News4u September 2024

TABLE of contents

Air

An

Established in 1991 by

Publisher and Operations Manager

Brian Buxton

Managing Editor & Writer Thomas Ellis

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Amy Bradford amy@news4uevv.com

Production Manager, Designer & Layout Artist Kelsey Halbig Contributors

Amy Bradford, Paul Bragin, Brian Buxton, Johnny Fletcher, Jeremiah Galey, Jim Johnson, Tom Leggett, Jabez Martinez, Laurie Miller, Shirley Pancakes, Marisa Patwa, Joshua "Big Cat" Pietrowski, Lindsay Rasure, Lane Siesky, Lindsey Williams

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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.

COVER PHOTO: DANIEL KNIGHT STUDIO B PHOTOGRAPHY

My words are stained with tears this month as summer is once again slipping away. Just a few weeks remain of my favorite time of year; then the cruel march towards winter begins... Is that melodramatic enough for you? I've had a lot of practice (a decadeplus) complaining about Midwest weather in the pages of News 4U - you could say that I've got a black belt in bitching. Well, I just said it for you; no need to chime in. Regardless, I'll be investing in economy-sized boxes of Kleenex as the final days of September play out, leaving me defenseless against the cooling temps. Why???? Ok, gonna pull myself together now and get on with things.

A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR - Tommy Ellis

This latest issue of the magazine, on a happier note, is the first to be helmed by new owner Brian Buxton who's looking to freshen up News 4U across the board - which means you'll find all kinds of cool articles covering everything from the local restaurant scene and cooking tips to community members you need to know. Not to worry, though, you'll still find many of your favorite features, including interviews with high-profile performers coming to the tri-state. Speaking of big name concerts, the Evansville area and beyond will play host to some truly incredible shows over the next couple of months. Just going to throw out a few here - you know, to whet your whistle and

all: Air Supply (Old National Events Plaza), For King + Country (Ford Center), Steven Curtis Chapman (Victory Theatre) and the welcome return of Hairball (Beaver Dam Amphitheater). Be sure to check out the full list in our Fall Concert & Event Guide. I personally guarantee you'll be blown away by the sheer number of shows on the horizon or your money back. That's a joke, you see - News 4U is free. Once you've recovered from that uncontrollable fit of belly laughs, dive into the September issue of the magazine and have yourself a ball!

Right off the bat, let's address the elephant in the room: technically, it's still summer. I know it, you know it. But really, for all intents and purposes, September feels like fall - to me, anyway. Not to mention calling this feature the Late Summer/Early Fall Concert & Event Guide seemed like a bit of a mouthful. Who has time to quibble about insignificant details, anyway? More importantly, I'm confident in stating that most of you are far too lazy to write in and challenge me. Moving on... Holy smokes, every month I continue to be blow away by the number and variety of BIG shows coming to the tri-state - never seen anything quite like it in all my years at the magazine. Now, I can give you a few examples of what's on the horizon - Air Supply, Whose Live Anyway?, for KING + COUNTRY, Koe Wetzel and David Sedaris - but promise me you'll take the time to look through this entire guide for the full meal deal. I mean, let's be honest here, you're only hurting yourself by flipping past it. Keep in mind we've got interviews with several of the performers, too, so check those out as well for a deeper dive. Rock on...

GABBY BARRETT

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / SEPTEMBER 6

Barrett first captured America's heart as the third-place finalist on the 16th season of American Idol. Her debut single "I Hope" was a groundbreaking success, becoming the first top 10 Hot Country Songs debut by an unaccompanied woman since 2017. The single not only became a top three hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but has also been certified seven-times platinum by the RIAA.

MARK CHESTNUTT

LINCOLN AMPHITHEATER / SEPTEMBER 7

Mark Chesnutt is one of country’s true musical treasures. Critics have hailed him as a classic country singer of the first order and some of the genre's most elite entertainers, from George Jones to George Strait, echo the sentiment. All total, he's notched 14 number one hits, including the likes of "Brother Jukebox," "I'll Think of Something," "It Sure is Monday" and "Almost Goodbye."

RESURRECTION: A JOURNEY TRIBUTE

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / SEPTEMBER 14

Considered the gold standard by which all Journey tributes are measured, Resurrection faithfully recreates the experience of a 1980's Journey concert. This dynamic band has featured some of Nashville's hottest musicians, many of whom have performed, written or recorded with the biggest names in the music industry - including Journey and former Journey vocalist Steve Perry. Every show is a brilliant reproduction of arena rock greatness.

AIR SUPPLY

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / SEPTEMBER 14

Formed in 1975, soft rock duo Air Supply hit big in America five years later with a re-recording of "Lost in Love," a song championed by Arista Records mogul Clive Davis. More chart smashes soon followed, including "All Out of Love," "The One That You Love," "Here I Am," "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Even the Nights are Better." Check out our interview with Air Supply on pg. 16.

WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 15

Prepare to laugh until you cry when four of the world's most masterful improv artists take you on the high wire act of comedic acrobatics. The rapid-fire wit and non-stop jokes will have your sides splitting thanks to the genius of comedians Greg Proops and Ryan Stiles - both seen on ABC's Whose Line Is It Anyway? - along with Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray.

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / SEPTEMBER 15

For nearly six decades, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has entertained audiences with their top-shelf talent and timeless hits like "Mr. Bojangles," "Fishin' In The Dark," "An American Dream" and many more. The band has enjoyed vast success along the way, receiving CMA, IBMA, Grammy and Emmy Awards. Now they're bidding farewell to the countless highways and byways they’ve crossed throughout their touring career with a final run of shows.

FOR KING + COUNTRY

FORD CENTER / SEPTEMBER 19

Four-time Grammy Award-winning duo for KING + COUNTRY returns to the Ford Center, making a stop in Evansville on "The Unsung Hero 2024" Tour. Australian brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone are set to present an innovative new production unlike any other previous show, featuring brand new songs as well as fan favorites like "For God is with Us," "God Only Knows" and "Burn the Ships."

WATER FOR PEOPLE PRESENTS THE SPINNERS

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 19

The annual Water for People benefit concert promotes sustainable clean water, access to sanitation and improved hygiene education internationally. This year's featured act, the legendary Spinners, is famous for such classic pop/R&B hits as "The Rubberband Man," "Working My Way Back to You," "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time." Evansville's very own Dekar & The Bodyguards will open the show.

TAYLOR SHINES: THE LASER SPECTACULAR

FORD CENTER / SEPTEMBER 21

Hosted by an electrifying group of DJs, Taylor Shines: The Laser Spectacular, is taking America by storm. It's two hours of non-stop Taylor Swift hits seamlessly blended with the world-famous touring Laser Spectacular & Light show. The breathtaking presentation features large-screen video projection, 3-D glasses and plenty of mind-bending effects. So mark your calendars, Swifties, and come sing along to all your favorite songs.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 26

In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Steven Curtis Chapman is the most decorated artist in Christian music history with 59 GMA, Dove, Grammy and AMA awards. In addition, he's charted 50 number one singles - including "His Eyes," "My Turn Now" and "More to This Life" - and sold more than 17 million albums, including 10 RIAA-certified gold and platinum releases.

RUMOURS ATL: FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 27

In just under seven years, Rumours has built a reputation as the best Fleetwood Mac Tribute band, taking the U.S. by storm with their flawless renditions of such Mac classics as "Dreams," "Go Your Own Way," "Rhiannon," "Landslide," "Sara," "Gypsy" and "The Chain." Evansville's own Hannah Evelyn & The Handmades will open the show with a spirited set of indie rock to set the mood.

PARKER MCCOLLUM

FORD CENTER / SEPTEMBER 27

Few country artists have made a bigger impact over the last decade than Parker McCollum. His 2015 debut, Limestone Kid, won critics over with its unique melding of Americana, Texas country and folk-rock, ultimately leading to the success of 2021's Gold Chain Cowboy and 2023's Never Enough - the latter featuring the fiery single "Burn It Down" for which this tour is named.

13TH ANNUAL ST. MEINRAD ROCKS FEST

ST. MEINRAD / SEPTEMBER 27 & 28

Just an hour northeast of Evansville, St. Meinrad plays host annually to one of the area's most beloved free music festivals featuring two amazing days of live performances by regional and national acts. Attendees can also enjoy delicious eats and fun activities while taking in the tunes, including a few songs by this year's big draw, former Quiet Riot member Kelly Garni. Get the full scoop on pg. 18.

HAIRBALL

BEAVER DAM AMPHITHEATER / SEPTEMBER 28

A band puts on a concert - Hairball puts on an event! Hairball is a rock & roll experience you won't soon forget, resurrecting the greatest acts of the 70s and 80s, including AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Journey, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Van Halen and many more. Vocalists Kris Vox, Dave Moody and Drew Hart lead the band through a two-plus hour mind-blowing homage.

FLOGGING MOLLY

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 28

Founded in Los Angeles in 1997, Flogging Molly has always defied categorization. The infectious originality of their songs is a badge of honor and key to the band's creativity. They infuse punk rock with Celtic instruments and merge blues progressions with grinding guitars and traditional Irish music as heard on the likes of "Devil's Dance Floor." Check out our interview with Flogging Molly on pg. 20.

WWE RAW

FORD CENTER / SEPTEMBER 30

Let's get ready to rumble!!!!! The WWE's biggest stars return this month for a battle royale in the ring sure to create a seismic shift in downtown Evansville. Scheduled to appear: "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins, WWE World Women's Champion Rhea Ripley, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, The Judgement Day, Becky Lynch, The New Day and more.

38 SPECIAL

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / OCTOBER 4

Renowned for their dynamic live performances, 38 Special has had an enduring influence on decades of rock culture. With sales surpassing 20 million, the band is celebrated for timeless hits such as "Hold On Loosely," "Rockin’ Into the Night," "Caught Up in You," "Fantasy Girl," "If I’d Been the One," "Back Where You Belong" and many more. Check out our interview with 38 Special on pg. 22.

KOE WETZEL

FORD CENTER / OCTOBER 5

Surrounded by flames, amps cranked all the way up and no f***s given, Koe Wetzel leaves a trail of sold-out venues, screaming fans and empty bottles in his wake wherever he goes. Hailing from northeast Texas, he has asserted himself as the ultimate country rock star, bulldozing the boundaries between Nashville songcraft, rowdy Texas spirit and rain-swept Seattle hard rock with hits like "Something to Talk About."

THE FOUR HORSEMAN: METALLICA TRIBUTE

VICTORY THEATRE / OCTOBER 12

The only album-quality Metallica tribute band on the planet, The Four Horsemen deliver a note-for-note, perfect experience that's guaranteed to surpass even the wildest dreams of Metallica aficionados. The speed, the precision, the signature riffs and the look - The Four Horsemen are the real deal. They have the talent to deliver the sonic authenticity of the vintage thrash songs with high-caliber execution and serious passion.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / OCTOBER 13

Just in time for the Halloween season, it's the ultimate cult classic film. Join the original "Columbia," Nell Campbell, for a screening of the original unedited Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadow cast and plenty of audience participation. Plus, enjoy a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more. Come prepared to join in on all the fun!

HERE COME THE MUMMIES

VICTORY THEATRE / OCTOBER 17

Known for an unrelenting live attack that's particularly impressive for a group of 5000-year-old "saucy specters," Here Come the Mummies bring the funk like nobody's business. Their incredibly tight grooves and tongue-in-cheek lyrics have made them a Bob & Tom Show favorite and garnered the band opening slots for legends like P-Funk, Al Green and Cheap Trick - even a performance at the Super Bowl Village.

DAVID BRIGHTON'S SPACE ODDITY: BOWIE TRIBUTE

VICTORY THEATRE / OCTOBER 25

David Brighton is credited as being the world's best David Bowie impersonator, with one of the most entertaining acts to ever hit the stage. Space Oddity is a live, theatrically staged, elaborately-costumed multi-media spectacle that transports audiences on a musical journey through the constantly metamorphosing career of David Bowie which was notable for constant reinvention and visual presentation in both his music and on stage.

MARSHALL CHARLOFF & THE PURPLE EXPERIENCE

VICTORY THEATRE / OCTOBER 26

Marshall Charloff & The Purple xPeRIeNCE is the most celebrated tribute to Prince in the world. Charloff, like Prince, was discovered and signed by producer Pepe Willie. He's featured on 94 East albums with Prince, where he plays guitar and Prince is on vocals. A multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer in his own right, Charloff has written for, produced and recorded for legendary bands like the Commodores.

MARLON WAYANS

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / OCTOBER 26

Marlon Wayans’ films have grossed more than $1 billion in global box office and as a stand-up comedian, he's selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. His latest comedy special Good Grief hit #1 on the Amazon Prime streaming platform in its first week, following up the success of critically-acclaimed releases including Woke-ish, God Loves Me, You Know What It Is and Marlon Wayans Presents: The Headliners.

DAVID SEDARIS

VICTORY THEATRE / OCTOBER 27

David Sedaris is one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. He's a master of satire and one of today's most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked and many more. He has received numerous awards, including the Terry Southern Prize for Humor and Thurber Prize for American Humor.

VOCALIST/GUITARIST GRAHAM RUSSELL ON THE BAND'S UPCOMING 50TH ANNIVERSARY, UNEXPECTED FANS, ESCHEWING EGOS AND MORE

They're the undisputed kings of soft rock, responsible for some of the most soothing earworms ever. Beginning with 1979's "Lost in Love," the Australian duo comprising vocalist/guitarist Graham Russell and vocalist Russell Hitchcock reeled off an astonishing run of top five hits in America, including the number one smash "The One That You Love," plus "All Out of Love," "Here I Am," "Every Woman in the World," "Sweet Dreams," "Even the Nights are Better" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." For a good long while the pair could seemingly do no wrong. But the musical landscape would change as a heavier rock sound began to dominate the late 80s and hair metal bands like Bon Jovi and Poison took over the charts. Yet Russell and Hitchcock were unfazed; the two lifelong friends kept at it, earning respect from the industry and even the grittier acts that had taken over.

WESSELMAN WOODS / AUGUST 31

Nearing their 50th anniversary celebration in 2025, Air Supply continue to draw big crowds wherever they go, performing to multiple generations of fans. We checked in with Graham - who spends his free time in the mountains of Utah - ahead of the band's show at the Old National Events Plaza on September 14.

What's life like for you out in Utah?

I mean, for me, it's beautiful - I love the mountains and I love the space, you know. And I'm fortunate I've got a few acres that I live on, so it's great for me. But I love the outside; I love the wilderness. You know, I spend so much time in cities I don't really need to live in one [laughs].

The band's 50th anniversary is just around the corner - an amazing achievement. What do you have planned?

The actual date - we're kind of sticklers for dates - is May the 12th; that's when we first began. On May the 13th we're going to play Carnegie Hall in New York, so that's a big one for us, you know? We've always wanted to play there. And two days preceding that, we're going to take a cruise around New York Harbor with fans and friends - so those two days will really take up all the actual celebration.

Despite the "soft rock" tag that Air Supply gets, I'd be willing to bet that you guys come across some unexpected fans on

occasion

Yeah, we do occasionally. I was at a restaurant in California - oh, this was a long time ago, maybe 20 years ago or something. The guys from Guns N' Roses were in there and were having a meal. And I thought oh, wow, that's pretty cool as I'd never met them. And when I see someone like that [Axl Rose] I usually don't bother them because I know what it's like - I get all star-struck when I see people like that. So I never went up to them, but I was walking out and Axl came up and he said, 'Hey, you're Graham from Air Supply - I just wanted to say hello.' I went, 'Oh, great.' And he went on to say that they were big fans. And later that year we were in South America and [G N' R guitarist] Slash was playing with his Snakepit band and he did the same thing - he came up and said, 'Oh, wow, let's have a drink or something.' And I thought that was pretty cool - you wouldn't have thought they were fans of us, but I think when you've been around for such a long time, people kind of figure it out. And when they come to our shows, they really enjoy it. They go, 'Ok, I get it now.' I mean it's not for everyone; we're not Metallica or AC/DC, but we're a traveling rock & roll band and we're very seasoned in doing what we do and we've very good at what we do. Being a part of that fraternity of traveling musicians is a wonderful experience that we've had for 50 years and when it's not there anymore, we'll really miss it. And I hope that's not for awhile.

This is hardly a revelation, but the juxtaposition of Russell's fullthroated vocal delivery playing off your thinner, airier voice is a big reason, I think, why Air Supply works so well. Reminds me of the band Tears for Fears in which Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal have a similar dynamic.

That's a good thought but it's not something we ever did by design. When I bring up new songs I do demos beforehand and Russell hears them and then he'll pick what he wants to sing or what he thinks is right. And then what he doesn't sing, I'll sing. But the thing is that our two voices together create real magic like you just said - and there are certain bands where it does the same thing. But we never sit down and say let's do the same thing here that we did last year. Like in "Lost in Love" it just happened that my voice sounded good in the verses and then when Russell sang full-voice at the end, it was just a surprise. He didn't say, 'I'm going to jump up an octave there,' he just did it and we were in the control room going, 'Oh my god, wow - this is a hit song.' And he did the same with "The One That You Love." I could have sang the verses but it wasn't right and he sang the whole song and the rest became history. So, with us, it's whatever sounds good - there's no egos involved. I think that's why our friendship has lasted so long.

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

13TH ANNUAL

ST. MEINRAD PARK / SEPTEMBER 27 & 28

FORMER QUIET RIOT MEMBER KELLY GARNI HEADS A GREAT LINEUP OF PERFORMERS AT THE TRI-STATE'S FAVORITE FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL

The St. Meinrad Rocks Fest returns to scenic St. Meinrad Park - just an hour northeast of Evansville - this month for two amazing days of live music on two stages, plus delicious food and much more. And as always, admission is FREE for all attendees. Event organizer Carol (Ubelhor) Troesch has once again put together a great lineup of musical talent, including Kelly Garni, a founding member and original bassist of Quiet Riot. Saturday evening will see the music legend perform with his tribute act Quite Rite which focuses on the early years of the influential metal band when Garni played alongside Randy Rhoads before the gifted guitarist departed to work with Ozzy Osbourne. Get ready to raise the horns!

In addition to performing at the festival, Garni will participate in a Saturday afternoon Q&A session; he's also scheduled to appear in Evansville at Space Monkey Records (1201 E. Riverside Dr.) on Thursday, September 26 at 4 p.m. for a book signing/meet & greet. Fans will not only be given the opportunity to have their copies of Garni's memoir, Angels with Dirty Faces , and photography collection, Naked Vegas , signed but purchase his artwork, too. Says Garni, "I'm looking forward

to meeting people in the area and talking about some great times!"

But Garni is just one of many musical highlights on tap this year. As always, you can look forward to some amazing local and regional talent, with Cage Willis, Bobby Clark and Roulette getting the party started Friday night. Then Saturday promises a slew of top-notch performers on the bill, with Dispel closing out the festival, preceded by Quite Rite, Tony Henning, Silly Rules, Heavy Kites and Indian Creek. Talk about a wide range of styles - there's a little bit of everything which is what makes St. Meinrad Rocks Fest such a cool event. There's truly something for everyoneeven the kids. Children's activities include the Silly Safaris Animal Show, face painting by Julie Durbin and balloon artistry by Dr. Popper. Adults, meanwhile, can enjoy a beer garden, vendor fair and giveaways. No matter your age, this festival will keep you entertained all weekend long!

For more info, including details on becoming a 2024 sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, visit facebook.com/ stmeinradrocksfest or contact Carol (Ubelhor) Troesch/Inkspot Productions, LLC at facebook.com/ InkspotProductionsLLC, via email at writstuf@psci.net, or 812-3098523.

FRONTMAN DAVE KING ON THE FLOGGING MOLLY LIVE EXPERIENCE, THE DEATH OF STEVE ALBINI, TRYING TO STAY HOPEFUL IN DARK TIMES AND MORE

When Flogging Molly frontman Dave King sang "these times have got me drinking" at the height of COVID on 2022's Anthem, little did he know the extended shelf-life of that lyric - because nearly three years later, the world seems more nuts than ever and many of us feel compelled to drown our sorrows in a pint down at the pub. Yet when the beloved Celtic punk band from Los Angeles plays that rousing song live, it's a full-on celebration, a joyous release of energy transferred from the stage to the crowd and back again. And it's been that way since the earliest days of Flogging Molly when Irish-born King and a few bar friends began performing weekly at Molly Malone's in LA. Eventually expanding to a seven-piece, the group released Swagger in 2000 featuring "Salty Dog," the blueprint for the FM sound with a powerful mix of traditional Irish music and rock. Live, the "song about being pissed off" took on a

life of its own and set the stage for 25 years of bringing people together during difficult times. Says King, "it's such a communal atmosphere and that's what we're all about."

We phoned up King for a chat ahead of the band's show at the Victory with special guest the Rumjacks.

As we're speaking, the band is in Germany playing a few shows. I have to assume that drinking songs go down pretty well there. Yes, they do - I mean...[laughs]. We played the Highfield Festival yesterday and, yeah, it was pretty mental. It just happened to rain for our set and I had 50,000 people singing "Singin' in the Rain," Gene Kelly, and it was wonderful [laughs].

Incredible. Which leads me to note that FM fans always say you have to experience the

band live to fully appreciate what you do. Well, I mean, you know, we all met in a bar; we all started playing in a bar. So there was never any record deals on the table, there was never any vision of us doing an album. So it was always that live experience. And I think, you know, when we first started playing at [the Irish pub] Molly Malone's and, you know, the crowds were going around the block a few weeks later, that was the vibe, and it's always been the vibe. Especially at festivals and things like that, it's such a communal atmosphere and that's what we're all about. It's just...there's no pretention. At the end of the day, it's just playing music and having fun, you know? There's no room for posing in this band. If you like it, you like it; if you don't, you don't. There's nothing we can do.

I hope this isn't too delicate of a subject, but Flogging Molly's recording career to date is bookended by two albums mixed/produced

VICTORY THEATRE / SEPTEMBER 28 / 8 P.M.

by the legendary Steve Albini who sadly passed away recently at age 61. How did the unexpected loss hit you?

It was total disbelief. I mean, we literally felt like we were just with the guy. We always had an unbelievable experience being with him. He was a very honest human being, you know? He wouldn't give you much direction - but what was great about him was that, you know, we knew what we wanted out of it; we wanted basically a live recording of the band recorded properly, the way we heard it. And that's what he did. If you knew what you wanted [with Steve] you'd get that. If you were going to go in there and hopefully Steve would tell you what to do, forget about it. He'd never do that. The way that he ran [the recording studio] Electrical Audio - the dedication and the passion, keeping that running, keeping that going. That was everything to him. He's the last of...there'll be nobody else like Albini.

The video for "A Song of Liberty" off 2022's Anthem was dedicated to the Ukrainian people. Two years later, the war with Russia continues...

Well, you know, Tommy, it's really weird that you should say that because I've just been thinking about how many songs we have where still nothing has changed - it's not just the Ukrainian situation; you've got the Palestine/Israeli conflict going on which I sang about that on the album [2011's] Speed of Darkness. That song, "Song of Liberty," in particular, was about the 1916 riots in Ireland and the men and women who forged the freedom in Ireland, but we have two Ukrainian friends who wanted to do the video for that song to implicate...the whole Ukrainian situation. It just goes to show you that nothing really changes, unfortunately. One, that is a song of celebration - but there's always another situation for it to be legitimized.

Personally, are you able to keep a sense of optimism about the state of the world despite everything or do you find yourself going through dark periods?

Yeah, I mean, I'm like anybody. You do really get down in the dumps. I mean, I was brought up in Ireland where I really didn't think there was much of a future between politically, religiously...I thought it was a dead end zone and it turns out, you know what, people can change. It was a very optimistic feeling about the world - if Ireland can change, anywhere can change. Unfortunately, I think it takes more than our lifetimes to do that. You think of the whole Gaza situation right now and the Ukraine situation - it's just...unfortunately, as human beings we all share one trait which is that we'll never learn. I'm sitting here in Germany watching two cranes building a hotel, I think, across this road. It's like, yeah, we can build, but can we repair, you know? I really hope so, but it takes generations.

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

38 SPECIAL

OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA / OCTOBER 4 / 7 P.M.

FOUNDING MEMBER/VOCALIST DON BARNES ON NOT FEARING THE HIGH NOTES, THE AMAZING BACKSTORY OF GUITARIST JERRY RIGGS, KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR WITH "CAUGHT UP IN YOU" AND MORE

Their biggest songs may not have all been chart-busting hits, but each is a classic in its own right, beloved by fans of authentic rock music around the world. Yes, 38 Special's catalog runs deep with tracks that, as founding member/vocalist Don Barnes describes, "mean something to people's lives" after all these years: "Caught Up in You," "Hold on Loosely," "Rockin' into the Night," "Back Where You Belong," "Second Chance," "Fantasy Girl" and so many more. All of which receive regular airplay to this day, demonstrating the lasting power of a wellwritten melody.

Remarkably, 38 Special continues to perform 100 shows each year with no dip in quality. Barnes still sounds bloody good and the current lineup of the bandfeaturing bassist Barry Dunaway, drummer

Gary Moffatt, keyboardist Bobby Capps and "newbie" guitarist Jerry Riggs - brings the intensity to every show, night after night. As Barnes notes, “We never wanted to be one of those bands that had maybe gotten a little soft or complacent over the years." Mission accomplished.

Many singers from your era are struggling vocally these days on stage - Jon Bon Jovi and Vince Neil come to mind - yet you still sing with power and precision. How have you been able to maintain such vocal quality after decades of performing? I'll tell you, Jon Bon Jovi opened for us back in the '80s and every night I would hear him singing from his face. He was a young kid and I'd already been through chorus in school and learned how to sing with your diaphragm way down there. Greg Allman famously said sing like somebody's

punching you in the stomach. When you hold your stomach hard, you're singing from all the power down there and not really pushing a lot of air out of the pipe. Well, Jon was doing the opposite; he was pushing all that air right out of his face. And I thought then, this guy's not going to make it 30 years, 40 years; he's going to ruin his voice. Vince Neil - same thing. They ruin their voice by doing that. To answer your question, if you sing correctly, you can sing all throughout your life.

It must be nice not having to fear the high notes.

It's a mental thing. I look out from the stage and I'm placing all those high notes on exit signs; somebody's shoulder; on top of their head. So you visualize that note and you don't freak out when it comes up. It's actually kind of a Zen thing - you go the

opposite way and relax, hit it and move on. Put it on that guy's shoulder out there and leave it.

The band's current lineup includes guitarist Jerry Riggs who joined in 2019. He plays so intuitively, it's as if he came out of the womb with a guitar in his hands - like it's always been there. He's an absolutely jaw-dropping, Jeff Beck-level kind of player. And he's got a great backstory - this is the funny part. Jerry's a responsible guy with two sons and he's reached for the brass ring many times and slightly missed it. That's why he deserves to be there now. But he had to change his responsibilities like a good father and man - and he went and worked for the post office for 22 years. This guy that plays like a king is delivering mail! So when I called him up I said, 'Man, are you still doing work at the post office?' and he goes, 'Yeah, yeah.' I asked him if he had any plans of retiring soon, and he said, 'I could.' And so he put his notice in and he said, 'These guys aren't going to believe it [that I'm joining 38 Special].' They went and had a retirement party for him - after 22 years he was going to leave and get his pension and all. And so at the party - he told me the story - all of his friends have been working at the dock there at the post office and said, 'So, Jerry, what are you going to do now that you're retiring?' and he said, 'Well, actually, I'm going to go play with 38 Special.' They didn't believe him - didn't even know he played guitar. He's a real quiet type. Now they've been out and seen him and are like, 'What the hell?' I just love that story because it shows what great strength of character he has.

It's kind of shocking that "Hold on Loosely" barely scraped inside the top 30. Based on airplay over the last 40 years, you'd be forgiven for assuming it was a huge smash in '81. Yeah, because the door was only cracked open a little bit. "Rockin' into the Night" cracked the door open a little bit, but it wasn't a full nationwide hit; it was kind of regional - in certain places it climbed the charts. I think it made it to [number] 45. But there's an old saying that you're only as good as your last hit. You have to follow up whatever door you've slightly got open at radio because there's only 24 hours in a day and everybody's vying for your three minute time slot. So, yeah, it's highly competitive. So, you have to back it up. And we did that with "Hold on Loosely" which pushed the door open a little further and then "Caught Up in You" knocked it wide open. We've always learned in show business that the light's only going to shine on you for awhile; take advantage of it. You have to build up this catalog and history of songs that mean something to people's lives. And that's something we hadn't counted on - we didn't realize it was going to be the fabric of these people's lives.

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

AN INTERVIEW WITH

CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED STAND-UP COMIC TALKS LOUDERMILK, EMBRACING HIS "WHITE HAIR PHASE," PREFERRING NOT TO INTERACT WITH CROWDS AND MORE

Rightly touted as "your favorite comedian's favorite comedian," Brian Regan is one of the most respected and successful stand-up comics of the last three decades. And he works clean to boot. No cuss words, in other words. Instead, he excels in physical comedy, possessing possibly the most iconic "dumb guy" look ever, while also piling on the self-deprecation for our enjoyment. But as time's gone on, Regan's made it a point to balance out his act "to include the person who's smart enough to observe what's going on and who can feel superior as well in some instances." In addition to packing out venues everywhere he goes, the 66-year-old Florida native, having officially embraced his "white hair phase," has branched out into TV, depicting the dark, complicated character of "Mugsy" in the criticallyacclaimed series Loudermilk , which ran

from 2017-2020 on various streaming platforms. But stand-up remains his bread and butter as evidenced by Regan's most recent comedy special, 2021's On the Rocks. For a solid hour he absolutely kills, delving into everything from his selfdiagnosed OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) to his all-consuming hatred of mushrooms.

We caught up with Regan just a few days before he performed at the Victory Theatre on August 11 in downtown Evansville.

Admittedly, I'm a little late to the Loudermilk party. I'm in the middle of season one on Netflix at the moment - so don't spoil any of it for me. My question is, has your critically-acclaimed portrayal of "Mugsy" in the series led to other offers in TV or film?

Well, first of all, thanks for starting to

check it out - I won't give anything away, but they give my character a lot more in seasons two and three and I was very honored to be in it. I've gotten some nice comments about what I've done and I'm happy about that, but...Hollywood doesn't work the way I think it should work [laughs]. I haven't gotten a single phone call from anybody who has seen it who wants to put me in anything else. So, if you know any famous directors or writers, let them know that I can act.

I'll get right on the horn - I'm on it. Thank you.

You famously embraced your "white hair phase" during COVID as hilariously noted in your 2021 comedy special. Currently, I'm caught between hair color phases - I don't have much time left before I join you in the gray realm.

FOR ME, I LIKE THINKING OF CONCEPTS AND WORKING ON THEM AND SHARING THEM WITH AN AUDIENCE AND SEEING HOW THEY REACT TO THEM. THAT'S THE THRILL FOR ME.

[Laughs] Well, I actually went...I don't know what age you're supposed to go gray, but I went prematurely gray. I'd been coloring my hair for years, you know. I started coloring it for show business reasons because I didn't want people to think I was 80 [laughs] when I was half that age. So, I colored my hair for a long, long time and then during COVID I was like, you know, I don't care anymore, and I just decided I don't want to deal with it. And with the few shows I did, I did them with the gray hair. And then when COVID kind of faded awayif it will ever fade away - I just decided I'm sticking with this; I'm with the gray. I'm comfortable with it. I'm as old as I am and, you know, I'm satisfied with not having to go into the hair coloring aisle anymore.

Well, you're probably saving a fortune. Yeah, that's the main reason [laughs] - saving thousands and thousands of dollars.

In that same comedy special, you do an extended segment about your OCD tendencies - which is both funny and illuminating.

As far as the OCD, I know there are people in this world that suffer from it tremendously, and it's a spectrumoriented thing. I was never officially diagnosed with it - I had a therapist who strongly suggested that I had it. I believe in the special I say that I selfdiagnose myself with it. I believe in a very minor way... I believe that I have it in the sense of organization. I need

everything meticulous; I need everything organized. Oddly, I think it helps my comedy tremendously because, you know, there's so many different aspects to being a comedian and one of them is, like, organizing your bits, timing them. Like, when I would do [ Late Night with David ] Letterman , I would put so much work into timing each joke, analyzing each word, each transition. But I think being meticulous helps me in that way - I think the end result is stronger than it would be if I was more lackadaisical.

You've never been the sort of comic who interacts much with the audience. Is that by choice?

When I first started I had to work as an emcee and when you work as an emcee, sometimes to get the crowd warmed up you'd do some crowd work. So, you know, I know how to do it - I'm able to do it. It's just not what I enjoy about comedy. For me, I like thinking of concepts and working on them and sharing them with an audience and seeing how they react to them. That's the thrill for me. The spontaneous 'Hey, where are you from? Idaho?' And then you do a potato joke [laughs]. I'll leave that to others.

Oh, man, a little spud joke. That's gold, Brian.

Yeah [laughs]!

You possess the most Iconic "dumb guy" look in all of comedy - the eyebrows, the facial contortions... just perfect. How early did you master

that look - was it something that you actually worked on or did it just happen organically?

[Laughs] I don't know - as far as the comedy, you know, where I play the victim and I'm feeling dumb, I don't remember a specific moment where I was like, wow, I'm going to try to crank this up, you know? I just think a lot of my comedy is self-deprecating. When I first started, more of the percentage was selfdeprecating. And then as I got older, I wanted to balance the comedy out more. I didn't want it to all be victim-oriented. I wanted it to be where I would have my anger fantasies and getting back at the world; I wanted both sides of the equation. So I still do the dumb person but I also like to include the person who's smart enough to observe what's going on and who can feel superior as well in some instances. [Laughs] I gave the most bizarre answer to your question. I don't even know what I just said.

No worries - I'm an editor, Brian. I'll make you sound good.

Yes, make that make sense! Take out all the dumb stuff and come up with some smart stuff. Say, 'Brian said E = mc2.'

For more info, visit brianregan.com.

AN INTERVIEW WITH COUNTRY MUSIC STAR

THE "DRUNK ME" SINGER ON THE LOSS OF TOBY KEITH, RECORDING

"IRIS," BEING A FAVORITE OF NON-COUNTRY FANS AND MORE

Since Mitchell Tenpenny last played Evansville five years ago, he's built on the success of his signature song "Drunk Me" with a run of hit singles including "Truth About You" and "We Got History" off 2021's double album This is the Heavy . The rising country music star, born and raised in Nashville, is now set to double down again with another 20-song release out September 20. Titled The 3rd in reference to his full given name, James Mitchell Tenpenny III, the ambitious project showcases the 35-year-old's wide range of influences, as heard on the likes of lead-up singles "Bigger Mistakes" (banjo-driven dance music), "Woke Up

in a Dream" (Marvin Gaye-esque R&B) and the title track (heartfelt country ballad). Then there's his long-awaited studio version of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," a concert favorite that Tenpenny cites as the first song he ever learned on guitar. It's no wonder his appeal is so far-reaching.

We caught up with Tenpenny ahead of his headlining show at the Old National Events Plaza on August 23.

We last spoke five years ago when you were coming to the Ford Center in support of Toby Keith - you were so

excited to open for one of your heroes. Sadly, Keith passed away back in February - that must have been difficult for you.

What a memory. That was one of those moments for sure where I was like how did I even get the opportunity to do this, first off, because I'm such a huge fan. I had met him, like, I don't know, one or two times in passing and that night he asked me up on the bus - that was the first time I really got to meet him and talk to him. [He] just showed a true interest and was very kind, giving advice. It was one of those times when you get to actually hang out with one of your

heroes, and it was awesome, man - I was blown away and that's the memory I'll never forget.

We actually have something in common - you are James Mitchell Tenpenny III and I am Thomas Fletcher Ellis III. Which I bring up because you titled your upcoming new album The 3rd in reference to the struggles you've gone through in life trying to live up to your name. I can definitely relate. My question is, if you have a son at some point, do you intend to keep the tradition alive and christen him the 4th?

Man, that's wild - it literally changes every single day it feels like. And the good Lord willing, if me and my wife are able to have kids one day that would be awesome. I think it's one of those things that's just going to have to hit me as reality hits, sets in...oh my gosh, the baby's on the way. Especially now being in music and having our name out there a little bit more, I'm not sure if that's something my kid would want. I don't know, but also, I want to carry the line on. If it was important enough to my granddad and dad to keep doing it, there's that part of me that wants to do the 4th. I think it'd be kind of cool. And we all go by different names - granddad went by James, really by "Butch"; dad went by Mitch; I go by Mitchell. Maybe we can find a different version in that name if that happened.

"Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls is a song you've been singing for years. When it came time to cut the album, did you have to think much about how you were going to approach it musically and

BECAUSE

I LOVE

vocally, or did it just flow?

Yeah, that's interesting, too. I've definitely sung it a million times in my car. We have our song "Drunk Me" that we play every night - and one night about two years ago at the end of the song I just kept playing the chords, trying to make it a moment, and "Iris" popped in my head to sing over that chord progression. I just started singing the first verse and kind of went with it and everyone started singing that song so loud. After that, every night I started playing a verse and a chorus of the song. And we'd been doing it for almost two years and we were in the studio cutting this record...we had cut four songs that day and had a little extra time. I looked at my best friend, my producer, and I was like, 'Dude, let's cut "Iris"' - everybody knows that song and we can do our version. I wanted it to sound similar to the original; I didn't want to change what it is, it's so great. But I wanted to put our thing on it - and it turns out it's a way more difficult song to play with a full band than you'd think. But we dug in and did the thing and when I started hearing it back on the speakers, I was so glad we made the decision to take that extra time and cut it and put it on the record. Because I love that song - it's done so much for me in my life, personally. And now people are reaching out to say that it's given them a new perspective on the song; it's just so humbling.

"Woke Up in a Dream" off the upcoming new album is downright sexy - it's like your own "Let's Get It On," if you don't mind being compared to

Marvin Gaye. Not something you hear every day in country music. I haven't heard it compared to Marvin Gaye, but I love it - I'll take that all day long. But, I mean, you and me got here somehow, right [laughs]?. You've got to have a song to light some candles to. I love the melody and I love the vibe of the song and it's just fun to sing. Yeah, every now and then you've got to get a little sexy, man.

You continue to be a country singer that non-country fans cite as a favorite. Do you just put that down to your wide range of influences?

Sure, I'd put it down to that. You know, there's all kinds of country - I'm definitely not traditional country. And that's the thing - neither was Willie [Nelson] when it was his time; neither was Hank [Williams, Jr.] or Garth Brooks. Country to me has always been the storytelling, the way we tell the story, the songwriting. It's very unique to country. Timbre and production are always going to change - that's just natural. So, for me, I grew up with all kinds of influences and in my production and style of singing that's going to happen to be a little bit different. You know, that's the most fun thing about it - that's the best part about writing music is to be something different. I think what defines country music is how the songs are written, the lyrics - that's what stays true to country for me. We are the best storytellers in the world as far as I'm concerned.

For more info, visit mitchell10penny.com.

THAT SONG - IT'S DONE SO MUCH

FOR ME IN MY LIFE, PERSONALLY. AND NOW PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT TO SAY THAT IT'S GIVEN THEM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE SONG; IT'S JUST SO HUMBLING.

GEM ROCK

NEW EVANSVILLE-BASED ENTERTAINMENT

COMPANY OFFERS CONTINUING

EDUCATION IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

There is a new tenant at the Main Street Food Hall, and it’s not a restaurant! Gem Rock Entertainment is an Evansvillebased entertainment company with a focus on creative continuing education for adults. It is the brainchild of Otto Mullins, who has a grand vision to assist people in improving their communication skills, bolster their selfconfidence, and nurture their professional and interpersonal skills.

Mullins' background in theater and performance has allowed him to teach everything from the basics to advanced acting techniques in New York, Michigan and Colorado, as well as here in Evansville. He has assembled a talented team that will allow Gem Rock to simultaneously benefit the local community, educate its citizens, and further the local arts scene.

Alyssa Morgan is an Indiana State University grad who holds a degree in music education, and has international choir experience. Jaddyn Sage is a Ball State grad who

holds degrees in fine arts and dance. Together they will provide continuing education through classes in theater, dance (incl. ballroom dancing), singing, improv, and other performance arts.

Mullins recently completed renovations on a unit in the Main Street Food Hall that formerly housed an attorney’s office. The space includes a large common area with a stage, a space for a piano and other musical instruments, an area with seating for up to 50 people, plus a dressing room and study area.

There are plans to produce and direct shows and musicals in the building, as well as host artist collectives, art shows, open mic nights, comedy nights, and to host photographers, painters and sculptors. Other future plans include workshops and classes in business, marketing, life skills, and many other subjects, possibly including the basics of braille and ASL courses. They have a murder mystery planned for Halloween, and a talent show scheduled for December.

include a headshot, t-shirt and recorded recital.

• Drop in Scene Study & Basic Acting begin 9/8 - $20 per session or $120 for 8 weeks. Classes are held Monday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. and include one-on-one work with a director and acting coach.

• Public Speaking for Business begins 9/17 - $500 per 8-week course. Classes are held Tuesday evenings from 5:30-8 p.m. and include all materials, a t-shirt and final certification. Improve your ability to speak to a crowd through exercises and strategy!

There is an open-house planned on September 7 from 4-8 p.m., with classes beginning on September 8. Pre-registration for classes is open now, and can be completed on their website: gemrockentertainment.com

Pre-register now for:

• Combo Classes begin 9/8 - $400 for 8 weeks and incl. 1 hour each of dancing, acting and singing. Classes are held Sunday mornings from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and

All classes are limited to 8-10 people to allow instructors enough time to assess your individual strengths and goals. There is no prior experience required for any classes.

*Don’t miss their open house on Sunday, September 8! - Brian Buxton

Gem Rock is located at 901 Sycamore St. in downtown Evansville / 812-5893093. For more info, visit gemrockentertainment.com and follow them on Facebook @gemrock

EVANSVILLE of A TASTE

MONTHLY FOOD REVIEW WITH BRIAN BUXTON

Are you a fan of pizza? Are you a sports fan? Are you a Don Mattingly fan?

If you can answer "yes" to even one of these questions, then Casey’s Dugout should be on your short-list of local restaurants to visit. Owner Casey Keown is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom were heavily involved in local sports. They excelled in baseball, basketball, football, golf and anything else involving athletic ability.

Casey grew up across the street from Memorial High School, which baseball legend and New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly also attended. He is an idol of Keown's, and the restaurant not only serves great food, but is a "love letter" dedicated to "Donnie Baseball." The walls and display cases are filled with exceptionally rare Yankees and Mattingly memorabilia; The Hitman pizza is made with Mattingly’s favorite toppings; and Don even attended the restaurant's grand opening. Keown sells t-shirts, hats, hoodies and other SWAG, donating 100% of the profits to Mattingly Charities.

The pizzas are offered in 10” and 16” sizes, cut into eight pieces. Casey purchases the meats from locallyowned Old Fashioned Butcher Shoppe.

Vegetables and other items are sourced from as many local farmers as possible. The menu also includes jalapeño cheese bread, a salad, meatball sub, hot ham & cheese sandwich, and a selection of strombolis and desserts. Beer and wine is served. Some favorite specialty pizzas include:

• The Hitman – sausage, mushrooms and extra cheese

• Harper’s Hot Honey Hawaiian – ham, pineapple, brown sugar, red sauce and Mike’s Hot Honey

• The Tater Swift – potatoes, bacon, garlic butter, cheddar cheese and chives, served with sour cream or tzatziki sauce

• The Angry Bird – Buffalo chicken, red onions, blue cheese crumbles and ranch dressing

• Evansville BBQ Strom – stromboli sausage, bbq sauce, onions, cheese and crushed BBQ Grippos

After your meal you can browse the letters, photos, newspapers, baseball cards, memorabilia and

HE IS AN IDOL OF KEOWN'S, AND THE RESTAURANT NOT ONLY SERVES GREAT FOOD, BUT IS A "LOVE LETTER" DEDICATED TO "DONNIE BASEBALL."

other collectibles (the metal chair IU coach Bob Knight threw across the court is hanging on the wall). Keown is actively collecting and displaying a variety of signage from local businesses, including Paul’s Tavern, Harpole’s, Midget Links, Sir Beef and Harp’s Pets. There is a functioning scoreboard on the wall in the bar, and the women’s bathroom is themed after A League of Their Own. There is also a small outdoor seating area, including a putting green.

You can enjoy the Casey's Dugout experience at 2900 Lincoln Ave., just east of Boeke Rd., in between Inman's Picture Framing and the Phillips 66 gas station. There is a small parking lot as well as street parking.

Hours of operation: Tue–Thurs from 5-10 p.m. and FriSat from 5-11 p.m. Closed Sun & Mon.

Now Go, Explore, and Eat, Evansville!

For more info, follow Casey's Dugout on Facebook @ facebook.com/caseysdugout. Brian's food and dining page can be found @ facebook.com/FFKSEvansville.

* Mattingly Charities provides support to organizations who administer educational advancement, social development, and athletic programs for underserved youth in the Evansville community. For more info, visit mattinglycharities.org

Greetings, local foodies! I am Tom Leggett, a lover of all things local. In addition to my “day job,” I manage the Franklin Street Bazaar and administer the Facebook page Evansville Food Trucks, which grew out of my love for our local food trucks. In this new series, "Anything On Wheels," I will spotlight various local food trucks, sharing their stories and lessons. It’s only fitting to feature The Pizza Revolution for my first article, since it was one of the first trucks I encountered when I got involved in the scene.

Driven by a desire to bring the amazing taste of wood-fired pizza to the community without the limitations of a traditional brickand-mortar restaurant, Aaron and Stephanie Peckenpaugh started The Pizza Revolution in 2011. Their food truck, a red doubledecker bus, became an instant marketing tool, captivating both young and old with its unique presence. Despite the challenges of maintaining such an uncommon vehicle, Aaron and Stephanie's dedication turned it into an iconic symbol associated with delicious local pizza.

From the outset, Aaron and Stephanie aimed to stand out with something unique. Aaron

ANYTHING ON WHEELS

WITH TOM LEGGETT

THE PIZZA REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY OF PASSION AND PERSISTENCE

discovered his passion for wood-fired pizza while working with Stephanie's family business during college. Having grown up in a family restaurant, Stephanie found the shift to running a food truck seamless. Their combined experiences in the food industry provided a strong foundation for The Pizza Revolution.

They faced significant challenges, especially juggling their growing family with the demands of starting a new business. In the same year they launched their food truck, they welcomed three additional children, expanding their family to seven. But it didn’t take long before Aaron, who held a full-time corporate job, and Stephanie, who ran a hair salon, were able to shift their focus entirely on their budding food truck business.

The Pizza Revolution is serious about their commitment to quality. They source several ingredients from an Italian distributor and make their own sauces, dough, and mozzarella. To ensure the freshest flavors, they also use local produce when in season and grow their own basil and rosemary. This commitment to quality is on full display in diverse pizza offerings including classic Margherita, Fig-nPig, and Buzz-Kill-a.

Building a loyal customer base is a rewarding aspect of their journey. The Peckenpaughs communicate with their customers through social media, primarily Facebook and Instagram. Inviting customers onto their bus allows for an immersive experience, making them feel part of the pizza-making process.

To those looking to start their own food truck, Stephanie advises, "Do something the best. Don’t try to be everything to everyone." She also recommends gaining experience by working on a food truck first to understand the demands and rewards of the industry. Flexibility and the ability to pivot are crucial in this ever-changing business.

After 12 years, The Pizza Revolution continues to thrive, with the Peckenpaughs still loving what they do. Their success in creating a beloved food truck is a testament to the power of dedication, quality, and community connection.

See you down the road!

You can find The Pizza Revolution at Farm 57 (3443 Kansas Rd. in Evansville) on Wednesday nights during the summer season. For more info and locations, follow The Pizza Revolution on Facebook.

WHAT'S ON THE

grill

WITH JIM JOHNSON

LATE SUMMER DELIGHTS

FEATURING FRESH FRUITS, VEGGIES AND SALADS

As summer winds down, we look for new and refreshing things to cook on the grill. We've done the burgers, the hot dogs, the steaks - all the usual foods. But now it's time to think outside the box: let's grill some wonderfully delicious fruits, veggies and salads!

• Lay strawberries on a baking sheet and roast over your grill for 5 to 7 minutes. It caramelizes the sugar in the strawberries and brings to the table a little smokiness and a powerful strawberry flavor.

• Take a tomato, cut the top off, top with some cooked spinach and cover with parmesan cheese. Cook until the tomato is warm in the center and has wilted some.

After grilling up those fresh strawberries

and tomatoes, don't be afraid to char some Romaine lettuce and bell peppers to add flavor to your salads. Then make a simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing to top it off:

• 5 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp maple syrup

• 8 tbsp olive oil

• Whisk all ingredients, add salt & pepper to taste

Until next month, keep the flames lit and the smoke rolling...

*If you like these ideas or have any questions - or if you would like a specific recipe regarding food groups - just reach out to News 4U and Jim will get it into next month's column.

Jim Johnson has won 78 Grand Championships on the BBQ circuit and is a founding member of the Kansas City BBQ Society (International Outreach Team). In addition, Jim has taught American-style BBQ in over 40 countries worldwide. He's also cooked at U.S. embassies and often feeds the troops at military bases. Just recently, Jim served 2500 BBQ plates for Minnesota Air National Guard and for the Scott Air Force Base. As if all that wasn't enough, he helps to feed numerous non-profits in the Evansville area.

Healthy Cooking with Lindsay Rasure

My children are obsessed with Larabars. If you have never had one they are date bars filled with nuts and sometimes chocolate chips. We were out recently, and they all were craving one. I searched several recipes until I found this one. I changed a few things and now my kids prefer these! They are a great option to keep in the fridge for a fun snack when they come home from school!

CHOCOLATE DATE OAT BARS (12 servings)

CLEAN BITE life

INGREDIENTS:

• ¾ C. ROLLED OATS

• 1/3 C. ALMOND FLOUR

• 1.5 C. MEDJOOL DATES TIGHTLY PACKED

• ¾ C. PEANUT BUTTER

DIRECTIONS:

• 1 TSP. GROUND CINNAMON

• 1-2 T. REFINED COCONUT OIL OR AVOCADO OIL

• ¼ TSP. SALT

• ½ YOUR FAVORITE DARK CHOCOLATE BAR (I LIKE LINDT 85%)

1. ADD THE DATES TO A BLENDER OR FOOD PROCESSOR AND BLEND UNTIL A THICK PASTE FORMS.

2. NEXT, ADD THE REST OF YOUR INGREDIENTS (EXCEPT THE DARK CHOCOLATE BAR) AND PROCESS UNTIL DOUGH FORMS. IF YOUR PEANUT BUTTER IS REALLY THICK YOU MAY NEED TO ADD THE FULL 2 T. OF OIL OR POSSIBLY AN ADDITIONAL ONE.

3. LINE AN 8X8 PAN WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. PRESS THE DOUGH INTO THE PAN UNTIL IT IS SPREAD EVENLY. I TYPICALLY JUST USE MY HANDS TO SPREAD THE DOUGH.

4. COVER THE PAN AND CHILL IN THE FRIDGE FOR 30 MINUTES.

5. AFTER IT HAS CHILLED, MELT ½ OF YOUR FAVORITE DARK CHOCOLATE BAR IN THE MICROWAVE WITH A ½ TSP. OF REFINED COCONUT OIL OR AVOCADO OIL FOR 20-SECOND INTERVALS UNTIL COMPLETELY MELTED.

6. USING A SPATULA SPREAD THE CHOCOLATE OVER THE TOP UNTIL IT IS EVENLY SPREAD. PUT BACK IN THE FRIDGE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30 MINUTES.

7. ONCE CHILLED CUT THE BARS INTO 12 PIECES AND ENJOY! FOR MORE RECIPES OR MEAL IDEAS YOU CAN FOLLOW LINDSAY RASURE ON INSTAGRAM: @CLEANBITELIFE OR HER FACEBOOK GROUP: CLEAN BITE LIFE

*Recipe adapted from: hellospoonful.com/oatmeal-date-bars/#recipe

Restaurant

KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF AREA DINING ESTABLISHMENTS WITH BRIAN BUXTON

T411

he restaurant business is a rough road, and success is far from guaranteed in a business with very narrow margins for profit. A study by Ohio State University found that 60% of new restaurants didn't make it past the first year, and 80% close within five years. It's not a venture for the weak.

Here's a list of local spots we've recently lost, others that have recently opened, and some to look forward to in the coming weeks.

RECENTLY CLOSED:

SAM'S SOUTHERN EATERY ON GREEN RIVER RD. (EVANSVILLE)

K'S PIZZA ON DIAMOND AVE. (EVANSVILLE)

TANUKI MART JAPANESE MARKET ON ROYAL AVE. (EVANSVILLE)

BISCUIT BELLY ON BURKHARDT RD. (EVANSVILLE)

JJ'S 270 PIZZA ON GREEN ST. (HENDERSON)

THE PIE PAN OFF FIRST AVE. (EVANSVILLE)

RECENTLY OPENED:

KUNG FU CHICKEN (EVANSVILLE)

325 S. GREEN RIVER RD.

CHICK-FIL-A (NEWBURGH)

8091 PARK PLACE DR.

J'S GOOD GRUB (OWENSBORO)

5044 MILLERS MILL RD.

BIG ASS PIZZA SLICE @ MAIN STREET FOOD HALL (EVANSVILLE) 900 MAIN ST.

ROCK N ROLL SUSHI (OWENSBORO)

3750 FREDERICA ST.

MARIDA KURDISH TURKISH RESTAURANT (NEWBURGH)

1 E. WATER ST.

HELADOS ICE CREAM, SNACKS & ANTOJITOS (EVANSVILLE)

779 S. GREEN RIVER RD.

OPENING SOON:

S&J CARIBBEAN BAKERY & RESTAURANT ON WEINBACH AVE. (EVANSVILLE)

PLAYA AZUL ON GREEN RIVER RD. (EVANSVILLE)

HORNVILLE TAVERN ON BASELINE RD. (EVANSVILLE)

BROTHERHOOD RESTAURANT DANSANT ON KENTUCKY AVE. (EVANSVILLE)

PIZZA HUT ON GREEN RIVER RD. (EVANSVILLE)

HOKKAIDO SUSHI & RAMEN ON BURKHARDT RD. (EVANSVILLE)

KFIRE KOREAN BBQ & HOT POT ON GREEN RIVER RD. (EVANSVILLE)

SWAGAT INDIAN CAFÉ OFF GREEN RIVER RD. (EVANSVILLE)

INDIAN RESTAURANT (IN FORMER THAI PAPAYA BUILDING) OFF BURKHARDT RD. (EVANSVILLE)

JACOB'S PUB ON N. MAIN ST. (EVANSVILLE)

PROTEINHOUSE (NEWBURGH)

SAZON Y FUEGO (PANGEA CONCEPT) (NEWBURGH)

CULVERS (NEWBURGH)

BUTCHER & BARREL STEAKHOUSE (HUNTINGBURG)

SEPTEMBER COUPONS!

HEAVY KITES

ETHEREAL THUNDER: NEW EVANSVILLE TRIO

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN LILTING FOLK MUSIC

AND SWEEPING PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

Formed out of the ashes of The Strangers, a young area rock band that made the most of its short time in the sun, the metaphorically-named Heavy Kites, featuring the instrumental core of guitarist Rylan Cox and drummer Teelin Atteberry, take "inspiration from the sounds of the Laurel Canyon scene of the 60's, the traditional folk melodies of British folk acts such as Fairport Convention and Pentangle, and the 60's and 70's wave of psychedelic rock n' roll." In other words, this band has an expansive musical vision - a vision that became especially clear once Cox and Atteberry were steered in the direction of former MacroGeo vocalist Sam Doughty. An ethereal songbird with a gorgeous vocal tone and gift for harmonies, the 22-year-old's interest in music has long been fostered by her father, a musician himself and big supporter of his daughter's recordings which include

several intimate acoustic guitar and piano-based solo releases under the name Ranae. Turns out Doughty's spin on Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos made for the perfect contrast to the guys' influences, including Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. "I always had been looking for the opportunity to have a full hard rock kind of band," Atteberry explains, "but with the mixture of the folksy acoustic feel. That's the culmination of what we've been trying to achieve."

And you can certainly hear all of that in spectacular fashion on the just-released debut single, "Fair Lady" - a jaw-dropping, sweeping piece of music that thrillingly veers from acoustic guitar brilliance to crunchy electric bliss courtesy of Cox, with Atteberry's pounding drums dramatically building the song to its crescendo. Whew, it's no wonder that Doughty was initially intimidated to step into the role of frontwoman. "They're just so talented - I knew this project would really challenge my songwriting and my vocals," she admits. "But I wanted that - though I didn't know I was looking for it." Not to worry; Doughty rose to the occasion with aplomb,

taking little time to assert herself and come up with some imaginative vocal melodies and lyrics to the demos she was presented with - "Fair Lady" being the first. "They played the instrumental for me live a couple of times, and I told them I was picturing this guy, this troubadour from a long time ago walking along this fairground, seeing all these people," Doughty says. "There's laughter; there's music, shops, ale...he follows the music and sees a dancer on stage. The first chorus depicts her... there's an immediate infatuation."

Heavy Kites - so named to signify the daily struggle, that "you can't fly without a strong enough burst of wind" - plan to drop a few more singles through October with an eye on releasing an EP down the line. In the meantime you can catch them at St. Meinrad Rocks Fest on Saturday, September 28.

"Fair Lady" is available on major streaming platforms. For more info, follow Heavy Kites on Facebook.

I ALWAYS HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FULL HARD ROCK KIND OF BAND," ATTEBERRY EXPLAINS, "BUT WITH THE MIXTURE OF THE FOLKSY ACOUSTIC FEEL. THAT'S THE CULMINATION OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

THE LATEST IN LOCAL MUSIC NEWS

A QUICK WRAP-UP OF WHO'S MAKING WAVES THIS MONTH IN THE EVANSVILLE SCENE

The local music community continues to grow and prosper as evidenced by two major live performance announcements this month. First up, one of the area's most talented musicians has scored a coveted support slot at the annual Water for People concert. Both a phenomenal drummer and impressive R&B singer, Dekar Justus - along with his backing band The Bodyguards - will get the party started at the Victory Theatre on September 19, pumping up the crowd before the legendary Spinners take the stage. Then just a little over a week later, local indie rock songstress Hannah Evelyn gets the nod to open for the nation's greatest Fleetwood Mac tribute, Rumours ATL, also at the Victory. It's a well-earned honor for Hannah who's released some of the tri-state's best original music over the last few years and is gaining serious momentum of late with the rechristening of her band, The Handmades.

In other local music news, the formidable metal band Forthright, long a fixture of the tri-state scene, just released the long-awaited EP War of Attrition featuring the monster title track and equally aggressive follow-up single "Reaper Breath." The new release is rounded out by "Guillotine," "Bloodstone," "Dead to Rights" and "The Pain of Healing" - all top-level stuff courtesy of vocalist/guitarist Nick Bulger, guitarist Cade Crider, bassist Christian Miller and drummer Eddie Goebel.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, Gung Ho!, an electronic music project helmed by Gabriel Dennis (with assistance from brother Cain) has released a very unique collection of songs in tribute to video arcades. Titled Two-Bit Bandit, the album plays out like the soundtrack to a cool 80s computer game. Look for our chat with Gabriel in the October issue of News 4U.

FUCHSIA FEST '24

LOCAL ART AND MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES

EVANSVILLE'S ALTERNATIVE CULTURE

In case you've been out of the loop for the last few years, the Evansville art and music scenes have been expanding at an impressive clip, particularly in terms of the range of styles, including a growing alternative base. If you're willing to dig a little deeper, you'll find a number of edgy artists and musicians producing some truly interesting work that bypasses the norms for an ultimately more satisfying approach. And that's why the annual Fuchsia Fest is such an important event for Evansville. Organized by local musician Darin Harger, it celebrates Evansville's alternative culture, bringing together the main players under one roof for a unique experience.

Fuchsia Fest '24 will be held on September 14 at Wellspring Church on Evansville's east side. Get your tickets now!

STARTING AT 12 P.M. - ART BY:

Corey G / Al Sheets / Scrib / Jared Dupont / Jade Young

STARTING AT 2 P.M. - MUSIC FROM:

Better Off / Demo Division / Sign Language / 12th House

Sun / Siilk / Emily How / Discern / Field Note / A Modest Proposal / Faerie Ring / Amblare / Shatterhand / Early Mourning / Sluice / Loralye / Cypress Avenue / The Commoners / Runner Up / ASF / Kujo

For tickets, visit fuchsia.bigcartel.com. Wellspring Church is located at 8100 Newburgh Rd. in Evansville.

LINDSEY

on the scene

WITH LINDSEY WILLIAMS

Tri-state recording artist and live performer reports on the 2024 Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival

The Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival has come and gone for 2024. However, the night still plays in my head somewhere between a familiar gig I performed and a fantastic concert I attended. I could not miss an opportunity to highlight what an incredible experience it was to perform in a group of local writers while on the same bill with the writers of some of the most recognizable songs to ever come out of Nashville. Attendees of this year's festival had an up-close and personal experience with some of the greatest storytellers in music. The singer/ songwriters of "The Dance" sung by Garth Brooks, "Waitin' on a Woman" sung by Brad Paisley, "Five O'clock Somewhere" sung by Alan Jackson, "Without You" sung by Keith Urban, "Dibs" sung by Kelsea Ballerini, and many more performed during the four days of this event. And also us!!

The directors of Sandy Lee Song Fest decided this year, its 15th year, to include some regional

artists, and I was one of four chosen. It was a humbling experience to sit on stage in the round with Tyler Garrett, Maggie Hollis, and Josh Merritt, whose talent and hard work will take them as far in the crazy world of the music business as good fortune and perseverance will allow. Their vocal talent was also top-tier. First, there were Maggie’s sweet and youthful heartache sounds, then Tyler’s grit and power, and finally, Josh’s classic commanding storyteller voice made me want to pass my turn.

Spencer Bloodworth and Joey Marshall, who helped organize the event with Sandy Lee's widow, Susie Watkins, approached me a couple of months back about the possibility of participating in the local showcase. They didn’t know they were about to make more of a fan out of me that night than a contributor. Since I've been a songwriter most of my life, I always loved that my hometown of Henderson hosts and spotlights the writers who make the country hits possible; however, I always preferred acoustic folk and rock & roll, and was never a big fan of the modern country

"I found the writers' event much more authentic and inspiring than the celebrities' platinum records playing on country radio."

sound. I found the writers' event much more authentic and inspiring than the celebrities' platinum records playing on country radio. But until 2024, Nashville country writers mainly drove the Song Fest, which is still true today. Mostly. I, apparently striving to be some alternate-universe hybrid of Paul Simon and The Counting Crows, didn't know how I would fit in, but the response was fantastic! It would seem the festival is growing and branching out a bit, and I'm here for it.

Mark your calendars for the last week of July 2025. You will hear plenty of your favorite, familiar music straight from the hearts, minds, and mouths that created it, but remember this: these sing-alongs you hold dear were once undiscovered memos on a voice recorder or scratches on a yellow notepad. "Supporting local" means music, too. Artists and promoters can email lindseyjameswilliams@gmail.com to announce original shows or releases. Music lovers, tune in, show up, and keep discovering what moves you.

(Happy birthday, T!)

2024 VICTORY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MOVIE SHOWCASE TO FEATURE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

Tri-state movie buffs look forward to September each year in anticipation of the Victory International Film Festival (VIFF) which strives to "create opportunities for the public to become engaged in the arts through the viewing of film and media arts shown at the film festival and events." Helmed by director Matthew Ulm, the VIFF - hosted by the Victory Theatre in downtown Evansville - promotes engaging independent film releases that would otherwise not be available to the community. For example, 2023 VIFF Jury Award winner In Tow (directed by Sharon Arteaga) and Best Short Film winner Night Voices (directed by Bradley Hawkins). The three-day showcase is always an unforgettable experience for filmmakers and patrons alike.

The 2024 VIFF is set to take place September 12-14 with a special 25th anniversary screening of The Blair Witch Project, one of the most successful independent films of all-time, scheduled on the middle day of the festival. Owensboro's Blood Moon Picturesproducers of the critically-acclaimed Volumes of Blood anthology, 13 Slays Till X-Mas and upcoming New Fears Eve - is partnering with the festival to bring Blair producer Gregg Hale to the event for a Q&A and firsthand account of the making of the iconic movie. "The fact that festivals still want to show the movie and people still want to see the movie after all these years is special," Hale says. "I’m honored people still care about this weird little low-budget horror film we made a quarter of a century ago. We lucked our way into becoming a part of film history and I couldn't be more proud of Blair and its legacy."

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

SCREEN TIME

WITH MARISA PATWA

September film releases feature the long-awaited sequel of a cult classic, a dystopian teen drama and an unnerving portrait of evil

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

The spooky season is starting early this year with the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel set to get our souls all supernatural this fall. Having Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega take on the mantle of disgruntled teenager Astrid is clearly why the wait was needed. Unlike her mother Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), she doesn't believe in ghosts or ghoulish creatures. The sulking skeptic gets her beliefs rattled when she accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife. In order to save her daughter, Lydia - now a full-on psychicmust once again call upon the raucous and troublesome “Betelgeuse” to help save the day. This time, the goofy demon is back and bigger than ever. Catherine O’Hara also reprises her role as Lydia’s overbearing mom - now Astrid’s grandmother - while Justin Theroux and Willem Dafoe join the eccentric cast. Tim Burton’s gothic and whimsical films always have a certain tangible eccentricity that just works. Let's hope we won't have to wait another 36 years for Beetlejuice 3. IN THEATERS 9/6

UGLIES

Set in a futuristic world where teens endure a cosmetic procedure that rids them of all their flaws, making them eternally “pretty,” Scott Westerfeld's Uglies immediately hooked young adults when it hit school libraries in 2005. Not surprisingly, its popularity quickly caught the attention of Hollywood studio executives. Still, it's taken 20 years to bring the novel to life on the big screen with streaming service Netflix hoping to rejuvenate the dystopian teen drama genre which has typically produced big box office hits (i.e., Hunger Games). Joey King is the perfect choice to take on the mantle of teen protagonist Tally Youngblood, who joins a rebellion against the “Pretties.” No, the star-crossed lovers trope doesn't involve werewolves versus vampires. It’s “Pretty” boy Peris (Outer Banks' Chase Stokes) and “Ugly” boy David (newcomer Keith Powers) in this science fiction film. Now we'll wait to see if the other three books in the Uglies series will get their overdue movie makeover, too.

NETFLIX 9/13

SPEAK NO EVIL

It seems James McAvoy is letting one of his Split (2016) multiple personalities loose in his new psychological horror film Speak No Evil. His odd wife and silent son (who was allegedly born without a tongue) help McAvoy (Paddy) to convince an earnest American family they meet on vacation to visit them in their seemingly idyllic countryside home. The sweet visit soon turns sour, though, with Paddy's wife cruelly criticizing the couple's child and her and Paddy's behavior becoming increasingly erratic and controlling. This film is a remake of the 2022 Danish original which startled audiences with its slow yet tense pacing and shocking ending. The trailer leaves you questioning whether Paddy and his wife plan to kill the couple and steal their lives, or perhaps there is an even greater evil at play (oftentimes there is in a Blumhouse production). A warning for the most peoplepleasing of viewers: you will likely leave the theater realizing the true evil at work here is placating people. IN THEATERS 9/13

TRUE CRIME JUNKIE

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER

THE CROSSBOW TRIPLE MURDER

Before we get to the main event this month, I'd be remiss not to mention the ongoing Scott Peterson saga, as the infamous convicted killer continues his efforts to secure a new trial. Most devoted true crime fans are surely aware that Netflix just released American Murder: Laci Peterson , a gripping docuseries on the 20-year-old case that captured the attention of the entire world, really. It's a fascinating behindthe-scenes look at what happened on Christmas Eve, 2002, when a very pregnant Laci went missing while walking her dog near the couple's Modesto, California home - and the investigation that followed, ultimately leading to the arrest of Scott several months later as he drove to the Mexican border. Check it out.

Now, on to this month's featured case - a case quite unlike anything I've ever come across based on the strange nature of the crime committed. On July 12, 2024, after a day-long manhunt in London, British police arrested 26-year-old Kyle Clifford on suspicion of killing two sisters and their mother in a crossbow attack inside the family's home. No doubt the use of such a weapon is something few investigators have ever encountered; so, naturally, the British press picked up the bizarre story and ran with it - even American media latched on. Everyone wanted to know: what drove Clifford to kill the wife and two daughters of well-known

BBC radio commenter John Hunt? And why with a crossbow?

While there are no definitive answers as of yet, British media reported that Clifford was an exboyfriend of one of the victims (my guess is that he's another jilted lover gone off the rails - they seem to be everywhere these days). In an even stranger twist, the suspect's brother, Bradley, received a life sentence in 2018 for the murder of moped passenger Soban Khan. Apparently crime runs in the family. Following Clifford's arrest, the homes of both brothers were searched by police - but they found little that would shed light on the crossbow attack. (Side note: in case you're wondering, people in Britain don't need a license to carry a crossbow.) So now we'll likely have to wait until Clifford's trial to find out what drove him - or perhaps he's bound and determined to stay mum. This is assuming, of course, that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him. Right now, there's not much to go on.

EDIT: After doing a little research, it turns out that a crossbow has been used in numerous "high-profile" crimes in recent years. That's rather surprising as it seems like a cumbersome weapon - and one that would be highly visible to potential witnesses.

"EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW: WHAT DROVE CLIFFORD TO KILL THE WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS OF WELLKNOWN BBC RADIO COMMENTER JOHN HUNT? AND WHY WITH A CROSSBOW?

SUSPECT KYLE CLIFFORD

NTHE BUZZ ON

A NEW EVANSVILLE BEAUTY COLLECTIVE OFFERS “SPOOKY VIBES ALL THE TIME” WITH AMY BRADFORD

estled in the heart of Evansville at 4118 Pollack Avenue, a new gem has emerged on the beauty sceneCrescent City Collective. This up-and-coming beauty collective is not just another salon; it's a sanctuary for those seeking high-quality services and a cool, welcoming vibe.

A FRESH TAKE ON BEAUTY

From the moment you step through the collective’s arched doorway, you’re met with a moody and inviting aesthetic. The collective’s decor is a perfect blend of dark academia and whimsy, with soft lighting, plush seating, plants, and artistic touches everywhere you look.

I booked a styling appointment with salon owner and stylist Kenzee Hutchinson and picked her brain on the vision for the space and her mission in the beauty industry. “I wanted to create a place where people feel welcome to come as they are, a place you would want to just hangout,” she shared. Lovingly referred to as “the church” as a nod to the building’s previous use, Kenzee gave insight into her choice of location. “I looked at several possible locations, but in my mind I knew I wanted something off the usual beaten path and a church, ideally, because I love architecture. When I saw this place I knew immediately. The decor, the architecture, this place is a reflection of me.”

HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES

Though I was only there to have my hair styled for a photoshoot (she did a flawless job, by the way), Crescent City Collective offers a wide range

beauty

of services. From haircuts and styling to barber services, makeup application, lashes, massage, waxing and more, the services are performed by highly-trained professionals who are passionate about their craft. “I’m extremely selective about the providers who join us here,” Hutchinson explained. “Not everyone is a good fit for every salon.” She isn’t shy about protecting the integrity of her vision. “This is not a place for negativity or judgment. This is a come-as-you-are environment and I want both my providers and clients to feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe here.”

THE COOL VIBE

What truly sets Crescent City Collective apart is its cool, laid-back vibe. The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious, making it a favorite spot to unwind and indulge in some self-care. Also, after hours the collective frequently hosts events and collaborations with local artists and businesses, fostering a sense of community and small business support - which our area desperately needs. You can find handmade goods from local vendors for sale throughout the salon. Aside from self-care services, it’s a great place to shop. The pop-up boutiques and unique mixer events are advertised on their social media page.

Experience the “spooky vibes all the time” at Crescent City Collective and see for yourself why it is special.

To book an appointment or learn more about their services, visit crescentcitysalon.com or follow them on social media.

SALON PHOTOS CREDITED TO: HAPPY IMAGE CO.

WITH JOSHUA "BIG CAT" PIETROWSKI

People THE YOU SHOULD MEET

THE CHANDLER BOYS

It feels like we spend a lot less time laughing than we used to, doesn’t it? I don’t know exactly what’s going on in our culture, but everyone and everything seems so uptight these days, whether a situation is ready to boil over or friends and family spend whole meals at taverns and restaurants tight-lipped and lost in their phones. What happened to the conversation? What happened to the connection? How can we get back to that place? Who can save us?

Enter the Chandler boys of Southern Indiana.

Mark and Andy, the father and son duo, are thicker than thieves. When one walks through the front door of any business you can rest assured that the other will be following right along behind them. Over the years the Chandler boys have grown into a bit of a legendary pair among the taverns and watering holes of Evansville, Indiana, and while they are related by blood, as all dads and sons tend to be, I always enjoy sitting at the other end of the bar just watching them happily operate as best friends.

Andy was born and raised in Evansville, and always has a joke at the ready. He’s my inside source for any and all things Indianapolis Colts football, and is a regular, dyed-in-the

wool jukebox hero.

His father, Mark, is also a native son of the tri-state area, having just retired in 2017 as a mail courier for the Evansville Public Library system. Mark, who also walks into the room armed with a joke, comes equipped with one of the most contagious laughs I’ve ever heard. Due to his time working for the library, he is a treasure trove of old Evansville information and stories, proving to be a proficient storyteller himself.

The two form an enigmatic team that emanates what I would call “good will” out into the lives of everyone they meet. I can tell you that my life is better because I know Mark and Andy Chandler, and because I’ve been blessed enough for them to let me into their friendship circle.

So maybe we do spend a lot less time laughing these days. Well, maybe you do.

The Chandler boys of Southern Indiana usually get "Big Cat" going pretty good on a weekly basis. But, heed my advice. If you’re ever out to eat, or out for a cold one after work, and you see these guys at the other end of the bar do yourself a favor… put your phone back in your pocket. Hop into the conversation.

And, enjoy. You’re sitting with legends.

-

Big Cat

5TH ANNUAL DOG DAY DOWNTOWN

"THE

MOST PAWSOME EVENT OF THE YEAR" RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE THIS MONTH

Are you and your furry friends ready for a tail-wagging good time? Thought so. Then mark your calendar for September 21 because the 5th Annual Dog Day Downtown returns for a super fun afternoon of FREE activities in honor of man's (and woman's) best friend - all made possible by German American Bank and generous sponsors. With all the turmoil in the world these days, this is exactly the sort of event that we need to keep us grounded; the unconditional love of our pets is one of the true joys in life and they deserve to be celebrated and pampered!

So round up your canine crew and head to downtown Evansville (Main Street from 2nd to 6th Street) on September 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES

• Dog Agility Course: Watch your pups conquer obstacles and showcase their agility.

• NEW FOR 2024 - Foam party

• FREE Microchipping: Provided by the Vanderburgh Humane Society to ensure your furry friends' safety.

• Bone Bar: Treat your dog to some delicious bones - while supplies last.

• Pup Cup Station: Keep your furry friends cool with FREE pup cups - while supplies last.

• Pet Pampering & Wellness Station: Free nail trimmings, pet pampering, ear cleaning, brushing, and more to pamper your pets.

• Cuddle Station: Because who can resist a good cuddle with a cute dog?

• Red Carpet Photo Backdrop: Sponsored by F.C. Tucker Emge Realtors, so your dog can feel like a true celebrity.

• Photo Displays: Capture precious moments with your furry companions, enjoy free giveaways, and more!

And while you're at it, please support our local animal shelters and rescues. They do so much good work for the community that often goes unappreciated.

For more info, visit downtownevansville.com.

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

EASTON: Three-year-old Easton is a playful, sweet and chatty guy! You can find him waiting to talk your ear off (and maybe give a hug or two) in our cageless cat lounge at the VHS. Originally from Evansville Animal Care and Control, not much is known of Easton’s past. What we do know is that he’ll make a wonderful companion to someone looking for a fun and social cat! His $100 adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip and up-to-date shots. Apply online at vhslifesaver.org

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

400 MILLNER INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

2 BLOCKS WEST OF GARVIN PARK IN EVANSVILLE

ESTHER: Meet seven-year-old old Esther! If her beautiful pittie smile doesn’t win you over, her charming personality will. She’s a sweet and energetic girl that loves meeting new dogs and would make a perfect companion for a day at the dog park. When she’s not romping around with new pals, she thrives on cuddles and attention from her humans. Esther is currently in foster care and would love to meet you. Apply online and our team will set up a meet and greet!

(812) 426-2563

COCA-COLA: Have a Coca-Cola and a smileadopt this bunny!! Meet Coca-Cola, a four-year-old American rabbit. For such a small guy, he’s very active and playful (must be the caffeine.) He is super curious about people and loves having his head and cheeks rubbed. Once he gets a little bit of attention from someone new, he’s quick to return for more! Sound like your kind of bun? Apply for Coca-Cola online at vhslifesaver.org. His $50 adoption fee includes his neuter and registered microchip!

ADOPTION HOURS TUES-SAT FROM NOON-6PM

ROMULUS

VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

Ryan Rud-Cloud and his husband call Bloomington, Indiana home where they've been residing with a sleepy Italian greyhound named Lorenzo since 2011. Some years back the couple rescued another Greyhound to keep him company; unfortunately, she ultimately passed away due to the effects of epilepsy, leaving Lorenzo lonesome for a furry friend once again. So Rud-Cloud, as so many prospective animal adopters do, took to the internet in search of the perfect companion. Admittedly, it was entirely random - "serendipitous," really - but one day a video appeared on his news feed featuring an impossibly cute puppy that seemed so loving and

HE WAS SUPER-LOVING AND WELLBEHAVED.

shelter. "We had not seen a nicer facility and were treated wonderfully," he says, adding that it was "love at first sight" when staff brought Romulus out to greet them and Lorenzo who tagged along to meet his potential new pal. "As soon as I sat down, Romulus got right up on me and stuck his head in my neck - then he ran around and grabbed toys to bring to me," Rud-Cloud recalls. "He was super-loving and well-behaved."

Most importantly, Lorenzo gave the adoption a thumbs up - or paws up, more accurately - interacting well with the energetic Jack Chi. And that was that - Romulus was now an official member of the family.

happy. Intrigued, Rud-Cloud forwarded the video to his husband, wondering aloud if maybe the adorable Jack Chi housed at the VHS in Evansville was the key to making their family whole. He not only got a vote of approval back, but Rud-Cloud's husband pointed out something important he had missed: the dog's name was Romulus. "I'm a huge Star Trek fan," Rud-Cloud notes with a laugh. Soon the couple was heading down our way to meet Romulus and make the adoption so.

Having previously visited various animal shelters around the region, Rud-Cloud and his husband were "astounded" by the VHS when they arrived at the

According to Rud-Cloud, everyone has been getting along just swell since returning to Bloomington. Well, up until 8 p.m. each night, that is. "Romulus flips a switch on me then and turns into a demon," he jokes. "Suddenly he's got to play and run all around the apartment. But he's only three-years old - still a puppy. We're watching videos online and studying up on how to best take care of a Jack Chi so we can give him the fullest life possible."

Pancake Confessional

WITH SHIRLEY PANCAKES

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON LIFE IN THE EVERCHANGING FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Restaurants have been my life for the past 12 years. What started as a part-time college job turned into a career path that has taken me down the rabbit hole of life in the industry of an ever-evolving door. You don’t often find coworkers who chose this life willingly. The promise of quick cash, flexible hours, and the overall general theme of a guaranteed job, no matter how late you are, draws in a crowd unlike any other industry. I’ve seen new hires last only three hours before sneaking out the back door to seek employment at the restaurant across the parking lot. If you want the inside scoop on a restaurant, look no further than this column. From the wild stories of our frequent patrons to the success and downfall of the ones who cook your food. We won’t hold back. We want to hear all your questions, comments, and opinions. No topic is offlimits. For now, I’ll leave you with a story that some may not believe to be true, but I assure you, it is.

If you are a business owner - not only in the food and beverage industry,

but in any industry - you are acutely aware of the challenge of finding valuable and competent employees. This story finds us at a pizza shop far, far, away that encapsulates the struggle of employees vs. managers and owners. (Names changed for privacy purposes.)

It was a quiet and dreary Monday morning with one cook and myself to run the restaurant. The owner had just shown up to input a food order and run payroll for the week, as well as play manager for the day. We had just taken an unexpected large catering delivery order for a local hospital. Mind you, our delivery vehicle was the owner’s primary vehicle AND a stick shift - which I could NOT drive. He called in one of our 17-year-old hosts, Logan, to take it because he was tied up with too many things to deliver it himself. Turning down a $1,000 catering

IF YOU WANT THE INSIDE SCOOP ON A RESTAURANT, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS COLUMN. FROM THE WILD STORIES OF OUR FREQUENT PATRONS TO THE SUCCESS AND DOWNFALL OF THE ONES WHO COOK YOUR FOOD. WE WON’T HOLD BACK.

order of simple pies would have been absurd. So, Logan gets dropped off by his mom and is asked to go outside and move the delivery vehicle so we could start loading the car when the food was ready. A good 5–10-minutes pass before Logan returns, clearly frustrated, and swearing underneath his breath. This is because no matter what he did he could not seem to move the car.

The owner stopped him, and asked him if he put it in gear properly, to which Logan responded, “What do you mean?” The owner, dumbfounded, questions him. “Logan, I asked you if you could drive a manual, you told me YES!” Logan had no clue about the difference between a manual or automatic vehicle, hence his inability to move it, so we were now scrambling to find another solution. Logan shrugged and left because he was now irrelevant to the situation. The owner quickly calls up another hostess, Jennie - who also can't drive a stick shift so she agrees to come in and take the order herself. She lives close, so within 20 minutes I see her blonde little head peep through the door. The owner is noticeably antsy as the dining room is now full, the catering order is ready to go, and is due to be onsite in less than 15 minutes. He quickly directs Jennie to move her car to the back door so we can easily load up the pies and send her on her way. Puzzled, Jennie cocks her head and replies, “Car? It was so nice outside, I decided to ride my bike!” The owner, absolutely stunned, grits his teeth, and, visibly PISSED, stammers… “Your BIKE?! I asked you if you could drive this delivery and you said YES!!!” Jennie, taking a few moments to process the situation, finally understands his explosion. “Ohhhh. Yeah, I guess I didn’t think about that… Oopsie!” Her blonde hair quickly living up to its stereotype, she hangs her head low, and pouts from being yelled at. The owner, now visibly irate, utters many choice words, tosses me his keys, and barks, “YOU’RE in charge now. I am taking this delivery myself!!!”

Restaurants, man - truly a brutal industry for anyone. This story is one of hundreds that would make industry diehards chuckle, and outsiders lurking be horrified by the atrocities that take place behind the dining room walls. Stay tuned for more insider stories in next month’s issue.

Hello, friends. My name is Jeremiah Galey. I’m a nearly two-decade veteran of the local food and hospitality industry. I own (along with my beautiful wife, Kimmy) and operate Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge. This column is the mumblings and bumblings of introspection and parallels in life.

The culture of restaurants’ inner workings has dramatically changed since I started in 2005. I’ve been screamed at. I’ve had my dish thrown against the wall. It was some rite of passage to stay silent as your chef humiliated you. The standard industry kitchen vibes were all the same: the chef was better than you - at everything. You were inferior, and you were treated as such.

PARALLELS IN LIFE

I’m still baffled how this mentality somehow became the industry standard. The whole “I’m gonna treat you like sh*t because this whole place relies on me, not you” is a masturbatory cop-out and a pure admittance that you have failed at teaching discipline and propelling your people’s growth. It’s a piss poor attitude and it ironically ignores a basic tenet of human nature which seems to be lost on so many: mistakes perpetuate growth.

As a society, we should really reprogram our views of error. We are beings of beautiful imperfection. “Perfection” was never in the cards. In a world oversaturated with artificially

crafted perfection, it’s important to define mistakes and errors not as less-than, but as tools to help us continue to grow.

I have made mistake after mistake in my life. From situational regrets to errors in judgment to just stumbling through something until I got it right. One thing is clear: you only grow if you pay attention. Making mistakes is a roadmap to being better, but only if you can locate the pit stops along the way. Accept and adapt.

It’s not all critique of self, either. You have to stay open to critique from peers. You can’t go through life without friction and expect growth. You have to do the work. Don’t be offended when someone gives you some grit. Use it to sharpen your blade and let it rip.

You are not perfect. Don’t ever let anyone say you are perfect. You deserve better. You are learning, just like the rest of us bags of meat, blood and bone. You are so much more than an amalgamation of your worst mistakes.

Have a question for me? Write to badrandyshot@gmail.com

WITH JEREMIAH GALEY

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: Last month someone asked if there was a particular case that had inspired you to go into law. I'm curious if there was a particular lawyer - whether national or regional - that impacted your decision to enter the legal field.

A:There was not a particular lawyer that influenced my decision to head to law school. In fact, prior to law school I did not personally know any lawyers and there were not any other lawyers in my family. When in high school, I believe I went and spoke with a lawyer as part of a high school project, but I was not seriously considering law school at the time.

Lawyers did, though, play a crucial role in my decision to enter the legal field following law school. Indeed, some law school graduates never enter the legal field. However, I had the

opportunity to clerk during law school for a lawyer and he was gracious and patient with me during my clerkship. I learned a great deal and developed a fondness for the challenges and competitiveness involved in litigation.

Once I graduated from law school and was practicing law, there were several lawyers that I worked for that mentored me and that I learned from. The mentorships were crucial as I learned all the things they didn’t teach in law school. For instance, you learn the “right way” to practice law, how to deal and treat other lawyers, how to

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.

serve clients, how to treat your coworkers and of the potential hazards in prosecuting cases.

Today, there is less mentorship in law that occurs. Why? I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but our world just keeps getting busier and busier and lawyers have less time to devote to helping young lawyers. This is unfortunate as mentorship is so crucial. There is an old saying in law that once you graduate from law school and pass the bar exam your real education begins. This real life education as a lawyer is much easier to navigate with an older lawyer mentoring.

SEPTEMBER MUSIC REVIEWS

KHALID Sincere RCA Records

It seems odd to write that Sincere is only Khalid’s third studio album. It feels like his ethereal R&B pop-soul voice has soothed me for a decade. To be fair, it’s been eight years since “Location” exploded on all of the music charts when he was still a teenager. His signature “baritenor” vocals are back and just as beautiful with his airy harmonies. Lead single “Please Don’t Fall in Love with Me” breaks your heart then heals you right up with its pulsating beats, quick vocals and a dreamy, breathy chorus. “Adore U” intimately seduces you: “Started on two different pages, I'm happy we made it (happy we made it)/ You say that you're broken, I'm the one who saves you (one who saves you)/ Thousand miles apart and God knows that I hate it (that I hate it)/ Nothing hurts me more than when we're separated (separated).” Khalid almost let his album go clean without any features, but English singer-songwriter Arlo Parks makes a breath of fresh air pop-up on “Breathe." And in a surprise delight, Khalid delivers some flavorful raps - a change of tune from his moody melodies. He's a grown man now and I mean that sincerely. - Marisa Patwa

CHILDISH GAMBINO

Bando Stone & The New World RCA Records

Childish Gambino - aka Donald Glover - is officially burying his musical alter-ego six feet under after five albums. Fans of the artist know he's just as prolific in his acting as he is his music, often tying the two art forms together. So, it’s no surprise his last album is also accompanied by a feature-length film, centering around singer Bando Stone. His hero joins forces with a woman and her son in a post-apocalyptic world, fighting countless battles. As a tribute to Glover's years as Childish Gambino, the album is infused with a genre gumbo from trap and rock to indie-pop, Afrobeats, jazz, hip-hop and R&B. The guitar heavy lead single “Lithonia” is a dramatically dark and powerful rock ballad featuring Alex Wolff - an intelligent play on his horror movie career and drumming come up from his time on Nickelodeon’s The Naked Brothers Band. Glover may be known as an incredibly confident creator, but he's still willing to share the limelight, with other guest appearances from Chlöe, Flo Milli, Jorja Smith, Amaarae, Fousheé and Steve Lacy. His best collaboration takes a page from Yeezy and Drake's playbook by including his son Legend on “Can You Feel Me.” It's a majestic and tropical duet that allows the father to employ his poetic falsetto as he sings “I'm so fly like Batman/ I can fly up to the moon/ Stars in the sky like a stadium/ They lightin' up the whole room now.” We may be saying goodbye to Childish Gambino, but not daddy Donald Glover. - Marisa Patwa

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

POST MALONE F-1 Trillion Republic & Mercury Records

Post Malone may have gotten his signature stage name from a rap name generator, but the kid who started out as a trap teen is now a country crooner. What’s most endearing about Austin Post is not just his incredible manners and kindness and being a video game aficionado and family man on his Utah ranch, it’s his ability to humbly and happily test out new genres of music just because he wants to. His seamless transition from one of the world's biggest hip-hop artists to crooning twangy tunes is nothing short of astounding, yet not surprising. Even better, he enlists the help of true country legends to help him. He’s enjoying his new foray into the field while paying tribute to the greats with heavyweights like Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson all lending a hand. Lead single “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen is a powerful pop country duet with affecting lyrics: “I had some help/ It ain't like I can make this kinda mess all by myself/ Don't act like you ain't help me pull that bottle off the shelf/ Been deep in every weekend if you couldn't tell/ They say, "Teamwork makes the dream work"/ Hell, I had some help (help).” Other standouts include “Guy for That” and “Pour Me a Drink.” I’d pour myself a cup of Post Malone any day.- Marisa Patwa

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS Aghori Mhori Mei

Martha's Music/Thirty Tigers

Billy Corgan always seems to find a way to stay in the public eye. Never shy with his thoughts and views on fellow musiciansor the state of the world in general - the divisive Smashing Pumpkins leader likes to keep people talking...mostly about him and the band's next bloated concept album. But Corgan really grabbed the spotlight earlier this year with a big talent search for a new guitarist to complete the Pumpkins' live attack (it's well-documented that he plays

virtually every instrument in the studio). Something like 10,000 applicants battled for the honor to shred with one of alt-rock's biggest groups, but only Kiki Wong was left standing. She's not on the new album, by the way. Not that it would have made any difference. With Aghori Mhori Mei , Corgan ignores his recent electronic urges, opting for a return to "rock & roll." To these ears, it mostly comes across as amped-up Pearl Jam much of the time, especially on lead single "Sighommi." Admittedly, it's actually kind of good, all things considered - just not my cup of tea. - Johnny Fletcher

X Smoke & Fiction Fat Possum

Inarguably one of the greatest punk rock bands of all-time, X released its landmark debut Los Angeles in 1980, introducing a touch of twang to the genre thanks to the distinctive vocal and musical approach of bassist John Doe. But it was his chemistry with frontwoman Exene Cervenka that really defined the sound of the band; the pair's harmonies had a strangely alluring quality to them unlike anything heard before. Of course, no discussion of X is complete without praising the incredible guitar work of Billy Zoom who brought a rockabilly edge and effortless cool to the table. Holding the whole operation together, drummer DJ Bonebrake powered the band forward on celebrated releases including Wild Gift, Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World , all recorded in succession following the critical triumph of X's debut. Then, after a patchy period marked by the commercial failures of See How We Are (which saw Zoom departing, replaced by guitarist Dave Alvin) and Hey Zeus! (featuring Zoom back in the mix) in the late 80s and early 90s, the four original members called it a day... but the story of X wasn't over. 2020 saw an unexpected reunion in the studio, a fruitful period that produced 2020's excellent throwback Alphabetland . Suddenly, X was everywhere again, playing to packed venues across America. After taking some time off post-tour, Cervenka, Doe, Zoom and Bonebrake geared up for one last hurrah, eventually re-emerging on August 2, 2024 with the band's final release, Smoke & Fiction , a truly fitting epitaph. Highlights include the hook-filled lead single "Ruby Church" featuring Cervenka and Doe harmonizing as beautifully - and strangely - as ever, plus Doe's "The Way It Is" (an economic lament) and "Sweet Til the Bitter End" which seems to comment on X's long and winding journey. But perhaps the best track here is "Winding Up the Time" with its spaghetti western guitar riff and muscular crunch, proving that these veterans of punk rock can still kick out the jams.

- Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

CRYIN’ OUT LOUD Play Loud & Smoke Often Pilot Light Records

Maine's top blues rock band Cryin’ Out Loud returns with Play Loud & Smoke Often. The album kicks off with “I Smoke Cigars and I Play the Blues,” a song where lead singer Brandon Stallard sings about his favorite pastimes as Mark “Bluesboy” Kanter provides topnotch harmonica playing. “I’m Gonna Drink My Way to Memphis” offers a funky bass line from Jim Fratini. Tommy Rush’s tight drumming and Erik Lawrence’s saxophone on “You Can to the Blues” will get your toes tapping. “If You’re Gonna Leave” sees more melancholy harmonica from Kanter as Stallard sings about his woman departing and using it as inspiration.

Stallard sings about his bad decisions on “Instead” while Brooks Milgate and Lincoln Blake play amazing keyboards. “Unconditionally” offers a tender look at Stallard’s love for his daughter as Ben Chute plays heartfelt slide guitar. Funky guitar starts off “Tell Her,” another song about Stallard’s daughter as he sings about wanting her to know about his life with vocals reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen. “Moonshine Lover” begins with superb saxophone from Lawrence that gives the tune a 1950s feel while Scott Stallard, the song’s co-writer, provides great drums. Brandon Stallard sings about his plans after a show during a grueling tour on “Gonna Get High Tonight.” The album closes with “Time Away from You,” a song where Stallard sings about wanting to try something different. For more info, visit cryinoutloudmusic.com.

- Paul Bragin

SEPTEMBER BEER REVIEWS

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

JOHNNY FLETCHER - 4

Europe's annual Oktoberfest beer festival kicks into gear on September 21, so this Elysian offering is right on time. Featuring a fairly sweet aroma and hints of brown sugar, allspice, cloves, pumpkin and cinnamon, Night Owl is nicelybalanced - no flavor stands out more than the other. In addition, the healthy 6.7% ABV makes for a full-bodied adult beverage that's both tasty and moodenhancing. Elysian always brings something good to the table.

QUAFF ON! BLOOD ORANGE YELLOW DWARF

JOHNNY FLETCHER - 4

We've reviewed three Quaff On! offerings in the last six months and Blood Orange is my favorite of the bunch. This American pale wheat beer pours a big head that recedes quickly and features a malty aroma with a touch of citrus. Then, the blood orange flavor hits big and bold - and it's a very tasty experience. There's a dryness and a bitterness to the mouthfeel but just the right amount. Overall, this is a light, refreshing beer.

PAUL BRAGIN -

3.5

A thin off-white head forms on this dark beer and evaporates quickly. The scent boasts a generous amount of pumpkin and spice notes. Similarly, the initial tasting of the beer offers more pumpkin and spice, with the spice flavors growing in the long finish. This beer will see a rise in popularity during the cool months of autumn as the leaves change color. Pair it with desserts like pumpkin pie, apple pie or sweet potato pie.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a hazy ambercolored beer with an elevated ABV of 6.7. It has a nice allspice, cinnamon and some clove flavors. It's very easy to drink and a nice fall beer - the only drawback is that it's very filling, almost like eating pie. I've enjoyed other beers by Elysian and this one is another winner.

PAUL BRAGIN -

4

A thick white head crowns this golden ale and never totally evaporates. A good fruit presence dominates the nose. A burst of carbonation hits the tongue first, and then lightness from the wheat used during brewing, followed by hop notes in the extended finish. People who enjoy hoppy beers need to drink this. It seems well-suited for drinking during the summer. Pair it with lighter dishes like salads, seafood, goat cheese or fruit desserts.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

This is a slightly cloudy straw-colored beer brewed in Nashville, Indiana. It says it's a hoppy wheat beer with a nice citrus flavor, but it's a little light on the wheat flavor (hops always overpower the wheat flavor). I consider this a little on the IPA spectrum but on the lighter side of that. I guess you could say this is a good combination of both.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

ELYSIAN NIGHT OWL PUMPKIN ALE