News4U August 2023

2023 Summer Concert Guide (Pt. 2)

More great Shows are headed to the Tri-State!

Southern Avenue at the Lincoln Amphitheatre

Exclusive Interview with frontwoman Tierinii Jackson

Gin Blossoms & Sugar Ray at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater

Exclusive Interview with Gin Blossoms frontman Robin Wilson

Styx at the Old National Events Plaza

Exclusive Interview with frontman Lawrence Gowan

Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Pops Concert Season Preview

A Sneak Peek at what the EPO has in store for 2023-2024

Established in 1991 by Publisher

Brian Bennett

Operations Manager

Joshua Adams

Managing Editor & Writer

Thomas Ellis

Account Representative

TJ Tanoos

tj@evansvillemediagroup.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist

Kelsey Halbig

Contributors

Matt Alschbach, Freddie Bourne, Paul Bragin, Johnny Fletcher, Paul Hollyfeld, Barold Hume, Dr. Court Lewis, Jabez Martinez, Laurie Miller, Marisa Patwa, Lindsay Rasure, Lindsey Williams, Karah Wilson

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

What's happenin', tri-state? Is your summer humming right along? Sure hope so. Pleasantries aside, before we jump into the August fray, I feel the need to offer an apology. Generally speaking, I live a life free of mistakes (apart from stretching the truth a bit) but last month I somehow forgot to mention that it was my 11-year anniversary at News 4U. Really, I'm terribly sorry; it was nothing personal. Believe me, if I could change things, I would. Though surely some of you caught the announcement of this incredible achievement on the local news - or perhaps you attended the parade downtown in my honor. But to those who were

kept in the dark by my careless oversight, I sincerely apologize and assure you that I'm doing everything in my power to prevent such a thing from ever happening again. Ok, deep breath. Now on to August... Holy smokes, the concert lineup this month is totes cray-cray, as the youth like to say. In fact, it may well be the greatest in all my time at the magazine (just a reminder, it's been 11 years now), both in terms of star power and diversity. I would list all the acts coming to the tri-state over the next four-plus weeks but there's simply not room - not to mention we've conveniently put together part two of our Summer Concert Guide for your perusal so no one feels left

out á la my N4U anniversary debacle (hey, I'm trying to make amends). What's that? You demand a teaser of what's in store? Well, since I let you down last month I'll give in: Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Kentucky Headhunters, The Beach Boys, In This Moment, Jelly Roll and The Gin Blossoms. Good stuff across the board. Check out all the details inside and so much more!

- Tommy Ellis

Back in June, we previewed the first half of the long-awaited summer concert season - part one of a very packed schedule of shows. Now it's time to look ahead and see what's on tap this month and into September. Frankly, the tri-state hasn't seen a lineup like this in a long, long time. It's not just the sheer number of concerts but the high-profile nature and diversity of the performers. Makes Evansville seem like the hip place to be, that's for sure. Seriously, though, it's pretty cool that so many stars count our little corner of Indiana as a prime tour stop. Let's hope this trend continues - and try not to get too spoiled in the process. For now, check out all the great concerts on the horizon and be sure to get your tickets soon!

MUSIC IN THE PARK

Hosted by the Evansville Parks Foundation, Music in the Park offers free bi-weekly concerts with on-site food trucks for an evening of family-friendly fun. Live performances run from 6-8 p.m. at various locations. This month catch The Keith Farny Jazz Collective (8/10 @ Akin Park) and Nick Hamilton (8/24 @ Vann Park). Bring your picnic blankets, lawn chairs and enjoy this free event.

LIVE ON THE BANKS

Got a case of Saturday night fever? Then Live on the Banks is your remedy. This beloved free concert series in downtown Owensboro is back with a fantastic lineup of local and regional acts performing on the Overlook Stage and at the Allen Street Gazebo. This month catch the likes of Galactic Foghorn, Angel Rhodes, Jed Guillaume, Crashing Napster and more.

This popular series of free concerts on Second Street in downtown Beaver Dam, KY, returns to rock your Friday nights all summer long. Enjoy live music from some of the area's most talented artists and bands, many with deep ties to the community. Come early and dine at one of the many great restaurants in Beaver Dam or explore the local shops and more.

SOUNDS ON 2ND CHRIS YOUNG

Country star Chris Young has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, over five billion on-demand streams, 13 career number one singles, 24 R.I.A.A. certified projects and numerous ACM, AMA, CMA and GRAMMY nominations, as well as wins for "Performance of the Year" and "Collaborative Video of the Year" at the CMT Music Awards.

VARIOUS EVANSVILLE PARKS / THRU AUGUST

RUMOURS: FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE

In just under seven years, Rumours has garnered the reputation of being the best Fleetwood Mac tribute band and made fans around the world with their spot-on re-creations of classic songs such as "Dreams," "Rhiannon," "Gypsy," "Landslide," "The Chain" and many more. Lead singer Mekenzie Zimmerman continues to blow audiences away with her uncanny ability to embody the voice and spirit of Stevie Nicks.

THE BEACH BOYS W/ OWENSBORO SYMPHONY

As the Beach Boys mark more than 60 years of making music and over 100 million records sold, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America's musical history. The iconic band is synonymous with the California lifestyle, thanks to timeless songs such as "Surfin' USA," "Surfer Girl," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "I Get Around," "California Girls" and so many more.

IN THIS MOMENT & MOTIONLESS IN WHITE SOUTHERN AVENUE

Fronted by the electric Tierinii Jackson, Memphis-based, GRAMMYnominated Southern Avenue inked their first record deal with the legendary Stax Records in 2016. The first Memphis band signed to Stax in over 40 years, their self-titled debut was an immediate phenomenon, reaching number one on iTunes' "Top Blues Albums" chart before being honored with the 2018 Blues Music Award for "Best Emerging Artist Album."

This co-headlining trek, dubbed the "Dark Horizon" Tour, brings together two of the biggest rock/metal bands currently going. In This Moment, fronted by the alluring Maria Brink, is best known for such fist-pumping songs as "This Moment," "Blood" and "Roots." Led by Chris Cerulli, Motionless in White has built a big following via blistering tracks like "Another Life" and "Eternally Yours."

LINCOLN AMPTHITHEATRE / AUGUST 12

VICTORY THEATRE / AUGUST 11

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / AUGUST 12 FORD CENTER / AUGUST 15

KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / AUGUST 18

Southern rockers the Kentucky HeadHunters announced themselves in 1986 with an eclectic, guitar-heavy sound influenced by country, blues, heavy metal and rockabilly. The band has released 23 singles and 10 studio albums featuring several notable country music songs, including “Dumas Walker,” "Oh Lonesome Me" (which hit top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts) and “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.”

JELLYROLL

FORD CENTER / AUGUST 22

Coming to Evansville on the "Backroad Baptism" Tour with special guests Struggle Jennings and Caitlynne Curtis, JellyRoll is indeed ready to roll, riding high on his recent success at the CMA Awards where he took home three statues for "Son of a Sinner." The multigenre singer-songwriter is also known for such hits as "Save Me" and "Bottle and Mary Jane."

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / AUGUST 19

One of the most successful and influential metal bands of all-time, Queensryche is best known for such monumental tracks as "Jet City Woman," "Eyes of a Stranger" and the worldwide smash, "Silent Lucidity," as well as a commitment to producing thought-provoking concept albums, including Operation Mindcrime and Empire. In addition, they've routinely toured with some of the biggest names in the genre.

QUEENSRYCHE LUKE BRYAN

FORD CENTER / AUGUST 25

The country music superstar and beloved American Idol judge is set to return to the tri-state for another packed house at the Ford Center where you'll hear all your favorites, including "Knockin' Boots," "One Margarita," "I Don't Want This Night to End," "Country Girl," "Drunk On You" and so many more. It's always one big party when Luke comes to town. Yeehaw!!

JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING

The son of the late, great Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Jason Bonham has stepped in to help keep his father's memory alive. In 1988, Jason took his father's spot in Led Zeppelin’s first-ever televised reunion at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert. He also played the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert with original band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

SCOTTY MCCREERY

One of the most successful American Idol winners since the show's inception, Scotty McCreery has carved out a remarkable career in country music thanks to memorable hits like "Five More Minutes," "I Love You This Big" and "Feelin' It." His latest album, Same Truck, features the gold-certified singles "You Time" and "Damn Straight," plus the current chart smash, "It Matters to Her."

GIN BLOSSOMS & SUGAR RAY with Tonic & Fastball

Get ready to relive the magic of 90's rock music all over again with two of the era's biggest bands, Gin Blossoms and Sugar Ray. The former burst onto the scene in 1992 via their multi-platinum debut New Miserable Experience featuring "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You"; the latter hit big five years later with "Fly" and a string of charting singles, including "Every Morning."

One of the true icons of indie rock, Ryan Adams left the popular alt-country band Whiskeytown in 2000 and embarked on a prolific solo career peppered with critically-acclaimed albums, including Heartbreaker, Gold and a song-for-song cover of Taylor Swift's 1989. Over the last three years alone, he's put out nine records, ranging from the 80's-inspired FM to an acoustic rendering of Oasis' Morning Glory .

RYAN ADAMS

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 1

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 5

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / AUGUST 29

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / SEPTEMBER 2

BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 12

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking 1998 double album, Spirit Trail, Bruce Hornsby remains an important figure in the rock and jazz worlds nearly 50 years after arriving on the scene. The supremely accomplished musician is best known for the top-five hits "The Way It Is" and "Mandolin Rain," both released in 1986, along with his many collaborations.

CHEAP TRICK

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 15

The quintessential rock band, Cheap Trick towers above the rest, claiming a singular 50-year career packed with incredible songs and unforgettable live performances. Best known for such genre-defining hits as "I Want You to Want Me," "Surrender," "Dream Police" and "The Flame," the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just keep kicking butt with their infectious melodies and wild shows.

SINGER TIERINII JACKSON ON HER ELECTRIC STAGE PRESENCE, CREATING THE MOTOWNINSPIRED "CONTROL," COVERING A GENESIS SONG AND MORE

Claiming one of the crazier origin stories of any band in recent memory, Southern Avenue's spark was lit when Israeli-born guitarist Ori Naftaly traveled some 7,000 miles to Memphis, Tennessee, for the annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in 2013. Fate then intervened and put him in the company of the area's most accomplished singer, Tierinii Jackson, eventually leading to the formation of a truly dynamic band with a gift for whipping up elements of funk, roots music, blues and soul into an intoxicating brew. After reaching the finals of the 2016 IBC, Southern Avenue - also featuring Tierinii's sister Tikyra on drums,

plus keyboardist Jeremy Powell and bassist Evan Sarver - signed with the legendary Stax Records and released their debut album the following year to much acclaim. But it was the group's live show that really made headlines due in large part to Jackson's electric stage presence.

Seven years and two albums later (including the GRAMMY-nominated Keep On), the band just keeps going from strength to strength - and Jackson remains an unstoppable tornado of activity behind the mic. Unexpectedly, Southern Avenue recently dropped an achingly soulful cover of the 1983 Genesis classic, "That's All,"

a brilliant choice of song that highlights the group's diverse tastes and ability to key into virtually any genre of music. Rest assured their instrumental prowess and incomparable performance chops will be on full display this month at the Lincoln Amphitheatre with a special opening set at 6:30 p.m. by longtime tri-state favorite, the Jason Lee McKinney Band.

Jackson kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show.

You truly are a tornado of activity on stage - your moves bring to mind Beyoncé, in particular. Where does this force of nature-

LINCOLN AMPHITHEATRE / AUGUST 12 / 7:30 P.M.

style performance come from?

I grew up just madly in love with Beyoncé since I was eight. [But] I wasn't allowed to listen to Beyoncé. I'm under the radar having all this sh*t from my parents, but it was something that I just grew to love - I wanted to be a performing artist but was not allowed to dance [due to my parents' religious beliefs]. I would get whooped if I did anything other than clap my hands - I couldn't even snap my fingers. So if you can imagine a child that's spent what seems like a lifetime not being able to move my body in celebration of life and happiness; I never got that freedom until I was of age and actually had my own platform that allowed me to do that. On stage I'm a tornado - I can't stop because I'm dancing like it's my last dance, because I know what it feels like to not be able to do it. And I know one day I'll probably hurt myself - but I have to live in the moment [laughs].

Years ago, it was rare to see a female drummer in a band - though it's more common now. What inspired Tikyra to get behind the kit?

Well, again, we were raised in the church and my parents wouldn't allow us to go anywhere or do anything - no football games, no dances; so all we did was stay in the house and play music. We had a music room with, like, all the instruments. We had an organ and a keyboard; we had a drum and congas; we had guitars; we had bass. So automatically we would just pick an instrument and we would jam for fun because we couldn't leave the house. So, my older brother - the only brother I have - is a drummer and he basically

saw that Tikyra had time at an early age; I was the first person to see it. She had, like, some poise when she was beating on the floor with these plastic sticks - she was really, really young, probably about three or four years old and I saw that and knew that she was going to be a drummer. And then I guess maybe three years later my brother took her under his wing and showed her how to play drums. She can run circles around him on a good day.

What do your parents think of the band now?

In the beginning, they had this fear of God in them so they weren't going to come see the shows. Early on in the beginning of my journey, it caused a real problem with our relationship - between me and my parents. Slowly, it's been a healing process. I think when we got the GRAMMY nomination, it was the first time they allowed themselves to be proud of us without feeling shame, you know, without being afraid of what the church would do to them or say. Yeah, they're not too involved, but they support me in every way that they can. And I accept that; I appreciate what they're doing for me.

"Control" from 2021's Be the Love You Want is a standout track with a serious Motown vibe. How did that one come about?

I was on my way to the gym and I was listening to Isaac Hayes - can't remember what song... and I didn't want to go to the gym, I didn't want to go in - I was tired and didn't want to do it. So I sat in the parking lot and I wrote "Control" - that's basically how a lot of my songs come

together. When I'm feeling down and discouraged, I have to write myself out of a bad place. So that's why our songs are inspirational - "Control" came from me just feeling like I didn't have it in me. I didn't reach my goal that day, but you gotta do what you gotta do. So I skipped the gym that day because I was so excited about the song and immediately got to work on it with Ori. And by the end of the day we had the song.

The decision to cover a Genesis song - especially one that's quite dark - was unexpected but you totally made it your own.

Ori brought the song to us. Whenever we're on the road, Ori takes us on a musical journey [laughs]. It's fun; sometimes it's Israeli songs and he's translating it; sometimes it's... it could be anything. But we listened to this song ["That's All"] and it was just like an idea of, 'we should cover this song.' And I was like, 'yeah, I can sing the f**k out of this song.' So when we had a few days off on tour and there was a studio available, we weren't sure whether to do an original tune or a cover. And then we thought about the Genesis song. But that was all Ori. I'm still discovering new old music because I spent my childhood only listening to... not very much [laughs].

For tickets and more info, visit lincolnamphitheatre.com. The Lincoln Amphitheatre is located at 15032 E. CR 1500 in Lincoln City, IN.

"WHEN I'M FEELING DOWN AND DISCOURAGED, I HAVE TO WRITE MYSELF OUT OF A BAD PLACE. SO THAT'S WHY OUR SONGS ARE INSPIRATIONAL."

& Sugar Ray

WITH TONIC & FASTBALL

For anyone lucky enough to experience the seismic shift of the musical landscape in the early 90's, it was a truly remarkable time as alternative rock took over the airwaves, leaving hair metal temporarily languishing in the dustbin of history. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam signaled a return to basics; it was no longer about makeup and spandex but passionate songwriting from the heart. In the midst of this revolution, the Gin Blossoms arrived on the scene with New Miserable Experience, their multi-platinum debut featuring a handful of jangle-pop gems harkening back to REM and the Smithereens. "Hey Jealousy," "Found About You" and "Until I Fall Away" all made a significant impact on the charts and announced frontman Robin Wilson as a singular vocalist with a real gift for melody.

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / SEPTEMBER 2 / 7 P.M.

1996 saw the Gin Blossoms keep the party going with the release of Congratulations I'm Sorry. Lead single "Follow You Down," backed by the equally popular B-side, "Til I Hear It From You," reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It was around this time that another exciting up-and-coming band tasted mainstream success, rocketing to the top of the Alternative Airplay chart with a rock/reggae fusion called "Fly." Hailing from sunny California, Sugar Ray would go on to rack up a number of other hits, including "Every Morning," "Someday" and "When It's Over." Over the years they've joined forces with the Gin Blossoms on various package tours and now the two 90's-era giants are teaming up again with

GIN BLOSSOMS FRONTMAN ROBIN WILSON ON THE 90'S MUSIC REVOLUTION, THE APPEAL OF HIS VOCAL STYLE, THE GENEROSITY OF HIS BANDMATES AND MORE

support from Tonic and Fastball for a fantastic night at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater.

Wilson kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show.

As the 90's music revolution took shape, could you sense that something big was happening or were you too close to it, in a sense, to fully appreciate what was happening?

We couldn't have known at the time the full scope of the impact, but it was an exciting time. Having been a person who followed music my whole life and worked at record stores and was always going to concerts and stuff, I could see that something, you know, was shifting because, obviously, leaving the 80's behind and going from a world where hair metal dominated the charts then suddenly alternative music was the thing that was dominating popular culture, you know, you could see that there was something going on. My theory is that all the people - and maybe this isn't my theory, but I mean, I've heard this and I would tend to agree with it - is that back in the 80's all the younger people who were working at college radio stations and breaking bands like the Pixies and REM, they all of a sudden had jobs in radio, in real radio, and that seems to be, like, when the shift really happened. So, as much credit belongs to the people behind the scenes in radio and at MTV as it does those of

us who were actually in bands - because those of us who were in bands, we were swimming in the wake of our heroes like REM, the Smiths and the Cure.

Is there a particular moment that you recall from the period when the Gin Blossoms were gaining steam back in the day?

I remember being on tour once and we were backstage with Toad the Wet Sprocket and it was after the show and Toad was back there with us; we were all just signing autographs - we were surrounded by people, all just clamoring for autographs and I remember kind of looking around and this was in, like, Connecticut or New Hampshire or something and feeling like, boy, we are so far from Arizona and now we're a part of something that's so much bigger than where we started. You know, this isn't just some local music scene; we're a part of a national music scene. I remember that moment very clearly and very distinctly. We got in our van and we were driving away and I sort of announced it to my bandmates that we had crossed over - something new is happening to us. It was a really cool moment. And looking back, it was true.

You have a voice that's immediately recognizable - despite a complete lack of histrionics or melodramatic flair. Have you given much thought to what attracts so many people to the sound of your voice and keeps them coming back to hear you sing?

You know, I'm not really sure what it is. Sure, I've thought about it, but... I know I'm a good singer; I know I'm a competent singer, but I stand upon the shoulders of giants. I learned to sing impersonating my heroes, singing

along with Queen and Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, and, you know, just singing along with those records. I remember once I was singing along with a record by the Cult - Ian Astbury is definitely one of my touchstones as a frontman. I remember hitting these notes while singing along with the Cult and even being taken aback myself, just alone in a room, and thinking, 'Holy crap, I just sang the sh*t out of that one and I might actually be good at this.' But I'm not sure that other than a pleasant tone, I'm not really sure what it is about my voice. People have said that I have a really distinct voice - I don't think so. To me, like, a really distinct voice is Perry Farrell; that's an incredibly distinct vocal style.

It's crazy to think that you weren't even the original singer in the Gin Blossoms - we might not even be talking today if you'd stayed on rhythm guitar.

Yeah, who knows? You know, I joined the band as a guitar player - they had only been playing out for a couple months and they needed to replace the rhythm guitar player and so I got his job and [singer/guitarist] Jesse [Valenzuela] and I sang so well together... that was the thing that got me the job - our voices blended. You know, I just have to give my bandmates a ton of credit - Jesse especially - that they, that, you know, Jesse's ego wasn't the most important thing, that they were able to step back and say the best thing for the band was to have Jesse and Robin switch places. I mean, when has that ever happened in the history of rock & roll? Where a lead singer's like, you know what? I'll play rhythm guitar and sing background vocals. Lead singers, you know... we have a reputation for being very egotistical and self-centered. But neither Jesse nor I are that way, you know? We've always just been about what's best for the band. It's a really precious thing that we were able to create and I'm really proud that we could make that work.

For tickets and more info, visit beaverdamtourism.com. The Beaver Dam Amphitheater is located in Beaver Dam, KY.

Prepare to sail away once again, tri-state. Returning to downtown Evansville this October by popular demand, the almighty Styx are primed to show why they remain a dominant force in music over 50 years after their formation. Expect to hear all the classic songs that have made the band a timeless fan favorite - the likes of "Blue Collar Man," "Fooling Yourself," "Renegade," "Too Much Time on my Hands" and, of course, the epic "Come Sail Away" - as well as highlights from their 2016 masterpiece The Mission and the ambitious follow-up, Crash of the Crown. As an added bonus, Styx have reinstated their 1983 smash "Mr. Roboto" into the set. Vocalist/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, who recently marked the start of his 25th year with the group, delivers the kitschy techno-pop melodrama with aplomb, and it always goes down a storm.

Gowan kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show for a wide-ranging interview. Here's part one of our discussion. We'll be back with part two in the October issue.

How has your approach to playing the keyboard parts in Styx changed over the years in terms of the equipment set-up, replicating the analog synth sounds of the early days in a live setting, etc.?

VOCALIST/KEYBOARDIST

LAWRENCE GOWAN ON HIS LIVE VS. STUDIO APPROACH TO PLAYING, THE COMPLEXITY OF PERFORMING

"MR. ROBOTO" AND MORE

Ok, great question. I'll answer it this way. The first thing I investigated when I joined the band was what were the main keyboards used [on the early material]? Somewhere in the 1990s when digital sounds came out it was revolutionary in a very positive way for playing live - of course, it's debatable the influence they had in the studio. But I fall very much on the analog side of that debate whenever we're going into the studio and very much 100% on the digital side when we're playing live - because digital stuff is reliable. The piano sounds I had covered; the B3 [Hammond organ] sounds became the next challenge because I thought, well, I can use a real B3, but they had come out with really good digital applications of it as well - good samples of it. And I was sliding over to Roland products because a) they had the piano sound and b) they had this thing back then called the 2080. The JV-2080, I think? Which I quickly turned over to an XV-5080 - I'm getting really technical here - which had great digital samples of old vintage keyboards. There was a card that you could get that was old vintage synths. And there was a place in Toronto that I was affiliated with called Saved By Technology, so I got a couple of my friends there to help me... just to get the best digital waveforms of those analog keyboards, all of which I owned in the past, anyway, and sold for nothing. So we went in like that and very meticulously, I went through each sound on each song to try to replicate it as close as I could in the digital realm, what those analog keyboards were doing. Once I got to a point where I couldn't tell the difference, then I knew, ok, I think I'm close enough now. But that's a pursuit that continues to this day.

Is "Mr. Roboto" the most complex song to replicate live in terms of the keyboards? Yes. So, for that song, because we're into the 1980's now and it became more permissible, I use a sequencer behind me that's covering a lot of the stuff - at least half of the keyboards, because I can't sing that... there's parts where there are five keyboard parts going on at the same time, three of which are mechanical, arpeggiating sequences. And then I play the other parts live. Anything that has a melody [demonstrates on keyboard] I play that live or the main verse riff. The song needs to be mainly sequenced because you could never get it as rigid and robotic as a sequencerthe song sounds right when you do it that way. Whenever we rehearse it without the sequencer, it loses the charm of the song.

Your vocal style is perfect for the song - "Mr. Roboto" has a melodramatic quality to it that's similar to your 1985 solo hit, "A Criminal Mind." Do you see it that way?

Everything you just said there is right on the money. When I first heard that song ["Mr. Roboto"] back in the 80's, I thought, ok, this is kind of a kitschy song - they were trying to do what all the bands I loved in the 70's were trying to do: figure out how to be relevant in the 1980's. What Styx did with "Mr. Roboto" was almost like what Queen did with "Body Language" - know what I mean? Such a complete turn from their sound. So it was a bit of an ear adjustment. But then as the years went on, and technology pervaded our lives to the level that it has now, I just thought it was very prescient. It's well-written and fun with lots of melodrama. Whenever I would bring it up in a band meeting, that maybe we should take a look at [bringing back] "Mr. Roboto," it was

never rebuffed in a way where the guys were putting down the song. It was always just more that it brings up bad memories for the band; there was a real disharmony at that point on that tour [in 1983]. But then finally... I think it was one day when we were right about to go out with Joan Jett and [guitarist] Tommy [Shaw] goes, 'why don't we just go in a room and rehearse "Mr. Roboto"?' You know, everybody still asks for it and it's a song that's stood the test of time. And I was really happy - once I dug into it, just as you said, I suddenly realized what I liked so much about the lyric: it's a guy with a secret and he gets to reveal it. The audience is kind of the fourth wall that gets in on the secret that nobody else knows. Well, that is really the essential part of "A Criminal Mind." And I began to kind of equate the two - not as pieces of music, but as a position for a singer to have to sing that song. You know, as you get to learn a song that's not your own, you begin to discover elements that you perceive that may not have been present in the writing of it or the recording of it, but you start to perceive different aspects of it. I actually hear... when I'm playing it, I feel like I'm doing "A Criminal Mind," but also I hear elements of [David] Bowie somehow crossed with Talking Headsthere's a little bit of that going on in my mind as we play the song. And the guitars lean in a lot heavier than they did on the original recording. It gives it a really good live edge, and I really enjoy doing it.

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

"YOU KNOW, AS YOU GET TO LEARN A SONG THAT'S NOT YOUR OWN, YOU BEGIN TO DISCOVER ELEMENTS THAT YOU PERCEIVE THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN THE WRITING OF IT OR THE RECORDING OF IT, BUT YOU START TO PERCEIVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT."

EVANSVILLE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

POPS CONCERT SEASON PREVIEW

Music Director Roger Kalia and his players are set for another run of dazzling performances at the Victory Theatre

As the curtain came down on the 2022-2023 EPO season back in May, the wheels were already in motion for the next series of concerts to be staged at the Victory Theatre. Music Director Roger Kalia made it a point to cater to the traditional orchestra fans while also stretching out a bit, ensuring that the 2023-2024 season will be just as enjoyableand diverse - as ever. Case in point, the five Pops concerts on the schedule beginning in October range from music inspired by superheroes to 20th century jazz standards and 80's hits - not to mention the annual Christmas performance of holiday favorites that always packs the house.

So let's get right to it and check out what's in store for EPO patrons around the tri-state:

UNIVERSE OF SUPERHEROES

OCTOBER 14

Scores from your favorite hero movie soundtracks, including Black Panther, The Avengers, Transformers, Wonder Woman, Spiderman and more.

PEPPERMINT POPS

DECEMBER 2 & 3

Annual Christmas celebration featuring vocalist Dan Domenech with support from the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus, Evansville Children's Choir and North High School Huskettes.

BACK TO THE '80S

FEBRUARY 17

Chart-toppers from the Gen X decade, including "The Power of Love," "Time After Time," "Material Girl," "Another One Bites the Dust," "Footloose" and more.

SIMPLY SWINGIN': GREAT AMERICAN CROONERS

MARCH 17

Vocalist Steve Lippa joins the EPO for an evening of smooth hits songs, including "Beyond the Sea," "Mack the Knife," "Send in the Clowns," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and more.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG & FRIENDS

APRIL 6

Vocalists Carmen Bradford and Byron Stripling join the EPO in celebration of the great Louis Armstrong and his many collaborators, performing material from the Great American Songbook.

For tickets and more info, visit evansvillephilharmonic.org.

ESCAPE EVANSVILLE PRESENTS

With 85,000,000 views on TikTok, Escape Evansville has been garnering a recordbreaking amount of attention for its endlessly entertaining break-out rooms that not only provide tons of fun for friends, families and co-workers alike but challenge the mind in the process as participants are tasked with solving a series of clues to beat the clock to freedom. It's a real life brainteaser that takes various forms - you can choose to enter any of Escape's popular

break-out rooms, including Superheroes, The House of Locks and The Dark: A Fear Factor Escape Game Experience. Or, if you're feeling stressed to the max these days - and who isn't? - Escape offers the Rage Room which certainly lives up to its name. Inside, you can bash everything in sight to your heart's content - glass bottles, pictures, consoles and more. Way better than meditation, by the way.

Now Escape Evansville is kicking things up a notch with Nerf Combat Zone: Foam Warriors - the ultimate hour of foam and Nerf play in your own private room course with up to 12 people. Masks, guns and bullets are provided - you just bring your competitive fire. It all adds up to tons of fun for people of all ages, but

particularly kids 13 and under. Choose from an array of games, including Team Death Match, Capture the Flag, Cops and Robbers, Fortnite and more - all perfect for a birthday celebration with friends and family, by the way. Escape Evansville has a kitchen area where cakes and other goodies can be prepared and they'll provide the cups, plates, napkins and silverware for the occasion.

Book your Nerf Combat Zone party today. There's no experience quite like it anywhere in the tri-state!

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

"Now

Escape Evansville is kicking things up a notch with Nerf Combat Zone: Foam Warriors - the ultimate hour of foam and Nerf play in your own private room course with up to 12 people."

Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure

With school starting back up, I know kids always come home starving. This granola is something that you can quickly make ahead of time and it is ready to go as soon as they walk in the door. I find that clean ingredient granola is very pricey at the grocery store. Making my own is more cost effective and honestly tastes just as good, if not better! The beauty of this recipe is that you can swap out many of the ingredients to make it your own. If you do not like pecans or pumpkin seeds replace them with almonds or cashews. If you like dried fruit and chocolate chips in your granola then throw those in at the end after it has cooled!

CLEAN BITE

EASY HOMEMADE GRANOLA

life

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 C. OLD-FASHIONED ROLLED OATS

• 2 C. RAW PECANS

• 1 C. PUMPKIN SEEDS

• 1 TSP. REAL SALT

DIRECTIONS:

• ½ TSP. APPLE PIE SPICE

• ½ C. AVOCADO OIL OR MELTED COCONUT OIL

• ½ C. PURE MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY

• 1 TSP. PURE VANILLA

1 PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 F AND LINE A LARGE, RIMMED BAKING SHEET WITH PARCHMENT PAPER.

2. IN A LARGE MIXING BOWL, COMBINE THE OATS, PECANS, PUMPKIN SEEDS, SALT, AND APPLE PIE SPICE. STIR TO BLEND.

3. POUR IN THE OIL, MAPLE SYRUP AND/OR HONEY AND VANILLA. MIX WELL, UNTIL EVERY OAT AND NUT IS LIGHTLY COATED. POUR THE GRANOLA ONTO YOUR PREPARED PAN AND USE A LARGE SPOON OR SPATULA TO SPREAD IT IN AN EVEN LAYER.

4. BAKE UNTIL LIGHTLY GOLDEN, ABOUT 21 TO 24 MINUTES, STIRRING HALFWAY (FOR EXTRA-CLUMPY GRANOLA, PRESS THE STIRRED GRANOLA DOWN WITH YOUR SPATULA TO CREATE A MORE EVEN LAYER). THE GRANOLA WILL FURTHER CRISP UP AS IT COOLS.

5. LET THE GRANOLA COOL COMPLETELY, UNDISTURBED (AT LEAST 45 MINUTES). BREAK THE GRANOLA INTO PIECES WITH YOUR HANDS IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN BIG CHUNKS, OR STIR IT AROUND WITH A SPOON IF YOU DO NOT WANT EXTRA-CLUMPY GRANOLA.

6. STORE THE GRANOLA IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR 1 TO 2 WEEKS, OR IN A SEALED FREEZER BAG IN THE FREEZER FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS.

*Recipe adapted from cookieandkate.com

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

COUPONS!

PRESENTED BY:

IN TOWN & AROUND

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

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

Old National Events Plaza --

Bluey's Big Play!

7:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

Old National Events Plaza --

Bluey's Big Play!

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Singo:

Bingo w/ a Beat

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3

6:00 PM

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

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

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- News 4U Live w/ DJ Mr. Mixx from 2 Live Crew

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, AUGUST 4

5:30 PM

Haynie's Corner Arts District

(Evansville) -- First Friday (free concert & more)

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Josh

Merritt

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam, KY -- Sounds on 2nd (free concert)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Morgan Miles

Live w/ DJ AP

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Summer

Heat Wave Hip Hop Show

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Strolling Tones

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Trey Hughes

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Speed

Dating

Smothers Park (Owensboro, KY) -- Live on the Banks (free concert)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Cage Willis &

Otis w/ DJ Chidi

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Latin Dance Night

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Hudsy & The Citizens

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Bourbon Roots

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- The Boy Band Night

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Ed Bassmaster

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6

1:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Cynthia & Stephen

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Dirk Quinn 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

MONDAY, AUGUST 7

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Chris Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Singo: Bingo w/ a Beat

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Tony Henning

Live Painting on the Patio

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

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, AUGUST 11

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Paul Wiemeier

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Trey

Hughes

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam Amphitheater --

Chris Young

Beaver Dam, KY -- Sounds on

2nd (free concert)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Ridge Runners: America's Most Wanted Country

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Stackin'

Eights

Victory Theatre -- Rumours: A

Fleetwood Mac Tribute

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

-- Live Music TBA

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ NYU

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

DJ Dance Party

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Tony Henning

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Hudsy

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam Amphitheater -- The Beach Boys w/ the Owensboro Symphony

Smothers Park (Owensboro, KY) -- Live on the Banks (free concert)

7:30 PM

Lincoln Amphitheatre (Lincoln City) -- Southern Avenue

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- JEB

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Simon

Moore Album Release Party

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

-- Live Music TBA

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke

& DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ NYU

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --

Goldy Locks

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

1:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Boscoe & Rusty

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Monika Herzig Acoustic Project

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, AUGUST 14

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Chris Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

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

6:30 PM

Ford Center -- In This Moment & Motionless in White: The Dark Horizon Tour

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry Night

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Singo: Bingo w/ a Beat

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Logan Dyer's Open Blues Jam

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- College Night w/ 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, AUGUST 18

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- TwoPine, Heath & Solid Squares

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Boscoe & Rusty

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam, KY -- Sounds on 2nd (free concert)

Old National Events Plaza -- The Kentucky HeadHunters

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Little By Little w/ Melanie Davis Album Release

-- Dan Hall

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ Brian Dawe

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Two for the Road

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Boscoe & Rusty

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam Amphitheater -Queensryche wsg Liliac Smothers Park (Owensboro, KY) -- Live on the Banks (free concert)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Latin Night w/ DJ Chidi

9:00 PM

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

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ Brian Dawe

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- That's What She Said! Luau Party

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -That's What She Said!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20

1:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Orbital Show

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill

KC's Marina Pointe -- Jake Holder & Friends

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, AUGUST 21

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/

Chris Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22

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

Ford Center -- JellyRoll:

Backyard Baptism Tour wsg

Struggle Jennings & Caitlynne

Curtis

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Singo:

Bingo w/ a Beat

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24

6:00 PM

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

Merritt

KC's Corner Pocket -- College

Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Big Al & The Heavyweights

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, AUGUST 25

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Just Us 4

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam, KY -- Sounds on 2nd (free concert)

Ford Center -- Luke Bryan: Country on Tour wsg Tyler

Braden, Jon Langston & Conner

Smith

Victory Theatre -- Heather Land:

I Ain't Doin' It

8:00 PM

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

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Two Miles

Back

9:00 PM

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

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ Cue

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/

Sparky

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Michelle

Shelton

6:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Boscoe & Rusty

7:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza -Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Smothers Park (Owensboro, KY) -- Live on the Banks (free concert)

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The BackBeats

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- DRK WTR

9:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Live Music TBA

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Marina Pointe -- DJ Cue

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27

10:00 AM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Bathrobes & Brunch

1:00 PM

KC's Marina Pointe -- Boscoe & Rusty

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Bokeh Big Band

PM

Lounge -- Karaoke w/

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 28

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke w/ Chris Passage

9:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Free Pool

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Artist of the Month: Danielle

Deungeronrunner

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

8:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza -Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin

Evening

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Singo: Bingo w/ a Beat

7:00 PM

Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- Karaoke & DJ

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Beyond Blue

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

THE SMOKE RINGS

"It's not for the faint-hearted," vocalist/ guitarist/keyboardist Jake Martin proudly states when describing the concept behind Space Time, the latest opus by the Smoke Rings out of southern Illinois. It's the third release in three years for this prolific trioalso featuring Martin's brother Chris on drums and bassist Adam Jenks - and unquestionably the most uncompromising. Mission accomplished, in other words. Where 2021's Modern Days reflected a litany of 60's and 70's influences, including the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Roxy Music, and its follow-up, California Gold, stripped things back to rock & roll basics, Space Time goes all in on a psychedelic, jammed-out vibe: 14 songs, most eclipsing the five-minute mark, each track bookended by a trippy intro and wide open ending. Which explains Martin's earlier remark about the hardcore nature of the project - in today's ADD world of streaming, this is a take no prisoners listening

experience. But it's wholly rewarding for those willing to go along for the ride.

According to Martin, the majority of Space Time was composed on a restored Rhodes electric piano - which, despite weighing a ton, the guys happily lugged over to Black Cat Recording in Evansville. They also came armed with all sorts of musical odds and ends, including a Space Drum, Theremin, vintage synthesizers and "weird" guitar pedals. Experimentation, above all else, was the endgame. And producer Steve Tyner was more than game to help the trio create a musical foundation wild enough to match Martin's out-there lyrical theme which finds him pondering some very heady stuff: "[It's] basically my life's journey of finding where I am, where I'm going and enjoying the fact that I'm lost," he says. "Space Time [is] the realization that there is no past or future, only one big continuous moment. Time/ space is not a series of days or moments, but instead, it's an infinite panorama of all we've ever known or will ever know. Old friends, lovers, pets, family... all there still as real as ever. Just

back down the road a little."

That may all carry a whiff of hippieness about it, but it translates beautifully on record. Across the 14 tracks, the Smoke Rings prove why they're one of the most accomplished acts around - the songwriting here contains all the best elements of previous releases, including inventive chord structures and affecting vocal melodies, but it's the added bit of experimentation that really sells it. Indeed, the arsenal of "crazy" instruments the trio brought along to Black Cat gets a workout throughout; unexpected sounds bubble to the surface then dive back down, keeping the listener on their toes, and the extended jams keep the good times rolling. As Martin notes, "It's best listened to straight through," and he's right on the mark; Space Time is meant for uninterrupted consumption. Straight up, this stands as the Smoke Rings' crowning sonic achievement to date - but surely there's more to come. Still, Martin would be cool if it served as the trio's final musical statement. "I'd be happy resting after this one. That's how proud I am of it."

Space Time is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow the Smoke Rings on Facebook.

Lost and loving it: Southern Illinois rock trio explores life's infinite panorama on trippy SpaceTime

"[It's] basically my life's journey of finding where I am, where I'm going and enjoying the fact that I'm lost."

ADMRLS

After long gestation, Evansville's one-man post-punk band releases debut full-length album, enjoy.

Rob Carter's no different than the rest of us - he's got a demanding full-time job, various interests and a penchant for procrastination. He's human, in other words. All of that goes a long way in explaining why it's taken much longer than expected to produce the follow-up to the excellent Mariner EP, the previous release under his ADMRLS banner. FYI, Carter not only writes all his own songs for the project, he handles the bulk of the instrumental duties and sings every note - he's a one-man show, effectively, apart from studio guidance courtesy of Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording. One listen to enjoy., however, will leave you convinced that ADMRLS is the sound of a full band making a heck of a wonderful racket. It may be Carter's debut full-length album, but it has all the hallmarks of an artist in complete control of his powers, coming off more like an assured mid-career effort.

We first caught up with Carter back in February of 2022. At the time he had a few tracks

assembled for enjoy., having recorded with a previous producer, and was busy working with Tyner on the remaining six songs. An end-of-the-year release seemed feasible but as noted earlier, music is hardly Carter's main focus; the project stretched on for months, but that didn't trouble him at all. "I'm not looking to make money - I do this solely for artistic expression," Carter explains. "It's a hobby that I enjoy - if people like it, great; if they don't, that's cool." Now that enjoy. has finally dropped, chances are good that people will be thinking the former. While the Mariner EP leaned more towards alternative rock, this new collection is clearly influenced by the likes of Joy Division and Protomartyr, a Detroit-based post-punk band that Carter truly digs. Additionally, there's a connection to the early 1980's goth movement - particularly evident in the melodramatic, baritone vocals replete with vibrato - along with a few nods to hardcore punk. "I would just classify it as a rock album," Carter clarifies.

Regardless of labels, enjoy. is wildly satisfying, driven by propulsive drumming and the sort of angular guitar work last heard on a Gang of Four record. Thematically, Carter explores different approaches to life - "each song has its own thing," he says. Opening

track "Sojourner" pushes the importance of independence, of having your own back. Then there's "Money Shot" and "Marigold," both ostensibly addressing the subject of sex, but also a sappy love song in "Julianne Moore." Elsewhere, "Prize Fighter" is about being wornout by the daily grind, while "Lottery" compares our daily existence to a scratch-off game. The title track, unexpectedly, touches on the value in being exploited; "Hidden Gem," conversely, finds the beauty in life's minute details. The album closes with the wonderfully bizarre "You Win! Thanks for Playing" which notes how certain life decisions can lead to brilliant victories or crushing defeats.

enjoy. is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow Rob Carter on Facebook.

"I'm not looking to make money - I do this solely for artistic expression," Carter explains. "It's a hobby that I enjoy - if people like it, great; if they don't, that's cool."

LORALYE

With a new name and updated sound, local songstress debuts "I Can Do It Too," the first of four singles recorded with Black Cat's Steve Tyner

It took a little longer than anticipated, but Lauri Andrick's musical vision is finally seeing the light. Known for rocking out with the best of them during her time as frontwoman for the 90's-inspired DRK WTR, she's been working on making an artistic U-turn since leaving the band awhile back, edging towards a more acoustic and atmospheric approach - a change in direction that more accurately reflects her singersongwriter roots. But Andrick hasn't been going it alone. Like many of the tri-state's best musicians, she turned to Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording to help bring her vision to life, to expand it, even. The two convened in the studio intermittently over the last year, toiling away over a handful of tracks - several of which Andrick debuted live in late May during a performance at Your Brothers Bookstore in downtown Evansville. Now "Loralye"Andrick's new moniker taken from a past nickname - has finally dropped the official recorded version of "I Can Do It Too," the first of four singles to be released in the coming weeks and months.

While the opening few bars of acoustic finger-picking certainly signal a singersongwriter vibe, the staccato synth

sequence that appears shortly after lends the track a pop feel - in tandem, the guitar and keys are a perfect match, creating an etherealness that's only enhanced by Andrick's vocals which float effortlessly over the mix. The overall effect is a delightful wooziness as she sings about her head being on fire and out-of-date meds. Andrick's always had a way with words and her wittiness is on full display here, leading to a chorus where she flips the script, delivering a direct message with elongated syllables for added impact: "I've been watching you... and I can do the things you do."

Right through to the song-ending guitar strum, Tyner's contributions to this mesmerizing piece of work are clear - his tasteful

production flourishes and decision to give the track an electronic foundation prove he's got a complete grasp of what Andrick hoped to achieve sonically. Now we'll just have to wait to hear what else the two of them have up their sleeves. In the meantime, you can check out "I Can Do It Too" on major streaming platforms and be sure to keep an eye out for future Loralye performances.

For more info, follow Lauri Andrick on Facebook.

"ANDRICK'S ALWAYS HAD A WAY WITH WORDS AND HER WITTINESS IS ON FULL DISPLAY HERE, LEADING TO A CHORUS WHERE SHE FLIPS THE SCRIPT..."

LINDSEY

on the scene

WITH LINDSEY WILLIAMS

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

"On the Scene" returns after a month off for a very busy June. Meanwhile, I had several encouraging conversations with organizers, promoters, and supporters of the arts regarding locally-created original music. However, I want to focus on what I found when I talked to musicians. The conversations I had with some of my talented friends taught me to look at myself and how I engage with new music. I learned I'm not letting enough in. I shouldn't be writing this on my own. This edition is my attempt to educate myself first and share with you what I found and where this could be going. Southern Indiana, you have the floor!

"(There is a) breadth of talent available in the Evansville region. Everything I've done in the last five years with the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, ParksFest, and

now For the Sake of the Song is to create new experiences that connect the talented performers in our area with an audience who doesn't know how much they love them yet."

- Zach Evans: promoter, musician, director

"In other cities, I've noticed support for local, original music. I'm not saying Evansville and the larger tri-state area don't support it; it's just more profound in major cities. I believe curating and promoting more writing events, and clinics could help. I realized there are so many more ways to monetize your music than just songwriting. Producers around the world pay me to compose 8-bar chord progressions. I'd like to share what worked for me and what didn't so that more producers look to Evansville when they need originality and efficiency."

- Theo Akai: Ghanaian-American guitarist/ composer/producer

"In other cities, I've noticed support for local, original music. I'm not saying Evansville and the larger tri-state area don't support it; it's just more profound in major cities."

"Let's create a Bluebird Diner right here. We have a very talented Evansville. Promote it, brand it, and create an inviting atmosphere. I think it would also benefit to invite successful professional songwriters in for shows on occasion for inspiration. Ultimately, at this

stage in my life, my main goal is to inspire and expose young and old to music." - Tony Henning: singer/songwriter, painter, performer

"If we would support each other as musicians, as a family, I think we could all get a lot further. That's what I'm trying to do with the Stories + Songs podcast: bring everybody together!"Tim Ash: singer/songwriter, recording artist, performer, podcaster

These are just a few examples of the types of music creation and promotion going on around us. But we need something unified, a solid network of collaboration and interaction. Perhaps an exposition-type event for players and audience alike? An interactive show that brings all of the elements of Facebook to an inperson gathering to network, demonstrate, and discuss the music and music-making process. In addition, we need a venue per month for original music performances, culminating in a sponsored showcase in 2024! Would you take part in making this area a hotspot for new music? It's here! Let us show you!

Next month, where and when do we begin?

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.

GREAT AMERICAN ROCK AND METAL SONGWRITERS

Within popular music there is an ongoing debate - who is the greatest American songwriter? Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan finish near the top of most lists. Such a debate typically leads to each person arguing for their favorite singer/songwriter/lyricist, and let’s face it, there are many who might take the prize. Yet, no matter how many times we’ve heard the debate, no one ever argues for a rock and metal songwriter. Why have rock and metal songwriters been ignored?

Lots of answers could be offered, but let us look at the concept of brilliance, which is open to many interpretations. Most great songwriters sustain a level of brilliance with deft use of poetry, prose and imagery - their lyrics paint a vivid picture and make you feel something visceral and profound. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and James Hetfield of Metallica are two strong contenders, even though there are detractors who delight in finding reasons why both are terrible. There are several great female rock/metal songwriters like Suzi Quatro, Grace Slick, and the Wilson sisters to name a few. No one can deny that some of the best metal singers are female, but they have not found the same level of success as men when it

comes to songwriting. So, which American rock and metal songwriters should be included?

Alice Cooper and Ronnie James Dio are the first two to come to mind. Since the mid-1960’s, Cooper has used his love of various types of music to craft some of the catchiest, most humorous and macabre songs in American music. His ability to make you feel frightened one second, then laugh the next, illustrates his mastery of music. From the catchiness of “I’m Eighteen,” where the character of the song laments the confusions of being eighteen, but ends with the statement, “I love it,” to songs about drugs, nightmares, and going to hell, Cooper is a master of lyricism. Similarly, Dio spent his life writing songs about wizards, dragons, rainbows, dreams and nightmares. Legendary RUSH percussionist Neil Peart penned the lyrics to nearly every song in that band’s impressive catalog. “The Professor” as he is known to fans, delved into a wide range of cerebral topics including history,

literature, philosophy, mythology, nuclear war and an array of social issues. Few lyricists can match the power, insight, complexity and poignancy of Peart’s written words. Who can deny the genius and artistic ability of Cooper, Dio and Peart? Are they on the level of Dylan, Springsteen and Simon? Obviously, as the self-proclaimed “Rock & Metal Profs,” we think so. A careful listen to RUSH, Dio and Cooper will support our conclusion that they should be included in the pantheon of great American songwriters.

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

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

IF YOU TELL: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER, FAMILY SECRETS, AND THE UNBREAKABLE BOND OF SISTERHOOD

by Gregg Olsen

As a true crime podcast listener, this book immediately drew me in. I had never heard of the Knotek family or their mother, Shelly, so I was going into this case completely blind. However, by the end of it, I felt so immersed in the story that I felt like I had seen it all happen.

This is another one I listened to as an audiobook, and to be completely real, I think that’s what sold me. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is genuinely impeccable, but listening to the terrible things that Shelly inflicted on her children - Nikki, Sami, and Tori - was so gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and sadistic that I don’t know if I would have kept reading had I not been listening. Admittedly, this book is not for the faint of heart. It goes into detail about all of the torture that these kids experienced at the hands of their mother every day.

The one thing about the book that didn’t make it a five-star read for me was the length. The 431 pages were filled with lots of detail, but sometimes it felt like too much detail. Not because they were graphic, which they were, but because a lot of it felt repetitive or irrelevant to the heart of the case.

I think about this book often and how truly wild it was. Shelly was able to get away with a lot, and for a long time, but the ending provides some sort of closure with the daughters. It’s not one of those stories that you can just make up, I feel. Olsen is an excellent storyteller and I’m excited to read what else he has to offer. - Karah

Wilson

SCREEN TIME

WITH MARISA PATWA

August brings a range of films featuring LGBTQIA+ and Latinx representation

RED WHITE & ROYAL BLUE

A pompous royal prince and the party playboy first son butt heads before falling in love in this much-needed modern, LGBTQIA+ rom-com. Purple Hearts' Nicholas Galitzine and The Kissing Booth’s Taylor Zakhar Perez nail every emotional and comedic punchline as star-crossed lovers in this film adaption of Casey McQuiston’s 2019 book. We’ve seen first daughters fall in love with their secret service agents and royals pining over small town girls they marry and transform into princesses, but we’ve never seen gay representation in the monarchy and government world like this. I'm so grateful that teens will be able to romanticize their own fairytales as I was able to as a little girl. From fighting so much they accidentally destroy an extravagant cake at a royal wedding to kissing under the stars, it will be fun to watch the relationship between these two evolve into a love story for the ages. Amazon Prime 8/11

BLUE BEETLE

The Latinx superhero movie of our dreams is finally here. Cobra Kai’s Xolo Maridueña takes on the persona of the Blue Beetle in this action-packed film. His brighteyed character, Jaime Reyes, ends up possessing an ancient alien biotech called Scarab. Similar to the plot of Venom, an average man becomes a symbiotic host and his miraculous new suit of armor gives him powers that not only change his life, but give him the ability to help save the world. Reyes is just an ordinary college graduate who cleans houses with an extraordinary new destiny. George Lopez adds comedic flair as his encouraging uncle while Susan Sarandon - always a welcome addition to any film no matter the genre - pops as the big bad supervillain. Can this bug squash his enemies? We’ll find out when this DC film flies onto movie screens across America and into our hearts. In theaters 8/18

BOTTOMS

Speaking of expanding representation on the big screen, we're getting our first real high school female romance since But I’m a Cheerleader with this modern movie that promises to be both funny and touching. Outcast besties Josie and PJ - the former played by The Bear knockout Ayo Edebiri and the latter played by Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, The Idol) - start a high school fight club so they can get closer to their girl crushes, models Kaia Gerber as Brittany and Havana Rose Liu as Isabel. Also part of the cast is actor Nicholas Galitzine who's having a big August. Here he plays hot-headed beefcake football player Jeff, a typical high school jock set on antagonizing the so-called “losers.” Will the unpopular kids match up with the girls of their prom queen dreams or will the rowdy athletes tear them all apart? There's only one way to find out...

In theaters 8/25

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

CHAD DOERMAN: ACCUSED CHILD KILLER

Just when you think you've seen it all, along comes Chad Doerman. Now, I've covered family annihilators in this column before, including Chris Watts and Christopher Coleman - in fact, both technically did more damage, overall - but there's something about this current case that's just inherently evil. Because Doerman, a 32-year-old Ohio resident, did the absolutely unthinkable: he literally lined up his three young sons (aged 3, 4 and 7) and executed them with a high-powered rifle. Out on the front lawn, mind you, where neighbors could hear and see what was going on. The true crime world has never experienced anything quite like it and hopefully never will again. Of course, Doerman is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law yet he admitted to killing his boys when police arrived on the property on June 15, 2023.

What separates this case from the Watts and Coleman murders is that while those two men wiped out their entire families, it appears that Doerman purposely spared his wife - though he did shoot her in the hand - as punishment, in effect. He wanted her to have to live with the loss of her three boys as payback for the problems in their relationship (that's what's been reported, anyway - other sources have stated that he intended to kill his wife). Watts and Coleman, on the other hand, were both driven by the desire to be with another woman. Either way, all three situations resulted in the most heinous of crimes. So what drove Doerman to this extreme behavior?

That's the million dollar question. Thus far, there's no clear-cut motive other than talk of his mental state leading up to the murders - neighbors stated that he was angry 24/7, always yelling at his wife and children. Yet family members, his dad, in particular, claim that Doerman was a normal individual who never displayed any signs of such brutality. That's interesting, considering Doerman was once arrested for allegedly choking his father in 2010. Apparently pops has conveniently forgotten that encounter.

Not surprisingly, Doerman will face the death penalty for his unthinkable act - it's the first death penalty-eligible case in Clermont County in 30 years. He's currently being held without bail in the Clermont County Jail where Doerman will likely have plenty of time to sit and contemplate the mess he's made of his life and the heartbreak he's caused so many. In time we'll hopefully come to understand what caused him to snap and commit such atrocities so that future violent attacks of this nature can be prevented.

"

NEIGHBORS STATED THAT HE WAS ANGRY 24/7, ALWAYS YELLING AT HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.

VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY

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

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

PUMPKIN: Oh my gourdness, prepare to fall in love with Pumpkin the cat! Made of sugar, spice and all things nice, this big guy was once a house cat posing as a street cat. Originally brought in to be fixed through our TNR program, it didn’t take the VHS long to realize he wasn’t the least bit feral. When his person never came back for him, he was put up for adoption and has been melting hearts in the cageless cat room at the VHS ever since! Pumpkin’s $80 adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip and up-to-date vaccinations. Apply for him online at vhslifesaver.org.

HONEY: Meet Honey, a two-year-old pup who is as sweet as her name! Her previous owner said she was high energy, which is to be expected of a young, smart girl like her. To keep her being the best girl she can possibly be, Honey will need plenty of exercise for both her mind AND body. She is very food motivated, so treats will help a lot with training. If you have other dogs or kiddos in your home, a meet and greet will be required before adoption - ya know, just to make sure everyone vibes. Ideally, her new home will have a fenced-in yard for her to romp around and get some energy out in. Does Honey sound like your kind of gal? Come meet her at the VHS!

NIGHTINGALE: Nightingale is a beautiful two-yearold rabbit up for adoption at the Vanderburgh Humane Society. Not only is she a beauty, she's also probably the softest bunny you’ll ever meet! She is quick to become your friend, does well traveling and stays cool in new situations. And while she won’t sing you a sweet nocturnal song, she WILL become your fast friend for life! Come adopt Nightingale at the VHS for only $50, which includes her spay and microchip.

400 MILLNER INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

(812) 426-2563

ADOPTION HOURS

TUES-SAT FROM NOON-6PM

VHSLIFESAVER.ORG

CORRIE

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

The world needs more people like Suzanne LittlefoxWright. A longtime animal advocate with a soft spot for helping special needs dogs, the 75-yearold Evansville resident thrives on making a difference in the lives of our community's furry friends - specifically, rescues. She only adopts, having taken in animals over time from various local shelters, including the Vanderburgh Humane Society, which is where Littlefox-Wright came across Corrie, a 5-year-old female Shepherd/Retriever/ Labrador mix. Actually, her daughter first spotted this cutie on the VHS website and suggested that her mom take a look. But Littlefox-Wright wasn't

planning on bringing another dog home; she had recently suffered the loss of her beloved rescue Abby but still had Austin, a PC Pound Puppies adoption. Intrigued by Corrie's backstory and the challenges she presented, however, she arranged a meet & greet at the shelter. It didn't go as planned, though. "She just sat in the corner and didn't look at me, wasn't involved at all," Littlefox-Wright recalls. Not that surprising considering this sweet pup had already been adopted and returned six times, never staying for longer than a year at any one place. Hope was running out.

Mercifully, Corrie had finally found the

right human.

Littlefox-Wright brought her home back in May and introduced her to Austin - who sadly passed just a week later. It was another devastating loss, but thankfully Corrie was there to soften the blow. "She's very intuitive," Littlefox-Wright notes. "When I'm feeling bad she seems to know it and will come and sit in front of me and gently put a paw on my knee." And while Corrie's checkered past suggested she would be a handful, Littlefox-Wright has taken steps to put her on the right path, enrolling her in training at Doggie Do Right near Princeton where she's making great strides, loving the structure of the program and attention that she receives. But Corrie especially loves the car ride there and back as Littlefox-Wright always stops at Starbuck's for a Pup Cup.

For now, Littlefox-Wright is content to have Corrie as her only dog at homewhich is for the best since this darling rescue is still trying to adapt to her new surroundings and get used to visitors, etc. But it's a journey that the two are excited to go on together - Littlefox-Wright is emphatic that Corrie has found her forever home. "She is love," she says.

WHEN I'M FEELING BAD SHE SEEMS TO KNOW IT AND WILL COME AND SIT IN FRONT OF ME AND GENTLY PUT A PAW ON MY KNEE.

AS I TYPE THIS...

with Barold Hume

You know things are going off the rails when, as I type this, one of the big news stories is the discovery of cocaine in the White House. How did it get there? Who got it past security? Is Hunter Biden somehow involved? The mystery of its existence aside, I gotta say that it might not be a bad idea for Sleepy Joe to do a line or two - could boost his energy level significantly. Of course, next thing you know we'd be bombing any country that looked at us funny. Maybe not. Never snorted cocaine myself, but I've watched enough TV to gather that it generally makes people feel good - for a few hours, anyway. Perhaps President Biden would just hold a rave with an EDM DJ. Speaking of weird, wild and wacky stuff going on, another headline at the moment is the proposed cage match between two of the world's dorkiest billionaires. Yes, everyone (I may be exaggerating) is salivating over a possible battle royale pitting business magnate Elon Musk against social media guru Mark Zuckerberg. Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about this. Just kidding, I have zero interest in watching this - my

only hope is that they give the proceeds to charity. Extra points if the charity is focused on ridding the world of dorky billionaires. Well, I should probably give Musk some credit for being an innovative guy. Zuck, on the other hand, has contributed more than anyone to our societal decline through the creation of Facebook. Wouldn't shed a tear if he gets knocked out.

By the way, the last column or two I touched on the numerous Republican candidates that have put their hat in the ring of late for 2024. Again, I can't see a path to victory for any of them - primarily because Trump appears to be immovable on the ticket - but it's still interesting to get a cross-section of contenders, no matter how weak. On the left, however, there's been an unexpected development. And his name is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.the anti-establishment candidate liberals didn't know they wanted. Some have even referred to him as a sort of Democratic Trump, for better or worse (bear in mind DJT used to be a pretty progressive guy

before it dawned on him that he would fare far better as a conservative, politically speaking). But are Americans ready for yet another Kennedy calling the shots? Polling seems to suggest that many are intrigued by the possibility; last time I checked, RFK, Jr. was sitting at about 25% support. Not bad at all - right around that Ross Perot level all those years ago. And here's the kicker: the guy's a full decade-plus younger than Biden. And he can do a lot more push-ups. Would he be good for the country? Doubt we'll find out - he'll likely be snuffed out by the establishment.

BUT ARE AMERICANS READY FOR YET ANOTHER KENNEDY CALLING THE SHOTS? POLLING SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT MANY ARE INTRIGUED BY THE POSSIBILITY; LAST TIME I CHECKED, RFK, JR. WAS SITTING AT ABOUT 25% SUPPORT.

MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING OLD...

with Johnny Fletcher

NEVER AGAIN!! (HYPERBOLE RULES)

Something's been on my mind of late that I'd like to address. But allow me to digress for a moment because as always, there's a TV commercial currently running that's irritating me to the core. Imagine that. Here's the scenario: a father is on the phone with what we can assume is an important business client while his young daughter sits at a nearby table playing with a toy. Now bear in mind that the little girl in question is clearly old enough to understand that dad is busy; however, she pays no mind and blurts out, "Dad, how big is the ocean?" - a fair question, for sure, but asked at an inappropriate time. Most parents would likely respond with something like, "Honey, I'm on the phone - wait just a moment, please." But not this guy - Hero Dad not only abruptly ends the conversation with the client, he puts his daughter in the car and drives her straight to the ocean.

Yes, the actual ocean, where the two share a touching moment staring out into the vastness of the water together. So beautiful. Couldn't begin to tell you what product or service is being promoted as the ridiculousness of it all obscures everything else. Also, I bet even the most doting parents feel like dirt after seeing this corporate nonsense so far removed from reality. Where's the remote?

Now, I've almost forgotten what I intended to bitch about this month. Oh, right, speaking of hyperbole... What's up with all this "Never again!!" crap? Man alive, everyone's so pissed about insignificant things and absolutely must let you know about it. Here's a perfect example: there's a really annoying Facebook group (do non-annoying FB groups even exist?) that shares experiences at tri-state restaurants. Oh joy. At least two or three times a day

someone posts a negative review of a local establishment complete with a litany of silly complaints - like not getting the correct number of ice cubes in their water (that's not even a joke, folks) or god forbid, they had to wait 10 WHOLE MINUTES to be seated. Or my personal favorite so far, the parking lot was not up to their standards. And then the service is always lacking, the food is subpar, etc. It all inevitably leads up to the big pronouncement: the reviewer will NEVER return!! First off, I could care less what you do, but gee, thanks for keeping us in the loop. Second, we both know you'll go back at some point so save your breath. Just like all these people crying about Bud Light - you're going to drink it again so just put a lid on it. Imagine if everyone judged you in the same way; you'd be living a lonely existence, my friend, because we would NEVER speak to you again!!

AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY SOMEONE POSTS A NEGATIVE REVIEW OF A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT COMPLETE WITH A LITANY OF SILLY COMPLAINTSLIKE NOT GETTING THE CORRECT NUMBER OF ICE CUBES IN THEIR WATER.

YOU SEEM LIKE A PRETTY MASCULINE DUDE, BUT I CAN TOTALLY PICTURE YOU CURLED UP AT NIGHT, SOFTLY WEEPING TO A TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM. AM I WRONG?

Dear Harry Styles,

First off, thank you for believing in my fake masculine front. I feel that my tattoos give the appearance of being a tough guy, but deep down I’m a softy. And while I do curl up in bed most nights, it’s usually with a good book or I'm reading my columns over again out of sheer amazement that this crap gets published. It’s kind of like my philosophy teacher in college said that anybody can write a book; and he was right. But his book sucks. To answer your question, Olivia Rodrigo over TSwizlemynizzle.

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.

ARE YOU IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CANADIAN DUST CLOUD THAT'S BEEN BLANKETING THE US OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS?

Dear Ozone,

It’s entirely possible that is true. Just because it’s supposedly fresh sushi at the Chinese buffet, doesn’t mean it’s that way when it comes out.

RECENTLY, SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE MUSICAL PERFORMERS HAVE BEEN HIT BY FLYING OBJECTS FROM THE CROWD. WHAT DO PEOPLE GENERALLY THROW AT YOU WHEN YOU PERFORM?

Dear My Only Singular Fan,

Usually, people throw a lot of words my way that I cannot comprehend because they are either intoxicated or have become starstruck after mistaking me for Seth Rogen or the dude from Kings of Leon (when my hair is cut short). And the answer is no - I will not play Patrick Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind.”

IF IT TURNED OUT THAT YOUR BRIDE-TO-BE WAS THE SECRET CRUSH OF LEONARDO DICAPRIO, WOULD YOU DO THE RESPECTFUL THING AND STEP ASIDE OR VOW TO FIGHT FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE?

Dearest Leo,

Frankly, I think you're using her to get to me. But the only way I’ll step aside is if your private plane is right next to me with the tray table down, ready for me to devour a pork shank. And the only fighting I’ll do is for the environment via the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Love you, L. You still have my number.

Photo Credit: Blaine Mathew Media

AUGUST MUSIC REVIEWS

KELLY CLARKSON Chemistry Atlantic Records

Kelly Clarkson is back belting out ballads on her 10th studio album. Her talents are meticulously produced here by long-standing collaborators

Jesse Shatkin and Jason Halbert, along with newbies Rachel Orscher and Erick Serna. The tracks are grippingly beautiful, describing the heartbreak of her broken marriage with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. Two lovers who become strangers while having the shared responsibility of raising children is a shock to the heart and home and the talk-show host is brutally raw with her feelings on the lead single, “Mine”: "Go ahead and break my heart, that's fine/ So unkind/ Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind/ Oh, love is blind/ Why am I missin' you tonight?/ Was it all a lie?/ Someone's gonna show you how a heart can be used/ Like you did mine.” The album's not entirely sorrow-filled, though, with “Favorite Kind of High” delivering a pretty, addictive pop beat. The first American Idol winner continues to prove her prowess over 20 years later. -

Marisa Patwa

RITA ORA You & I BMG

Rita Ora has been on the music scene delivering pop hits for over 10 years. Rather than popping out albums every year or two like many artists, she takes her time. The slow-burn has paid off on You & I, her third studio release. Standouts include “You Only Love Me” and “Praising You,” featuring Fatboy Slim. “Don’t Think Twice” is an energetic, electro-dance track accompanied by a video that looks like an impromptu dance party in the Mystic Falls woods. “Girl In the Mirror” is laden with the message to learn to love yourself again. “Notting Hill” is a sweet homage to her life there away from the fame and glamour of her public life while “Look At Me Now” displays the beautiful strength of a broken woman who built herself back up again. Rita’s songs are sweet, sensitive, spunky and sensational and that's what makes her a superstar.-

Marisa

Patwa

JASON MRAZ Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride Interrabang/BMG

Our favorite ukulele player Jason Mraz is granting us perfect beach vibes on his eighth studio album. His music is light and airy, as evidenced by the singles “Pancakes & Butter” and “I Feel Like Dancing.” Mraz took inspiration

CHECK OUT THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC!

from Michael Jackson, Donna Summer and the Bee Gees for his eclectic and electric new album, and the influence glows like a giant lit-up dance floor from Saturday Night Fever. Infused with dance and disco-pop, the songs are the perfect playlist for a road trip to your vacation Airbnb as his vocals soothe and scintillate. The gorgeous use of instruments is also a knockout, from cello and electric guitar to violin and trombone, each enhancing Mraz’s musicality. My favorite tracks include “Disco Son,” “Lovesick Romeo,” and “You Might Like It.” Mraz used to think he would be done releasing music when he turned 40, but at 46, he's showing that his music has aged like a fine wine. -

Marisa Patwa

HALF MOON RUN

Imagine: Three talented multi-instrumentalist Canadian Indie rockers formed a band and ostensibly pulled inspiration from My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, and Paul Simon. Imagine a silky-voiced singer with the confidence and pop sensibility of Harry Styles. Rest your imagination by listening to this record. Describing it too much would spoil the surprising yet comfortably familiar textures these three have assembled for you. Their indie rock vibe is a galloping, danceable string of bops, intact even through the breathers like the classical guitar track, "Crawl Back In," that literally brought tears to my eyes. Road tripworthy jams, a song with a 9/8 time signature, and a couple of ballads make this album a classic. Encompassing piano, strings, electric and acoustic guitars, killer grooves, and timelessly emotive vocals, Half Moon Run’s Salt deserves a shake.

- Lindsey Williams

NITA STRAUSS The Call of the Void Sumerian Records

Nita Strauss is well-known in rock and metal circles for her virtuoso guitar work. The distant relative of Austrian composer Johann Strauss, Nita has the pedigree, the chops, and most importantly, an inexhaustible work ethic. Pulling double-duty as lead guitarist for Demi Lovato and Alice Cooper, it’s hard to believe she found time to release yet another a solo album. The Call of the Void is just what you’d expect from the former Iron Maidens’ shredder. It's blistering fast and intricate solos accentuate melodic and thoughtful compositions, with just a dash of snarl and fury. In “The Wolf you Feed” she brings in Arch Enemy vocalist Alissa White-Gluz on vocals, and the results are one of the most heavy and menacing songs I’ve ever heard. Check out the video, you’ll see what I mean! Other standouts are “Victorious” with Dorothy Martin on vocals and “Dead Inside” with Disturbed frontman David Draiman. The album also features several instrumentals, the format in which Strauss really shines - Matt Alschbach

BLAST FROM THE PAST BLUES WITH BRAGIN

UFO Strangers in the Night (1979) Chrysalis Records

Often referred to as “your favorite band’s favorite band,” London’s UFO just concluded a 50-year run as one of the most prolific yet underrated bands in the history of rock and roll. In my view, one of the great crimes in rock history is that UFO never enjoyed popular acclaim in the U.S. In the 1970s they were one of the most talented bands in the hard rock genre, and they were poised to break big in America. They toured across the U.S. in the fall of 1978, recording a half-dozen shows for their first live album Strangers in the Night , which was released in January of '79. Sadly, during post-production, German guitar prodigy Michael Schenker quit the band. Fans view his departure as key in explaining UFO’s struggles in the 1980s. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica all claim UFO as a massive influence - particularly the Strangers album. So what makes it so special? First, the band was going on five years of writing, recording and touring; their chemistry and timing were near-perfect. Next, few bands played with the kinetic, frenetic energy of UFOor boasted such an exquisite guitarist. Not to mention the rhythm section - comprised of bassist Pete Way, percussionist Andy Parker and guitarist/keyboardist Paul Raymond - played with a groove that can't be taught. Plus, vocalist Phil Mogg’s voice was top-notch, and his banter between songs was animated and funny. Lastly, there is the production. For a live album recorded in 1978 on analog equipment, it's beyond comprehension how legendary producers Ron Nevison and Mike Clink got Strangers to sound so good. Packed with masterful performances of classics like "Rock Bottom," "Lights Out," "Only You Can Rock Me," "Natural Thing" and "Too Hot to Handle," it showcases a band on the precipice of greatness. Ah, what might have been had the mercurial Schenker elected to stay put. But alas, some meteors streak across the night sky but for a moment, before fading in intensity.

- Matt Alschbach

ALLY VENABLE Real Gone Ruf Records

Texas guitar phenomenon

Ally Venable returns with Real Gone, her fifth studio release. The album kicks off with the title track, a rocking tune that immediately showcases Venable’s guitar prowess. “Going Home” begins with a psychedelic vibe as she sings about returning to her roots. Venable cements her status as a guitar queen on “Justifyin’,” a tune that allows EJ Bedford to shine on the bass. Guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa joins the band for “Broken and Blue” and provides top-notch guitar work. “Don’t Lose Me” features solid drumming from Isaac Pulido as Venable and Bedford find a funky groove.

“Any Fool Should Know” offers a throwback with a 1950s feel while retaining Venable’s powerhouse vocals and guitar. Blues legend Buddy Guy comes in for a guest appearance on “Texas Louisiana” as he and Venable complement each other on vocals and guitar. A heavy rocking tune fits the aptly-titled “Kick Your Ass” as Venable sings about being mistreated and not tolerating it. A stripped-down acoustic guitar begins “Blues Is My Best Friend” before the full band kicks in and Venable lays down great electric guitar work. “Gone So Long” offers introspective lyrics to match melancholy guitar playing. Heavy guitar from Venable features on “Hold My Ground,” a song about sticking to your convictions. This album is a must have for any blues lover.

Paul Bragin

AUGUST 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.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

Slightly hazy, and straw in color, this American Wheat Ale has a nice white head with some earthy notes, as well as notes of citrus on the nose. It is very easy drinking and well-balanced, with flavors of tropical fruits and a touch of pineapple. Though touted as an American Wheat Ale, to me this is almost more like a Hazy IPA. Carbonation is nice and it has a smooth finish.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick white head rests on this beer when poured in a wheat beer glass and never totally evaporates. The familiar scent of wheat dominates the nose. More wheat comes through while drinking the beer, with carbonation hitting the tongue and some fruit flavors also appearing in the long finish. Drink this beer as a lighter option during the summer. Pair it with spicy dishes like Buffalo wings or lighter dishes like a salad with fruit on it.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

I'm a fan of the 16 oz can and that this hazy, amber-colored beer comes from a regional brewery. It has an earthy pine flavor with some fruity notes. You can taste a little bit of wheat which I enjoy since I love wheat beers, but this beer leans on the side of the IPAs with its tropical fruit flavors.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.25

This pours a clear yellow with a thin, quickly dissipating head. There are tropical and citrus notes on the nose. This has a light to medium body with passion fruit, orange and grapefruit flavors that dominate the palate. It has a light bitterness on the finish. Well-balanced and easy drinking, I’ll be having another one again soon.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thin white head forms on this golden beer and evaporates very quickly. Scents of passion fruit, guava and orange come through the nose. A burst of carbonation hits the tongue with the first sip, followed by more of the fruit notes, with hop bitterness in the finish. This beer should see a rise in popularity during the hot summer months. Pair it with a variety of foods like seafood, tacos, pizza or pasta.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This is a golden-colored beer and I can smell the hops and orange peel immediately. It has a fruity flavor as most IPAs do. It's pretty good and seems very tropical - pretty tasty on a hot day. The hops do linger in your mouth for awhile but that's to be expected - though they're not overpowering. I really like this beer.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

This IPA pours an opaque hazy yellow-orange hue with a thin white head. Fruity on the nose with hints of orange and other citrus. On the palate there is a bit of IPA bitterness and citrus flavors as well, though this one is not near as fruit-forward as Island IPA above. Wellbalanced, and a solid choice as you would expect from Bell’s.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A decent white head tops this IPA and never totally evaporates. A generous burst of hop scents fills the nose. A heavy mouthfeel and bitter hop flavors come through with the initial tasting of the beer and continue in the long finish with some fruity citrus flavors. People who enjoy hoppy IPAs will want to drink this. Pair it with spicy foods such as chicken wings, barbecue, a juicy hamburger or cauliflower with Buffalo sauce.

JABEZ

MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a hazy straw-colored beer with decent carbonation and a 7.5% ABV. It has a light citrus aroma with a slight wheat flavor, malts and a little yeast but the hops are everpresent. It's pretty easy to drink but it does have the normal IPA bite. I'm a Bell's fan and this one does not disappoint.

KONA BREWING HANALEI ISLAND IPA

BLOOMINGTON BREWING CO. 10 SPEED MOSAIC WHEAT BELL'S HAZY HEARTED IPA

LAGUNITAS A LITTLE SUMPIN' SUMPIN'

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This IPA pours a clear yellow with a thin white head. Notes of tropical fruits dominate the nose and the palate. This is called a Wheat IPA, and it is apparent in the smooth mouthfeel. Very little bitterness makes this almost more Wheat Ale than IPA. A solid choice for your next beer.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head crowns this IPA and evaporates slowly. A significant amount of hops controls the scent. A decent balance of malt and hops first appear on the tongue while drinking the beer, but the hops become more prominent in the long

finish. People who enjoy hoppy IPAs need to drink this. Pair it with foods like beef, chili, curry, gumbo, lamb, shellfish or cheeses like blue or sharp Cheddar.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This is an amber-colored "juicy" IPA with a slight haze to it and an ABV of 7.5%. I would have rated it a little higher but it has an odd finish to it - a little grassy. It has the sweet hops flavor with citrus and a bit of pineapple. The finish is dry but has a little twang to it.

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: I always dread the 4th of July holiday as my dog suffers extreme anxiety due to the fireworks. This year I politely asked my neighbors if they would forego shooting them off for the sake of my dog; however, not only did they ignore my request, they kept up the fireworks for hours. As a result, I had to take my dog to the vet the following day for treatment - he was then monitored for 48hrs. I feel like my neighbors should be responsible for the bill. Do I have any legal standing in such a situation?

A:There is an old saying that “all is well that ends well.” When one is confronted with a neighbor dispute, the saying should be, “all is well that simply ends.”

The best approach in any dispute with a neighbor is to work it out between neighbors and attempt to avoid legal action. Legal action against a neighbor is rarely forgotten and normally invites some sort of retaliation or hostility.

In this situation, maybe you could reach an agreement that your neighbor would only shoot off fireworks during a certain timeframe

and arrange to take your dog to a park or friend’s house during the agreed time-period.

As to what has already occurred, the best approach, most likely, would be to move on and not attempt to force your neighbor to pay the vet bill. If, though, you must then I would suggest contacting law enforcement and just inquire about filing a police report to document the event so later you would have a paper trail if the disturbance were on an ongoing basis. If the disturbance is limited to fireworks once a year on the 4th of July, I suspect there is not much that can be done.

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