Soderbergh-directed film sprinkled with rain-soaked dances. In theaters 2/10

AT MIDNIGHT

I'm so excited to see a Mexican rom-com coming out in time for Valentine’s Day. Monica Barbaro stars as Sophie Wilder, a movie star who finds her trash boyfriend, played by Anders Holm (Workaholics), cheating on her in a movie trailer for their action film Super Society 3 - after five years together. In response, she starts to form a relationship with Diego Boneta’s Alejandro, a modest and kind hotel manager. The two salsa dance the night away at midnight and things only escalate from there. The Jonah Feingolddirected film is a love letter to the beauty of Mexico, while Whitney Cummings also provides comedic relief as the star’s flamboyant publicist. Will Sophie get back together with her cheating, famous and wealthy ex or take a chance on love with the man who won her heart, but comes from a different world?

Paramount+ 2/10

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE

THE IDAHO MURDERS: A NATION TRANSFIXED

Not since the Casey Anthony trial has a case drawn the attention of the public like the Idaho murders. From the moment it was reported that four college students were brutally stabbed to death in the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho, the nation has been transfixed by coverage of the grisly crime. But the obsession with the case truly went into overdrive when it was announced, after weeks of investigation, that 28-year-old Washington State University PhD student Bryan Kohberger had been arrested for the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen. As it turned out, while many people had been questioning the competence of the Moscow police department, they did everything by the book, even accepting outside help from the FBI to sift through more than 10,000 leads; ultimately, they were able to link the suspect to a Hyundai Elantra captured on video approaching - and subsequently speeding away from - the home where the students were residing. Plus, cell phone records placed him in the immediate area. And as if that wasn't damning enough, DNA discovered on a knife sheath left behind by the killer was traced back to Kohberger through the science of forensic genealogy.

Much of the above information was gleaned when the arrest affidavit was released in early January, documenting in striking detail how investigators came to zero in on Kohberger - which only heightened interest in the case. The biggest - and most obvious - question lingering is why? Why did he do it? By all accounts, Kohberger (who is presumed innocent until proven guilty) seemed to

be a fairly affable, if not a bit odd, individual on the surface (though episodes of bullying and rejection by females reportedly drove him to lose 100 pounds in his teen years in an effort to connect with the opposite sex). Described as quiet but not shy, he was pursuing, of all things, a PhD in criminology. This has led many in the true crime field to speculate that Kohberger was effectively doing research on how on to commit the perfect murder. If that's the case, he failed miserably in execution, making rookie mistake after rookie mistake. Since the arrest, internet blog postings - presumed to have been made by the suspect - have come to light, which detail a very troubled individual detached from reality. Some have suggested, based on these writings, that Kohberger was simply a ticking time bomb.

Kohberger will have his day in court, of coursethough the evidence, at this point, seems stacked against him. Realistically, investigators surely have even more evidence which they chose to leave out of the affidavit, not wanting to show all their cards too early on. But trials are always unpredictable. Did anyone think that Casey Anthony would walk free? Or OJ Simpson, for that matter? One thing's for sure - the Idaho murders are destined to be studied and discussed for years to come.

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

"

THIS HAS LED MANY IN THE TRUE CRIME FIELD TO SPECULATE THAT KOHBERGER WAS EFFECTIVELY DOING RESEARCH ON HOW ON TO COMMIT THE PERFECT MURDER.

PICTURED: BRYAN KOHBERGER

THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION? HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US!

LILITH: Lilith is here to bring some girl power into your life! This 2-year-old female is up for adoption at the River Kitty Cat Cafe. Would you believe that she’s the second longest resident here? Lilith is the PERFECT mix of cute, curious, a little spicy, and sweet. Her favorite activities? Snoozing in her favorite perch, watching the world go by through the windows of River Kitty, and making you laugh. Her adoption fee is $80 and includes her spay, microchip, and up-todate vaccinations. Come meet her at River Kitty in downtown Evansville!

400 MILLNER INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

ALLIE: Meet Allie, a 10-month-old hound mix. She was terribly shy after arriving at the Vanderburgh Humane Society, but came right out of her shell when she met other dogs to play with. In fact, she would LOVE to have a dog sibling or two in her new home! Come meet Allie at the VHS or apply online at vhslifesaver.org. Her adoption fee is $150, which includes her spay, microchip and vaccinations.

(812) 426-2563

ADOPTION HOURS TUES-SAT FROM 12-6PM & SUN 12-4PM

RAZZLE DAZZLE: Quickest way to get adopted? Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle! At Least that’s this rabbit’s technique. Meet Razzle Dazzle, a oneyear-old lionhead from the VHS. Her fluff is a real showstopper and must be groomed on the regular. Otherwise, she’ll get painful matts that will get in the way of her entire routine! Razzle Dazzle’s adoption fee is $50, which includes her spay and registered microchip. Come meet this flashy bun today or apply online at vhslifesaver.org!

VHSLIFESAVER.ORG

EACH MONTH WE’LL BE CHECKING IN WITH THE VHS FOR THE LATEST GOOD NEWS AND TO HELP FIND FUREVER HOMES FOR SOME OF THEIR MORE UNIQUE AND OLDER RESIDENTS

RADAR

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

Evansville's Gena Garrett grew up in a pet-friendly home and the family's love for animals carried over to her adult life when she and her husband adopted a black lab mix prior to having two kids. Their beloved rescue, who they had to say goodbye to last May, lived 14 good years but his time was up and the Garretts, like all pet owners inevitably do, felt a profound sense of loss. After talking things over, the family agreed to wait a month before adopting again; however, that plan quickly went awry. "We made it less than a week," Gena says. "We decided that the house was too empty and couldn't

take it anymore." So mom, dad and the kids all headed over to the VHS to take a walk through the kennels, zeroing in almost immediately on a reserved (possible) shepherd mix named Radar. "He was the only dog that didn't bark and kind of got our attention," Gena explains. "We asked to meet him and were really impressed - he had awesome manners right from the start and was super chill. He just seemed like the one."

The Garretts were so smitten, in fact, they took Radar home that night - and soon discovered his relaxed nature at the shelter didn't tell the whole story. Turns

WE ASKED TO MEET HIM AND WERE REALLY IMPRESSED - HE HAD AWESOME MANNERS RIGHT FROM THE START AND WAS SUPER CHILL. HE JUST SEEMED LIKE THE ONE.

he's quite energetic and loves to zip around the house; yet, he doesn't chew on furniture or need to be crated at night. Instead, Radar prefers to get cozy on the bed with Gena and her husband - a luxury which makes him feel like one of the family. Having been adopted and returned to the shelter previously, Radar reportedly took about a month to decide that he'd found his forever home; now he's all-in with the Garretts and they, in turn, are thrilled to share their days with such a loving dog (along with the family's three guinea pigs and rescue turtle). While Gena notes that they've sent Radar's DNA off to determine exactly what breed he is, her husband doesn't need science to crack the case, emphatically declaring that no matter his background, he's "103% good boy!"

AS I TYPE THIS...

with Barold Hume

They say democracy is messyand hard. Or at least that's what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said awhile back. And probably a few others as well. Regardless of the original source, that critical assessment of our political system rang entirely true recently when members of Congress took their sweet time confirming a new Speaker of the House - a delay that would normally seem business as usual considering the general snail-like pace of government procedures. But it turns out that in the 100 years prior, it had never taken more than one round of voting. So it was quite the spectacle to see Republican Kevin McCarthy effectively begging the far-right elements of his own party to give him their support as he repeatedly failed to secure the position he's been coveting for most of his political career. But alas, the 15th time was the charm. As I type this, McCarthy has been sworn in as the new Speaker, replacing long-serving Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Most importantly, now Congress can get to work. What that work will entail is another matter entirely. Republicans, having taken back control of the House, are vowing

to seek revenge for a host of perceived sins committed by the left - the impeachment of former president Trump, the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago and, in their eyes, targeted FBI probes of conservatives, to name just a few. Paybacks are a bitch, in other words.

It could all be a lot of bluster, of course, but Republicans do seem fired up and ready to rock. And, to add fuel to the flames, classified government documents were recently discovered at President Biden's Obama-era office, occupied during his time as VP - which the right is pouncing on, rightfully. (UPDATE: Even more classified documents have been found at Biden's Delaware home.) It's certainly not a good look for the Democrats who made a meal out of Trump storing boxes of classified documents at his residence in Florida. Granted, there are some notable differences between the two scenarios but the end result is the same - the left appears more than a bit hypocritical. Who knows how things will play out

between the two parties in the next six months or so, but the hope of a "kumbaya" moment is certainly out the window. Though there is a bipartisan group of senators currently meeting to discuss immigration reform - something that's desperately needed yet no one can seem to agree on the appropriate policy. To be fair, it's probably the most complex problem facing this country. So much so that it's been decades since any meaningful reform was passed. Don't hold your breath, by the way. In today's political climate, the chances of the aforementioned committee making any headway are slim to none - even if they meet 15 times.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE DEMOCRATS WHO MADE A MEAL OUT OF TRUMP STORING BOXES OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT HIS RESIDENCE IN FLORIDA.

MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING OLD...

with Johnny Fletcher

INJURED WHILE SLEEPING / "MY RIDE OR DIE" MUST DIE

Put down the phone and pretend like you care about something other than TikTok, because I've got a real barnburner for you this month - a two-part column leading off with a story that will surely tug at your heartstrings. Or make you laugh. Either way, I'm good. So, a few weeks back I was living the carefree life of an aging Gen X-er, still basking in the glow of running a personal best at the 2022 Evansville Half Marathon. The world was my oyster, it seemed - only that oyster turned out to be rancid. Because on a night like any other - in bed by 10:30 p.m. with a little light reading before nodding off - I officially discovered one of the true dangers of getting old. How, you may ask?

Well, there's no sense in sugarcoating it - I was injured while sleeping. Yes, one minute I was innocently snoozing, the next I awakened in intense discomfort,

a stabbing pain traveling down my back as my right arm went numb. Briefly, as I rolled out of bed, groggy and confused, I considered the possibility that I was in the throes of a heart attack - you know, because of the whole numb arm sitch. But, upon reflection, it occurred to me that 1) my chest seemed kosher and 2) the heart is on the left side of the body. Things just didn't add up cardiac arrestwise. Whew. And while certainly relieved, I must admit that the actual diagnosis didn't exactly thrill me: a herniated disc in the spinal region. How this sort of thing happens while lying in a supine position on a soft mattress is somewhat baffling - and it's a little embarrassing to tell friends and family that you're out of commission for awhile due to being injured in bed. Especially when you were the only individual occupying said bed.

Good night!

Now for part two of this scintillating column... It might well be my ongoing discomfort talking, but I think it's time for the annoying phrase "my ride or die" to die. Let's at least send it packing; I don't care where it goes, just so long as it's removed from the English lexicon. Was there something wrong with "closest friend"? Worked for me all my life and look how far I've gotten - I mean, I can barely move, what with the herniated disc, but other than that, I'm rocking and rolling, baby. It just seems to me that 30 years is plenty long enough for a phrase to hang around. "My ride or die" has clearly outstayed its welcome and I urge all of you to act now! Ok, ok, maybe just sleep on it. Wait, don't do that - you might hurt yourself.

AND WHILE CERTAINLY RELIEVED, I MUST ADMIT THAT THE ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS DIDN'T EXACTLY THRILL ME: A HERNIATED DISC IN THE SPINAL REGION.

DOES ALIEN LIFE TRULY EXIST? HAS THE GOVERNMENT BEEN LYING TO US THE WHOLE TIME?

Dear Instigator,

We are the aliens; hence, the government has been covering up the truth. In all seriousness, I do believe that there has to be other life forms out there on other planets. It just doesn't make sense that we are the only planet in the solar system to have civilizations, to have walking, breathing entities. And if 2020 has taught us anything, it's to have an open mind because anything can truly happen. Additionally, I wouldn’t be concerned if the government was hiding the existence of aliens. They have bigger fish to fry.

anything Freddie Ask

Musician. Writer. Man about town. Freddie Bourne has his finger on the pulse of the tri-state, and he's here's to tackle your questions about life, love and other stuff. No matter the subject, he's got a take on it - whether you want to hear it or not.

WHAT IS YOUR ATM PIN NUMBER? ASKING FOR A FRIEND.

Dear Money-grabber,

It’s a coincidence that I read this question as I was just ordering a sandwich from Subway and paid with my ATM card. If you were asking for yourself, I would be more than happy to give it to you as you seem like a nice person. But because it’s for your friend, I will definitely give you the secret code. It's 0000 - which breaks down into the following: zero money on the card at most times, zero thought of being financially responsible, zero idea of what I used my money for half the time when I read my statements and zero chance of you getting it.

PLEASE SETTLE AN ONGOING DEBATE BETWEEN MY WIFE AND ME: WHICH SHOW IS BETTER - FRIENDS OR SEINFELD?

Dear Bankrupt,

The correct answer is How I Met Your Mother, regardless of how controversial the finale was. Sorry I couldn’t help with your impending divorce. Next time, make sure to ask this question in the "getting to know you" stage while you find the time to browse better shows. Anyway, Friends wins by a hair. Not because it’s great - I just like how Matthew Perry probably wasn’t acting when he would respond to the dumbest of dialogue.

SERIAL KILLERS ALWAYS HAVE NICKNAMES

- LIKE "THE BOSTON STRANGLER" AND "THE ZODIAC KILLER." IF YOU WERE A SERIAL KILLER WHAT WOULD YOUR NICKNAME BE?

Dear Yikes,

My nickname would be way worse: “Word Vomit Killer.” The beautiful thing about it is that there’s no violence. Just hearing me talk or reading anything I write will slowly kill you. And what’s even more beautiful is that I wouldn’t even notice, because I won’t shut the F up.

Photo CreditBlaine Mathew Media

FEBRUARY MUSIC REVIEWS

SZA SOS Top Dog Entertainment/RCA R ecords

SZA is killing the music game with her second studio release, even knocking out pop superstar Taylor Swift for the top Billboard album several weeks in a row. You can feel an infusion of R&B, hip-hop and melodic rap flavors throughout this banger. “Good Days” is an addictive, silky tune that makes you fall in love with the talented singer over and over again. Lyrics like “Good day in my mind, safe to take a step out/ Get some air now, let your edge out/ Too soon, I spoke, you be heavy in my mind/ Can you get the heck out?/ I need rest now, got me bummed out” make your heart strings vibrate. Other standouts include “I Hate You,” “Shirt,” “Blind” and “Love Language,” while “Kill Bill” has an almost movie-like music video to accompany it. The fantastic featured artists include Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott and Don Toliver, here to help hype up our queen. But even though SZA named her album SOS, it's clear she doesn't need any rescuing.

- Marisa Patwa

AVA MAX Diamonds & Dancefloors Atlantic Records

Ava Max is giving us all of the electro dancefloor beats as we try to get over our winter blues. But she also gives us her vulnerable and raw side. This album is based on her tumultuous year of life in 2021, and while she was nervous to share her music and a different side of her to the world, it definitely has paid off. She is still giving us that highenergy flow we need, while calming our hearts and thoughts with her own peace of mind. “Million Dollar Baby” is centered around overcoming adversity and really embracing your own self-worth. The lyrics, “In the dark of the night, she got danger on her mind/ She's a million dollar baby, nobody can explain it/ She's a miracle/ She's a miracle, oh, oh, oh, ooh/ She broke out of her chains, turned the fire into rain/ She's a million dollar baby, she bound to drive you crazy/ She's a miracle/ She's a miracle, oh, oh, oh, ooh” are true poetry. Other highlights include “Maybe You’re the Problem,” “Ghost,” “Weapons” and “One of Us.” Ava, you are the one.

- Marisa Patwa

SAM SMITH Gloria Capitol Records

Sam Smith is stomping out all of the bodyshaming haters with his fabulous new album and body-positive Instagram posts. The British singer has captivated our hearts for over 10 years since being featured on Disclosure’s hit “Latch” and he continues to evolve as an intelligent, thoughtful and ground-breaking artist. My favorite song on Gloria is lead single “Unholy,” featuring the enigmatic Kim Petras. This is a duo we never knew we needed but most definitely deserve. The lyrics are deliciously naughty with, “A lucky, lucky girl/ She got married to a boy like you/ She'd kick you out if she ever, ever knew/ 'Bout all the - you tell me that you do/ Dirty, dirty boy/ You know everyone is talking on the scene/ I hear them whispering 'bout the places that you've been/ And how you don't know how to keep your business clean.” Smith emphasizes every word with the right panache, drama and flair, while still keeping his vocals flawless. Other favorites include “Love Me More” and “Lose You.” I’m also in love with Jessie Reyez appearing on the tracks “Perfect” and “Gimme.” She and Smith both give sultry and soulful performances that showcase their incredible talents. Smith’s Gloria is purely glorious - Marisa Patwa

ALTER BRIDGE Pawns and Kings Napalm Records

In a recent episode of The Rock & Metal Profs podcast, I called Alter Bridge’s new album the best of 2022. Alter Bridge have been producing great music since 2004 when former members of Creed gave singer Scott Stapp the boot, changed their name, and embraced their true metal identity. Their latest offering is Pawns and Kings

According to founding member and virtuoso guitarist Mark Tremonti, they chose to strip down the production, focus on the music and composition of the songs. The record opens with “This is War,” a bone-crushing anthem with a symphonic backdrop and just the right amount of sludge on Tremonti’s guitar tone. “Sin After Sin” showcases Tremonti’s nimble fingers and speed on the fretboard, and Miles Kennedy’s vocals perfectly complement the music. “Silver Tongue” opens with a killer staccato guitar attack before settling into a nice sing-along chorus. Other standouts are the title track and “Dead Among the Living.”

- Matt Alschbach

GILLA BAND Most Normal Rough Trade

Halfway through Most Normal, Gilla Band pull off one of the most impressive production choices I’ve ever heard. As “Bin Liner Fashion” transitions into “Capgras,” the band side-chains their harsh punk song to a cleaner spoken word piece. As the spoken word piece plays on, the harsh punk song’s volume fluctuates - it’s like turning a song down as you speak, then turning it back up when you pause your speech. This impressive trick is just one of many the Dublin post-punk and noise rockers (formerly known as Girl Band) pull off on their incredible third studio effortone of the most intricately-produced rock albums I've heard in a long time. It's experimental, dark, and harsh, yet funny and has an undeniable danceable groove. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. - Russ Finn

SPIRIT FURNACE

Spirit Furnace

Self-released

The debut EP from Philadelphia’s Spirit Furnace is the latest to emerge from the city’s budding ultra-creative art-rock scene. The musical duo, led by Evansville native Max Engleman working with drummer Zach Babat, claim to have made “the gayest experimental/ noise/psych EP you’ll ever hear.” I’m not sure about that, but I'm certain this is a stellar first effort. Though the EP is only four songs long, each track has multiple change-ups and movements that transform songs from dreams into nightmares and then back again. Take opener “Engulf,” for example, which starts off like a dreamy My Bloody Valentine song before switching to a Sonic Youth-style jam halfway through. Spirit Furnace wield their influences, including This Heat, Slint, and Radiohead, to create an excellent 23 minutes of beautiful avant-garde rock. - Russ Finn

MACULA DOG Orange 2

Wharf

Cat Records

**Unrated

This is some of the craziest music I’ve ever heard. I don’t want to rate it any number of stars. Orange 2, the latest album by New York experimental duo Macula Dog, is equally 0 stars and 5 stars. It transcends criticism. This is the music of the future. In their press release, Macula Dog claim “This album is a huge failure but may be our best work yet,” and I wouldn’t be able to confirm or correct that statement. Truly, this is some of the most unique experimental music to ever exist. It’s almost completely inaccessible, yet was made with considerable care and intention. It sounds like pop music made by robots unfamiliar with music; it’s naïve art created by mad scientists; it’s absolutely dumbfounding. I’m sold. - Russ Finn

MARC ALMOND Things We Lost Strike Force Entertainment

There's a reason why Soft Cell's cover of "Tainted Love" spent 43 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the top songs of the 80s: the singular vocal talent of Marc Almond. What the waif-like singer lacked in technique back then, he more than made up for with raw passion. Post-Soft Cell, Almond evolved into one of the most versatile vocalists of his generation, releasing a staggeringly diverse run of solo works that continues to this day with Things We Lost, his latest collaboration with Grammy-nominated songwriter Chris Braide. The six-song piano-based suite, at times buoyant yet fraught with darkness, is dominated by meditations on the frailty of life. In other words, this is prime Almond material. Few singers/lyricists can conjure up the sort of emotion and words required to authentically express the sentiments in "A Flowered Goodbye" or the stirring title track. Granted, no song here would have a prayer of cracking the top 100 but the experience is religious, nonetheless. - Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

MATT LOMEO When You Call Self-Released

Produced by Grammy-nominee Terry Wilson, Matt Lomeo's first full-length, alloriginal studio effort opens with “One More 1&1,” a song about needing a few drinks after his woman leaves. Pour yourself a double and enjoy this track. “Unsentimental You” offers a Latin groove and an old school vocal track about a woman with a lack of romantic inclinations. James Cruce shows off his stellar drumming skills on “Accepting Applications,” a song about a man wallowing in loneliness. A melancholy guitar part works well on “She was the Best,” a song about losing the love of a good woman and missing her.

The title track features funky bass from Terry Wilson that gives the song a great 1970s style groove. There’s an older style jazz feel on “Got a New Woman” that comes through like a ray of sunshine. The twang of classic country style guitar on “27” complements the lyrics about a man with the blues in spite of his young age. “Take the Boulevard” sees Lomeo singing about losing his woman but taking a trip instead of trying to chase her down. Lomeo gives off strong John Mayer vibes on “Outside of a Song.”

“Why Do I Cry?” sounds like a cross between something from a 1950s malt shop with a Latin beat. Lomeo gives the listener stellar harmonica playing on “Van Nuys Blues.” - Paul Bragin

FEBRUARY BEER REVIEWS

This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com.

TODD ZACHRITZ - 4

Venerable B-ton brewery Bloomington’s flagship ale, Ruby Bloom pours a deep and clean rubyamber, complete with a nice thick head and only a little lace. The nose brings a fruity, malty vibe that doesn’t go too sweet. In tasting, the heavier body leads into a strong and bolder than usual malt bill (than most amber ales dare). The toasty-ness works well alongside some dried fruit hints, and the complex semi-dry finish brings a delicate note of hops that blend in beautifully. Really liked this one.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A decent tan head tops this ale and evaporates slowly. A significant amount of malt scents come through the nose, with some hops also present. The sweet malt flavors continue while drinking the beer, with a little bit of hop bitterness also appearing in the long finish to balance out the sweetness. Drink this award winner year round. Pair it with a variety of classic comfort foods like barbecue pork, jerk chicken, burgers, brisket or pizza.

ANDREW DYSON - 4

This marquis offering from the Bloomington Brewing Co. goes down very smooth and has a distinct malt flavor. The fragrance of this beer hit me as soon as I popped the can open. Ruby Bloom finishes with a drier taste than I expected but overall it's an amber beer that I would come back to in the future.

TODD ZACHRITZ - 3.75

Cincy’s superb Rhinegeist has been doing some solid seltzer-style drinks (alongside their beer) for some time. The pale, pink-tinged Blizzy Blast is a blackberry/raspberry malt beverage that brings a light, fizzy, berry-juiced character that reminds of soft drinks like Nehi or Faygo, but with a lot less sugar overload. This is a balanced and very drinkable fruity drink that comes across as a more natural alternative to the norm.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3.5

A thin white head forms on this pink-tinted beer, but it disappears immediately. The scent profile contains a generous amount of raspberry and blackberry. Likewise, the initial tasting of the beer boasts more raspberries and blackberries, with sugar coming through in the finish. This beer could see a rise in popularity during the sweltering months of summer. Pair it with foods like barbecue pork, a soft and bloomy cheese or cheesecake with berries on top.

ANDREW

DYSON - 4

It’s hard to stand out in a word full of ciders and hard craft drinks but this “hand-crafted beverage” does exactly that. The mix of berry flavors is light and pleasing to anyone looking for that style of drink. I would put this near the top of my list for a sweet summer drink. Rhinegeist might have just perfected the light, fruity, fizzy beverage with this one!

TODD

ZACHRITZ - 4.25

This beast pours a motor-oil black, with rust-khaki suds that dissipate quickly. I get hints of charred wood and vanilla on the nose, which is perfectly appropriate for this barrel-aged monolith. The taste, though, right? Dark Dimitri brings BIG notes of bone-dry bourbon, vanilla, hints of coffee and chocolate roast and a definite boozy warmth to permeate the palate. This is a thick, heavy-duty ale that begs for late-night, cold weather sipping. And it’s a great beer by a great local brewery. Budmo!

PAUL BRAGIN - 5

The thinnest of tan heads crowns this Russian imperial stout. The scent contains a lot of roasted malt and vanilla. Along with the roasted malt and vanilla, a substantial amount of sweetness also shines through while drinking the beer. People who enjoy robust stouts should drink this local offering in front of a roaring fire during the winter. Pair it with foods like hearty beef stew, roasted meat-aged cheeses or desserts like chocolate cake.

ANDREW DYSON- 4.5

This is a locally-brewed stout with a strong vanilla flavor that finishes with a mild yet distinct whiskey taste in the back of your mouth. It’s almost like two drink experiences in one. There's just enough of every flavor to make you come back for more. The folks at Damsel have brewed up a major winner with Dark Dimitri.

RHINEGEIST BLIZZY BLAST

BLOOMINGTON BREWING CO. RUBY BLOOM DAMSEL DARK DIMITRI

SHINER TRAIL ALE

TODD ZACHRITZ - 3.5

Everybody’s favorite Texas brewery Shiner has taken things out on a limb with an ale inspired by, umm, trail mix. Upon pour, a nice dark ruby color begins the journey as an appealing mix of cocoa and fruit crosses the olfactory. It’s a better aroma than you’d expect. In taste, I get a melding of chocolate and fruit, with a nutty finish. This one reminds me of an extra playful nut brown ale, with some subtle notes of fruit and chocolate that don’t go too far overboard.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3.5

A thick tan head rests on this beer and stays for a long time. A burst of chocolate fills the nose. The chocolate presence remains with the first sip of the beer, followed by fruit notes, with the two flavors

going back and forth in the long finish. This beer will quench your thirst on the most strenuous hike. Pair it with desserts that feature fruit, nuts and chocolate to complement the flavors of the beer.

ANDREW DYSON - 3.5

The label says chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit but I mostly got a chocolate flavor when drinking this. This beer tastes like it would be more filling but goes down extremely easy. I would have liked more balance with the fruit flavors to really complete the trail mix flavor but the chocolate flavor is good enough that I don’t really miss the others.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

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Attorney WITH LANE SIESKY / SIESKY LAW FIRM, PC

Focusing on personal injury, civil litigation, whistleblower claims and workers' compensation law, Siesky Law Firm strives to provide excellent legal services while remaining client and community centered. The Evansville-based trio of top attorneys - including Lane Siesky, Daniel Gearhart and Douglas Briody - boasts years of invaluable experience inside and outside the courtroom. Highly-respected with an impeccable track record, the firm's aggressive representation of its clients continues to benefit the community in myriad ways.

Q:During the recent extreme cold snap and snowfall in Evansville, I was out shopping and slipped and fell in front of a local business. The area in front of the business had not been cleared off and I injured myself in the fall, landing hard on the slick pavement. Legally speaking, is the business at fault for not keeping the entryway clear or is it simply my responsibility to exercise extreme caution in a situation like this?

A:Unfortunately, people are often hurt badly in slip and fall cases. The human body is not meant to unexpectedly fall awkwardly and hit concrete or other hard surfaces. From falls, we often see people with broken wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees and so forth. The injuries often require surgery and involve lengthy rehabilitation recovery periods of time. So, when walking in rain, snow, or ice, it is especially important to wear good shoes, to not be carrying too much and to utilize handrails. Also, be vigilant for “black” ice or other hazards that may not be readily observable.

For businesses, it is a good idea to have policies and procedures for monitoring and dealing with

changes in weather and walking surfaces. In other words, if there is snow and ice late at night, who from the business is responsible for monitoring those conditions and then taking the appropriate precautions, such as putting down ice melt and warning signs, prior to business opening the next morning?

From a legal standpoint in Indiana, a business is not held to a standard of guaranteeing a person’s safety. Rather, a business must exercise reasonable care in maintaining its business premises. The exact standard sometimes depends upon the legal status of the person on the business’ property. For instance, a business may be held to a higher standard if the person

Disclaimer: The above information provided by Siesky Law Firm, PC, is not legal advice and should not be taken as legal advice. Application of the law is highly fact sensitive and readers should consult with an attorney on legal matters.

injured was a patron of the store than if the person injured was trespassing. Moreover, the injured person’s own conduct will be examined. Indeed, people must also exercise due care and be reasonable in walking. This is especially true when there has been bad weather.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, it is very important to consult with a trusted attorney immediately. Often there is surveillance footage that may record and depict the scene leading up to, and at the time of, the accident. However, if no steps are taken that surveillance footage may not be preserved.

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