News4U April 2023

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Guns & Hoses XV at the Ford Center Charity Boxing Competition between First Responders returns!

Walker Hayes "Duck Buck" Tour at the Ford Center

"Fancy Like" Country Singer coming to Downtown Evansville

John Mellencamp at the Old National Events Plaza

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer staging Two-Night Stand

Mini Masters Bar Golf & Beer Fun Run/Walk

Exciting Rise Up & Run Events happening this Month!

Nothing More "Spirits 2023" Tour at the Victory

Texas Rockers making Tri-State Stop in support of New Album

Chelcie Lynn "Two Fingers and a 12 Pack" Tour

Viral Comedian bringing Stand-up Act to the Victory

The River City Rodeo at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center Saddle Up for a Family-Friendly Weekend of Fun!

An Interview with Comedian Joe Gatto

Former Impractical Jokers Star on his Post-Show Life & More

An Interview with Patrick Myers of Killer Queen

"Freddie Mercury" talks all things Queen & More

Established in 1991 by Publisher

Brian Bennett

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Managing Editor & Writer

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TJ Tanoos

tj@evansvillemediagroup.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist

Kelsey Halbig

Contributors

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Hume, Jabez Martinez, Marisa

Patwa, Lindsay Rasure, Lindsey Williams

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

Yeehaw, it's spring. And we have sprung forward so it's no longer a sea of black outside at 5 p.m. Not sure which lunatic from the past dreamt up the whole daylight savings thing (I know, it was meant to help out farmers or something), but there are few things more dreary than working indoors for eight hours only to emerge into darkness as a reward for being a productive citizen. Nevertheless, life carries on - just like this editor's note. Which is a good thing because there's lots to cover this month. From the return of the tri-state's biggest charity event to concerts galore, the tri-state is going to be buzzing with excitement in April.

And with busy bees, too. (Side note: the prior owner of the house I moved into 18 months back failed to mention that come spring, the backyard would be teeming with kamikaze wood bees just daring me to try and mow the lawn. I discovered that fun fact around this time last year but lived to tell the tale and fight another spring. Wish me luck.) Now back to the good times in store for April... Get ready for the annual Guns & Hoses boxing competition between area first responders on April 15 at the Ford Center. To date, this awesome sporting spectacle has raised over $1 million for local organizations that benefit people and

children with disabilities. And say, are you a fan of live music? You're in luck, then (assuming you replied in the affirmative), because a wide range of bands and performers are headed our way, including Texas rockers Nothing More (4/11), country star Walker "Fancy Like" Hayes (4/20) and the Gaither Vocal Band (4/27). Plus, comedian Chelcie Lynn will bring the laughs to the Victory stage on 4/29. Oh, and check out who's gearing up to rock the Old National Events Plaza in early May on back-to-back nights... John Mellencamp! Ok, let's take a breather. All that and more inside. - TE

GUNS & HOSES XV

Annual boxing event pits area first responders against each other in the name of charity

FORD CENTER / APRIL 15 / 7 P.M.

Nearly $2 million and counting. That's the financial impact that the annual Guns & Hoses charity boxing event has had on the tri-state since its debut. Countless community organizations that provide services for children and adults with disabilities (including Big Brothers Big Sisters,

Evansville ARC, Granted, SMILE on Down Syndrome and so many more) have benefited from the money raised when area first responders face-off in the ring each spring. For those brave enough to put it all on the line in front of a packed, boisterous crowd at the Ford Center, it's more than worth getting punched in the face a few

Photos by Daniel Knight Studio B Photography

times when it's all for such a good cause. No pain, no gain, as they say.

Last April, the Guns and the Hosespolice departments and fire departments, respectively - duked it out for the 14th time with the Hoses taking 10 of the 15 matches on the card to reclaim the championship belt and deadlock the series at seven wins apiece. And while the nearly 9,000 fans in attendance were split down the middle allegiance-wise, they could all agree on one thing: it was a particularly exciting chapter in the ongoing competition with an increased number of female fighters involved and participants from four states represented. But regardless of the outcome and which side retains bragging rights until the next showdown, the camaraderie and respect is clear. Not only has Guns & Hoses made a big difference in the lives of local children and adults with disabilities, it's brought the community closer together, plain and simple.

For those out of the loop, the event was inspired by former EPD Detective Patrick Phernetton's daughter "Mickey" and her struggle with Prader-Willi syndrome, a disease that causes a constant state of hunger. If left unattended, people like Mickey can literally eat themselves to death. Phernetton made it his goal to raise enough money for the construction of a group home where those who suffer from the affliction could live and prosper in a safe environment. And boy did the community rally around the cause; Guns & Hoses has simply gotten bigger and better

every year with more and more organizations benefitting from the financial haul. FYI, all signs point to the 15th edition being the biggest draw yet, because what's more riveting than a rubber match? If all goes well, the tie-breaking drama will translate to piles of cash for those in need. As noted earlier, every dollar stays local - event

organizer 911 Gives Hope ensures that 100% of the funds go to tristate causes.

So don't sleep on the charity event of the year - get your tickets for Guns & Hoses XV and support all the great organizations that benefit from the battle in the ring between area first responders!

For tickets and more info, visit fordcenter.com and 911giveshope.sportngin.com. The Ford Center is located at 1 SE MLK Blvd. in downtown Evansville.

But regardless of the outcome and which side retains bragging rights until the next showdown, the camaraderie and respect is clear

"

DUCK BUCK" TOUR

Chart-topping country singer set to get the tri-state dancing with "Fancy Like" performance

The music industry is littered with stories of singers who simply come out of the gate too fast, riding an initial wave before crashing and burning. But Walker Hayes has charted his own path in country; not only did the Alabama native get a bit of a late start, he took his time building up a career that reached its zenith in late 2021 with the release of "Fancy Like," a number one smash over a decade in the making. Safe to say few 40-somethings get a crack at the top of the charts these days but Walker scored big by crafting one of the catchiest songs you'll ever hear - so catchy, in fact, that it inspired a signature dance to accompany it, as demonstrated in countless TikTok videos.

But it was the humorous yet totally relatable message in the lyrics that truly resonated; Hayes, after proudly detailing how low-key his girlfriend's tastes are and how easy she is to please, announces in the chorus that "every now and then when I get paid/ I gotta spoil my baby with an upgrade/ Yeah, we fancy like Applebee's on a date night/ Got that Bourbon Street steak with an Oreo shake..." Heck, he even offers to pay: "Two straws, one check, girl, I got you."

"Fancy Like" proved to be a powerhouse, hitting the top spot on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts and giving Walker a well-deserved moment in the sun. From working at Costco to support himself back in the early 2010s to reaching number one in a big way years later, he's the real deal, a regular guy who came to Nashville with a dream and simply never gave up. Nothing fancy about that - just a testament to perseverance.

After the monumental success of "Fancy Like," Hayes followed with his third fulllength release, Country Stuff the Album, which featured two more hit singles. "AA" reached the top 5 and was certified

platinum with sales of one million while "U Gurl" attained gold status. The album itself just missed out on a country number one and even snuck inside the top 10 of the US Billboard 200. Now Hayes is heading out on a trek across the U.S. on the back of "Y'all Life," a hip hop-influenced track that cleverly namechecks Olive Garden, playing off the previous success of "Fancy Like." He'll be joined by special guests Ingrid Andress and Breland.

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

FORD CENTER / APRIL 20 / 6:30 P.M.

Rock & Roll Hall

of Famer and proud Hoosier native staging two-night stand for tri-state fans

Yet, that's the marches to the "

He's the very definition of an authentic musician, someone who always writes from the heart and speaks his mind, unconcerned with the consequences - an absolute rarity these days. Born in Seymour, Indiana, and damn proud of it, John Mellencamp is simply cut from a different cloth, a man with a unique outlook on the world that's been channeled into some of rock music's greatest songs of the last 50 years: "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane," "Crumblin' Down," "R.O.C.K. in the USA," "Rain on the Scarecrow," "Small Town," "Pink Houses," "Paper in Fire," "Check It Out" and the list goes on... Here's a guy who battled his own record label for the right to perform under his given name, rather than the cutesy Johnny Cougar moniker his early material was released under. And he'd win, too - just one example of Mellencamp's doggedness when it came to protecting his legacy.

On that note, Mellencamp has never given a crap about chart success, making his feelings crystal clear on 1989's notorious "Pop Singer" single: "Never wanted to be no pop singer/ Never wanted to write no pop songs... Just want to make it real - good, bad or indifferent/ That's the way that I live and

the way that I'll die." This dedication to the purity of his art is something that's never wavered; more recent albums like Plain Spoken (2014), Sad Clowns & Hillbillies (2017) and last year's Strictly a OneEyed Jack have continued to address subjects near and dear to Mellencamp, many of them politically-charged. Risking backlash from certain factions of his fanbase, he's been quite critical of positions taken by the Republican party and even appeared at a 2008 Barack Obama rally in Evansville, performing "Small Town."

Yet, that's the enduring appeal of Mellencamp. The man truly marches to the beat of his own drummer, whether you like it or not (news flash: he doesn't care). But it's really all about the music at the end of the day and everyone, regardless of political beliefs, can agree that the Hoosier native is a singular talent who more than deserved his induction into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fametwo well-earned kudos for an incredible career that's still buzzing. Case in point, Mellencamp, spry as ever at 71, is back on the road to share his timeless

heartland rock with us again, gearing up for a fantastic two-night stand in downtown Evansville on May 5 & 6 at the Old National Events Plaza. Few concert announcements have generated such an immediate reaction so be sure to get your tickets pronto and get ready to R.O.C.K. in the ONEP!

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

enduring appeal of Mellencamp. The man truly the beat of his own drummer, whether you like it or not.

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / MAY 5 & 6 / 8 P.M.

RISE UP & RUN PRESENTS:

MINI MASTERS ON FRANKLIN ST. & BEER FUN RUN/WALK

Tri-state company partnering with Working Distributors for two super fun events this month

Anytime Rise Up & Run is involved in an area event, you know it's going to be a blast. Especially when the tri-state event production company teams up with Working Distributors - the folks who kindly deliver all your favorite beers to local bars and grocery stores. So be sure to leave Saturday, April 8, and Saturday, April 22, open this month because you don't want to miss what Rise Up & Run and Working Distributors have in store for you.

MINI MASTERS ON FRANKLIN ST.

April 8 / Noon-4 p.m.

First up is an afternoon of bar golf with prizes for the teams with the three lowest scores (this is golf, remember - a low score is good) and for the team with the best costume. Each hosting bar on West Franklin Street will construct fun and challenging putt-putt style holes, ranging in difficulty from easy to almost impossible. Team registration for a foursome is FREE. You just need to be 21 or over.

BEER FUN RUN/WALK

April 22 / Noon-2 p.m.

A couple weeks later, it's the ultimate challenge - long distance running while drinking. Participants will traverse a 3-mile course with stops at seven west side establishments along the way to drink a sample sized beer. The good news is you can take your sweet time - or go for the gusto and reach the finish line first. Participating bars: Sportsman’s, Chaser's, VFW 1114, Bud's, Franklin St. Tavern, Corner Bar, Leroy's. You must be 21 or over.

To register, visit riseupandrun.com.

"SPIRITS 2023" TOUR

VICTORY THEATRE / APRIL 11 / 7 P.M.

Texas rockers making tri-state stop with special guests Crown the Empire and Thousand Below

Two decades into a career that really caught fire nine years ago, Nothing More are still riding the wave, having built on the success of their 2014 self-titled major label debut with the Grammy-nominated follow-up The Stories We Tell Ourselves in 2017. Spirits, featuring the single "Tired of Winning," was released in 2022 and continued the band's ascendance. The album's heavier, more aggressive sound - a result of personal dilemmas going on within the band at the time of writing and recording during the pandemic - truly resonated with their fans, many of whom were also struggling during those difficult days.

The Texas rockers, often compared to the likes of Breaking Benjamin and Killswitch Engage, went the independent route for the first 10 years, before a big change in the dynamic of the band forever altered the course of their career. After serving eight years as Nothing More's drummer, Johnny Hawkins stepped into the role of frontman, completing the missing piece of the puzzle. His undeniably passionate vocals sent the 2014 single "This is the Time (Ballast)," released via Eleven Seven Music, into the stratosphere, racking up millions of streams and peaking at number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. From that point forward, the band has never looked back - Nothing More is everything they ever hoped to be.

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

CHELCIE LYNN

"Trailer Trash Tammy" bringing uproarious comedy act to downtown Evansville

Chelcie Lynn launched her budding comedy career back in 2014 with a series of viral videos featuring her alter ego, "Trailer Trash Tammy," a young redneck woman wreaking havoc somewhere in the southern United States. Millions of views and numerous sold-out shows later (her inaugural stand-up comedy tour in 2021 was a huge success), Lynn, who is indeed a native of the southOklahoma, in fact - was named one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch by Variety . And speaking of variety, she's much more than just a famous YouTuber; in addition to producing hilarious sketches, Lynn also has acting chops which are on display in the Duplass Brothers feature film Tangerine and she'll soon get more screen time in an upcoming release.

Never one to rest, Lynn recently signed on for the scripted podcast Uncle Drank but will take time out to entertain her fans with more live shows, including a stop at the Victory Theatre on April 29. She criss-crossed the country last year to much acclaim and looks to win over more fans with her uproarious tales of life in the sticks. Be sure to get your tickets for one of the most talented young comics around when Chelcie Lynn comes to Evansville.

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

VICTORY

THEATRE / APRIL 29 / 7 P.M.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT PRESENTED BY THE HOOSIER COWBOY ASSOCIATION BENEFITS

AREA VETERANS WITH PTSD

VANDERBURGH 4-H CENTER / MAY 19 & 20

Saddle up, tri-state, and get ready for a wild ride at the 2023 River City Rodeo. This super fun annual event - presented this year by the Hoosier Cowboy Association (HCA) and sponsored in part by Expressway Dodge - promises all the action you can handle, and it's all for a great cause. In addition to the highly-anticipated main event featuring professional bull riding, the HCA has lined up all sorts of exciting

competitions, including bronc riding, barrel racing, steer and calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and more. In addition there will be line dancing for the adults while the kids can enjoy a petting zoo, interacting with the clowns and loads of gameseven mutton busting with belt buckles made locally by Brinker's Jewelers given out as prizes. Oh, and let's not forget the Saturday night concert. Country star Sam Hunt, whose numerous number one songs include

"Body Like a Back Road," "Make You Miss Me," "23" and "Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s," will take the stage to entertain thousands of fans at the 4-H Center. It all sounds pretty darn good, eh?

Yet there's more... Forrie J. Smith - better known as "Lloyd" from the hit TV series Yellowstone - will be on site for meet & greets. Also scheduled to appear is Jim Johnson who knows a thing or two about BBQ demonstrations with over 30 years of expertise in the industry. And speaking of food, organizers have got you covered, securing the assistance of Prime Time North and a tasty selection of food trucks, plus they'll offer beer gardens to help wash all the delicious eats down. Also, for those who want to look the part of a cowboy, vendors will be selling country wear - hats, boots, chaps and more.

With all the fun and excitement of the rodeo, it's important to remember what it's all for. The prime objective of

the HCA, a non-profit group, is to fight PTSD and assist area first responders and veterans struggling to deal with the aftermath of service-related trauma. To that end, proceeds from the event will go towards procuring service animals for those in need. Currently, there's little happening locally in the way of training and providing service animals, but the River City Rodeo intends to change that by both shining a light on the predicament and raising money for the cause. By attending, you will be supporting the HCA's wonderful mission and helping to make a difference in our community.

Now back to the action... What makes the River City Rodeo truly special is that it's a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) event which means the bull riders are earning points to go to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo). You'll get to see some of the top-ranked guys in the world, along with some up-and-coming and

local participants. Also, the bulls featured are the real deal, rodeo-certified from Oklahoma. Best of all, you can get up close and personal with them at the bull shoots, an opportunity that kids will love, especially.

*Interested in joining the HCA?

Membership is $100 and includes two tickets to the RCR and a hat. Current board members: Katrinka Rynder, Adam Gann, Zach Martin, Adam Hubert, Jason Ashworth, Alohana Jackson, Lance Embrey, Jordan Huneycutt and Kayla King.

Attendance at the River City Rodeo is $20 per person; kids 8 and under get in free. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 12 noon on Saturday. For more info, follow Hoosier Cowboy Association on Facebook or visit hoosiercowboy.org.

The Vanderburgh 4-H Center is located at 201 E Boonville-New Harmony Rd, Darmstadt, IN.

THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF THE HCA, A NON-PROFIT GROUP, IS TO FIGHT PTSD AND ASSIST AREA FIRST RESPONDERS AND VETERANS STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF SERVICE-RELATED TRAUMA.

JOE GATTO AN INTERVIEW WITH

Former Impractical Jokers star talks leaving the hit show, crafting his "Night of Comedy," advocating for animals and more

You probably know Joe Gatto best as a former star of the long-running Impractical Jokers series on TruTV. 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. During his time on IJ, Gatto, alongside longtime friends Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Brian Quinn, honed his freewheeling style of humor to great effect, utterly fearless in the wild and wacky scenarios he was faced with, no matter how humbling.

After announcing his departure from the show on December 31, 2021, Gatto ultimately embarked on a solo comedy tour, selling out venues around the world, including legendary arenas such as NYC's Madison Square Garden and the O2 in London. He also co-created Two Cool Moms, a hilariously off-the-cuff Apple podcast which sees Gatto and fellow comedian Steve Byrne trade life stories and dispense advice to strangers - for better or worse. But that's not all he's got on the boil these days. Going forward, Gatto plans to fulfill his dream of writing and directing a feature film and venture into the literary world with the publication of a children's book.

Gatto recently brought his "Night of Comedy" tour to the Old National Events plaza in downtown Evansville. He kindly

spoke with News 4U just ahead of the performance.

When you made the decision to leave Impractical Jokers, did you already have a solo tour in mind or did that concept come about later?

No, that came later. When I knew I had to step away, it was like, ok, what am I going to do now, you know? So I still wanted to make people laugh and you still got to pay the bills, right? So we got to figure out what I can do. And I've been performing live for 25 years so my team was like, 'Hey, you can try doing a night of comedy where you do some stand-up and whatnot' because I already had told stories on stage with the guys and, you know, done my version of it with them, but now it would be solo. So I started in January of last year in comedy clubs and then I quickly came together with an hour [of material] and the people started coming out, so I was able to move up to a theater tour. So Joe Gatto's "Night of Comedy" is now where I do my stand-up hour. It became something out of necessity, but now it's something I'm super proud of. I think it's a well-crafted hour; it tells people a little bit more about me - where I came from and, of course, stories about the guys and my life with them that's such a huge part of my journey. And stuff about being a father, rescue dogsthings from my personal life that affect me as well. So, it's a mix of everything.

You noted that you were able to come up with an hour of standup material rather quickly. Was that simply a product of being in the comedy game for so long - nearly 25 years now? Yeah, I think that's part of it - and part of it is knowing how to craft a story and deliver and know what's funny. Knowing what people want to hear from you and what you're about - things like that. And then also just finding stuff from your life that's relatable, too. But then there's also things in my life that are crazy, like, you know, interactions with Nicholas Cage [laughs]. So, it's like all over [the place] which is fun - but that is my life. My life is not the normal. I started as just a normal guy; I didn't get "famous" until I was like, you know, 34. You know, I was a baby store salesman before this thing all started - I was selling high-end strollers [laughs] and then all of a sudden I've become part of this iconic machine that defined a lot of people's...growing up or getting through tough times and whatnot, so it's really just been an amazing ride through and through.

You mentioned getting famous a bit later in life - but you also experienced it with your best friends. Surely that was a blessing to go through it together.

A hundred percent - because we were all on the same ride. I think what happens, too, is since they're your friends from childhood - I've known these guys since I was 14 years old - you're going through it all together; you're not telling your friends what's happening to you, it's happening to them, too, and I think that was a huge thing that forged a bond between us that you can't...I don't know of anyone else in the world that's ever experienced it. It's just such a lightning in a bottle, weird kind of thing that just happened...to come up with not only one friend but three other friends - the four of us coming up together and the challenges of navigating all of that stuff together, making decisions together. I don't know how it would have been if I was by myself. A big part of that journey for people is trust, like, surrounding yourself with people you trust, right, who're not there just because you're famous or [because] of your accessibility, along for the ride. Everybody's making the same money and everybody's trying to do the same thing, so it's just like a built-in support group.

News 4U has a history of advocating for animals, something you're involved in as well. When did your advocacy begin?

Nine years ago I got my first rescue, Biscotti, from Animal Haven in New York City, a great organization. And it was quite serendipitous how it happened. And then once you get the love of that dog - of a rescue dog - it's completely addictive. It really started because of Bessie - we got our first puppy and we bought her and within the first two months we were $4000 in...we realized that something was wrong here; we started doing some research and realized all the missteps of puppy mills and the cruelty and what they haven't done right with breeding and whatnot. So we started rescuingand from there we basically haven't stopped. Last year during the pandemic we started being, like, ok, there's a lot of dogs that need love and started taking in a lot - and we were like, why don't we do this for real? So we started Gatto Pups and Friends, our nonprofit. And yesterday we did our 11th and 12th adoptions which is great. So, we're finding some homes for some pups. We stick mainly to seniors because I think they're very overlooked and need the most love.

YOU KNOW, I WAS A BABY STORE SALESMAN BEFORE THIS THING ALL STARTED - I WAS SELLING HIGH-END STROLLERS [LAUGHS] AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I'VE BECOME PART OF THIS ICONIC MACHINE.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK MYERS

Celebrating the music of one of the greatest rock bands of all-time for three decades now, Killer Queen have solidified their standing as the preeminent Queen tribute act, continuing to dazzle fans across the world with a truly jaw-dropping stage show. As frontman Patrick "Freddie Mercury" Myers notes, "it's been all my life, basically - all my adult life." The level of dedication says it all; Myers has worked tirelessly to refine his performance and deliver the beloved songs of Queen with an authenticity often missing from similar presentations. From country to country, fans are absolutely swept up by the sheer joy of hearing such classics as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You/We are the Champions," "Another

One Bites the Dust," "Don't Stop Me Now," "Under Pressure" and many more - all sung and played from the heart just like the original incarnation of Queen.

Killer Queen recently rocked the Victory Theatre to a fantastic reception. Myers kindly spoke with News 4U about his lifelong Queen tribute act.

For many diehard Queen fans of a certain age, it was the band's incredible performance at Live Aid in 1985 that really sealed the deal. Was it the same for you? Yeah, I discovered Queen just before Live Aid - just a few months beforehand. It was extraordinary to watch. They toured Europe the next year in '86 and that's really when

I got the sense of what they could do live. Because that was an extraordinary tour, it was the A Kind of Magic tour which was huge and toured all over Europe. The last one Queen ever did I didn't get to go see it but I saw it on TV - I figured I was going to be old enough to see them next tour but sadly there never was one. We all found out why a few years later. I mean, they were amazing, a real tour de force as a band.

As frontman for Killer Queen, you've gotten to know the band's songs inside and out. What have you gleaned from breaking down Freddie's chord structures and arrangements?

Well, I think he had sort of golden ears in terms of hearing what worked and what

Patrick "Freddie Mercury" Myers on the impact of Queen's legendary Live Aid performance, the unique structure of "Bohemian Rhapsody," loving the Adam Lambert-fronted incarnation of the band and more

didn't. In terms of how he wrote stuff, I think he was very interesting harmonically - there are a lot of chromatic kind of builds and lifts and structures in his songs, particularly things like "Bicycle Race" - you know, all sorts of songs, such as "It's a Hard Life." You can hear a lot of how his mind ticked as a musician and how he came up with stuff that was so breathtakingly original. You know, I love his sense of structure; I love the structure of "Bohemian Rhapsody" - I think it's amazing; it's so perfectly delivered. It's not a standard rock writing structure at all; it's entirely of its own and I love songs like that. But it wasn't just Freddie who wrote the songs, obviously; it was Roger [Taylor], John [Deacon] and Brian [May], too. They all wrote fantastic songs - all very distinctive styles but under this umbrella of Queen which was just so perfect.

Are there particular songs in the band's catalog that really move you? Maybe tracks that aren't as well known?

Yeah, there's all sorts of stuff - there's a song called "The Millionaire Waltz" which was on the sort of like companion album, Day at the Races, which is...at one point even becomes almost Marlene Dietrich, singing, purring down the microphone. It's all cabaret stuff, you know, from...a Gershwin kind of vibe. But I like the crazy songs, too, like "I'm Going Slightly Mad" and things like that and "Good OldFashioned Lover Boy." He wrote, you know, just whatever was floating his boat at the

time, he just jumped into it with both feet. Having said that, it's not just Freddie for me; a lot of Brian's songs and Roger's songs and John's songs are just knockouts... there's just a whole metric ton of Queen songs I like that Freddie just sang on, but I think they work so well as a group; they help arrange and refine each other's ideas. I think they're a real classic example of an alchemic band where you put them together and something they'd never quite come up with by themselves emerges.

Are you aware that Rami Malek - who stars as Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody - is a graduate of the University of Evansville?

Oh, I didn't know that! That's fantastic.

Speaking of the film, it really seemed to strike a chord with not just Queen fans but music fans in general - and people who just love a good story.

It really opened up the Queen legend as a thing. Because you're in danger of just thinking Queen were a band and then Freddie Mercury died - but there's just so much more to the story than that and how they became a family for each other. I was totally captivated by Rami, particularly how he played the early Freddie Mercury - the Freddie that was discovering himself as an artist, you know, along with [girlfriend] Mary [Austin]. I thought that was very sensitively done. It was very interesting to see the man behind the mask.

Of course, Queen is still a viable band, still a huge draw with former American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert front and center. Have you been able to see the current incarnation of the band live? It seems that Lambert adds a bit more of a Broadway vibe to the songs at times.

I've seen them twice and hoping to see them a third time. I think it's brilliant, and I think [Adam] is a good choice, a good fit, because I agree there's a bit of Broadway in what he does but my favorite parts are when he's just rocking out with the band about three quarters of the way through the show - and they're all standing close to each other. There's so many theatrical, brilliant, realized moments in the Queen concert and I think Adam's a great lightning rod for those things to happen because he's got two things - many things: he's got stage presence which is great, but he's also got the most amazing voice; he can handle Queen's material but not sound like Freddie at the same time; he's got very much his own voice. It's Adam trying to be Adam and not Adam trying to be Freddie and I think that's absolutely crucial. And it also leaves space for Roger and Brian to have their moments on stage, too. As a Queen fan, I think it's brilliant and I'm just so pleased that they're happy and they're working so well as a unit.

For more info, visit killerqueenonline.com.

"I think they're a real classic example of an alchemic band where you put them together and something they'd never quite come up with by themselves emerges."

Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure

Carrot cake reminds me of Easter time. I feel like any gathering we attend around Easter there is always a carrot cake. Who doesn’t love a delicious spiced carrot cake with cream cheese icing? This carrot cake version is a great breakfast option due to the higher amount of protein and less sugar. I saw a similar version on Instagram, and I knew I had to recreate to my liking. It tastes amazing cold topped with a warm peanut butter drizzle and pure maple syrup.

CLEAN BITE

CARROT CAKE BREAKFAST BAKE (6 Servings)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 BAG OF CARROTS (DO NOT HAVE TO PEEL, JUST CHOP OFF STEMS)

• 1 DOZEN EGGS

• 1 C. OATS

• ½ C. TOASTED PECANS

• ¼ C. PURE MAPLE SYRUP

• 2 TSP. CINNAMON

• 2 TSP. BAKING SODA

• 1 TSP. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

• 1 TSP. PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

DIRECTIONS:

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES F AND GREASE A 9X13 PAN.

2. IN A POWERFUL BLENDER OR FOOD PROCESSOR, ADD ALL THE INGREDIENTS EXCEPT THE PECANS AND PROCESS UNTIL SMOOTH.

3. POUR INTO THE GREASED 9X13 PAN AND TOP WITH PECANS OR STIR THEM IN.

4. BAKE FOR 35-40 MINUTES.

5 LET COOL AND STORE IN FRIDGE. TOP WITH A DRIZZLE OF PEANUT BUTTER AND MAPLE SYRUP!

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

PRESENTED BY:

IN TOWN & AROUND

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts Superhero

Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The BackBeats

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Sun

Venus, Sleepaura & Everyday

Losers

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Jake Holder & Friends

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz:

Keith Farny Jazz Collective

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

Suzie Q

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

MONDAY, APRIL 3

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

DJ Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open

Mic

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free

Pool

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Honkey Tonk

Tuesday

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

7:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

5:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza --

EVSC Festival of Nations

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar &

Grill -- Hudsy

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

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Beer Pong

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Hank Ruff

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Evansville

Thunderbolts Fan

Appreciation Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- DJ AP

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Soul in the Pocket

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 w/ Jones

Capone

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -80's-themed DJ & Karaoke

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Todd Cameron

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Little By Little

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- The Smoke Rings

9:00 PM

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

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Bourbon Roots

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

HAPPY EASTER!!

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Bob Green

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Suzie Q

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

8:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Blaze Ya Dead Homie

9:00 PM

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

MONDAY, APRIL 10

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

DJ Passage

7:30 PM

Old National Events Plaza -Annie

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

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

7:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

Victory Theatre -- Nothing

More

8:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Dirty Rotten Imbeciles w/ Paralysis

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

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

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Brad Lemmons

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

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Beer Pong

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Trey Hughes

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Funk

Almighty

9:00 PM

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

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

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

Capone

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- EDM Night

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Trey Hughes

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Guns & Hoses

Charity Boxing Competition

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- JEB

Lamasco Bar & Grill -Audiodacity

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Live Music w/ Hudsy

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

10:00 AM Old National Events Plaza -- Evansville Home & Garden

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry Night

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

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

Lounge -- Sunday Jazz:

Tom Drury Jazz Quartet

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Suzie Q 7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke 9:00 PM KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke & DJ

APRIL

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

6:00 PM

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

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

6:30 PM

Ford Center -- Walker Hayes

"Duck Buck" Tour

7:00 PM

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

10:00 AM

Old National Events Plaza

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Beer Pong

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar &

Grill -- DJ Jon J After Party

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

8:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- That's

What She Said!

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Trey Hughes

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

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

Capone

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Bethel Music

Summer Worship Nights

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Metal Night

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Cheek, The Forgotten Tree & Virtue

Furnace

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Boy Band Night

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, APRIL 23

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: The Sidemen

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

Suzie Q

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

MONDAY, APRIL 24

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ DJ Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Artist of the Month: Zac Schnabel

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

6:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Brad Lemmons

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

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Beer Pong

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

Old National Events Plaza -Gaither Vocal Band

9:00 PM

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

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

6:00 PM

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

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Styreo

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Star 69 w/ DJ

Zaedo

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ NYU

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Fool House: The Ultimate 90's Dance Party

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

1:00 PM

Ford Center -- Monster Jam

6:00 PM

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

7:00 PM

Ford Center -- Monster Jam

Victory Theatre -- Chelcie Lynn "2 Fingers & a 12 Pack" Tour

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Gypsy Soul

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- DJ NYU

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Tyler Booth "The Real Real Country Tour"

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Emo Night

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Bokeh Big Band

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Suzie Q

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

Tim Ash presents

TRI-STATE COUNTRY SINGER PUTS

CAREER ON HOLD, LAUNCHES

PODCAST TO PROMOTE LOCAL

MUSICIANS

Tim Ash knows a thing or two about the music industry and how challenging it can be to navigate, having spent years going back and forth between Newburgh and Nashville in the hopes of landing a big record deal. The tri-state singer/ songwriter first made waves in 2013 with the single "Broke" off of Up on Blocks and continued on the country-rock path, save for a regrettable detour into Christian music along the way - a move that stalled his career for a minute. But in 2022, with the pandemic finally easing, Ash took personal stock of his life and made some impactful

changes. Armed with a fresh outlook - and on the cusp of the big 5-0 - he opted to make another push for success in Nashville, recording a great batch of original songs and networking via his longtime publicist. Initially, all the hard work seemed to pay off; Ash was soon offered a co-publishing artist deal by an independent record label, proving that his reputation still meant something in Music City.

But as so often happens in the fickle music industry, the deal fell through. Disappointed but not defeated, Ash then made a fateful decision to flip

""YOU TELL ME YOUR STORY AND I'LL MAKE IT YOUR SONG," HE OFFERS. BUT ULTIMATELY, ASH WILL BE KEEPING HIS FOCUS ON GIVING BACK TO THE AREA ARTS COMMUNITY. "I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE LAW OF RECIPROCITY - YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE."

the script and use his years of experience to help other musicians, to give them a platform to discuss their craft via Stories + Songs , an exciting new podcast broadcast from a tricked out shed in Henderson. "I kind of have won the award of being the Kevin Bacon of the local music scene - I know everybody and I'm kind of connected to everybody; people feel comfortable talking to me," Ash explains. With the concept fleshed out, he sent invites to all the main players in the area back in December; 48 hours later, the bookings started rolling in - so many that Stories + Songs is good to go through October.

Ash debuted the podcast - available to view on YouTube, Spotify and other major streaming servicesin early February, bringing good friend and highly-respected musician Jimmy DeTalente on for a revealing, in-depth discussion. Early episodes also featured the likes of country singer Kenna Elpers, DRK WTR guitarist Dustin Back and even Tim's own brother, Mike Ash. Going forward, Stories + Songs will highlight a virtual who's-who of

the tri-state music scene, including Lindsey Williams, Josh Merritt, Cory Folz, Jeremiah and Marci Slaton of GlasTone, Dave Flick, Jake Martin of The Smoke Rings, Brian Mullins and Bryce Kleuh of The Cold Stares, Monte Skelton, Theo Akai, Cynthia Murray and Stephen Horning. And while the promotion for these local talents is key, Ash may actually be getting more out of the interview sessions than anyone. "I'm both giving advice and learning as well," he notes. "I'm learning to have a conversation, to listen - I'm taking it in and that's a beautiful thing."

Ash took his show on the road, literally, last month, traveling to Nashville for the Country Radio Seminar where he had the opportunity to interview his heroes, Exile, as well as Diamond Rio, McBride & The Ride and Allie Colleen (Garth Brooks' daughter, FYI). In total, he spoke with 48 acts over the course of three days - whew. Ash intends to upload these interviews soon for viewing and word has it that many of the bands and singers are interested

in coming on Stories + Songs for a full-fledged chat. Still, Ash isn't completely leaving his own career in the dust. With 17 songs in the can, he plans to release new material periodically and commission songs, too - "You tell me your story and I'll make it your song," he offers. But ultimately, Ash will be keeping his focus on giving back to the area arts community. "I'm a firm believer in the law of reciprocity - you get what you give."

For more info, follow Tim Ash on Facebook and visit storiessongs.com.

West coast transplant gets nostalgic for Evansville upbringing on River City Rocker

Seems musician Jason Libs left his heart in the tri-state. The 1988 Memorial High School graduate carved out his place in the local scene back in the day with bands like Two Minute Warning and plenty of solo gigs, but eventually headed for greener pastures, landing on the west coast where he's made quite a name for himself at The Red Piano in Santa Barbara, California, among other venues. Still, Libs, a truly gifted singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, has never forgotten his roots. Case in point, he performs annually around Christmastime at Lamasco Bar & Grill on Evansville's west side - the "Fam Jam" as it's known for the musical accompaniment of family and friends - reminding everyone what he can do onstage. In turn, the event serves to remind Libs of what he's missing back in small town Indiana where life may move a bit slower but the people are genuine. It's a true nostalgia trip - and something that's clearly been on his mind of late based on the theme of his new album, River City Rocker.

Just as the title suggests, this fantastic collection of rocking tunes finds Libs proudly reclaiming his past, right from the opening line of the title track: "I was raised where the water ain't pretty/ I'm from the River City, yeah!" He proceeds to take care of business from there, giving a nod to Bachman-Turner Overdrive with some honky-tonk piano and grooving guitar work. But what's most striking is how Libs pushes himself vocally, adapting a raw, raspy tone that provides a sense of urgency as he details the predicament so many musicians have faced: "I took some heat when I tried to leave town/

But if I stayed I knew I would drown.../But I got out and I headed south/ I learned some lessons of what life was about." Based on the success Libs has enjoyed over the years in the Golden State, he certainly made the right move, but that doesn't mean he misses the simple life here any less. And that's more than apparent on "Green River Road," a celebratory, reflective song that takes a page from the Bryan Adams playbook - only Libs is singing about the summer of '86: "But when the sun set everyone met at Noble Roman's parking lot/ The cops would come around and kick us out/ But we'd just find another spot/ It was a long, long, long, long time ago/ And this is just another song about being young and growing old/ We knew every little thing about everything and there was nothing we had to know/ Hanging out on Green River Road."

Another track that touches on the passing of time, "Not So Young" was recorded live at The Red Piano, complete with a packed house joining in on the chorus that, thanks to the wonderfully melodic chord structure, manages to uplift despite the somewhat downbeat message. It's one of the real standouts on the album, showing off both Libs' superior musicianship and pure, on-point vocals. But there are also lovely intimate moments, too, such as "Emily," a barebones acoustic number - just Jason and his guitar - that prove how comfortable he is sans backing band. Elsewhere, Libs resurrects "Star Fly Woman," a harmonica-driven golden oldie from his back catalog that gets downright bluesy at times. He also dusts off "Wanderlust," a sultry jam with a flamenco feel. Then there's "One Foot In" which seems to sum up the thematic concept of River City Rocker: "A change is coming/ And you've been holding on so long/ Your head's saying yes, but your heart's saying no/ Well, you're one foot in and you're one foot out/ Is it time to move on or time to settle down?" Lyrically, it could be referencing a relationship fork in the road, yet read another way, it circles back to the title track, back to the days when Libs was grappling with the direction his life should take - whether to stay close to home or venture out into the big, bad world and see what it held for such a talented guy. Again, he made the right choice, but it's good to know Libs still thinks about us.

River City Rocker is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, visit jasonlibs.com.

lousy sue

Funny or die: Indy-based garage rock trio brings the comedy on Artless Artifacts

We won't name names, but there are some bands whose focus on humor distracts from the music. Not so for Lousy Sue, a trio of garage rockerscheck that, sh*t rockers, according to their press - out of Indianapolis. For these three seasoned musicians, humor is paramount to creating a good song; and there's a whole heap of it on Artless Artifacts, Lousy Sue's full-length debut released a couple months back via Nashville's Sweet Time label. The 15 tracks here may be brief but the jokes linger like a well-earned hangover.

For those who keep tabs on the music scene north of Evansville, there's a good chance you'll recognize the players behind this punk-inspired project comprising guitarist/vocalist Jim Kuczkowski, drummer/vocalist Angie LeBlanc and self-proclaimed "National Treasure," bassist/vocalist Jason Pizzleman. While the former two serve as Indiana's unofficial rock

& roll power couple, having graced many stages over many years, the latter's provided the gnarly bottom end for such metal-tinged behemoths as Carnosaur and Pizzle. Together, they've merged the simplicity of the Ramones with the raw energy of the MC5 - no fuss just streamlined garage rock at its finest with some truly amusing lyrics and possibly the funniest song title of the year in "You'll Know I'm Gone (When the Checks Stop Coming)."

With only three tracks eclipsing the two-minute mark, Artless Artifacts goes by in an exhilarating blur with the economical yet supremely solid bass/snare beat of LeBlanc laying down the law. She's also front and center vocally on jagged opener "Bananas," the nearly-a-theme-song "Lousy," lead single "Rats" and Siouxsie-esque standout "Scratch Ditty." But just as on the trio's 2019 EP, all three members share the mic. Kuczkowski howls the Buck Biloxi cover "Shut the F*ck Up" and resurrects the group's big hit "Ferma Jean," still bemoaning a lush of a woman who's "wild and obnoxious until she's unconscious." Pizzleman, for his part, employs

his trademark gruff, sarcastic tone on the aforementioned "You'll Know I'm Gone (When the Checks Stop Coming)" and "Kiritsis Waltz," featuring an insightful opening line: "I might be going bananas, but the belfry's fully stocked." Elsewhere, he growls his way through the likes of "Cockatrice" while Kuczkowski produces shards of angular guitar over the driving rhythm.

Some of the best moments on Artless Artifacts happen when the members bounce off each other vocally, as heard on the confessional "Day Drinkin'" or join in all together for a rousing chorus. With three distinct voices at work, there's a freshness to the songs often missing from "stripped down budget rock" as Sweet Time calls it - not to mention Lousy Sue simply know how to craft a hook. If you've got roughly 25 minutes to spare, check this album out pronto.

Artless Artifacts is available digitally on Bandcamp or order a vinyl copy at sweettimerecords.com.

" no fuss just streamlined garage rock at its finest with some truly amusing lyrics and possibly the funniest song title of the year ."

And BASSIST makes three: Acclaimed blues-rock duo drafts in new member, expands sound on Voices

Perhaps the most successful of all the tri-state bands over the last decade, The Cold Stares have extended their reach not just nationally, but internationally; past tours have covered much of Europe, FYI. Only Mock Orange, Evansville's indie rock heroes, have achieved anywhere near the popularity abroad, becoming big in Japan, as the cliché goes. Guitarist/vocalist Chris Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins - a dynamic musical duo - have built on their bluesrock foundation year after year, churning out amazing album after amazing album and backed up the stellar studio work with powerful live performances at area venues. Seeing them produce such an enormous sound on stage has been a real treat for fans of the local scene; yet, there's always been the thought that adding bass into the mix could really up the ante and take things to the next level.

Enter Bryce Klueh. After five full-length releases and even more EPs, The Cold Stares finally felt free to change things up this time around, welcoming a third member into

the tight-knit configuration for Voices, the excellent new album out now via Mascot Records. Of course, the question on everyone's mind is, does the addition of a bass player drastically change the sound of the band? Not really, thankfully, but just enough to make a noticeable difference; most importantly, it frees Tapp up to explore more options on guitar and gives Mullins a rhythmic partner to lock in with - a win-win for the record.

Right away, the expansion of sound is evident on "Nothing But the Blues," a total rocker that's white-hot. This is how you introduce an album, folks. Tapp comes in with guns blazing, firing off a distorted blues riff while Klueh holds down the root notes. Mullins, meanwhile, is just pounding away behind the kit. Nine years after their full-length debut, The Cold Stares have gotten as close to nirvana as ever, achieving a transcendent musical state where all elements are in sync. But the trio's just getting started - the Hendrix-influenced "Come For Me," grimy title track and "Heavy" all bring the heat just like Jimi, while tracks like "Throw That Stone," "The Ghost" and "Sorry I Was Late" display the band's dark side. The former two are built on haunting acoustic guitar picking, while the latter is conjured from a heavily reverbed, descending electric

piano progression. Here, Tapp's vocals are other-worldly; he seems to be singing from a distance, detached yet emotionally involved.

On an album full of mega-riffs, the best may well be heard on "Waiting on the Rain," featuring the sort of guitar wizardry that Tapp's known for. Then again, the award could go to "The Joy" with its down and dirty, slow-burn fretwork. From beginning to end, there's no weak link on Voices; The Cold Stares version 2.0 are in the zone and ready for takeoff.

Voices is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, visit thecoldstares. com.

"RIGHT AWAY, THE EXPANSION OF SOUND IS EVIDENT ON "NOTHING BUT THE BLUES," A TOTAL ROCKER THAT'S WHITE-HOT. "

A BRIGHTER END

Tri-state progressive metalcore band drops "Wait In Wings," fourth in a run of fantastic singles

Perhaps one of the more surprising developments in the local music scene over the last year has been the resurgence of metal shows at area venues. And not just hole-in-the-wall places, either; bars such as Bokeh Lounge, Lamasco and Damsel Brew Pub have welcomed heavy lineups on a monthly basis for awhile now - and with much success. These events

routinely draw a sizeable crowd eager to hear, generally speaking, a mixture of regional and Evansville-based bands, often four or five on a bill - bands like A Brighter End (formerly Torn Confidence), a progressive metalcore outfit that's been gigging and releasing music since 2018. That year ABE - comprising vocalist Jacob Wallace, guitarist Tyler Peterson, guitarist Chad

Zachary, bassist Trevor Collis and drummer Tristan Arnold - put out the Disintegrate EP, following it up in 2020 with their selftitled debut album (both were recorded at Sicktones Studio in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with Jack C. Daniels). The timing of the fulllength release, appearing just before the pandemic, was a bit unfortunate, limiting promotion, touring, etc., but the guys got

right back to work, shifting their focus away from producing albums and EPs to "releasing singles and videos with a strong emphasis on good and strong songwriting with energy."

Since this change in strategy, A Brighter End have beefed up their YouTube page, creating a strong visual presence to complement the music side of things; in fact, the band has videos to accompany the majority of tracks released to date, including the run of singles they've dropped post-pandemic: "Ghost," "Adrift," "Apathy" and "Wait In Wings." The latter, heavy yet achingly melodic with an anthemic feel, hit streaming platforms back in February. Its gripping ebb and flow is indicative of how ABE's songwriting process works. "The songs usually start off with a riff or hook idea from Tyler and then from there it gets sent out to all the members for everyone to contribute to remotely," Arnold explains. "Once we have a solid foundation of the song, we'll get together and jam on it in a room and make sure it feels good to play as a band and we will then develop it further and prepare for final tracking."

Nowadays the band, apart from relying on Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording for drum capturing and editing, handles all the production before sending the fruits of their labor to Sicktones Studio for re-amping, mixing and mastering. It's a method of working that allows for the best result, according to Arnold. "We like doing it this way because we get to take our time and really hone in on the sound and vibes of the song before we put it out there," he says. "Often we'll play an iteration of a

new song live before we even record it just so we get a sense of how our fans will respond to it." The response to "Wait In Wings" has been very good, by the way. Which makes total sense because the songwriting is top-notch, the performances are spot-on and the production is near flawless - the overall quality of the track rivals anything out there by nationally known progressive metalcore bands. Simply put, A

Brighter End are yet another example of how the local music scene is developing by leaps and bounds. Be sure to check out their latest single and keep an eye out for future shows and recordings.

Follow A Brighter End on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Linktree.

The songs usually start off with a riff or hook idea from Tyler and then from there it gets sent out to all the members for everyone to contribute to remotely.

PHOTOS: TAYLOR ZACHARY

LINDSEY

on the scene

WITH LINDSEY WILLIAMS

Tri-state recording artist and live performer presents the first in a series of discussions on the state of the local music scene

This was before your time. Back in the day. When we were younger. A million years ago!

You’ll hear many people reminisce about the music scene in the Ohio Valley. A lot has changed over the years: the venues, the bands and artists, and especially the WAY we consume music. A whole new generation is making their own “back in the day” now and doing it in new ways while those nostalgic folks jokingly call themselves old and head for the door by 9 p.m. Both groups long for connection and good times with good music.

So, what is our music scene today? What do we like, and what are we missing? First off, there is a tremendous amount of talent in and around Evansville in every artistic medium, and there are many venues that host live music.

Indiana, in general, has a healthy, middleground number of bars per capita. You’ll find rock bands, blues, some jazz, country, acoustic soloists, and a piano bar or two. However, only a handful offer original music. Musicians can now release professional-sounding audio recordings from a laptop in a bedroom rather than book a studio for hundreds of dollars a day. Where is this music being played? Where do you buy it?

The competing factors interspersed on the scene are many: Flat screen TVs on every wall, the sum of human knowledge on a tiny TV firmly grasped in every hand, streaming services and gaming devices bringing insanely good quality entertainment to your living room, not to mention (**cough**) 19 other reasons to stay home. Also, Evansville has more bars and restaurants to visit than ever before, but unfortunately, it also has declining population numbers.

So, there it is. We’re all spread out with a lot to occupy our time. Simple, right? But there’s more to it than this. People love music, and people love

connection. What motivates us to go see live music? Dancing? Singing along? Familiarity with the performer? Familiarity with the material? The food and drink? Atmosphere? Bumping into friends? How can we combine such elements to bring the music lovers and the music creators together?

This developing series (inspired by the beautifully talented, prolific, and hardworking musicians and songwriters right here in our own back yard) seeks to explore every aspect needed to get local independent artists heard. Our musical community and their passion for the work can inspire some powerful moments on the stage and in the studio. With a bit of discussion, that passion can be shared by everyone.

The great American bassist Victor Wooten once said, paraphrasing Maya Angelou, “People won’t remember what you said or what you did. They will remember how you made them feel. And music is no different.” The music is here. Let’s feel it.

Next month, we discuss the venues. See you in May.

"Our musical community and their passion for the work can inspire some powerful moments on the stage and in the studio."

PHOTO CREDIT: DANIEL KNIGHT STUDIO B PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

ROCK & ROLL REUNIONS: RECAPTURING THE MAGIC OR CASH GRAB?

Recently, guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman appeared in a one-off show in Japan with the current iteration of Dave Mustaine’s Megadeth. Friedman is the most recognizable of all former Megadeth guitarists, as he was there during the band’s most successful run in the early 90s. The band heavily promoted the reunion show, even though Friedman only performed on three tracks that evening. The web was awash with speculation that this might mean a reunion of what remains of the classic-era line-up. Megadeth was in the news, which I’m sure was founder/guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine’s intent all along.

This got us thinking about the value of reunions. Sure, it’s exciting for fans to experience a performance with original members, but too often, band reunions fail to recapture the magic of what made them great. Listener tastes change, fans move on, and the new music produced by classic members (if the reunion even makes it that far), is often either redundant or uninspired. Van Halen briefly reunited in 1996 to release two new original songs, but within weeks, tensions between David Lee Roth and the

Van Halen brothers led to Diamond Dave’s expulsion from the band once again. And who can forget KISS releasing Psycho Circus in 1998, and to much fanfare, as we were led to believe that the original four members contributed to the album. We later discovered that the record was a patchwork of material contributed by former members, session musicians and Paul and Gene, with minimal contributions by Ace and Peter. The end product was an uneven album with a few nice moments, but for the most part, forgettable. More recently, Vinnie Vincent “reunited” with two other ex-KISS guitarists, Ace and Bruce Kulick, and reportedly, all Vinnie did was stand on a tank, make un-melodic noise on his guitar, and point to Ace and Bruce for them to actually play the songs. (If you look up "disappointment" in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Vinnie on his tank.)

As we have been discussing on the podcast,

our expectations often set us up for failure. Sometimes our expectations associated with reunions are unrealistic. Sometimes they exceed our expectations, like when Joey Belladonna reunited with Anthrax and Rob Halford reunited with Judas Priest. As fans, when it comes to reunions, maybe we should just expect to waste a little money and time to catch a glimpse of our cherished past. At least we will enjoy the experience, even if our pockets are a little lighter.

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

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

SCREEN TIME WITH

MARISA PATWA

April cinema offerings feature a spicy college love story, vampire comedy and rom-com thriller

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

All of the After fans are in for a treat because this new spicy college love story is ready to slide into place. The film is based off the New York Times best-selling novel by Jamie McGuire and stars Dylan Sprouse and Marvel’s Runaways breakout star Virginia Gardner as star-crossed lovers who fight their chemistry as long as they can - that is, until it implodes. It’s the good-girl-falls-in lovewith-the-bad-boy trope we're all addicted to. Sprouse’s Travis “Mad Dog” Maddox is different from After’s brooding Hardin, though. He's not tortured emotionally, rather charismatic and outgoing, spending his nights fighting in underground boxing rings to help pay for the office campus apartment he shares with his cousin and roommate, Outerbanks’ Austin North. In comes freshfaced freshman, Abby “Pigeon” Abernathy, who, although she finds him attractive, only sees him as a tempting distraction. The real fun begins when Abby loses a bet that results in her having to stay in Travis’ apartment for one month. In theaters 4/12

RENFIELD

Nicholas Hoult is picking up the macabre comedy from where Warm Bodies left off in this new horror film. Instead of suffering a crisis as a zombie teen falling in love with a human, he plays slave Renfield, whose boss just so happens to be Count Dracula himself, played by Nicholas Cage. For centuries, he's been helping to feed his boss’ voracious appetite, but wants more from his life than fulfilling the wishes of his tortured master. “I want a handful of nuns and a busload of cheerleaders,” Dracula urgently whispers telepathically to a distraught Renfield, who just wants to have a drink in a New Orleans bar in peace. The deal is, Renfield can live forever with superhuman powers if only he fulfills Dracula’s wishes. Awkwafina also sparkles as unsuspecting police officer and Renfield’s love interest, Rebecca Quincy, who rightly points out that he is serving the role of “the guy that gets the villain’s Postmates.” In theaters 4/14

GHOSTED

Chris Evans is retiring his silver shield to play the lovable, dorky farmer Cole, who surprisingly gets ghosted by sexy and mysterious CIA agent Sadie, played by Ana de Armas. Here she's not as bubbly or reckless as her No Time to Die agent Paloma; she's got no time for nonsense and that means not stringing Cole along after a one-night stand. He doesn't realize she's an international woman of mystery at first when he flies to London after not hearing from her (let’s be honest, this would be a creepy move in real life). Soon after landing, though, Cole is kidnapped and tortured before being rescued by Sadie. The film then follows the two new love birds as they're chased by bounty hunters across the globe, all while trying to figure out their burgeoning romance. I'm excited to watch de Armas kicking butt while Evans tries to keep up with all of the fights and shootouts when this rom-com thriller drops.

Apple TV+ 4/21

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE

Up until, and for weeks after, the arrest of suspected killer Bryan Kohberger on December 30, 2022, the only thing any crime-related show seemingly covered was the Idaho murders that occurred roughly 45 days prior. Much like the death of Gabby Petito back in August of 2021, the case completely transfixed the nation. But as the attention on the murders of four college students began to lessen with Kohberger in custody and a court date months away, the spotlight shifted to the story of Alex Murdaugh, a 54-year-old South Carolina lawyer born with a golden spoon in his mouth whose life started to spin out of control years earlier by way of drug addiction and repeated financial embezzlement. Here was a guy who seemingly had it all, viewed as a pillar of the community - a guy who clearly enjoyed the perks of presiding over a very powerful family. And yet, his house of cards ultimately, perhaps inevitably, crumbled when Murdaugh found himself the target of an investigation into the deaths of his wife "Maggie" and son Paul back in 2021.

In addition to the intrigue of such a complex case, the double homicide served to highlight the ever-growing importance of technology in putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Because if it hadn't been for a brief Snapchat video recorded at the crime scene by one of the victims just minutes before the shootings, Murdaugh may have never been arrested. Yet Paul unknowingly unveiled his own father as the murderer by capturing Alex's voice on his phone at the family's dog kennels; he claimed to be miles away at the time. There was also video showing Alex wearing different clothing before and after the killings - for which he seemed to have no valid explanation. Ditto for why he lied to the 911 operator about his whereabouts after "discovering" the bodies. With the majority of evidence pointing to Murdaugh, including that the guns used were family-owned

weapons, he was charged with double homicide in July of 2022, facing life in prison.

Murdaugh would sit behind bars for six months before going to trial, but finally his day in court came on January 25, 2023. Actually, it would be six weeks of witnesses testifying, including the accused in his own defense. A practiced liar, Murdaugh surely thought he could hoodwink the jury but on cross-examination his performance fell flat. Having already admitted on the stand that he had indeed been at the kennels within the short window of the murders - but still insisting he had nothing to do with the deaths of "Maggie" and Paul - he attempted to pin all of his lies and troubles on years of addiction. The pain pills made him paranoid and distrustful, Murdaugh stated, but not a killer. Because, most importantly, why on earth would he hurt two people he loved so dearly? That's still up for debate, but the general theory is that his financial crimes - which Murdaugh also admitted to on the stand - were about to be exposed; the murders would take the heat off of him. Instead, he'll now spend the rest of his life in prison, having been found guilty after just three hours of deliberation.

THE ALEX MURDAUGH TRIAL & VERDICT

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

"A PRACTICED LIAR, MURDAUGH SURELY THOUGHT HE COULD HOODWINK THE JURY BUT ON CROSSEXAMINATION HIS PERFORMANCE FELL FLAT.

SCOUT: Meet Scout, a 3-year-old shepherd mix up for adoption at the VHS! On his honor, he promises to always make you laugh, to obey your commands and to keep you physically strong and mentally sharp (as long as you promise to do the same for him!) He’s good with other dogs and would make an excellent adventure buddy. His adoption fee is only $150, which includes his neuter, microchip and vaccinations. And while he can’t promise to navigate your walks using the constellations, or start a fire with two twigs, he CAN promise to be your best friend for life - Scout’s honor!

BLUE CHEESE & COTTAGE CHEESE: We dare you to name a more iconic duo than Blue Cheese and Cottage Cheese! This bonded pair of guinea pig brothers from different mothers (Blue is American, while Cottage is a long-haired Peruvian) are both a year old and need lots of space, as they are both very big boys! Blue Cheese is a bit more bold than his brother and easier to handle. Cottage Cheese, who is mild by nature, can be a spicy boy and will make you get to know him a little first before settling in. Interested in adopting a fun pair of piggies? Come meet them at the VHS or apply online at vhslifesaver.org

APPLESAUCE: Meet Applesauce! A few things to know about Applesauce: She was born with backward legs. Just two of them, though! Whether it was inherited, congenital, or momma simply had a large litter and not enough room... We’ll never know the reason why, but backwards feets are here to stay! Since going up and down stairs can be a little awkward, a one-story or gated stairs, an easily accessible litter box, and no small children would all be ideal. Some of Applesauce’s favorite things include dogs, making biscuits at super speed, and toys with feathers at the end. Other than her twisted back feet, she is a perfectly healthy, cuddly, playful kitten! Interested in meeting Applesauce? Submit an adoption application at vhslifesaver.org!

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

2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

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

BELLE

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

If anyone knows about choosing the right animal to bring home from a shelter, it's Cameron Lewis. The Evansville transplant has spent the last two years working at the Vanderburgh Humane Society, specializing in matchmaking between pet owners and rescues, because finding a good fit is key. Which makes her own recent adoption of Belle, a 5-year-old pitbull/ hound mix, somewhat curious. You see, Lewis has mostly been a cat person throughout her young life; she adopted one immediately after moving into her first apartment at age 19 and welcomed her boyfriend's feline furball to the party, too. "Party" is a fairly accurate description, by the way,

because the couple also houses exotic animals, including a guinea pig, two hedgehogs and two lizards. In addition, a year ago, they adopted a third cat, Lottie. But no dogs, because Lewis just never felt a strong enough connection to them. That is, until she met Belle back in December of last year.

Shy and withdrawn, Belle arrived at the VHS after being picked up as a stray. Records indicated that she had been adopted out from the shelter as a puppy. How Belle ended up wandering the area alone, years later, is a mystery. But thankfully, the good folks at the VHS knew how to address her timidness, keeping Belle away from the

I CALL HER A VELCRO DOG BECAUSE SHE JUST WANTS TO BE ON TOP OF YOU; SHE LOVES TO CUDDLE.

noisy kennels in an employee's office - which is where Lewis got to know this darling girl. "I got attached to her really quickly - it was that love at first sight kind of thing," she recalls. "I call her a Velcro dog because she just wants to be on top of you; she loves to cuddle." The next step was to take Belle home for a few days to see how she'd get along with the cats and make sure that Lewis' boyfriend approved. It was all a go for the most part. "She just kind of stayed at that point - I knew that I couldn't take her back," Lewis says.

Inevitably, the transition from the shelter was dicey. Initially unnerved by her new environment, particularly the hardwood floors, Belle would only walk on the home's area rugs and barely ate the first week. But Lewis, hyperaware that animals need time to adapt, exercised much patience, making a little progress with her new rescue day by day. Months later, Belle is loving her new life, doing zoomies in the backyard and even getting lots of attention from Lottie. The couple's other two cats aren't quite as enthralled, but regardless, Belle is a part of the family now. Gushes Lewis, "She's literally the most perfect, sweetest dog I've ever met."

with Barold Hume

AS I TYPE THIS... THE WAR FOR 2024 AND OTHER "NEWS"

Things are definitely starting to heat up, politically speaking. In recent weeks, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has thrown her hat into the ring for the big prize and author/spiritual leader Marianne Williamson announced that she'll make another go at it, too. With a female candidate on both sides of the aisle ready and willing to run, the upcoming presidential election just got a little more interesting. Of course, with Trump and Biden likely to butt heads again, it's bound to be a bloodbath, an all-out war for 2024, but it's nice to know other options exist other than the same old white guys. Not that there's anything wrong with being old and white - but we've seen this movie before, right? Yes, polls show that Republicans, despite the lackluster midterm performances of candidates backed by Trump, still favor him over Florida governor Ron DeSantis and newbie Haley by a wide margin, and Democrats somewhat reticently give the nod to Biden, but it seems the American people could do with a little change.

Actually, as I type this, DeSantis has yet to commit and Biden's still mum on his plans for reelection, but both are expected to jump in the fray. Which means Trump is going to have to nail down a nickname for the former. Reportedly, he's been workshopping "Meatball Ron" and "Tiny D" after "Ron DeSanctimonious" failed to stick the landing. This from a 76-year-old man.

In other news, no one should be surprised that the talking heads at Fox "News" - which I put in quotes because, like MSNBC, it's all just entertainment, really - were caught talking smack about Trump and the supposedly fraudulent 2020 election in private while relaying a quite different message to their millions of viewers. Does this seemingly damning hypocrisy matter? Only to the people who don't watch Fox. Popular hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham have carried on per the usual post-revelation, with little to no blowback from the right. What's interesting is that

independent-minded Russell Brand, an actor/comedian who now spends most of his time calling out political B.S., appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher last month alongside MSNBC's John Heilemann and ripped the left-leaning "news" channel a new one. Granted, Brand talks way too much, as if high on a steady supply of pain pills, but he somewhat eloquently pointed out how their narrative is beholden to the concerns of corporate interests - just like how Fox follows the money trail, caring little for the truth. Frankly, I don't know why anyone gives either channel the time of day, but it's a free country, so we're told.

WITH A FEMALE CANDIDATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE READY AND WILLING TO RUN, THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING.

MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING OLD...

with Johnny Fletcher

"WE GOT THIS!" HAS GOT TO GO

In case you're suffering from selective amnesia and have conveniently blocked out my February column (and who could blame you, really?) which, among other things, detailed my displeasure with the phrase "my ride or die," allow me to revisit the topic of tired sayings. Especially in light of the virtual "flood" of responses that I received (perhaps it was more like a trickle), some of which were threatening, frankly. Hey, let's keep it civil, please - I'm just trying to earn a buck like the rest of you. Still, the great majority of readers literally begged me to continue down this slippery slope, eager to find out what other phrases currently infiltrating society get on my frail nerves. So, at the risk of bodily harm, I intend to do just that, beginning with "We got this!" - a meaningless combination of words that's heard in every other commercial, TV show or movie these days.

And to be clear, I don't get it. Well, let me clarify. Of course I understand the phrase; it's one of those generic encouragements people throw around to feel better about a terrible situation, not to mention it plays well on the big screen, made for that dramatic moment when a group of wannabe heroes prepares to take on the enemy. Now, I didn't bother to go see Top Gun: Maverick (skipped the original, too), but I'd be willing to bet Tom Cruise triumphantly declares "We got this!" as he's leading a pack of jet fighters into battle. Am I wrong? Doubt it.

"We got this!" also brings to mind all the "strong" stuff that took over social media a ways back - #bostonstrong, #newyorkstrong and so forth. Look, not everybody can flex 24/7. Some of us are #jfletchweak and we're cool with that. At least we're honest. But before you

come at me with neck veins bulging, let it be known that I appreciate the "strong" sentiment and the need for solidarity in difficult times. Still, like anything else, saturation breeds disinterest; it lessens the impact, more accurately. When the phrase starts appearing stamped on tote bags and coffee cups that's when you know it's reached the point of no return. But hey, if it floats your boat, paddle on. It's not like we'll find ourselves together in a dire predicament anytime soon, one which requires me to step up and assure you and the rest of the ragtag gang assembled that "We got this!" Let's face it, if you're counting on me to boost your confidence then you're in a crap-ton of trouble.

STILL, LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, SATURATION BREEDS DISINTEREST; IT LESSENS THE IMPACT, MORE ACCURATELY.

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.

LATELY I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE GETTING DATES AND NEED A GOOD ICE-BREAKER. CAN YOU HELP ME? Dear TV Guide,

WHAT'S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE TV SHOW?

Jesus, I'm thinking about what I watch and realizing how ridiculous the choices are, such as Deutschland sucht den Superstar (translation: Germany seeks the Superstar; basic translation: German Idol) - particularly season three. But let’s just say my real answer is the second season of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila because clearly my first example wasn't embarrassing enough.

WHO WOULD WIN BETWEEN BIG FOOT AND THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN?

Dear Mythical Creature,

First off, it’s Bigfoot, not Big Foot, ok? But if I had to choose, I would probably say the Abominable Snowman. Not because he's better or anything in terms of fighting skill. I’m just not into feet.

Dear Hopeless, I would suggest going outside on a really cold day and finding access to a hose. Upon finding the hose, turn it on and place the hose inside a bucket of any size. Next, fill the bucket up with water to completion. Leave the bucket outside for about 24 hours in a stationary position. Next day, turn the bucket upside down and release the contents. Take your creation to the closest place where people congregate. Place the creation onto a table and ask the first good-looking person you see the following question: “Hey, do you mind breaking this ice with me?” Long story short, I got nothin'.

WHAT SONG OR SONGS DO YOU WISH YOU HAD WRITTEN?

Dear Rolling Stone, “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot - only because I wanted to have the exclusive rights without copyright issues to release the follow up single, “Brazilian Butt Lift is Wack,” followed by the third No. 1 song, “Just Kidding.”

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Dear Kristina,

Thank you for reminding me that you dumped me freshman year of high school because you wanted to explore your options with other girls.

That.

Photo CreditBlaine Mathew Media

APRIL MUSIC REVIEWS

PINK Trustfall RCA Records

Pink dabbles in every musical style from pop-rock and Americana to folk and country on her ninth studio album, with features from The Lumineers, Chris Stapleton and First Aid Kit. Her songs are vulnerable, empowering, spiritual, uplifting and just downright fun. “Never Not Gonna Dance Again” is purely addictive, the kind of anthem that will never get old. “Turbulence” is a punk rock love song that rattles you: “You and I, happy ending and a tragedy combined/ But we both can't live without it and we tried."

“When I Get There” is an angelic song about her dad's passing that will leave you teary-eyed in the most cathartic way: “I think of you when I think about forever/ I hear a joke and I know you would've told it better/ I think of you out of the blue when I'm watching a movie that you'd hate/ You'd say it, you were never one to hesitate/ You were always first in line, so why would it be different for Heaven?" It's truly breathtaking and resonates with so many listeners who have lost loved ones. Other standouts include the upbeat “Last Call,” the stripped-down “Just Say I’m Sorry” (feat. Chris Stapleton), the introspective “Feel Something” and goosebumps-inducing “Our Song.” If Pink asks you to fall, just know she’ll catch you.-

Marisa Patwa

PARAMORE This Is Why Atlantic Records

Paramore is back after a nearly five-year hiatus, and This Is Why is just the angsty punk rock collection of jams we needed. Hayley Williams’ powerful voice holds the album together, but her bandmates are just as insanely talented. The drums and electric guitar on the title track are just as melodic as her ethereal vocals while the clarinet and flute on “Big Man, Little Dignity” soothe your soul. “The News” is an intelligent, poignant song about becoming zombie-fied from all of the horror stories that come with watching the news: “Every second, our collective heart breaks/ All together, every single head shakes/ Shut your eyes, but it won't go away/ (Turn on, turn off, the news)/ Exploitative/ Performative/ Informative/ And we don't know the half of it/ Rhetorical/ Deplorable/ Historical/ And all along, we call it normal.” The song recalls the band's original grunge aesthetic from their Riot! days. Other standouts include “You First,” “Crave” and “Thick Skull.” Paramore may be all grown up, but they're still cranking out the anthems of our rebellious teenage dreams -

Marisa Patwa

MILEY CYRUS Endless Summer Vacation Columbia Records

Miley Cyrus continues to show off her musical prowess and ability to seamlessly flow from pop to country and rock & roll. Her musical evolution has been a revolution in raspiness and risks and it has all paid off. On her eighth studio album, she writes and reflects on the pain of her own highly-publicized life. Hit single “Flowers” has already been made into thousands of different TikTok vids and created juicy subreddits on the hidden meanings in her lyrics about her relationship with ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. It's also one of the most powerful break-up anthems ever written, because instead of dwelling on the pain of the past, she emphasizes the beauty of self-love. “Rivers” brings the electro 80s dance vibes; “Jaded” has a grungy 90s aesthetic that guts you; “Thousand Miles” featuring Brandi Carlile is a catchy, twangy and beautiful love letter to her siblings. Elsewhere, “Rose Colored Lenses” is a dreamy love song that will have you feeling like you are floating: “We could stay like this forever, lost in wonderland/ With our head above the clouds, falling stupid like we're kids/ Wearing rose-colored lenses, let's just play pretend/ Wearing rose-colored lenses, pretend we'll never end.” Miley’s raw talent, true grit, purely personal writing and natural stage presence make her the performer of a lifetime. -

Marisa Patwa

METALLICA 72 Seasons Blackened Recordings

At the time of this review, only three songs from Metallica’s 2023 album 72 Seasons have been released to the public. Few bands have drawn the attention (and derision) of fans more than Metallica. Interestingly, the band has a track record of releasing their worst songs as singles prior to the album’s release. Remember “Until it Sleeps”? The first song released for the new record was “Lux AEterna” - fast, heavy, but nothing unique or unexpected. However, the follow-up, “Screaming Suicide,” offered thought-provoking lyrics encouraging those who suffer depression not to give up: "Then a voice appears/ Whisper in your ears/ "You are good enough"/ Throwing down a rope/ A lifeline of hope…" Hetfield recognizes that his music has impact and meaning, and that his lyrics influence fans. “If Darkness had a Son,” the third pre-album track released, is by far the strongest. It’s the sort of trademark chugger that's helped make Metallica the most successful metal band of all time.

- Matt Alschbach

GORILLAZ Cracker Island Warner Records

“The late 20th century,” as my Gen-Z daughter likes to say, gave us some great synthesizer-based music. Think Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, Soft Cell. Cracker Island by Gorillaz draws from this era while still delivering an uber-polished, lush 2023 sound. With intricately crafted beats, fat bass lines and an insane superstar guest roster (Thundercat, Stevie Nicks, Beck, Tame Impala), it would be practically impossible to make a bad album. Huge reverbs set an enormous space where the mature Brit-rock vocal of Damon Albarn sits, nicely overdriven, with lots of layers and Auto-Tune. It makes for some seriously infectious grooves enveloping some snarky word play. If the Gorillaz seem a bit sarcastic, they have found their mark! They are a pop band formed to poke fun at pop music by the creator of a hit grunge song written to make fun of grunge music, “Song No. 2” by Blur. Cracker Island has fewer guitars in the mix than Blur or than previous Gorillaz albums, but is a sonic success yet again for this hook factory. -

Lindsey Williams

TIËSTO All Nighter Musical Freedom/Atlantic

"Full Spectrum Dominance" Spinefarm

British post-punk legends Killing Joke broke a lengthy studio silence one year ago with the Lord of Chaos EP, highlighted by the brutal, menacing title track which warned of human extinction as a result of "complex systems failure." And while the re-lighting of the band's creative fire stoked much excitement, fans were still left begging for the full-length follow-up to 2015's Pylon, a tightly-constructed, immensely powerful collection that completed an extraordinary trio of post-reunion releases beginning with Absolute Dissent in 2010. The wait continues...but KJ unexpectedly dropped another explosive single last month that picks up on the paranoia of "Chaos," predicting the rise of cabals and lamenting the futility of resistance. "Full Spectrum Dominance" may not break any new ground - lyrically, it reads like a typical scan of singer Jaz Coleman's distrusting mind and musically, the track adheres a little too closely to last year's EP - but comparatively speaking, this band has no competition in the post-punk genre beyond their own back catalogue. It's full spectrum dominance, indeed, for Killing Joke.

- Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

JOHNNY WHEELS & THE SWAMP DONKEYS

Keep On Pushin’

Lightning in a Bottle Records

Singer/songwriter/harmonica player Johnny "Wheels" Kennicott is back with the Swamp Donkeys for another round of Pacific Northwest blues. Keep on Pushin' opens with “On the Run,” a funky jam tune with great guitar licks from Brandon Logan as Kennicott sings about reluctantly leaving his woman behind. “George Fisk” features Kennicott singing about a man spying on a woman. A guest appearance from Steve Kerin on piano adds a great touch to searing guitar from Logan. Haunting keyboard work from Kerin sets the tone for “This Time” while Kennicott provides stellar harmonica playing. “As Long As You’re There” gives everyone on the track a chance to shine as Kennicott sings about accepting hardship as long as his woman stays by him.

- Freddie Bourne

The Dutch DJ and music producer recently released this 7-track EP ahead of the upcoming full-length Drive , which starts off at full-steam ahead before losing it halfway through, only to redeem itself a bit at the end. Right from the opening seconds of the title track, Tiësto’s boombastic groove hits hard and remains apparent throughout, while adding some little thrills and trills that keep the momentum going with the collaborative “10:35” featuring Tate McRae before becoming a little too derivative with the Axa Max-led “The Motto.” And despite more star power with KAROL G and Charli XCX, the rest of the record comes off a little too bland for his style but rebounds via a remixed Black Eyed Peas’ megahit, “Pump It Louder.” If you’re someone who plans to request these songs, just focus on the former half. All Nighter starts off with inventiveness and promise. Then people start getting tired on the dancefloor and eventually leave all together before being drawn back in by what is probably the most unoriginal track here.

Taylor Frazier provides a funky bass line on “Light Me Up” while Kennicott and Logan offer great vocal harmonies. “The Fall” is a melancholy tune where Kennicott sings about struggling to hang on during a difficult time and crying out for mercy. “Finding Your Way Back Home” seems permeated by funky bass and guitar from Frazier and Logan, while Kennicott provides great harmonica. The heavy sound on “Mizz Karman” works well with the lyrics about a woman offering thrills and kills. “Time To Bail” closes out the album while Kennicott sings about losing strength on the journey until he receives encouragement -

Paul Bragin

APRIL 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.

THBC SPRING FEELS BELL'S PORTER

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

This is a German hefeweizen with a slightly hazy straw color, and a typical yeasty funkiness on the nose. Faint notes of banana and clove from the hefeweizen yeast. Medium bodied with a touch of sweetness, with no bitterness and a nice finish.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head tops this hefeweizen when poured into a wheat beer glass. The scent contains a significant amount of wheat and malt. A rush of carbonation hits the tongue first, followed by wheat flavors and some banana notes present in the very long finish. People who like wheat beers should try this during the hot days of summer. Pair it with classic German dishes like smoked meats, white sausage or apple strudel.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 5

As noted above, this is a hazy straw-colored beer - a German hefeweizen. I love the sweet wheat flavor; this is right up my alley. It only has a 4.6 % ABV but this could be a great session beer while working outside. I also like the pint can. It's a great thirst quencher and a Hoosier beer to boot.

RHINEGEIST JUICY TRUTH

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.75

This pours an almost opaque hazy straw color, with lots of tropical fruit aromas on the nose. These continue to the palate with notes of pineapple and mango. I thought the finish was a little more bitter than typical, but overall this is a solid hazy IPA.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head rests on this IPA and disappears slowly. A burst of fruity hop scents fill the nose. Likewise, the hop flavors continue while drinking the beer and stay during the very long finish. Pair it with a variety of lighter foods like tacos al pastor or seafood dishes like fish tacos with mango salsa or ceviche marinated in citrus juice to match the citrus flavors present in the beer.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This cloudy, straw-colored beer has a medium sweet hops flavor. I'm glad to see Rhinegeist produce a solid beer that's easy to drink and very enjoyable, overall. It has a little more hops in it than the New Belgium IPA reviewed this month but a solid offering nonetheless with a 6.5 % ABV.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This porter pours pitch-black with a creamy tan head. Coffee is prominent on the nose. On the palate you’ll find flavors of coffee and dark chocolate, and a medium malty body that is lightened by decent carbonation. A little bitterness on the finish makes for a nice, balanced porter.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick tan head crowns this porter and remains for a long time. Sweet and roasted malt notes dominate the scent profile. The roasted malt remains with the initial tasting of the beer and continues in the long finish. People who enjoy the roasted taste of a porter need to drink this one. Pair it with foods like chili, chicken wings or barbecue to complement the robust and sweet flavors of the porter.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is your standard dark coffee-colored beer with a nice coffee and chocolate flavor. It has a rich roasted malt flavor that I enjoy. Bells is a great brewery that produces some of my favorite beers. It only has a 5.6 % ABV - which is a little surprising. Overall, it's pretty filling but that happens with dark beers.

NEW BELGIUM ACCUMULATION IPA

PAUL HOLLYFELD -

4

This pours a slightly hazy yellow with a thin white head. Notes of orange and stone fruit on the nose, with more of the same on the palate. It has a light body with nice carbonation, and you’ll find a touch of orange peel bitterness on the finish.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick white head forms on this hazy IPA and never totally evaporates. A decent amount of hops controls the scent profile. Likewise, citrus notes from the hops hit the tongue with the first sip of the beer. People who enjoy IPAs need

to try this seasonal offering while it’s still available. Pair it with spicy foods like cilantro lime chicken tacos, cheesy enchiladas or spicy chili carrot soup.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a cloudy, straw-colored beer with nice carbonation. It has a very sweet hops flavor which isn't too heavy, and it's pretty easy to drink. This beer is on the lighter side of the IPA spectrum but I really enjoy it. Accumulation is very balanced without killing your taste buds with the hops. Plus, I'm a fan of the 6.5% ABV.

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: How long will it take to resolve my personal injury case?

A:There is an old saying in law that, "the wheels of justice grind slowly." Personal injury cases can be time-consuming. However, there are several factors that can influence how long it will take to resolve a personal injury case. Some of the most important factors include:

1. The complexity of the case: If your case involves multiple parties, or if there are significant legal or factual issues that need to be resolved, it can take longer to reach a resolution.

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Court calendars can be crowded, and trials can take a long time to schedule and complete.

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7. The attorneys involved in the case: Attorneys are like any other group of people - some have more capacity, are better organized and work harder and faster than others. Certainly, the attorney you hire can have some bearing on the time it takes for your case to resolve.

Overall, the length of time it takes to resolve a personal injury case can vary widely depending on the circumstances. It is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process and help you understand your options.