News4U June 2024

JUNE

TABLE of contents

Dreamland Fireworks: More Bang for Your Buck!

North Side Business is the Go-to for 4th of July Fun

Lead Singers of Classic Rock at Lincoln Amphitheatre

An Interview with former Chicago Singer Jason Scheff

Little Feat at the

ROMP Fest

An

at Yellow Creek

with Country Star Marty Stuart

Collective Soul at the Victory Theatre

An

Bassist

An Interview with Ian Hill of Judas Priest

The

ShrinersFest

Established in 1991 by Publisher

Brian

Operations Manager

Joshua Adams

Managing Editor & Writer

Thomas Ellis

Account Representative TJ Tanoos tj@evansvillemediagroup.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist Kelsey Halbig

Contributors

Paul Bragin, Brian Buxton, Johnny Fletcher, Paul Hollyfeld, Barold Hume, Jabez Martinez, Laurie Miller, Marisa Patwa, Lindsay Rasure, Amy Word

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

Life is back to normal, tri-state. Last month I wrote to you as the ultrarare total eclipse was happening - all four minutes of it - but this time around I'm just looking out my window at a typical May day in the Midwest: partly cloudy and windy, with a temp of 75. No complaints here, though. Especially since my beloved summer season is just around the corner. Are you as pumped as I am? Actually, full disclosure, I didn't sleep particularly well last night, so my enthusiasm is being interrupted by periodic yawns - but my heart's still in it even if my body has designs on a little siesta. Which reminds me: did everyone go nuts on Cinco de Mayo? Well, more likely on Cuatro de Mayo, considering the actual holiday was

on a Sunday, a notoriously boring day of the week. Anyhow, I hope you had fun and stayed out of trouble, whenever you celebrated. (Just a friendly reminder, never call me for bail money if you happen to find yourself in a pickle after over-partying. Nothing personal.) So what's in store for June, I hear you asking? Everything, baby. For starters, two festival favorites return to Kentucky - ROMP Fest in Owensboro and WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest in Henderson. Both events promise several days of incredible live music, good food and plenty of activities for the whole family. Also on this month's agenda is the latest edition of Haubstadt SommerFest, always a massive gathering featuring some of the area's best bands and an abundance of Busch Light.

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Please and thank you. A little closer to home, the concert lineup is looking sweet, indeed: metal gods Judas Priest, classic rockers REO Speedwagon and comedian Brad Williams are just a few of the marquee shows on the horizon. Not to mention the inaugural Evansville Ice Cream Fest hits downtown Evansville on June 26. Be sure to follow my lead and take a good, long nap after reading this - gotta replenish your energy tank and get ready for all that June 2024 has on offer.

Tommy Ellis

Dreamland Fireworks

TWICE THE FUN AT HALF

THE PRICE: LOCALLY-OWNED

NORTH SIDE BUSINESS OFFERS

EXPLOSIVE SAVINGS ON NAME-BRAND FIREWORKS

David Baize is a man on a mission to save the community money - well, even more money, to be accurate. Owner of Dreamland Fireworks on Evansville's north side (650 E. Diamond Avenue), he's been dedicated to providing the lowest prices in the tri-state for years now, offering name-brand products at half the cost and no end of BOGOs. It's almost as if Baize gets a kick out of darn near giving away fireworks (spoiler alert: he does). Hardly surprising, then, that no competitor in the area comes anywhere close to matching the insane deals at Dreamland - going somewhere else is akin to throwing cash out the window. Hey, we all make bad decisions from time to time but there's simply no excuse for wasting your hard-earned money on over-priced name-brand products, especially with continuing inflation and pain at the pump. Why eat up your monthly gas budget driving all over town trying to score the ultimate fireworks show at a bargain? Just go straight to Dreamland!

Founded by Baize back in 2007 after his annual fireworks show on Reitz Hill simply became too expensive to pull off and the only option left was to cut out the middle man, Dreamland quickly ballooned.

All total, Baize opened up 116 stores throughout the region over the following nine years - and at one point was overseeing 10 locations during the annual summer rush for fireworks. And that's when he decided to apply the brakes. "That's how you lose touch with your customers," he explains. "I got tired of not being there on the customer service level of things. When you're not there, it's not the same."

Baize rectified the customer service issue by slimming down to one location on Diamond Avenue in 2016 and got to work saving the community money. By his estimates, fireworks enthusiasts would have spent a whopping $1.5 million more over the last eight years if Dreamland didn't exist. "For example, if you spend $500 at another shop, it's only going to cost you $250 or $300 here - because I do it by volume and by the unit, averaging out what is going to be sold," Baize says. "I'll sell 10,000 500 Gram Cakes and my competitor might sell 2000 for the same amount of money. I just give the customers the deal that I think I would like."

In addition to offering great deals on name-brand fireworks, Baize

has been known to conduct giveaways on Facebook, handing out cash to followers of Dreamland's page that like comments and share with friends. The business is nearing 10,000 fans online as a result, a key factor in its overall success. As noted earlier, with inflation and high gas prices, people are hurting financially; Baize's generosity and determination to save the community money are truly making a difference. Do yourself a favor and follow Dreamland on Facebook to keep up with all the latest news and to get a jump on upcoming deals as July 4th approaches.

And just so there's no confusion, Dreamland ONLY sells fireworksBaize is purely focused on providing you the most bang for your buck. "Other places sell knick-knacks and other things, but we're Evansville's fireworks store," he states. To ensure complete satisfaction with Dreamland's huge inventory - Baize carries over 10 major suppliers' products - 42 TVs are housed throughout the building, all displaying demonstrations of said name-brand products so customers know exactly what to expect. It's a formula for success that's put Dreamland at the forefront of the fireworks industry and resulted in a lot of happy shoppers this time of year. "There's not a single customer who's come here that says they just blew up all their money or it wasn't worth it. They say that every dollar they spent was worth it for each single bang."

Dreamland Fireworks is open now through July 11. Come in today for explosive savings!

TO ORDER ONLINE, VISIT DREAMLANDFIREWORKS.COM. FOR MORE INFO, FOLLOW DREAMLAND FIREWORKS ON FACEBOOK. DREAMLAND FIREWORKS IS LOCATED AT 650 E. DIAMOND AVE. IN EVANSVILLE.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO WIN FREE FIREWORKS! GET 50% BELOW RETAIL!

LEADSINGERS OFCLASSICROCK featuringJasonScheff &TommyDeCarlo

Simply put, there are fewer biggeror longer lasting - rock bands than Boston and Chicago. While the latter formed five years earlier, right at the tailend of the sixties, each group's impact and influence on music is immeasurable, thanks to monumental, timeless hits like "More Than a Feeling," "Foreplay/Long Time," "Don't Look Back," "Amanda," "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "You're the Inspiration," "Hard

FORMER CHICAGO LEAD VOCALIST JASON SCHEFF ON

REMAKING "25 OR 6 TO 4," RECEIVING PRAISE FROM PETER CETERA, BEING GRATEFUL FOR HIS TIME WITH THE BAND AND MORE

Habit to Break," "Will You Still Love Me?" and so many more. But it hasn't always been easy. Chicago saw frontman Peter Cetera, who guided the band to international stardom, jump ship in 1985 for a solo career; Boston's original lead singer, Brad Delp, sadly passed in 2007. Yet, both outfits have shown incredible resilience over the years, bouncing back from those early setbacks to soldier on and achieve even greater heights, in large part due to

the talents of two incredible vocalists - Jason Scheff, who helped Chicago continue its chart dominance from 1986-2016, and Tommy DeCarlo, who replaced Delp and still tours with the band when active, carrying the torch and cementing Boston's amazing legacy.

Scheff kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show at the Lincoln Amphitheatre.

LINCOLN AMPHITHEATRE / JUNE 8 / 7:30 P.M.

As if taking over for Peter Cetera wasn't daunting enough, one of your first assignments as the new lead vocalist was to remake the Chicago classic "25 or 6 to 4" for 1986's Chicago 18. Did you feel any trepidation at the time?

I was never looking at myself as an artist, that I've got to be careful with what I do and put out there. I'm a journeyman; I'm a top 40 musician. A lot of times I didn't have to put much effort into learning the songs of the day because I'd heard them so much that I'd go to rehearsals with any top 40 band and whip them up really quick. So when I got with Chicago, I looked at it that I had actually helped to create some of this top 40 - I looked at it as just an incredible top 40 gig that only had one type of song in it. So when they said 'Let's re-do a classic,' there was never any hesitation, [no concern] that this wouldn't be a good idea. We just had fun, went in there and did it - and it was a blast. But there was a backlash because the program directors at radio were the age of the band. Think about this for a second: the band were all turning 40 and program directors were all turning 40. I was 23, 24 when the record came out. So there was almost like a boycott amongst the program directors who still had control over what was going to be played on the radio. They were almost like, 'You're spitting on the flag.' Like Mick Jagger re-doing "Satisfaction." I never thought of it that way. The cool thing was that the reaction from the audience was good - a lot of people were calling in. But it was considered sacrilege by radio, so the record kind of got killed a little bit. Peter [Cetera] had just come out with "Glory of Love" and that was shooting up the charts and so the record label was going, 'We gotta hustle, we gotta get the ballad out.' So, "Will You Still Love Me?" was released in the fall of 1986 and, boom, it went to number three. It was one of Chicago's biggest

hits and my itch was scratched as to what it would feel like to be at the top of the charts and to hear your voice on the radio.

Did you feel fully accepted by the fans after scoring that first big hit? I felt accepted on day one because when we played Rockford, Illinois, in the fall of 1986, when all of this stuff was..."Will You Still Love Me?" had just been released. We hadn't done any tour dates for the "25 or 6 to 4" remake, so when I walked out on stage, that was another moment when I thought the other shoe was going to drop at some point; I thought walking out on stage could be the end of it. And the people had these signs: "Welcome Jason." It was the coolest thing because then I realized that it doesn't have anything to do with me; it has nothing to do with an individual. To this day, these people want their band. That band, just like the greatest works of the classical composers, will continue no matter who's out there. We all built that body of work and it's beautiful, because it will survive forever. So when I went out in '86, these people were just so grateful that this thing continued.

Like you said, Peter Cetera did great as a solo artist right out of the gate. Did you have any contact with him during that period?

From day one, this guy was so supportive of me; it was fantastic. He left me a great message on my voice machine. He'd heard the album before it was released and said, "Jason, it's Peter Cetera. I just want to tell you that I heard the album and I love your voice, your writing. Great job - don't get in too much trouble out there." You know what I'm saying? What a great energy to have. And I've met him a couple of times over the years and we've had just

fantastic talks - and I can tell it's peerto-peer; it's not like 'I'm the teacher, you're the student.' Peter Cetera is the gold standard - he really paved the way for all that.

I have to mention that on one of your last tours with the band, in 2014, Chicago came to the Ford Center here in Evansville. My dad, who was 72 at the time, remarkably, had never been to a concert in all his years. But he was always a big fan of Chicago so I talked him into going - and we did the meet & greet before the show, too. He's passed on now, but let me tell you that he had the time of his life that nighthe just thought the whole evening was brilliant from start to finish. You've got to know that when I hear stories about what you just said, coming from a guy who was not taking it seriously [initially], didn't think being the singer of Chicago was going to work, and then all of sudden one day being able to be a part of these connections in life...that's the beauty of being able to step away after a 30-year solid run, constant touring, and being able to take a breath and realize what it is that we've all done. But thank you for letting me know that and I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. My parents are still here - I know I'm so grateful and lucky for that.

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

"CAN'T BE SATISFIED" TOUR

CVICTORY THEATRE / JUNE 24 / 7 P.M.

onsidered one of music's original jam bands, paving the way for the likes of Phish and Widespread Panic, Little Feat came into being just as the Beatles were winding down. It would take a few years for the group's classic lineup to coalesce, but in 1973, Dixie Chickenfeaturing the enduring title track - put Little Feat on the path to greatness with frontman Lowell George reaching his creative apex. Sadly, his time on this earth was short; 1979 saw his passing and the band entered a period of dormancy, marked by solo albums and side projects. However, in 1987, the surviving members reunited, bringing guitarist Fred Tackett into the fold and kicking off a new phase of Little Feat. It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride ever

since, with players coming and going and the unfortunate loss of original drummer Richie Hayward and classic-era vocalist/ guitarist Paul Barrere, but the band circa 2024 now stands stronger than ever. Along with Tackett and original vocalist/keyboardist Bill Payne, Little Feat features longtime percussionist/vocalist Sam Clayton, guitarist Scott Sharrard, bassist Kenny Gradney and drummer Tony Leone. Together, they make for a fierce sextet as evidenced by Sam's Place, the band's first ever blues album - not to mention first album in 12 years - released last month. Centering around Clayton's raw, gravely growl, the 9-song collection sees Little Feat impeccably tackle songs by blues pioneers such as Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters.

Guitarist Fred Tackett kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the band's show at the Victory.

You've been playing guitar for a very, very long time - but when did the blues become a part of your guitar vernacular?

When I was in high school, I had my rock & roll band and we were playing Ventures and Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed and Chuck Berry. In fact, people wouldn't ask for individual songs - they would say, 'Play Chuck Berry' or 'Play Ray Charles.' So those are the things that I was playing, you know, Ventures' tunes like "Walk, Don't Run," Jimmy Reed's "You Got Me Runnin'" and Ray Charles' "What I Say." And so, a friend of mine says, 'Hey, I found this literal roadhouse outside the city limits in Little Rock, Arkansas, called Beverly Gardens and he said there's this band there playing and I talked to them and they'll let us sit in. And I was like 16-years-old and we tried out this place and the owner would let us in - as long as we didn't get off the bandstand - and the guys in the band had regional hits around the area in Arkansas and they're playing all these tunes like "Little Bitty Pretty One" and all kinds of other different songs. There were signs on the wall that said "No Dirty Dancing." So after I sat in with these guys they let me kind of stand in the back and kind of play along with them which was just an amazing thing. And I asked the guys, 'What is this music you were playing - I don't know any of these songs.' They said it's called the blues, and I went, 'Really?' I said, 'Where do you get a record?' and they said buy a B.B. King record. So I went out and bought two B.B. King records and took them home - they were old records; they were new at the time - this is like 1962. It was like B.B. King and a big band - not a rock band, but like a jazz band. Years later Little Feat did a tour and I brought these out for B.B. to sign and he looked at them and said, 'Man, I haven't seen these records in 50 years.' I got them autographed - they're here in my studio. So that's how I found out what that music was even called. I had no idea. And ever since then I was a fan.

There were obviously hundreds of blues classics to choose from for the making of Sam's Place - was there much of a tussle in terms of picking the songlist?

No, there wasn't any kind of a tussle. Scott came up with a couple of the more obscure ones, you know, such as "Why People Like That" by Bobby Charles and "Don't Go No Further." "You'll Be Mine" was suggested to us by Bonnie Raitt - she just said that the way Sam growls he'll be perfect for that. And "Last Night" by Walter Jacobs, we've been playing that for a long time. So, some of them were obvious and some of them were inspired by Scott and Bonnie.

Scott's slide playing on "Can't Be Satisfied" is just out of this world - he's a blues guitar savant.

Absolutely. And he also can sing, like, all the Lowell songs and things, so we can now, with the [current] band, play anything in our catalog - there's nothing that we can't perform live.

Of course, the true star of the show is Sam - he really shines vocally on this album, bringing a real authenticity to the project.

Well, we've been kind of talking about it and Bill Payne basically said, 'We gotta do this. None of us are getting any younger - we have got to do this project.' So we said, 'Ok, Sam, we're doing this.' And we started organizing it and everything - and it was just absolutely natural for Sam. He's a very private guy - not many people see him very often. And we told him that he better go out and find a place where he can rent a tuxedo, because you're going to have to go up and, like, get a Grammy. And he was like, 'What? What do you mean?!' Yeah, he's been thrust up into the front and he just came through in spades. He just took off with this project; I'm very proud of him.

Considering the musical pedigree of everyone in the band, it must be the most amazing feeling when you guys are in full

YEAH, HE'S BEEN THRUST UP INTO THE FRONT AND HE JUST CAME THROUGH IN SPADES. HE JUST TOOK OFF WITH THIS PROJECT; I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM.

flight, playing live together.

Absolutely. Both Tony Leone, our new drummer, and Scott have just really inspired us and kicked us up a notch to where literally I gotta practice [laughs]. I need to do some wood-shedding here. So that's definitely been like a kick in the pants to everybody in the band and everybody's just rocking now. We just finished recording a new album of all originals - it's going to be coming out in the fall; we don't even know what it's going to be called yet. We recorded it in Nashville, and it's all brand new songs. And there's the re-release of Lowell's [solo album] Thanks I'll Eat It Here which has just now come out, too. And also Inara George has just released a tribute record to her dad that I played on - so there's all kind of products floating around.

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

ROMP FEST

YELLOW CREEK PARK / JUNE 26-29

COUNTRY MUSIC

ICON MARTY STUART ON KEEPING THE TWANG ALIVE, EXISTING IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, BEING A "COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT" AND MORE

Western Kentucky's premier music festival makes its welcome return to scenic Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro later this month with the likes of Keller Williams and Leftover Salmon topping a fantastic lineup of bluegrass, country and folk acts, including The Travelin' McCourys, Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle and the Earls of Leicester. But what makes ROMP truly special is the event's communal vibe. Attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam throughout the weekend as well as take part in artist-led workshops. Additional offerings at ROMP include organic and farm-to-table food vendors, craft vendors, art installations and professionally-led children's activities.

One of the most anticipated sets of ROMP Fest 2024 will be staged by country star Marty Stuart who's scheduled to let it rip on Thursday night in the prime 8:30 p.m. slot. A virtual historian of music, the 65-year-old Mississippi native has made it a point to follow his heart over the course of a decades-long career, always striving to preserve the legacy of legendary artistssome long forgotten - by acknowledging their contributions at every opportunity and inspiring others to do the same. For Stuart, an exceptional guitar and mandolin player in his own right, there's no greater honor than to record and perform the music of those who paved the way for him - many of whom he's been lucky enough to share the stage or collaborate with, including Lester Flatts, Earl Scruggs, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones and so many more.

But make no mistake, Stuart still relishes the thrill of writing new material, particularly with the Fabulous Superlatives, his incomparable backing band since 2002. And while past solo hits such as "This One's Gonna Hurt You," "Hillbilly Rock" and "Tempted" remain highpoints, he's arguably making some of the best music of his life as 2017's Way Out West and last year's Altitude demonstrated. Both effortlessly captured Stuart's love of the old school country sound with a western vibe; after all, he's one of the few country artists today incorporating lap steel guitars into the mix,

eschewing any and all pop influences.

There's a western feel to your sound that seems to be missing - with a few exceptions - in today's country music. Do you see an opportunity for it to return to the mainstream or do artists like you just need to keep reminding people that it's still around?

I think the word is "twang" - the western sound to me basically amounts to twang. I think of Duane Eddy guitars or the Ventures or those kind of old guitar bands. But I think it's an eternal sound; I think it will always have an audience. When a high profile song comes through that somehow, you know, hooks into the masses, it always lifts the sound. But in the meantime, it never goes away. As you say, you've got to just keep reminding people, but I think it's a sound that has an eternal quality.

There's a seemingly never-ending debate going on these days about what constitutes country music. If there's anyone who should know the answer, it's you. But is it something that can even be defined?

I don't know that it can be defined; I think it's in the ear of the beholder - or the heart of the beholder. And I think country music has broad shoulders - and if you go back to the 1927 Bristol sessions where it started, you know, there were fiddle tunes and gospel tunes and pop crooners and mountain ballads. It was all there at the beginning. I remember seeing a statement one time in the late '30s about Bill Monroe recording a Jimmy Rogers song at break-neck speed singing in the voice of a woman and the headline was, "What is becoming of country music?" So the argument and the debate goes back to there and beyond.

Do you pay any attention to the country charts these days or simply exist in your own alternate universe?

I'm pretty aware of people that are coming and going from the limelight. As for chart positions and stuff like that, I haven't looked at the charts in years and could care less about them. You know, the heart's the chart to me. But I do live in my alternate universe and it's warm and fuzzy

and I love it. It sparkles with rhinestones and it twangs and it has Fender guitars and reverb and cool cowboy boots and the Superlatives, you know. A lot of people that come to see us probably wouldn't be caught dead at a contemporary country show and vice-versa. But that's the beauty of it.

You've shared the stage with so many country and bluegrass legends and always make it a point to cede the spotlight, in a sense. Despite your stardom, you always practice humility. Well, there's a couple things that come to mind. One, it's the old band member in me. I was taught under, you know, those old masters that you have your time - otherwise, hold it back, play rhythm, be careful. That's one part of it. The other thing is kind of the old Native American thing. I know who the chiefs are - and even though you think you're a chief, if you're standing on the stage with Merle Haggard, he's the chief; if you're standing on stage with Willie Nelson tonight, he's the chief. So I get that and I'm a very collaborative spirit. You know, I was just raised that way. And the bottom line is that if you do what the song calls for, you'll know where to step in.

For tickets and more info, visit rompfest.com. Yellow Creek Park is located at 5710 KY-144 in Owensboro.

BASSIST WILL TURPIN ON PLAYING WOODSTOCK '99, THE RELEASE OF THE BAND'S NEW DOUBLE ALBUM, CHOOSING "MOTHER'S LOVE" AS HERE TO ETERNITY'S FIRST SINGLE AND MORE

“Crashing the Seattle grunge party in the early 90s, Atlanta's Collective Soul hit big with "Shine," an irresistibly anthemic rocker that set the stage for more chart success, including the contemplative top 20 single "The World I Know" and driving "Heavy" featuring a deliriously frantic opening riff that's oft been imitated yet never bettered. Singer-songwriter Ed Roland, primarily responsible for the group's sound, has been at the wheel for the duration, directing Collective Soul down new, exciting avenues over the last 30-plus years, always pushing his fellow band membersincluding longtime bassist Will Turpin, rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, lead guitarist Jesse Triplett and drummer Johnny Rabb - to branch

out and take in various influences. Something that's immediately apparent upon hearing the wonderfully eclectic Here to Eternity, a 20song musical journey just released, featuring lead single "Mother's Love."

Bassist Will Turpin kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the band's show at the Victory Theatre on July 28.

Collective Soul is one of the few bands that performed at both Woodstock '94 and '99the latter being a disastrous event marked by riots. Is the Netflix documentary Trainwreck, which details the '99 debacle, accurate in your estimation?

I think the film did a good job [showing

what happened]. I had that perspective of being there in '94 when everything was very awesome - the vibe was amazing. We played on Friday night in '94 and met a bunch of [our] peers that were all on their first record. Almost everybody that played that night ended up having long careers and are still out touring. I remember Sheryl Crow was with us on Friday night; Blues Traveler, Live, Candlebox. King's X played with us on that same night - Friday night. We played Friday night before the rains, so it was really pretty; everybody was positive - peace, love and music. And then '99 we also played on Friday night - we were excited to go back and see our buddies from Atlanta, Sevendust. But the moment you got on the ground in '99, you were like, 'Oh man,

VICTORY THEATRE / JULY 28 / 7 P.M.

PHOTO CREDIT: LEE CLOWER

this is different.' You heard rumblings - even backstage you heard rumblings that they were charging $3 for a bottle of water, this and that. And sh*t, by the time that we got out of there...we went ahead and got out of there Friday night; I think we played a show in Syracuse on Saturday. But by the time Saturday night was rolling out, yeah, bad things were starting to happen. We were out of there by then, but I tell you it was tangible. What the promoters did - it was the same guy that did the one [original Woodstock] in '69 - he totally sold out for profit and the outsourced subs that he hired were just gouging people and it was not a great thing to be on top of cement when everybody's used to tents and grass.

As we're talking, the release of the band's new double album is just around the corner. How are you feeling, especially considering the ambitious nature of the project?

We have only heard the true mixes now for going on two months. So this is still the time when you'll find me...like, I got on the plane the other day after the San Antonio festival and I was listening to my record, you know [laughs]? A Collective Soul record. There's something about as soon as it's out, as soon as it's released, then I don't listen to it that much. But right now I'm still excited, I'm like, 'hell yeah'! And I'm really proud, because we've always said this, going back to when we were young, 30 years ago: we serve the song, we try to lift the song up as much as we can as a band. And we do that just by playing like a band, recording together like a band, and trying to find that...it's all about the energy and emotion. We try to make sure we're serving the song properly.

There are moments on the album that sound quite English. For instance, Ed sounds distinctly Bowie-esque on "Bluer than Blue."

That's a good call - a number of interviewers...two different interviewers have said they've associated Ed's vocals on this record with Bowie. I didn't realize that but

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN DIFFERENT STYLE AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT; SO I'M NOT REALLY EVER SURPRISED BY PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.

apparently you all are onto something.

Was it obvious to the band that "Mother's Love" would be the lead single? It definitely has a classic Collective Soul feel, similar to "Heavy."

It was definitely one of the three that we were talking about and then we have people that have good ears that are confidants and we started taking a popularity poll, basically.

Were you surprised by any of the reactions/ responses?

No, I just sit back and see how other people digest them and see what they think. And we all felt like that was possibly a single as well. I think everybody has their own different style and that's the beauty of it; so I'm not really ever surprised by people's opinions. Although, when it comes to picking singles, we're always going to be able to know, also, which ones are going to be the three most popular, even out of 20 songs.

"Let It Flow" boasts a fantastic - and unexpected - heavy synth bass foundation. It has echoes of Foreigner and 70s rock, in general.

Ed had the one guitar riff and man, we just...it was later in the day and we weren't planning on recording anymore, we'd already finished one song. And I just got in there with Johnny and all we had was the guitar riff - I was like, 'We need to figure out what we're going to do here.' I think there's some songs where generally the bass should just support the guitar. And there's other songs where the bass should be its own thing, and I'm really proud of that one because that bass line just

fires off, man; it's super musical. So much so to where the guys in the band were like, ok, we're starting the second verse with just drums and bass. I'm proud of how that one grooves and the role that the drums and bass play in that song.

Then there's the delicate "Words Away" - a sure-fire single that recalls Collective Soul hits like "The World I Know" and seems to feature 12-string acoustic guitar. It is a 12-string acoustic - you've got a pretty good ear, bro. "Words Away," to me...I like the first three tracks [on the album], so those are hard to beat. But I would put "Words Away" as my fourth favorite track. I think it's great there's a double record that we have as Collective Soul. You know, you used the word "eclectic" - but Collective Soul's always been eclectic. Hell, we're swinging on a song like "Matter of Fact" - we're freaking Stray Cats.

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

AN INTERVIEW WITH IAN HILL OF JUDAS PRIEST

Before Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, there was Judas Priest. The success of metal's "Big Four" is in no small part due to the groundwork laid by the British rockers back in the mid-to-late 70s. Driven by the octave-defying wail of Rob Halford and fierce riffing of twin lead guitarists K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, the band released its first album in 1974, beginning a long and wildly unpredictable musical journey marked by multiple line-up changes.

Priest hit big at the turn of the 80s with a more concise sound. Tracks like “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight” packed a more controlled punch, providing a blueprint for the next wave of metal. Halford departed in 1991 but rejoined in 2003, resulting in the excellent Angel of Retribution, followed by 2008’s ambitious concept album, Nostradamus. A decade later, following the departure of Downing and subsequent hiring of guitarist Richie Faulkner, Priest came out swinging with 2018's Firepower, an album

that re-positioned the band at the top of the metal pile. And yet there was an even greater achievement on the horizon. Despite the increasing health issues of Tipton, the band, on the heels of being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and emboldened by the involvement of producer/guitarist Andy Sneap, created perhaps their ultimate musical statement in Invincible Shield, released in March of 2024.

We caught up with founding member and

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDY ELVIS MCGOVERN

BUT WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT, YOU KNOW? NEVER RESTED ON OUR LAURELSALWAYS TRY TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE A LITTLE BIT.

bassist Ian Hill just before Judas Priest blitzed the Ford Center on May 17.

I recall when Firepower came out, Rob noted that it would be tough to top - but Invincible Shield may be even harder to surpass. It's sure to stand as one of the band's best albums.

The only sort of proviso that we have when we start writing an album is to try and make it better than the last one. I mean, that's it, you know? If you're not going to make it better then there's not really much point in doing it. That's been our little catch word or phrase all the way through our career starting with [1974's] Rocka Rolla - try and make it better, try and improve it. It's kept us in good stead, you know? There are bands that do the same album over and over again and people love them for it; there's nothing wrong with that. But we've never done that, you know? Never rested on our laurels - always try to push the envelope a little bit. Sometimes it works; sometimes it goes in a slightly different avenue, you know, to avenues like Nostradamus and things like that - things that don't always get the best reviews [laughs].

"Escape from Reality" on the new album is a beast of bass - very Black Sabbath-like. It's a real highlight, particularly in terms of your playing. It was a pleasure to do, really. It's one of those songs that's a mid-tempo...sort of like you said, with an almost Sabbath-y feel to it. Yeah, they're all good songs and it's hard to come up with a favorite. At the moment, mine is the title track "Invincible

Shield" and "Giants in the Sky" - those are two phenomenal tracks for me. But that's liable to change as time goes on [laughs]. It's still early days - once you've done the album, you then concentrate on the songs you're going to be playing on tour and you sort of disregard the rest of them for awhile.

I was going to mention "Giants in the Sky" - it's so poignant, paying tribute to the many brilliant musicians we've lost over time. I'm assuming Rob came up with the lyrics. Yeah, those are Rob's lyrics. He's a brilliant lyricist - he's done tremendous work over the years. And he's prolific as well; he's always writing stuff down - puts it all together and makes songs out of it. But yes, there's a lot of people we've lost over the years. But it's a matter of life, isn't it? No one gets out alive [laughs]. It's just nice to pay tribute to them.

Pretty much every review of the new album has remarked on how fantastic Rob sounds, especially considering his age. Are you as pleasantly surprised as the rest of us?

We are, yes. I don't know how he does it, either. The thing about Rob is that he's always had a tremendous range, you know? He's got at least two octaves there that he can call on. And, I don't know, it sort of comes easy to him, you know what I mean? And it's always been that way. He hasn't had to force himself to do any of the stuff that he does - it comes quite naturally to him. That's one of the reasons that he hasn't had to work at it as hard as someone who hasn't got his range. But he does take care of his voice - I mean, we're sitting in cars or planes sometimes freezing to death or sweating to death because he doesn't want the heat or the A/C on [laughs]. But you know, that's small change because of what he brings to

the band - so we don't mind any of that.

It has to be said that the band's trajectory has been sky-high since bringing Richie on board. He brought enthusiasm...and youth [laughs]. And he's kind of rubbed off on the rest of us, you know? I mean, we were supposed to be slowing down, not doing any lengthy tours or albumspicking and choosing where and when we go out on tour. But Richie comes along with his boundless enthusiasm and his dedication and we were swept up in that. So a lot of credit has to go to Richie for the present work rate, at least. And he's also a great writer - and he's done a great job of stepping in for Glenn. So there's nothing missing [in the band] apart from the personnel. It's sad that Glenn can't be with us - nobody knows what he's going through, really. But Andy's stepped in and with every show he gets more confident and he's doing a tremendous job.

And yet Glenn is still able to come up with riffs and participate creativelyhe's the main writer behind "Escape from Reality."

Yeah, there's nothing wrong between his ears - it's the other thing that's happened to him; his body has slowed him down. And the medication to quell the shaking and all that. It makes him weak. Occasionally he comes out [on stage] and does a couple of the encores - and you've got to take your hat off for that, because I'm not sure I would want to do it. But he does it, you know? He's a fighter, Glenn. But it's just an awful thing that's happened to him; it really is. And I can't imagine what he's going through - I really can't.

For more info, visit judaspriest.com.

SHRINERSFEST 2024

DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE RIVERFRONT / JUNE 21 & 22

Annual community event to welcome summer with two days of fun in the sun

Action-packed from the moment the gates open, ShrinersFest is always a total blast, offering up two amazing days of fun in the sun at the downtown Evansville riverfront - all in the name of charity. Your support of this beloved annual event benefits the Hadi Shriners, a non-profit organization working for the good of the community, particularly tri-state children. So bring your family and friends along, because every dollar raised goes to a great cause.

As in years past, ShrinersFest 2024 has something for everyone, no matter your age - from inflatables for kids, to a car show and boxing matches for the older crowd. Not to mention food trucks serving delicious eats will be on site with a beer garden available for

those who enjoy an adult beverage or two. But that's just scratching the surface. You can also participate in Operation 5K by YMCA on Saturday morning and then kick back and take in Jeepers Invade the Riverfront, as ShrinersFest really starts to rev things up.

And it goes without saying that ShrinersFest is famous for great live music. This year, the area's biggest cover band, That's What She Said!, headlines Friday night, while Saturday night's music lineup features the incomparable Nick Hamilton and Retro Shock taking the festival out on a major high note.

For more info, visit shrinersfest.org.

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

10 a.m. Opening Ceremony/Festival Begins

10 a.m.-8p.m. Inflatables Open

10 a.m.-11 p.m. Food Trucks Open

10 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Beer Garden Open

3 p.m.-8 p.m. Car Show

5 p.m.-?? Rumble on the River (boxing matches)

8 p.m.-?? That's What She Said!

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

7 a.m. Operation 5K by YMCA

9 a.m.-?? Jeepers Invade the Riverfront

9 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Food Trucks Open

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Inflatables Open

10 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Beer Garden Open

1 p.m.-?? Cornhole Tournament

4:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Nick Hamilton & Retro Shock

7:30 p.m. Drawing for Hadi Half Pot Number on Main Stage

CLASSIC ROCK BAND EYES TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE

1981

was a fantastic year for pop and rock music with seemingly no end of huge albums - from Journey's Escape to Styx's Paradise Theater - dominating the charts. But none were bigger than Hi Infidelity, the ninth studio release from REO Speedwagon, an Illinois-based band that had previously tasted success with radio hits like "Ridin' the Storm Out" and "Roll with the Changes." However, the Kevin Cronin-penned ballad "Keep on Loving You" - the first single taken from Hi Infidelity - would skyrocket the group to unimaginable heights, reaching number one and kick-starting a period of immeasurable popularity.

Over four decades later, REO now calls California home but the music remains the same - as classic and timeless as ever. Frontman Cronin, joined by founding member/keyboardist Neal Doughty, bassist Bruce Hall, guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt, continue to "keep the fire burnin'" (to quote the band's 1982 lead single off of Good Trouble) playing to multiple generations of fans all over the U.S. and beyond. And they keep selling records, too. To date, REO has moved 40 million units, a staggering number, especially by today's standards when even the biggest artists struggle to reach platinum status.

REO's current tour sees the band once again welcoming Nashville country trio Levon as a support act, ensuring that fans will get more than their money's worth at the Old National Events Plaza on June 25.

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

EVANSVILLE of A TASTE

MONTHLY FOOD REVIEW WITH BRIAN BUXTON

Seeing that we’re "meeting" for the first time, introductions are in order. I’m Brian Buxton, a local journalist and foodie, animal advocate, and champion of locallyowned restaurants and small businesses. I’ll be highlighting our local restaurant scene through this column, bringing you the holes-in-the wall, the dive bars, the best in fine dining, and the most unique ethnic cuisines our town has to offer. So, with that out of the way, off we go on our first culinary adventure together…

Friday, May 10, 2024 found me outside of a restaurant that was not yet open to the public, beckoned by a bright red fire-breathing neon chicken, reminiscent of the hood of a Pontiac Trans-Am (for my fellow auto enthusiasts). And what was offered inside was just as addicting as what you could only find, until recent years, in Nashville, Tennessee.

BAD RANDY'S HOT CHICKEN & BBQ LOUNGE

Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ

Lounge, located on Evansville's west side, is the city's newest restaurant (it opened to the public on May 15), and the only place in town to find truly authentic Nashville Hot Chicken. Although the focus of the restaurant is on NHC and North Carolina style BBQ, the menu is quite varied, and offers dishes that will satisfy any palate. Starters include Crab Cakes, Crab Fries, Brisket Chili, Fried Jalapeños and French Onion Soup. There are four

different salad choices.

Heartier appetites can choose from NC style Ribs, Cheeseburgers, Steaks (including Delmonico and Filet Mignon), and an amazing Pasta a Maggio (aside from the chicken, this was my favorite dish). However, the star of the menu is the Nashville Hot Chicken - brined for at least 24 hours, seasoned and deep fried, then finished with a robust wet dip that includes cayenne pepper, smoked paprika,

HOWEVER, THE STAR OF THE MENU IS THE NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN - BRINED FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS, SEASONED AND DEEP FRIED, THEN FINISHED WITH A ROBUST WET DIP.

garlic and onion powders, and other spices. It’s this dip that gives the chicken that signature reddish hue - and its heat!

Bad Randy’s offers eight levels of Heat, including Medium, Bubbleguts for Sure, Cancel Your Night, Call the Ambulance (this was just slightly hotter than I could enjoy), We’ll Name the Seat You Die in After You, and XXX Bad. The last two require you to sign a waiver before they will serve you! The sides offered have a leaning towards southern country, including Hatch Chile Cheddar Grits, Collard Greens, and Queso Mac. Beer and wines are available, as well as a large selection of bourbon, scotch and other distilled spirits. If you enjoy Bourbon, try the Old (Old) Fashioned, made with High West Double Rye.

You can enjoy Owner and Chef Jeremiah Galey’s cuisine at 1418 W. Franklin Street, which is the former location of Amy’s on Franklin. Hours are Wed-Thurs from 4-9pm and Fri-Sat from 4-10pm. Parking is available both on the street and in their parking lot. There is also a dog-friendly outdoor patio.

Now Go, Explore, and Eat, Evansville!

Follow Bad Randy's on Facebook. Brian's food and dining page can be found at facebook. com/FFKSEvansville.

Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure

These Greek yogurt bars are so versatile and make a great snack or dessert. If you do not like mixed nut butter replace with peanut butter. If you do not like raspberry jam replace with strawberry jam. If you love chocolate add in chocolate chips. There are so many options to choose from! The protein in the Greek Yogurt and the fat in the mixed nut butter make for a filling option when looking in the fridge for something sweet.

CLEAN BITE life

FROZEN RASPBERRY GREEK YOGURT GRANOLA BARS

(Servings - 16 pieces)

INGREDIENTS FOR GREEK YOGURT LAYER:

• 2 C. PLAIN GREEK YOGURT (FULL FAT)

• 1 TSP. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

• 2-3 T. RASPBERRY JAM (ST. DALFOURBRAND)

• 2 T. HONEY (OMIT IF USING ADDED SUGAR JAM)

DIRECTIONS:

INGREDIENTS FOR GRANOLA LAYER:

• 2 C. WHOLE ROLLED OATS

• 1 C. KIRKLAND’S MIXED NUT BUTTER

• 3 T. HONEY

• ¼ TSP. SEA SALT

1. LINE AN 8”X8” BAKING DISH WITH PARCHMENT PAPER AND SET ASIDE.

2. IN A MEDIUM SIZE BOWL MIX TOGETHER THE WHOLE ROLLED OATS, MIXED NUT BUTTER, HONEY, & SALT UNTIL COMBINED.

3. ONCE YOUR MIXTURE IS COMBINED SPOON THE MIXTURE OVER THE TOP OF THE PARCHMENT PAPER. PRESS DOWN THE MIXTURE SO IT IS EVENLY SPREAD ACROSS THE PARCHMENT PAPER.

4. IN THE SAME BOWL YOU JUST USED, MIX TOGETHER THE GREEK YOGURT, VANILLA, RASPBERRY JAM, & HONEY (IF USING). ONCE COMBINED SPREAD THE GREEK YOGURT MIXTURE ON TOP OF THE GRANOLA LAYER EVENLY. 5. PLACE IN THE FREEZER COVERED OR UNCOVERED FOR 4 HOURS OR UNTIL THE BARS ARE FROZEN.

6. ONCE FROZEN, CUT INTO 16 PIECES USING A SHARP KNIFE (RUN UNDER HOT WATER TO HELP CUT THE FROZEN BARS). SERVE COLD!

*Recipe adapted from dollopofdough.com

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

JUNE COUPONS!

PRESENTED BY:

IN TOWN & AROUND

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Couples

Night w/ DJ Chidi (back patio)

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Paul Wiemeier

7:00 PM

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

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The Backbeats

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Cue

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Super Bee

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

1:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Clint Campbell

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: The Sidemen

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

MONDAY, JUNE 3

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

6:00 PM

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

7:00 PM

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

Damsel Brew Pub -- Peace

Decay w/ Faerie Ring & Slack

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

8:00 PM

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy

Open Mic

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

6:00 PM

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

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

7:00 PM

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

Damsel Brew Pub -- Ingrown

Hornet's Nest -- Trivia

9:00 PM

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

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Jake Holder & Friends

7:00 PM

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

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- First Friday w/ DJ AP & Bashiri Asad

8:30 PM

Hornet's Nest -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ NYU

O'Brian's Sports Bar -Karaoke

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

5:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- All Country Dance Party w/ DJ Chidi (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Jake Holder & Friends

7:00 PM

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

7:30 PM

Hornet's Nest -- Sarah Werner

Lincoln Amphitheatre (Lincoln City) -- Lead Singers of Classic

Rock feat. Jason Scheff & Tommy DeCarlo

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Gypsy Soul

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Alpha Incident w/ Idder & BLVCK LODGE

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ NYU

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- GlasTone

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

1:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Trey Hughes

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Barbara Santora 6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

MONDAY, JUNE 10

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- College Night / Karaoke & DJ

7:00 PM

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson)

-- WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson)

-- WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

6:00 PM

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

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

7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Lindsey Williams Songwriter Night

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

Hornet's Nest -- Trivia

8:00 PM

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy Open Mic

9:00 PM

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

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson)

-- WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Michelle

Shelton (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub --

Brad Lemmons & Josh Merritt

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Ridge Runners

Unplugged

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy

Roast Battle

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Drift

8:30 PM

Hornet's Nest -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill

-- DJ Dance Party

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Jon J

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Audubon Mill Park (Henderson) -- WC Handy Blues & BBQ Fest

10:00 AM

Bokeh Lounge -- Drag Me to Bruch w/ DJ Dan Gunn (back patio)

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Clint Campbell

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub --

Brad Lemmons & Josh Merritt

7:00 PM

Beaver Dam Amphitheater

-- Disco at the Dam: Sister

Sledge & Boogie Wonder Band

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

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- JEB

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Jon J

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Jake Holder & Friends

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

1:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Boscoe & Rusty

2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: Honey Roy 6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

MONDAY, JUNE 17

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

6:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -College Night / Karaoke & DJ 7:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry Night

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

Haubstadt Fest Grounds -Haubstadt Sommerfest

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Blues & Jazz Open Mic w/ Logan Dyer

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

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

7:00 PM

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

Hornet's Nest -- Trivia

8:00 PM

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy Open Mic

9:00 PM

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

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Evansville Riverfront -ShrinersFest

Haubstadt Fest Grounds -Haubstadt Sommerfest

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Ryan Rigdon (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Trey Hughes

7:00 PM

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

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The Brothers Footman

8:30 PM

Hornet's Nest -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke

& DJ

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Cliffy D

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Evansville Riverfront -ShrinersFest

Haubstadt Fest Grounds -Haubstadt Sommerfest

10:00 AM

Bokeh Lounge -- Acting at Brunch with Gemrock

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Just Us 4 (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Trey Hughes

7:00 PM

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

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The Pits Hornet's Nest -- Comedy Night

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Sciotto w/ Aaron Norris

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Cliffy D

10:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- The Ridge Runners

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

1:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza -Taylorville: A Tribute to Taylor

Swift 2:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz: The Sidemen

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

MONDAY, JUNE 24

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

7:00 PM

Victory Theatre -- Little Feat wsg Marc Broussard

TUESDAY, JUNE 25

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Jamie Finch

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

7:00 PM

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

Old National Events Plaza -REO Speedwagon wsg Levon

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro, KY) -- ROMP Fest

2:00 PM

Old National Events Plaza -Evansville Ice Cream Fest

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton

6:30 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Cornhole

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Funk Night w/ DJ Chidi (back patio)

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro, KY) -- ROMP Fest

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

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

7:00 PM

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

Hornet's Nest -- Trivia

8:00 PM

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy Open Mic

9:00 PM

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

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro, KY) -- ROMP Fest

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Lindsey Williams (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Boscoe & Rusty

7:00 PM

Bud's Rockin' Country Bar & Grill -- Jake Holder & Friends Victory Theatre -- Brad Williams

8:00 PM

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

8:30 PM

Hornet's Nest -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

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

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub --

DJ Jon J

O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Karaoke

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

Yellow Creek Park (Owensboro, KY) -- ROMP Fest

5:30 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- The Wannabeez (back patio)

6:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Ridge Runners Duo 7:00 PM

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

Damsel Brew Pub -- Comedy w/ Allen Walker & Friends

8:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- DJ Dan Gunn

9:00 PM

KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke & DJ

Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/ Sparky

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -DJ Jon J

10:00 PM

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

1:00 PM

Marina Pointe & Nightclub -Boscoe & Rusty

6:00 PM

Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke

9:00 PM

KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke

SPOOKY BRANCHES

EVANSVILLE-BASED JAM BAND EDGING CLOSER TO CAPTURING MERCURIAL SOUND IN THE STUDIO

Elijah Gray and Jacob Whaley both grew up in Mount Vernon with music serving as a big part of their upbringings. The former's father was into the oddball offerings of Devo, Oingo Boingo and Frank Zappa - anything strange piqued his interest, particularly bands that stayed true to their ideas. This appreciation for authentic weirdness rubbed off on Gray as the years went by and he started exploring the guitar. Whaley, meanwhile, was all about the horns, playing trumpet and French horn in junior high and high school before graduating to drums when he and Gray joined Kami Sendika, an electronic metal outfit that rocked from 2012-2014. A long dormancy then followed as the two friends got on with life. But in 2021, an opportunity arose that brought them back together, musically speaking. "I had the chance to play Fall Fest and Smitty's, where I work, has always been very accommodating of all the artsy things I like to do," Gray notes. "I didn't want to play alone, so I checked in with Jacob." Intrigued by the possibility of performing as a duo, Whaley quickly signed on and Spooky Branches (phase one) was willed into existence.

Initially based solely around guitar riffs and lyrical bits that Gray had accumulated over the years, Spooky Branches, postdebut performance, slowly became a more

collaborative project with Whaley serving as an astute editor, helping to organize the increasingly out-there song structures. But what really lit a creative spark was when the guys got a house together in Evansville. "We have instruments all through the house - an upright [piano] in the basement, a grand [piano] in our living area, guitars for days, drum sets everywhere," Whaley says with a laugh. "We've converted our attic into a jam space with cables running everywhere." So, yes, Spooky Branches is a "jam" band - but not how you might think, really. The duo doesn't sound much like The Grateful Dead or Phish; rather, Gray and Whaley literally jam disparate ideas together, connecting musical parts that seemingly shouldn't gel to unearth something unexpected, similar to one of their biggest influences, Deerhoof. Throw in more mainstream reference points such as Rush and Led Zeppelin - even Steve Miller Band - and the Spooky Branches sound gets progressively more mercurial. Or as Gray aptly notes, "It's like red yarn on a map with a pin; we're just trying to piece everything together."

With the music rapidly expanding in various directions like, well,

"IT'S LIKE RED YARN ON A MAP WITH A PIN; WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PIECE EVERYTHING TOGETHER."

branches on a tree, Gray continued to develop his lyrical approach with equal verve, crafting a "universal sci-fi story where I can plug in different parts of my life into different settings there." He's also fascinated by ancient history which has resulted in some very unique song titles, such as "De Havilland Vampire," CabinetofAncientChemicals" and "Trismagistus" - all of which the duo played at both Eclipse on the Ohio on April 8 and Bokeh Lounge some months back. Now the focus is on trying to capture the complex Spooky Branches sound in the studiosomething Whaley feels is within reach. "For awhile it was a you-had-to-be-there experience, but now that we've moved onto phase two of the band, we're building up to it."

For more info, follow Spooky Branches on Facebook.

AIMING FOR THE SWEET SPOT: NEW TRI-STATE COVER BAND SET TO DEBUT THIS MONTH AT LAMASCO

Like so many band formations, it all started with an off-the-cuff conversation, two friends wondering aloud about the possibility of playing music together. The difference here, however, is that Dreamstreet's origin story dates back nearly 10 years. That's when tri-state guitarist/vocalist Casey Williams and former Tastes Like Chicken singer Jessica Overstreet first discussed the idea of performing some blues covers at local bars. In fact, the more the two talked about it, the better it all sounded. And yet, as Williams notes, "for various reasons that didn't come to fruition." Cut to a decade later, September of 2023: Fate intervened as Front Porch Fest was in full swing in downtown Evansville. "We ran into each other [which was] serendipitous," Williams recalls, "because she had an itch to get back in a band, and I had been doing my solo acoustic show for many years and was wanting to do something, too. It was the right time, right place. We said let's do this and start finding some people to play with."

And man, did they find some talent, including the incomparable Honey Roy Carter on keys, harmonica and backing vocals. "I've been a fan of his for many years," Williams says. "I just walked up to him at Bokeh [Lounge] and said, 'Hey, we're starting a band, do you want to be a part of it?' Roy gives us the ability to cover more ground with his incredible musicianship." But perhaps Dreamstreet's biggest coup was securing one of the area's tightest rhythm sections comprising bassist Tyler Gardner and

drummer Teelin Atteberry - longtime friends who previously played in a high school drumline together, which, as the latter explains, often required them "to be in exact time, precisely." The moment Overstreet and Williams heard the pair lock-in at practice, it was a done deal.

Not surprisingly, word of this dream configuration of musicians has stirred up a lot of local interest, resulting in several summer gigs booked. And though the band's original premise was blues-based, the plan now is to branch out into various genres. "We're trying to hit a sweet spot," Overstreet notes. "There'll be some blues, some funk, rock and R&B. In this town there are only so many cover bands at the moment and a lot of them are just straight country or straight contemporary. We want to keep it upbeat." She further cites artists like Bill Withers, Al Green and Gary Clark Jr. as artists Dreamstreet intends to cover, while Williams adds Koko Taylor and Aretha Franklin into the mix - "stuff you don't hear that much." Yet, the band is also open to writing and performing original songs down the line, so stay tuned.

UPCOMING SHOWS:

6/22 Lamasco Bar & Grill

7/13 Tiki on Main

8/30 Bokeh Lounge

For more info, follow Dreamstreet on Facebook.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, WORD OF THIS DREAM CONFIGURATION OF MUSICIANS HAS STIRRED UP A LOT OF LOCAL INTEREST, RESULTING IN SEVERAL SUMMER GIGS BOOKED.

DANIEL WILLIAMS

EVANSVILLE-BASED COUNTRY SINGER PARTNERS WITH WALLY OPUS RECORDS, DEBUTS "NEVER LOOKING BACK"

Boasting an ever-growing lineup of top-notch recording acts, including Ghost Prom, Samuel Avery, Swamp Eyes and The Chugs, Evansville's Wally Opus Records now lays claim to a country star in the making, having spent the last 18 months working with singer Daniel Williams and fine-tuning the up-and-comer's approach to songwriting. Now the results of this partnership can be heard in "Never Looking Back," a new single released last month that signals a major talent in our midst. Marrying a lo-fi beat with a dark acoustic soundtrack, musically it recalls Everlast's "What It's Like," while lyrically, Williams details the slog of working long hours in the railyard as he dreams of another life: "So I pray these days won't last too long/ I climb out these trenches by picking on these songs/ The cold hard truth is far from a fact/ Wanna hit that road running boys and never look back."

Williams' vocals, delivered with a hint of twang and a laconic vibe, perfectly express the plight of a man beaten down by life yet still standing, still looking forward - there remains hope that he can escape the day-to-day grind and pursue his true love: performing country music. Perhaps this is Williams manifesting his own destiny, because in his mind, time is already running out: "I was taught as a boy to work like a mule/ These days I'm 25 and running on fumes/ Dark early morning turns to sunset/ Though I tell myself to try it's hard getting out of bed." Amen.

"Never Looking Back" is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, visit wallyopus.com.

FORTHRIGHT

CATCH YOUR DEATH: LOCAL METALHEADS DROP "REAPER BREATH," SECOND EARSPLITTING SINGLE OF 2024

When we last caught up with Forthright, one of Evansville's longest-running and fiercest metal bands, they had just released the defiant "War of Attrition," a guitar shredder's dream of heavy, pummeling riffing paired with frantic drumming. Over this orchestrated cacophony, frontman Nick Bulger barked out orders to keep fighting the good fight, even though life often feels like a losing battle. For a group that's weathered nearly 10 years in the local music scene, the song felt particularly poignant - not to mention it just rocked to the nth degree, proving that Forthright has plenty left in the tank and then some. But Bulger and the rest of the guysguitarist Cade Crider, bassist Christian Miller and drummer Eddie Goebel II - were clearly just getting warmed up.

Riding the momentum of a brilliant single, Forthright is back with another bulldozing banger in "Reaper Breath." The name alone tells the tale, but the relentless guitar attack drives home the point with bone-crunching authority just so there's no mistaking the band's intent. As always, Goebel pounds away like a madman behind the kit, simultaneously locked-in and playing with abandon. Bulger, meanwhile, is in full military mode, delivering his commanding, doom-laden vocals with extreme vitriol: "Only one of us will be left standing/ Only one of us will walk away... Catch your death, feel the reaper's breath on your neck once again." This is old school metal at its finest, echoing the likes of Slayer and Exodus - everything you could possibly want in a thrash song in 2024. Check it out!

"Reaper Breath" is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow Forthright on Facebook.

ARTSWIN ON THE ROOF CONCERT SERIES

LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OFFERS UP ANOTHER SUMMER OF SIZZLING LIVE PERFORMANCES

For more than a half century, the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (ARTSWIN) has been dedicated to achieving its mission of "enhancing quality of life in the region and bolstering economic development by way of advocating and promoting arts, arts education and arts organizations in Southwest Indiana." The nonprofit organization's efforts to better the community have taken many forms over the years but few can match the excitement of the On the Roof Concert Series which debuted in 2019 to rousing approval. Seriously, what's not to love about the area's best musicians performing live on top of a building in scenic downtown Evansville?

This summer ARTSWIN has put together another fantastic lineup of bands for your listening pleasure, with bimonthly Saturday night concerts through October. Best of all, this incredible live music series is absolutely free to the public (all ages), so take a look at the performance schedule below and start making plans to rock out alongside your friends on the roof at ARTSWIN on Main Street!

ON THE ROOF CONCERT SERIES

6/15: Hannah Evelyn & D.R. Bridges

6/29: Soul N The Pocket & O’B Brown

7/13: The Boat Monkeys & Bethany Gillepsie

7/27: The Randys, Old Time Boxing, & Macrogeo

8/10: Lindsey Williams & Summer League

8/24: Cynthia Murray and Stephen Horning & The Lowland Ramblers

9/21: Corduroy Orbison & Georgia Funkadelic

10/5: Kenna Elpers & Latasha Shemwell

10/26: The City Grimm & Stella *cash bar provided by Sauced

Performances start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more info, visit artswin.org. The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana is located at 212 Main St. in downtown Evansville.

NEW FEARS EVE

KENTUCKY-SHOT SLASHER SCORES BIG AWARD AT THE CHICAGO HORROR FILM FESTIVAL, REGIONAL

PREMIERE DATE SET FOR JUNE 15 AT RIVERPARK CENTER

Blood Moon Pictures' P.J. Starks and Eric Huskisson have been on quite the journey over the last year, seeing their latest slasher project, New Fears Eve, gain momentum at every turn and create the sort of buzz normally reserved for big studio releases - well-earned considering the pair's cinematic pedigree. As noted in previous issues of News 4U, the Owensboro filmmakers are responsible for some of the best regionally-shot horror flicks in recent memory, including the Volumes of Blood anthologies and 2020's 13 Slays Till X-Mas, all of which received great reviews from such trusted sources as Dread Central, not to mention garnered high praise from Final Destination franchise creator Jeffrey Reddick.

What's been particularly exciting about the development of New Fears Eve is how Starks and Huskisson have put their years of film experience to work, improving every aspect of the process, from the writing to the acting to the special effects - something that was immediately apparent when the trailer for the film appeared online some nine months back and fans got their first glimpse of "The Doctor," the homicidal maniac that terrorizes a small town. It was two minutes and 33 seconds of pure adrenaline - and comedy. Starks knows how to write a good fart joke, for lack of a better term. Long story short, Blood Moon's reputation, combined with the highlyeffective teaser, helped to get New Fears Eve an invitation to this spring's Chicago Horror

Film Festival. Not only that, it was nominated for five awards, including Best Feature, Best Horror Comedy, Best Blood & Gore, Best Villain and Best Director.

Deservedly, Starks and Huskisson scored the Best Horror Comedy award - a huge honor considering the competition - and are looking to parlay that win into invitations to other iconic festivals such as Screamfest in Los Angeles and Fantastic Fest in Texas. But right now they're focused on the film's regional premiere, set for June 15 at RiverPark Center in Owensboro. "We have a lot of seats to fill," Starks notes. "But it feels like we'll have a good turn-out because we have a lot of local support. We also have people that are attached to the project that will be coming in from all the surrounding states." (FYI, the possibility that celebrities might be in attendance is real. Something to consider if you're thinking about showing up.) Starks says that Blood Moon is working on a Nashville screening and a potential October premiere at ScareFest in Lexington. As for an official nationwide release, he's eyeing an OctoberDecember scenario - but so much depends on distribution deals and the like. We'll keep you updated as New Fears Eve continues its incredible run... RiverPark Center Premiere Sponsors:

Musick Studios, Asylum Tattoo & Art Gallery, Foreman Watson Holtrey, LLP, Champion Ford, Owensboro Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau

For more info, follow Blood Moon Pictures on Facebook.

SCREEN TIME

WITH MARISA PATWA

June streaming options include season two of a fan-favorite prequel, the return of the clones and a dysfunctional family dramedy

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SSN 2

It was during my COVID-19 quarantine that I was able to delightfully binge House of Dragon, the dark Game of Thrones prequel that details the battle over the mythical country when it was only a few hundred years old. Unlike its predecessor, which had outlines from the George R. R. Martin books as its map, this story is the sordid tale of history lessons fruitcaked into a grizzly familial spectacle. The last episode ended with a bloodthirsty invitation for war, which we now have the wicked pleasure of seeing play out in season two. The opponents are Team Green, which is rooting for King Aegon and his queen mother, and Team Black, supporting Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Targaryen line. Matt Smith, the brooding Daemon Targarayen, and breakout star Emma D’Arcy as the princess-turned-commander are a dangerous yet exciting match in this bloody battle. Odds are there will be a lot of heat this season - and not just from the firebreathing dragons. HBO MAX 6/16

ORPHAN BLACK: ECHOES

As a teenage girl, Tatiana Maslany’s clone-centered Orphan Black world was a titillating one. The actress was a tour de force, playing multiple characters over the show's five seasons from 2013 to 2017. So any iteration from the same universe is immediately compelling to me. Thankfully, this new version has the equally formidable Krysten Ritter at the helm as the mysterious Lucy. And as a whipped topping, the brooding Avan Jogia is co-starring as her love-interest, an ex-military medic and single dad. But my guess is it will still be Lucy saving the day. In a delightful twist for fans of the original show, Keeley Hawes plays Dr. Kira Manning, a brilliant scientist who just so happens to be the daughter of Maslany’s lead clone, Sarah. Well done, team: diehards will be enticed and new fans intrigued. Creator Anna Fishko has set this sequel in the near future of 2052, where the lines between science and history are blurred. I’m here for the gray. AMC/AMC+/BBC AMERICA 6/23

LAND OF WOMEN

When Eva Longoria first graced our screens as Gabrielle Solis, a sassy and spoiled Desperate Housewife, in 2004, she solidified her title as TV queen. Two decades later we've got her back in an exquisite episodic capacity. Longoria plays bougie New York socialite Gala who must relocate to a charming wine town - located conveniently in northern Spain - with her mother and college-age daughter in tow. Think Schitts Creek, but on the Spanish Riviera. This particular family has to acclimate to a more quaint life, uncover their deepest secrets and grow together. There's also the little fact about two non-savvy hitmen on the trail of the dysfunctional family - something about Gala’s husband having some shady business dealings. Men... SMH. This series blends together familiar themes, with the added charm of three generations of Hispanic women finding themselves. It's a dramedy that's sure to be the juicy summer soap we’ve been craving since Mrs. Solis last set her heels down in Wisteria Lane. APPLE TV 6/26

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

SYDNEY POWELL: POOR GRADES KILLER

Before we get to the main event this month, I'd be remiss not to mention the latest development in the ongoing pre-trial saga of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho college students on November 13, 2022. His defense team, tasked with submitting an official alibi for their client before the court deadline, did so on April 17, 2024; however, there appeared to be little substance to said alibi - a fact that the prosecution took little time in pointing out, calling it "lacking" in the sort of detail necessary to meet legal standards. Basically, Kohberger is maintaining that he was simply out for a typical late night drive in the wee hours of November 13 and was nowhere near the crime scene - something no one can corroborate. Cell phone records, surely, will prove crucial at trial.

Now on to the case of Sydney Powell, a 23-yearold Ohio woman recently convicted of two counts of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence for the killing of her mother, 50-year-old Brenda Powell. First off, matricide is somewhat rare in the world of true crime. But it's the nature of how this tragedy played out that's truly shocking. At the time of the murder, Sydney was a student at the University of Mount Union in Ohio - or so she claimed. In truth, she had been expelled for poor grades in the fall semester of 2019 but continued to go through the motions of being a student on campus to keep up appearances. Early in 2020, however, the college evicted Sydney, forcing her to leave the premises. And that's when the real trouble began. Unwilling to face the music, she lodged at hotels in the area rather than return home to the inevitable disappointment of her parents.

Sydney had excelled as a student in high school and expectations were high for the next phase of her education; failure, in her mind, was not an option.

Sadly, things came to a head on March 3, 2020. That morning, Sydney's father Steven attempted to pay his daughter's tuition through an online portal but was denied access. He questioned Sydney who finally confessed that she'd been living a lie for months, an admission that set in motion a terrible turn of events.

Steven, understandably concerned, called his wife Brenda at her job to discuss the situation; she, in turn, rushed home to speak with Sydney, determined to fully uncover her deceit. During the course of the confrontation, Brenda called the university and school officials confirmed that Sydney had been expelled.

Subsequently, there was a series of terrible thuds and screaming heard before Brenda's phone went dead.

A frantic call back to the Powell residence was then picked up by Sydney pretending to be her mother in an effort to hide the horrible reality of what she'd just done: in a fit of rage, she murdered Brenda, beating her mother over the head repeatedly with a cast iron skillet before stabbing her 30 times. Sydney would plead insanity at trial but to no avail; the jury found her guilty in just a matter of hours.

"IN TRUTH, SHE HAD BEEN EXPELLED FOR POOR GRADES IN THE FALL SEMESTER OF 2019 BUT CONTINUED TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF BEING A STUDENT ON CAMPUS TO KEEP UP APPEARANCES.

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

WINNIE:: Meet Winnie! She’s prepared to make a deal with you - adopt her and she’ll be your best friend for life. She’ll even shake on it! With the right amount of treats, she’ll throw in some “downs” and “fetches.” This very sweet, very smart five-year-old retriever mix is already crate-trained and will fit right in with an active family who loves to play as much as they do snuggle. Her $200 adoption fee includes her spay, microchip and up-todate vaccines.

JAMBALAYA: Two-year-old Jambalaya would like to remind you not to forget about the momma cats this kitten season! Her five adorable kittens were adopted very quickly. Mom, however, is still waiting! She’s a little shy, but interactive toys with her new person will help build her confidence. Once you get to petting her, her purr never really stops and she has head bumps aplenty! Adopt this sweet momma for $100, which includes her spay, microchip and up-to-date vaccines!

FLORENCE: Looking for a bun to admire and dote on in your free time? Meet Florence Nightingale! This girl is the whole package: looks AND personality. Flo loves to be pampered, and it's a good thing, too, because her lush locks require regular grooming and upkeep. Although you would expect a girl like her to be sassy, she's just as sweet as they come and loves to spend time with her people. Florence is currently in a foster home, so if you feel like she might be a good match for your home, give the shelter a call to set up a visit with her!

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

400 MILLNER INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

ADOPTION HOURS TUES-SAT FROM NOON-6PM

JANE

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

Evansville's Ellen Moore is a repeat offender - but in the best way possible. We last chatted with the northsider for the January 2024 issue; she had recently adopted a super sweet senior cat named Levi from the VHS and seemed content to spend her days with the loveable furball, not looking to bring another animal into her home. Moore did, however, make it a point to continue volunteering at the shelter, participating in both the Cardio for Canines and Big Dog Buddy programs. And that's how she first met Jane, a three-year-old pitbull mix. "The VHS staff said she might be a good fit for me - so I started walking her sometime around mid-December

SO I BROUGHT HER OUT TO MY HOUSE TO MEET LEVI JUST TO MAKE SURE SHE WASN'T AGGRESSIVE TOWARD CATS - AND THEY JUST LOVED EACH OTHER RIGHT AWAY; IT WAS JUST INSTANTANEOUS.

[of 2023], three or four times a week, sometimes more," Moore explains. She even took the precious girl for car rides, eventually deciding to foster Jane, eager to help the shelter with overcrowding. But there was also another consideration. "Jane was heartworm positive, so my plan was to care for her through the treatment period," Moore says. "So I brought her out to my house to meet Levi just to make sure she wasn't aggressive toward cats - and they just loved each other right away; it was just instantaneous."

The connection between the two was so immediate, in fact, that just two

weeks in, a foster fail all but seemed inevitable; happily, Moore headed back to the VHS and officially adopted Jane who quickly made herself at home, getting cozy on the couch ("I've broken a lot of rules with her - I never let dogs on the sofa," Moore says with a laugh) and snuggling often with her new feline friend. Despite a rough past of mistreatment and having birthed two litters of puppies in her first two years, Jane's proven to be quite resilient, overcoming some initial skittishness and exhibiting all-around good behavior. For example, she patiently waits for Levi to drink from the water bowl before getting her own sips in and is completely house-trained. Best of all, the friendship between Jane and Levi continues to grow, a truly wonderful development that's had a particularly positive impact on the latter. "Levi was a crier - he's really vocal and I knew he was kind of lonesome and didn't like for me to leave," Moore says. "Now he's way better, which is amazing. It's all just worked out perfect - it was meant to be."

AS I TYPE THIS...

with Barold Hume

GONE TO THE DOGS: VP HOPEFUL

KRISTI NOEM SELF-IMPLODES

We're another month closer to the Biden/Trump rematch that no one wants, but all the talk of late has been about a certain governor from South Dakota. As I type this, Kristi Noem, once a Republican VP hopeful, is making news for all the wrong reasons. Here's the thing: hardly a week goes by without a politician creating some kind of controversy. That just goes with the territory. But rarely has someone selfimploded to such a baffling degree as Noem, courtesy of several shocking admissions in her recently released book No Going Back - a fitting title if there ever was one, because I'm fairly confident she'll never fully recover from the fallout. You do know what I'm referencing, right? In just a matter of days, the governor went from being on Trump's shortlist for a running mate to being labeled a heartless "puppy killer," toxic even to her own party. To recap: Noem, reportedly in an effort to show she's capable of making the "tough decisions" required of leaders in high positions, included a rather horrifying story in her book involving the execution-style killing of "Cricket," an "un-trainable" 14-month-old puppy that she "hated." She also details the snuffing out of a

"smelly" goat. (Do most goats give off a fragrant odor? That's news to me).

You know, stand-up comics often talk about the importance of reading the room, as they call it, and it's clear from these two passages in No Going Back that Noem doesn't understand Americans at all. Yes, we're a divided people, but man, we love our pets. What on earth was this woman thinking? It's bad enough that she shot poor Cricket - and even suggested that Biden's dog Commander (who, after many biting incidents at the White House, is now living with relatives) should join him in the afterlife - but to effectively brag about the incident in an apparent effort to win over voters is just mind-boggling. No chance now that Trump will pick her for VP. Especially since Noem keeps doubling down on the killings in disastrous interview after disastrous interview, often coming across like an evil stepmother. Which brings me to my final point: Noem, along with J.D. Vance, Kari Lake and other Trump suck-

ups, just don't get it. Love or hate DJT, the man has always been entertaining; some people even find him funny. The aforementioned folks, however, have zero personality - just endless tough-talk that wears very thin. Yes, it's important to lead with authority, but to get elected to the highest office you generally need to be likeable. Otherwise, Hillary Clinton would have served as our first female president. Voters loved her husband Bill, though, with his affable manner and southern charm. Same goes for George W. Bush who had the sort of aw-shucks demeanor Americans dig. And of course, Obama oozed charisma. Bottom line: no "puppy killer" will ever set foot in the White House. R.I.P., Cricket.

BUT RARELY HAS SOMEONE SELF-IMPLODED TO SUCH A BAFFLING DEGREE AS NOEM, COURTESY OF SEVERAL SHOCKING ADMISSIONS IN HER RECENTLY RELEASED BOOK NO GOING BACK.

HEADLINES THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM.....

NEWS 4U'S GRUMPIEST CONTRIBUTOR COMMENTS ON REAL STORIES POSTED ONLINE IN RECENT WEEKS with Johnny Fletcher

"MAN SAYS HIS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ALLIGATOR, KNOWN FOR ITS BIG SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE, HAS GONE MISSING"

This headline pretty much sums up where we are as a society. First, you've got the all-important emotional support animal - or reptile(!), in this case - that no human can seemingly function without in 2024. And it follows, of course, that "Wally" (yes, that's the alligator's real name) must have his own social media page because over-sharing is a way of life these days. As I understand it, Wally was eventually recovered by the Department of Natural Resources and released into a swamp with 20 other alligators. Whether he's able to survive out on his own after a decade of being hugged like a teddy bear is anybody's guess.

"LENNY KRAVITZ DEFENDS VIRAL VIDEO OF HIMSELF WORKING OUT IN LEATHER PANTS AND BOOTS"

As a country, we ignore all sorts of problems: gun violence, homelessness, hunger, mental illness, etc. But by god, one thing no American will tolerate is a rock star exercising in rock star clothing. Never! Let's be honest, Lenny Kravitz hasn't had a hit in nearly three decades; who gives a flip? Let me break it down for you... The reason certain people are throwing a hissy fit is because the guy's almost 60 but has the body of a 25-year-old, while the lazy folks bitching about him look like walking Krispy Kreme donuts. Do the math.

"SATANISTS NOT WELCOME IN SCHOOLS BUT 'WELCOME TO GO TO HELL' SAYS STATE SUPERINTENDENT"

You'll be shocked to hear that this story is straight out of Oklahoma, where they're apparently no friend of the devil. So, this is another battle over religion being allowed in public schools. Seems the Oklahoma House passed SB 36, a bill that would permit volunteer chaplains to roam the halls and be of service to students. Still has a ways to go before becoming law, but The Satanic Temple is reportedly hell-bent on placing ministers in said schools if it does. The organization plans to fight fire with fire, in other words. Should be a hot debate, is what I'm saying. Hey, is it warm in here, or is it just me?

"FANS CALL OUT KIM KARDASHIAN’S CHOPPED PIXIE HAIRCUT, CLAIM SHE GOT A CHEMICAL CUT"

I'm thinking these "fans" are the same morons complaining about Lenny Kravitz. Where do people find the time to worry about such meaningless nonsense? More importantly, how are we STILL talking about the Kardashians? I was utterly baffled by the family's initial popularity, but took heart in the idea that it surely wouldn't last long. Joke's on me, I guess. Christ, they're worth something like $3 billion now - can't Kim and the gals just retire, already? (Side note: what in the heck is a chemical cut? Sounds painful.)

anything AmyAsk

WORD

LOVE, LIFE, SEX, BUSINESS, KIDS, POLITICS, MONEY, RELATIONSHIPS, MUSIC, GARDENING, BAKING… EVANSVILLE’S MOST INFAMOUS AMY ANSWERS ALL! WITH AMY

No, I don’t wear a bra. Yes, they’re real. No, that is powdered sugar. No, you can’t have pictures of my feet. And yes, Andrew, you are my favorite son. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get into our very first monthly column where YOU get to ask me anything!

WHO’S THE NICEST DEMOCRAT AND NICEST REPUBLICAN YOU’VE MET IN LOCAL POLITICS?

This one was super easy! I will say, despite politicians getting a horrible rap, there really are some amazing folks that are trying to make our community better. The nicest Democrat is Mary Allen and the nicest Republican is Ron Beane. Mary also always smells like the most lovely of soaps, and Ron was only mean when he yelled at us in high school (which we absolutely deserved, and his daughter is one of my very best childhood friends….we will, however, have to leave those stories to lore, as to what trouble had somehow found us!)

DO YOU MEASURE ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS?

I don't trust people who measure garlic or vanilla extract. You just gotta dump that sh*t in until your heart tells you it’s enough, or until your ancestors are content. There is no other way to appropriately use these ingredients. Don’t f*ck this up.

WHAT IS THE LATEST BOOK YOU ARE READING?

OMG! If you haven’t found fairy smut, lawdy are you missing out! Pro-tip: GET IT ON AUDIBLE. Get you some really nice noise-cancelling headphones. What the outside world sees is a lady in pink headphones gardening with a big smile on her face, and internally you’re listening to a sex scene straight outta Hustler . You’ll be happier, your mate will be happier, the battery industry will be happier, and maybe world peace can be achieved. Trust me on this. DO IT. My current favorite author is Sarah J. Maas, but there is a world of fairy, vampire and monster smut for your taking.

DO YOU THINK OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS IS WORTH IT?

It is the most rewarding, exhausting, emotional rollercoaster of a career you can pick. You most certainly get better at trusting your business acumen as time goes on, but you have to also temper that with being willing to learn and listen. There are some shady folks out there, and vampires of the financial and energy sort, that you have to be on the lookout. Now that I am into baking and writing a tell-all column, and my nervous system is learning to regulate… I don’t know. We’ll have to come back to this question again and again (kinda like the fairy smut).

I DON'T TRUST PEOPLE WHO MEASURE GARLIC OR VANILLA EXTRACT. YOU JUST GOTTA DUMP THAT SH*T IN. “

WHAT IS A SIMPLE RECIPE THAT YOU MAKE WEEKLY?

Sandwich bread! It is easy peasy, easier than finding drugs at any bar in America (you know I had to throw that in somewhere).

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups warm milk

1 tablespoon sugar (white granulated)

2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

**LET BLOOM 10 minutes**

3 tablespoons melted butter

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

Mix, 3 minutes in mixer or 5 minutes by hand. Form it in a ball, cover it, put a bit of olive on top, and on the counter (or in your microwave) let it double in size in the mixing bowl.

Roll into the loaf pan and let it double in size again, then place in greased loaf pan. 30-33 minutes at 360 degrees.

For visual learners, follow me on TikTok and here’s the link to this recipe: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLbf3T1U/

IF YOU WERE A HOTDOG, WOULD YOU EAT YOURSELF?

ABSOLUTELY. I’m a glizzy guzzler! I literally wish I could deny loving hot dogs, and yes, I do know what is in them, but I’ll do it anyway, and would eat the last one at your family grill out. And not be sorry at all. I am the wurst.

Eat your vegetables. Mind your manners. And remember, there’s nothing better than a well-placed f*ck you.

Love,

Ask Amy Anything

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JUNE MUSIC REVIEWS

TAYLOR SWIFT

The Tortured Poets Department Republic Records

Swifties working on their PhDs have quite the dissertation material with the pop star's latest album, particularly in the lyrical department as they analyze and categorize songs based on whether they're inspired by her long-love, British actor Joe Alwyn, fleeting romance with The 1975’s Matt Healy or her current love, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Taylor's poetry is iconic, catchy, reflective, emotional and fun. In keeping with her synth-pop era, she delivers a fluid stream of modern, yet edgy bangers. Lead single “Fortnight” gives us the sweet surprise of rapper Post Malone echoing ethereal lyrics of forbidden love, along with an iconic black and white Poor Things-style music video. “Down Bad” hits the musical sweet spot for me, tapping into the pain we all feel after the loss of a relationship we know isn’t good for us, but still want. “Who's Afraid of Little Old Me” is proudly aimed at all the hungry doubters that Taylor ate. The surprise pop song of the summer?: “Florida!!!” with Florence and the Machine. The two make the sunshine state a retrospective paradise with their breathy chorus and courage to face hurricanes. Producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner dress the album with their own brilliant flair, co-writing creative yet relatable lyrics with Swift. As for the mid-tempo production infused with drum machines and overlaid with Taylor’s signature lower register? It might seem minimalist, but she is, I assure you, quite maximal. - Marisa Patwa

COLLECTIVE SOUL Here to Eternity Fuzze-Flex Records

Georgia's Collective Soul hit the ground running with the anthemic rocker "Shine" in 1993, bursting onto the scene at the height of the grunge movement. But in reality, the band's sound was more varied than its contemporaries and, most importantly, frontman Ed Roland's vocal approach was far removed from the "Seattle" style of singing, allowing for contemplative moments such as 1995's "The World I Know" and 1997's "Blame." With time, Collective Soul has only grown musically, branching out and embracing influences such as the Beatles and Bob Dylan. In fact, the group's diverse new double album features a live recording of "Bob Dylan (Where Are You Today)," Roland's homage to the legendary folk singer. Heck, there's even a David Bowie feel to "Bluer Than Blue" and a gospel edge to "No Man's Land." But songs like "Mother's Love" - which recalls the infectious rock-riffing of "Heavy" - and "Kick It" should keep hardcore fans happy, no doubt, leaving more adventurous listeners to geek-out on the synthbass of "Let It Flow" and piano/strings arrangement of "Bring on the Day."

- Johnny Fletcher

CHECK OUT THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF

DUA LIPA Radical Optimism

Warner Records

Four years after feeling Future Nostalgia, pop star Dua Lipa is promoting her Radical Optimism. The English-Albanian singer is confidently sliding into summer knowing last year’s tropical season was soundtracked solely by Barbie’s “Dance the Night.” Now, she’s back to claim her own dreamland. What’s so cool about Dua is she’s carved a space for herself in the over-saturated pop scene as the disco dance queen for the modern age. Her psychedelic beats make you want to boogie on the disco floor and shimmy all your worries away. Lead single “Houdini” is flirty and magical, already proving its popularity on the charts. “Training Season” is a warning shot to all the bad boys out there: “Are you someone that I can give my heart to?/ Or just the poison that I'm drawn to?/ It can be hard to tell the difference late at night/ Play fair, is that a compass in your nature?/ Or are you tricky?/ 'Cause I've been there/ And baby, I don't need to learn my lesson twice.” My favorite, though, is “Illusion,” a high-energy dance beat with a syrupy falsetto. Producers Ian Kirkpatrick, Danny L Harle, Andrew Wyatt and Kevin Parker may have fine-tuned the album with their studio expertise, but it’s Dua Lipa’s powerhouse vocals and confident energy that leave us feeling more than optimistic about her music career. - Marisa Patwa

PET SHOP BOYS Nonetheless Parlophone

Alongside Soft Cell, the Pet Shop Boys have staked a solid claim as music's greatest synth-pop duo, racking up a ridiculous number of chart hits - particularly in their UK home base - dating back to 1986's monumental debut, "West End Girls," and the sheer brilliance of the following year's "It's a Sin." Now here we are nearly four decades and 15 albums on. Remarkably, singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe - who make for an endlessly intriguing pair - keep conjuring up memorable melancholy melodies often married with electronic beats as heard across Nonetheless, PSB's best collection of songs since 2006's Fundamental. Tennant's famously high-pitched nasal vocal delivery soars as ever on moody lead single "Loneliness" and the mournful, orchestral "Love is the Law." Behind the scenes, where he prefers to reside, Lowe creates a dreamy, synthetic soundtrack that's deeply affecting yet uplifting; tracks like "Why am I Dancing?" and "Dancing Star" recall past successes like the duo's cover of Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind" and "Domino Dancing" from 1988's Introspective - Johnny Fletcher

SIA

Reasonable Women Monkey Puzzle & Atlantic Records

Sia is one of those mythical creatures in the music game - she’s elusive and private, but when she opens her mouth to sing, a symphony comes to life. Her 10th studio album is a triumph, paying homage to her years in the industry while simultaneously serving as an ode to all of her contributions yet to come. Written with producers Jesse Shatkin and Greg Kurstin, the trio methodically creates a voluminous master work. Each feature is profound and meticulously chosen to enhance the album, with heavyweights like Benny Blanco, Labrinth and fellow Australian Kylie Minogue checking in. Jasper Harris, Tierra Whack, Chaka Khan, Paris Hilton, Jimmy Jolliff and Kaliii also say hello. Lead single “Gimme Love” is a traditional yet moving Sia song. She empowers the listeners while craving for acceptance over an operatic chorus. “Incredible” featuring Labrinth is a catchy, sexy and fresh track. You can tell these two musical geniuses had fun in the recording studio mixing the beat because it really took me by surprise with how playful and unique it is. “Immortal Queen” featuring Chaka Khan is just a pure guilty pleasure with cheeky lyrics: “Get in your time machine and step to the past, past/ Check it, I'm queen from beginning to the last, last... Caveman bring the cave queen carvings/ Feeding the queen while the cavemen starving.” One thing's for sure: after listening to this album, you’ll be more than full.

- Marisa Patwa

SHELLAC To All Trains Touch and Go

Sadly, I'm forced to preview the final album of Steve Albini's career. As some of you may know, the Chicago musician/producer recently left this world at the age of 61, a victim of a heart attack. Which is kind of fitting, really; after all, the man was an unrelenting force of nature on stage, whether fronting Big Black, Rapeman or his most enduring outfit, Shellac. Albini, no matter the setup, played guitar and sang with an intensity that many found unnerving - he thrived on pushing buttons. But that's why bands such as the Pixies and Nirvana respected him so much and lobbied for his production services which, in keeping with Albini's musical approach, were geared towards capturing an organic sound, raw and undiluted. Full disclosure, I haven't heard a note of To All Trains as the release date is set for later in May past the magazine's print date. But I can assure you that, like all Albini-related efforts, it will be a slice of post-punk heaven, abrasive and unforgiving. A bit like a heart attack. - Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

LONE STAR MOJO

A Shot of the Blues JoeMarkMusic

A seasoned blues/ rock four-piece from Wichita Falls, Texas, Lone Star Mojo returns with A Shot of the Blues. The album opens with “Good Blues Travels Fast,” a toetapper that allows Joe Splawn to showcase his talents on the organ. “Desolation Blues” offers a mellower groove with Barry Sloan’s drumming. Some heavy metal elements seem to come through Tim Maloney’s bass playing and Sloan’s drums on “Hey Hey.” “Thoughts of You” sees the band delve into a more psychedelic blues realm reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix. The group offers up an island vibe on “What Do You Feel.” “You’re Just a Blur” offers more heavy metal sounds as well as slide guitar from Scott Biggs.

More fine drumming from Sloan with a military flair kicks off “So Long Ruthie,” a song about saying goodbye. “A Shot of the Blues” features Mark Snyder singing about needing to hear his favorite style of music to feel better while Splawn demonstrates more of his prowess on the organ. Snyder delivers a great guitar performance on “Corner Boogie.” Heavy bass and guitar work jump out on “Your Blues Give My Blues the Blues.” A funky 1970s groove seems to come through during “She Really Loves the Blues” as Snyder sings about the great woman he found. The album closes with “America's Got the Blues,” a song that allows the whole band to shine. For more info, visit Lonestarmojo.net. - Paul Bragin

JUNE BEER REVIEWS

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This IPA pours a hazy burnt orange hue with a thin head. On the nose is a prominent aroma of pine resin along with citrusy notes of bitter orange peel. Even more citrusy on the palate with a touch of grapefruit and even a little tropical mango. It has a nice clean, crisp finish with just a touch of bitterness. If this is what defines a Midwest IPA, I’m sold.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A decent white head rests on this IPA but evaporates somewhat quickly. A good amount of hops comes to the foreground in the nose. More hops hit the tongue with the first sip, and notes of pine from the hops come through in the very long finish. People who enjoy hoppy beers need to drink this. Pair it with foods with a high fat content or spicy foods like a Nashville hot chicken sandwich.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3.5

This beer pours a cloudy amber color with decent carbonation. I'm not sure what a Midwest IPA technically is, but I'd say this tastes like a standard IPA. I've never had anything from this brewery before but this is a decent introduction - might need to explore their offerings and see what else they've got.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

The second of four IPAs up for review this month is a big (9.9% ABV) IPA from Goose Island. Pouring a dark orange, hazy hue, this has a lot of juice, orange and grapefruit, on the nose. This IPA has added flavoring to boost its juiciness. This one is flavorful, though I tend to gravitate to the naturally-flavored IPAs. Slight bitterness, and balanced well, the 9.9% ABV can sneak up on you if you aren’t careful.

PAUL BRAGIN - 3.75

A thick white head crowns this Imperial IPA and never totally evaporates. A generous amount of fruit notes from the hops fills the nose. Similarly, the fruit flavors remain while drinking the beer, with wheat notes providing some balance. In spite of the high alcohol content, this beer could see a rise in popularity during the summer. Pair it with spicy dishes like Indian curries, Mexican food, burgers, steaks or fried foods.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a slightly hazy amber-colored beer. To start with, I'm a big fan of the 19.2 oz can and the 9.9% ABV. Most importantly, this beverage has a nice tropical fruitiness to it. Usually when they say it's fruity and call it an IPA, it just tastes like a bunch of hops, but that's not the case here. I really like this one.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4.5

This hazy IPA pours a hazy orange with a decent white head. It bursts with grapefruit on the nose, along with mango and pineapple. On the palate, it is very tropical fruit forward, though in contrast to the 1985 Mango IPA, all its flavors come from the hop varieties used rather than flavor additions. A decent bit of IPA bitterness complements and balances the 7.3% ABV. Warpigs is a brewery that always delivers, and this is no exception.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head tops this hazy IPA and stays for a long time. A citrusy hop scent dominates the nose. Likewise, bitter hop flavors coat the tongue and remain in the long finish. People who enjoy hoppy beers need to drink this. Pair it with a hamburger for the perfect combination or serve it with a variety of spicy foods to highlight the flavors behind the heat without stifling it in the process.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a very tasty citrus-flavored hoppy beer with a lot of character. I like the can design and the 7.3% ABV. This beer is very smooth and easy to drink for an IPA. Never had a beer from Warpigs before - will look for others and see what they have out there.

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.75

This fruit IPA pours a semi-hazy yellow with a frothy head. Mango is prominent on the nose with other citrus following close behind. Fruity on the palate, without being overbearing or sweet, the added mango flavoring is welcoming a touch of bitterness on the finish. Not the malty sweetness you might expect from a fruit beer, this one is actually slightly dry.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head forms on this hazy IPA and evaporates reluctantly. Mango and other fruit notes from the hops control the nose. The fruit

flavors continue with the initial tasting of the beer and stay during the finish along with some malt notes. This beer could see a boost in the hotter summer days. Pair it with grilled meats like hamburgers and steaks, or spicy dishes like Mexican food.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This is a cloudy straw-colored beer. I'm a big fan of New Belgium and this one is pretty good with an ABV of 6.7%. I consider this a little bit on the lighter side of the IPA spectrum which is good. Sometimes they can be a little overbearing and tough to drink but this one is an exception.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Ask an

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: It seems that trials are often decided more by a jury's attitude towards the defendant, rather than by the evidence presented. For cases that you handle that go to trial, how much importance do you place on preparing your client for the courtroom?

A:First, civil jury trials (as opposed to criminal jury trials) are rare in today’s world. There are many reasons for the infrequency of civil trials, but I think most trial lawyers would agree that the outcome of civil jury trials is less predictable today than they have been in the past.

The world is very different today than it was before COVID and a host of other cataclysmic events that have transpired over the last several years and changed jurors' attitudes and mindsets. As a result, jurors do not think about things or process information the same way they

did years ago.

I still believe that at trial the evidence matters as do the jurors’ attitudes toward a defendant and plaintiff. However, the emphasis jurors place on a piece of evidence or how they feel about a defendant or plaintiff is different.

To prepare our client for trial, we attempt to have them be themselves and tell them not to change or act a certain way at trial. We encourage them to be transparent. Transparency builds trust.

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

The most difficult part of a trial for a client is just dealing with the reality of the trial that can last days of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. testimony, arguments, and hearings between the judge and attorneys. It is a grueling ordeal - quite unlike the glamorous, pre-orchestrated snippets portrayed on TV in an hour-long episode.

Although our civil jury system in America is not perfect, it does allow the parties a place to resolve differences peacefully and have their dispute decided by a jury of their peers.

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