FEBRUARY
2019
|
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
FEATURES
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
6 Comedian Ron White at the Victory An Interview with Politically-Incorrect Comic
56 58 60 61 62 64 76
8 Hairball: A Bombastic Celebration of Arena Rock An Interview with Singer Bobby Jensen 12 NEEDTOBREATHE at the Victory An Interview with Keyboardist Josh Lovelace 16 The Deplorables Tour at the Old National Events Plaza An Interview with Comedian Steve McGrew 20 Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey at the Ford Center An Interview with 2nd Year Player Shayne Morrissey 22 2019 Valentine's Day Gift Giving Guide Great Ideas for that Special Someone 28 Chefs of Note International Cuisine Tasting Event 2nd Annual Fundraiser for the Evansville Philharmonic Guild
COUPONS 31 Save Big!
CUISINE & DINING 30 In the Kitchen with Chef Amanda
ENTERTAINMENT 32 46 48 50 52 54 55
Community & Family The Really Big SHow RMHC Wine & Fries Sunny Side Up: A Breakfast in Jacobsville VHS Spotlight Tri-State Pet Pics Mug Shots
OPINION 66 The Write Stuff 67 Maybe I'm Just Getting Old
POLITICS 67 Tri-State Politics
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PREVIEWS & REVIEWS 68 69 70 72 74
Showplace Cinemas Film Music Beer Whiskey
RELIGION 66 Ask the Pastor
In Town & Around Arts & Activities Music: Sleep for the Weary Music: Stories from the Stage Music: On the Record Podcast Corner Screen Time
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A QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
W
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e're now a month into the new year but not much
ticket to see "Blue Collar" comic Bill Engvall at the Owensboro
seems to have changed. Yes, 2019 is looking
Convention Center on February 15 or country star Luke Combs
suspiciously like the previous 12-month cycle with endless
and Christian rock band Neetobreathe at the Ford Center and
bickering on Capitol Hill and Arby's still claiming that they
Victory Theatre, respectively - both scheduled for the following
have "the meats." And it's cold as crap to boot. Sorry, this is
night. That should go a long way in getting you primed for
just my winter mood emerging. Just let me get it out of my
all the good stuff on the horizon, including the conservative-
system, if you don't mind. Really, there's a lot to celebrate at
minded Deplorables comedy tour (3/1 at the Old National
the moment with some truly entertaining events headed our
Events Plaza) and the return of arena rock tribute act Hairball
way this month and into early March. Perhaps you're familiar
(3/9 at the Victory). We've got interviews with both along with
with country star Blake Shelton? How about comedians Steve
Needtobreathe plus the lowdown on the 2nd Annual Chefs
Martin and Martin Short? Those two incredible shows are still
of Note Tasting Tour and Really Big Show benefit for Arc of
several weeks away, but in the meantime, you can pick up a
Evansville. All that and more inside!
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NEWS4U AUGUST 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
RON WHITE
The scotch-drinking, politically-incorrect comic talks Roadies, Jeff Foxworthy, fear of geese and more V I CTORY TH EATRE | MA RC H 21
| 8P M
After more than three decades of stand-up comedy, Ron White is at the top of his game, having sold every ticket to date on his current theater tour. The politicallyincorrect 62-year-old is the comedic antidote for these
Great - the back and forth between you and Wendi McLendon-Covey is priceless.
Even though I like that show, like most shows, I don't
thin-skinned times - as evidenced by his most recent
watch them because I work at night. I may do a binge
Netflix special, If You Quit Listening, I'll Shut Up, in
on it and see if I can find it [that scene].
which he skewers a host of culturally-sensitive topics like a drunk uncle at the Thanksgiving table. You can't help but laugh. Especially since White has his storytelling down to a science with deceptively sharp jokes seeping out in between sips of scotch and mischievous grins.
Roadies was a really fun show with its behindthe-scenes look at touring. Were you given leeway to do your thing or was there a lot of direction? There was a ton of direction. That "Phil" character was
created and written by Cameron Crowe. Now, CamWhile he continues to kill on stage, White's also been
eron would give me all the leeway I wanted with the
making strides in front of the camera. His role as "Phil,
actual words; so, if I wanted to rephrase something
King of the Road" on the Cameron Crowe-created
I could do it. That character was just supposed to
2016 Showtime series Roadies received excellent re-
be in that first episode. He just gets fired and
views and another big project revolving around the
that's it - he's gone. But Showtime loved the
legend of the infamous Judge Roy Bean is in the works.
character and Cameron loved the character,
But first White has some more shows to sell out.
so they just figured out a way to bring him
A recent Reno 911 marathon on Comedy Central included the episode where you make a cameo appearance as a drunk pilot. Did you have to prepare much for that role?
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back and ways to fit him in. And then Cameron killed him [laughs]. I don't know how it works out there [in Hollywood]; I've never been able to figure out TV. But that was a fun
[Laughs] Well, I had to learn how to look drunk and put
project to do - and I thought it was a
on a pilot suit. Yeah, it was fun to do and it was all done
great little show. It had a real sweet-
in one night - and I never saw it. Although, I liked the
ness to it just like all of Cameron's
way it felt. How did it look?
stuff does. But while we were making
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
it, I told Cameron, 'We're going to need a vampire, dude - a vampire or a midget or something [to keep the show on the air].'
Apparently, he didn't listen to you.
No - and look what happened. What was cool is that all the opening acts were real, but the main act wasn't real - but their characters were in it. We had some great musicians and singers in the show and my favorite was [Eddie] Vedder, who came out. He was so generous - because it was all set up for him to sing at the funeral. So, he sat there and played for us - he did, like, two or three other songs and then hung out and smoked a bunch of cigarettes. He was really cool and generous with his time. When most of them came in, they were really rushed and needed to get out. [John] Mellencamp was a douche; he's a curmudgeon. I wasn't in the episode that he was in, so I didn't see him - you really only interact with the people you're in scenes with. But everybody said he was...he was in a scene with a little kid and he just chain-smoked the whole time - just blowing smoke right in this kid's face. Which was not in the script at all.
Here at the News 4U office we are currently at work on a bridal magazine... Do you want me to marry you? Uh, no. Actually, do you have any advice for couples who are getting hitched this year? [Laughs] You're going to [bleeping] hate it. That's my comment. My advice is find a way out of it.
Well, some people enjoy being married, apparently. I figured out the other day that if you're an amazing
lover women will forgive you for anything - and I'm somewhere right below that. I know where I'm at on the food chain. You've spoken often about your gratitude
towards fellow comedian Jeff Foxworthy who brought you along for the ride when his career went supernova - essentially making you a star in the process. Would
you have been ok with remaining a club comic? I really never thought I'd be a big comic. I was happy
being a club comic and opening for Jeff. For a while, I was kind of like Willie Nelson's harmonic player I would have just stayed there and blown the harmonic for as long as he wanted me to do it. And then he came up with a way to make me famous and then my career took off like a crazy thing. The amazing thing is that it's still going. Now, that's 15 years of hovering around the top of the comedy world. That's a rare run. You know, he's had one even longer than that. But it's rare to stay up there and play theaters for years. We've sold every ticket this year - and almost every single ticket last year. So, I'm really, really, really, really lucky and I'm really grateful to my fans. That's the reason why you don't see me... people ask me all the time, 'Why don't you have a horrible sitcom or a really bad movie?,' and it's because I don't have to. My fans take care of me; so, when somebody comes after me for a part, I have to think if it's something my fans would enjoy or I won't do it. I've kind of got a deal with them that I'm not going to drag them to a piece of shit so I can make more money.
You've also spoken - or joked, really - at length about your geese phobia. Isn't it time that you made peace with the geese?
[Laughs] No, I will not make peace with the geese, man. I want them out of here. They are evil and are from the dark world.
Final question: You've been doing comedy since 1986 - 33 years. A good friend of mine has worked at Target since 1986. Which do you think is tougher on the psyche - 33 years of stand-up or retail?
Well, odds are I've made more money. You know, I've just had this amazing career - and not like 33 years in retail isn't exhilarating. But yeah, I'm a lucky man for sure. For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre. com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville.
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
HAIRBALL presented by M Y 1 0 5 W J LT & 1 0 3 G B F Back by popular demand: Bombastic arena rock tribute act keeps kicking out the 80's jams V I CTORY TH EATRE | MA RC H 9
| 8P M
"We want it just to be a pinball machine going nuts, so you're just
out he's got cancer - stage 3, almost stage 4 - and they've got to
kind of like, 'Whoa - what?!' And then it's over and you go, 'What the
operate now. They took care of his hip and his cancer and he's a
hell was that?'"
brand new man. That's why I don't go to the doctor - so I don't get bad news! [laughs]
Singer Bobby Jensen's description of Hairball, the long-running arena rock tribute act, gets right to the heart of its mass appeal. For nearly 20 years, the Minneapolis-based band has toured the country in the endless pursuit to party like it's the 80's all over again, paying homage to the golden age of metal and heavy pop perfection. AC/DC? Of course. Bon Jovi? You bet. Def Leppard? Most definitely.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT HAIRBALL GOT OFF THE GROUND IN 2000 WHEN ALL THOSE DARK NĂœ-METAL BANDS LIKE DISTURBED AND STAIND RULED THE CHARTS. After...what? Call it nine years of depressing music; nobody ever
Guns N' Roses? Hell yeah. Journey? Believe it. Van Halen? Well, it
singing about something fun - just self-loathing and "poor me" crap.
wouldn't be a show without Diamond Dave and the boys. Hairball
Well, I'm more into the party. I'd rather just pour a drink for the girl
expertly covers all of the main players, reeling off one megahit after
and see what happens. And that kind of music wasn't going on -
another before you've even had a chance to catch your breath. And
everybody was just somber and sick. So, the guys who started the
it's all presented via a wild stage production that features plenty of
group before Happy and I joined decided to have fun with it and
lights and pyrotechnics, mimicking the rush of a stadium concert - or
[Hairball] actually started out as a comedy thing. But after a little
a pinball machine, in fact.
while of me being in the band, I couldn't do it - I wanted to take it seriously, because I always thought that if the real guy is in the audi-
Jensen, a former member of KISS tribute band Strutter, kindly spoke
ence, is he going to think it's funny? And my answer to that question
with News 4U ahead of Hairball's repeat performance at the Victory.
was, "no." So let's see how far this could go if we took it seriously.
HAPPY, HAIRBALL'S LONGTIME GUITARIST, HAD HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY AWHILE BACK. IS HE FULLY RECOVERED AND READY TO ROCK? He's doing great. He found out right after he got the hip replaced
WHAT MUSICAL HEROES HAVE YOU MET DURING YOUR TIME IN HAIRBALL? Everybody that we have impersonated has played with us. So we've
that he had esophageal cancer, so he battled that all summer and
had the whole band of KISS; we've had Alice Cooper - I've sung with
he just got right back with the band. He's feeling great and we're
Alice Cooper five feet from my face. That was really cool. And when
ready to rock.
we played with [Judas Priest singer] Rob Halford, that was awesome;
HOLY CRAP.
Yeah, how about that? [laughs] He goes in for hip surgery and finds
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And that's when things started to happen.
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
he's the metal god. Rob came onto the bus after we played with him and we were all taken aback because he was just like, 'Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to hang out and talk.' He hung out for like
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
an hour or so and just gave us old, cool Judas Priest stories and touring with KISS stories. We're all older than I'm going to say, but we're all still fans. There's still that 16-year-old kid in me that has this dream that's still alive and well. And I have to feed that kid every day.
CONSIDERING YOUR KISS OBSESSION, SURELY YOU MUST REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW THEM. I actually got on stage with KISS in 1984 and got kicked out - that was my first KISS concert. I ran up on stage during "Lick It Up" that little breakdown where they sit there and talk - and I came running down the ramp, like "hey!" Paul [Stanley] puts his arms around me, points to the crowd and says, 'Hey, look at that!' and I dropped the pick he gave me and kind of went into shock. There was Paul and Gene [Simmons] and Bruce [Kulick]...and now there's a security guy giving me that "come here" finger and I'm thinking, I've seen enough videos on MTV to know that somebody gets it in the back right about now. So, I just walked off and the guy goes, 'Well, you ruined your concert' and I said, 'No, I didn't - that just made my life!' I was baptized in the fires of KISS, literally, and I have never thought of doing anything else since. And that's the god's honest truth.
DO YOU STILL GET A KICK OUT OF LIFE ON THE ROAD?
I love it every day. It would be a dishonor to God to hate what I do, because it's His gift to me. This is bigger than me. If I sat down and said I'm going to build a band, it would never have turned out like this. We bring the show and the circus - we all wanted to do this; none of us ever wanted a real job. it's not that we didn't want to work, because in this business you work hard. We worked our balls off to get a tour bus and get a truck and we did it with our own money. This thing grew organically and it turned into the beast it is. For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.com or hairballonline.com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville.
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NEEDTOBREATHE
"ACOUSTIC LIVE" TOUR Keyboardist Josh Lovelace on the band's old school approach to songwriting, stripping things back, playing Red Rocks and more
V I CTORY TH EATRE | FE BRU A RY 16
| 7P M
Few bands have transcended genres quite like Nashville's
down at the end of the show - played at the front of the stage
NEEDTOBREATHE, having scored an armful of GMA awards,
and tried to get as vulnerable and as transparent with the
toured with country music's biggest stars and scaled the
audience as we could, just singing the songs as they were
heights of the Billboard charts - not to mention developed a
written, really. Sometimes we would jump up and go into the
reputation for inclusive, wildly energetic live performances.
balcony - try to get really close to the fans so they could see
Led by the brothers Rinehart - lead singer/guitarist Bear and
us sweating [laughs]. It's funny; we went to our management
guitarist Bo, respectively - the group dismisses labels, find-
and booking agent and said, 'Hey, I think we want to do an
ing the "Christian" tag particularly limiting. Rather, they sim-
acoustic tour,' and they kind of looked at us like that was a
ply want to make music that everyone can enjoy, regardless
terrible idea, business-wise. But it's ended up being not only
of faith or background. That's quite evident on epic tracks
one of the most successful things we've ever done but one of
like the recent "Forever On Your Side," 2016's "Brother" and
the most fun things we've done as a band.
2011's "Drive All Night" - all melodic forces of nature with a positive, life-affirming message that speaks to the heart of being human.
WERE THERE CERTAIN SONGS THAT SURPRISED YOU IN AN ACOUSTIC FORMAT?
There were definitely some. One of those surprises in a good Although known for kicking up a storm on stage, NEEDTO-
way was the song "Drive All Night" from The Reckoning that
BREATHE dialed back the noise for Acoustic Live, Vol. 1, re-
we've played a million times. It's a four-on-the-floor, you know,
leased last November. The stripped-back recording highlights
banjo rock and roll song that we weren't sure would work. But
material from nearly all phases of their career, shedding the
we created a really special version of that song. Now as we go
studio excess and capturing the band with full transparency.
back into the rock set, we're like, 'How are we going to make
As keyboardist Josh Lovelace notes, "We got to sit and sing
the rock version feel like the acoustic version?' For us, that's
the songs, tell stories about where they came from and just
just a challenge to try and reinvent them, to change up our
spend an evening with our audience in a totally different way."
muscle a little bit and do some different things.
SOME BANDS GET A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT GOING
BEAR AND BO HAVE CONTRIBUTED THE BULK OF THE
For us, we've been playing shows as a rock band for 15, 16
YOU RELEASED YOUR SOLO DEBUT IN 2017, HAVE YOU
ACOUSTIC, FEARING THE INTIMACY, IF YOU WILL.
years now. And almost every night we've stripped things
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
SONGWRITING OVER THE YEARS. CONSIDERING THAT THOUGHT ABOUT BEING THE GEORGE HARRISON OF
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THE BAND AND OFFERING UP A FEW GEMS EACH ALBUM?
[Laughs] Not really. We have two brothers that...one, they know each other better than anybody in the world and they're also really great songwriters. So, there's definitely no shortage of amazing songs that are coming out of the two of them. It really is amazing to see them work together. I just want to be in the room and watch them. Also, one thing that's great about our band is that in a lot of ways it feels very old school rock and roll because the songwriters will come in and bring these ideas and we'll get in a room and we'll sit down as the band and actually work out parts - you know, our bass player might sit down at the piano and come up with this amazing piano part that I get to play every night. We're all very hands-on with what is going on. I feel like that's very rare and very special. THE ICONIC RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE IN COLORADO IS THE
SITE OF SO MANY LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES - LIKE U2 IN 1983, FOR EXAMPLE. YOU GUYS HAVE SOLD OUT THE VENUE SEVERAL TIMES. TELL US WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STAND ON THAT STAGE.
[Laughs] It is insane. We went to play a show 20 minutes down the road and saw Wilco was playing at Red Rocks, so we ran and got tickets last second. We told our manager that night that we wanted to play Red Rocks and he laughed at us. We weren't anywhere near that [level], but we really thought we could do it. So, we put it up on sale and a year later we were selling it out. The first time that we played there, we played the whole show way too fast. Normally, we do a two hour show and I think our show was an hour and 20 minutes because the tempos were way too fast; our heartbeats would not slow down. We did the classic picture in front of the big crowd and all of us had these geeky smiles. Luckily, we have gone back - we just sold out our fourth time there. In the pictures, every year we look more and more comfortable, but I hope we never lose that whoa-this-is-a-big-deal [feeling]. THE BAND'S PREVIOUS TWO STUDIO ALBUMS, RIVERS IN THE
WASTELAND AND HARD LOVE, BOTH REACHED THE TOP FIVE ON
THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, JUST MISSING THE TOP SPOT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HIT NUMBER ONE?
We are definitely in the studio trying to figure it out. When you've been around as long as we have, there is some second-guessing. You know, we're trying to say the right things. We're a touring band, too, so we write songs that we know we're going to play every night. I don't know if we feel the pressure but we definitely feel that the next thing is coming soon. I feel like we're about half-way done now - which is crazy to even think that. But we've got some songs that we're really proud of and feel like they're classic NEEDTOBREATHE songs that our fans - and hopefully new fans - will love. For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville.
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
THE DEPLORABLES TOUR OLD NAT I ONA L E VE N TS PLA ZA | M A R C H 1 | 7 :3 0 P.M .
MAKE AMERICA LAUGH AGAIN: NEW COMEDY SHOW OFFERS UP POLITICAL JOKES FOR THE RIGHT-MINDED In case you've been living under a rock for the last month,
it clean" comedy kind of thing. But that's not what this is - we're
there's something you need to know: the two political parties
not R rated or anything, but we're not coming out like we're the
are not getting along. Well, that's been going on for ages,
church group or we're the conservatives. You know what I mean?
really, but particularly with the recent government shutdown.
We are definitely coming out as "The Deplorables" - that's why
More than ever, there's an us vs. them vibe in Washington and
they [the show's producers] chose the name. We want that
seemingly no room for compromise. Consequently, laughs,
crowd - we want them to come out. There's no Trump-bashing.
at a time like this, are desperately needed but clearly in short
I've seen it a lot and club owners have, too - people getting up
supply, especially if you're a little right-minded (i.e., Republican).
and walking out when comics start bashing Trump. But this tour
Because while the liberal piss-take on the news of the day is
will be...call it a conservative safe-space.
broadcast nightly from the mouths of numerous talk show hosts - Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, etc. - a humorous conservative viewpoint has been hard to find. Until now. Enter the Deplorables. Better known as comedians Michael Loftus, Steve "Mudflap" McGrew and Terrence Williams, the Deplorables (surely you
HAVE SOME RIGHT-LEANING MATERIAL. BUT MOSTLY, YOU
ADDRESS RELATIONSHIP WOES, EVERYDAY STRUGGLES, ETC. HOW WILL YOU APPROACH THIS TOUR, MATERIAL WISE?
It will be a combo of both comedy styles. The first couple
recall that infamous Hillary Clinton remark during the 2016
of shows that we did, I just geared my stuff to more of a
presidential election) are all about having some fun at the left's
conservative fit. And then we got the feedback [from those test
expense. And mocking politics in general. Rest assured you'll
shows] that people loved the shows but would like to see a little
get a little bit of everything when this trio of right-minded
more political or right wing comedy. And so I went and wrote a
comics hits the stage at the Old National Events Plaza with the
bunch of new stuff and that's probably what's going to be in the
wildly popular Deplorable Choir ("Vote Republican Song") in
show. But, it's still more like, 'Thank goodness Trump has done
tow. Just don't be shy; come on out even if you're not fully on
this because now we have a chance to bring back that.' I'm not
board with the show's premise - this is comedy, after all. And if
doing a typical kind of like, 'Did you see what Chuck Schumer
you can't laugh at yourself, then what's the point?
said today?!'
McGrew kindly spoke with News 4U ahead of the show.
HOW DID YOU MAP OUT THE TOUR CONSIDERING THERE'S
WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG FOR A RIGHT-MINDED
FOR INSTANCE, YOU'VE GOT A SHOW IN LA SCHEDULED
COMEDY TOUR TO COME ALONG?
Well, this is the first, but there's been some other people that... haven't done this, per se, but they've tried to do the "let's keep
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YOU'RE NOT A POLITICAL COMEDIAN, THOUGH YOU DO
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE MATERIAL? PRIOR TO THE EVANSVILLE STOP. THE WEST COAST IS OBVIOUSLY QUITE LIBERAL.
[Laughs] Yeah, I've kind of been wondering how this is going to
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
be - I thought the same thing. Who's going to come out? But you know what? I think there are a lot more people that are quietly conservative - that are fed up. I think that's almost how Trump won. Everyone was like, 'Hillary's got this!' - that's what the polls showed. But I think a lot of people just stayed quiet because they didn't want to fight with anybody. DO YOU RECALL A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS SO POLARIZED?
I'm a little bit older than you, so I remember the end of the Vietnam War - the hippy thing, the whole "get us out of war" thing. We were divided then but not like now. I have never heard so much talk of people saying bring on the Civil War. You know what I mean? Bring it on - like, if this has to happen, let's just do it, let's get it over with. And I think that's kind of scary. AND YET, THERE ARE INSTANCES OF PEOPLE FROM OPPOSING
SIDES COMING TOGETHER AND FINDING COMMON GROUND. YOU RECENTLY DID A REALLY GREAT PODCAST WITH A COMIC FRIEND OF YOURS WHO IS QUITE LIBERAL.
Yeah, I loved that podcast with Mike Pace - he's a screaming, screaming liberal. I mean, at one point I think he actually unfriended me for awhile. And we were working together and hanging and talking and he's going, 'You know, we have a lot more in common than we thought - we should sit down and talk.' And if you heard the podcast, he's going, 'We should have done this three or four times.' Most people are in the middle - we just don't want things to go too far either way. And that's what's happening now. What we're trying to do with this show is find some middle ground and laugh at a little bit of everything. RECENTLY, THERE WAS A WHOLE THING
ABOUT COMEDIAN TIFFANY HADDISH
BOMBING BIG TIME AT A MIAMI CLUB. SHE APOLOGIZED, BUT
SOME COMEDIANS WHO BOMB SEEM TO WEAR IT LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?
I've had this conversation with some local Denver comics who talk about bombing. I don't think you should ever bomb. And they're like, 'Well, what if you're working out new material?' Well, then you're not doing a show. I think too many comics have gotten this idea that if you're bombing, you're fierce. [Takes mocking tone] 'Oh, my god, I can't believe you went out on stage and took that beating like a pro!' Even if I have new stuff - and I write every day - I try to work one or two jokes in and if one joke doesn't work, I didn't bomb; the joke bombed. Too many people get up there and think they're going to wing it with their new stuff - that the crowd will love whatever they have to say. For tickets, visit victorytheatre.com. The Victory is located at 600 Main St. in downtown Evansville. For more info, visit jeannerobertson.com.
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
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THE BIG GAME
party
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 • 3pm TICKETS: $25 EACH AT THE DOOR BIG PRIZES • BUFFET • GIVEAWAYS
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MORE FUN. MORE VALUE. MORE VARIETY. 1-800-342-5386 | TROPEVANSVILLE.COM | 421 NW RIVERSIDE DR. | EVANSVILLE, IN 47708 *Pending IGC approval. Must be 21 years of age or older. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-9 WITH IT. ©2019
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 19
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | SPECIAL FEATURE
AT THE FORD CENTER 2ND YE A R P LAYE R SHAY NE M O R R ISSEY TA LK S R O A D G A M E STR U G G L E S , BU I LDI NG MOME NTU M , A PPR EC IATIO N FO R C O A C H M O R A N A ND M O RE Ok, so the Thunderbolts haven't gotten off to the start that new
driving most of the night, by myself. But I'm kind of used to it now
ville's semi-pro hockey squad. There's still a number of games left
day for me.
head coach Ian Moran envisioned. But all is not lost with Evans-
to be played and the guys can certainly take inspiration from the
with traveling so much for hockey. But yeah, it was just a regular
way the Indianapolis Colts bounced back from that seemingly di-
SPEAKING OF BEING ON THE ROAD...WHY HAS IT BEEN SO DIF-
morale is on the up with all the players buying into Moran's ap-
SEASON?
sastrous 1-5 beginning to the season. Most importantly, the team's proach, especially 2nd year right wing Shayne Morrissey. The Neu-
mann University graduate can't say enough good things about the T-bolts' leader, describing the former NHL star as "a caring person with an unbelievable mind for the game of hockey."
Morrissey knows a thing or two about the game of hockey as well. In fact, he's putting his knowledge - and business administration
degree - to good use by opening a teaching clinic for youth in Philadelphia post-season. Called 14 Hockey, it's an exciting new
venture that could point the way to life after sport. But right now, Morrissey is hyper-focused on improving the team's prospects one game at a time.
Having just returned from a brief stint in the ECHL - his second callup in the last month - Morrissey kindly spoke with News 4U ahead
of a big match-up with the league's top team, the Peoria Rivermen. FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY (JANUARY 7). HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE THE BIG 2-7?
Well, actually, I was called up to the ECHL - I was in Toledo. So, I was driving back to Evansville; I just got back. I was pretty much
20 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
FICULT FOR THE THUNDERBOLTS TO WIN AWAY FROM HOME THIS
You know, it could be a combination of things - at this point, it could be in our own heads a little bit. Road games can be tough
because you are driving long distances and in some cases, the day of the game you're driving four or five hours on a bus and then
you have to get off the bus and play. But you don't want to make excuses for those things - you have to be prepared to win every night no matter whether you're driving five hours to a game or 10 minutes down the road to a rink. The way that I look at it is if you're
struggling on the road, you have to find a way to make it feel like a
home game. If you can stick to the same routines, stick to the same mindset...the mentality, the focus and the game plan must stay the
same. I think once we get that win it will make a huge difference for us; it's more of a confidence thing.
YOU'VE PLAYED WITH OTHER SPHL TEAMS, INCLUDING HUNTS-
VILLE AND PENSACOLA. DID IT TAKE TIME TO ADJUST TO COACH MORAN'S MORE OFFENSIVE-MINDED STYLE OF PLAY?
Not really. Just speaking from my own experience, Ian has really
helped my game - helped simplify my game which really helped
me when I got called up to the next level for the 10 games that I did. He's absolutely fantastic and has so much experience playing, obvi-
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | SPECIAL FEATURE
ously, in the NHL, so I just try to soak in as much as I can from his ex-
THERE'S CLEARLY STILL TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND THIS
how we play - a lot of teams play very similarly now. When I came in,
CAME BACK AFTER THAT UGLY 1-5 START.
perience. But I wouldn't say that there's a whole lot of difference with
Jeff Pyle was coaching and his defensive style was slightly different and took a little while to adjust to after coming from Pensacola. But
the way that I look at it, hockey is hockey and while there may be some slight differences in regards to coaching styles and different ways to play the game, you still have to stick to the little details that give teams that extra edge.
YOU REALLY SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH COACH MORAN.
Some people have been giving Ian a tough time because of our re-
SEASON, DESPITE THE SLOW START. LOOK AT HOW THE COLTS Exactly. And while it is frustrating when you're losing a lot of games
- you look at the standings and see yourself at the bottom...at the same time, you have to be optimistic and move forward. We can't think about the first half of our season. It's always been proven that
teams can make their way up from the bottom and we just need to pick away at it. Hopefully, we can find a way to build some momen-
tum and keep building off of that. That's the most important thing for us. There's still a lot of games left and a lot of opportunities for us to make a difference.
cord and the way things have gone. But I just want to make a state-
FEBRUARY HOME GAMES
mind for the game of hockey whose focus is developing good peo-
2/15 VS. KNOXVILLE
ment about Ian himself. He's a caring person with an unbelievable
ple, good players and winning games. It's hard when you're losing as a coach - it's easy to place the blame on a coach as opposed to a
single player or a group of 20 guys. But he really doesn't deserve all
of the negative comments. We've battled with some injuries of late, but I'll tell you one thing: Ian cares.
2/8 VS. HUNTSVILLE
2/22 VS. QUAD CITY 2/23 VS. QUAD CITY
2/28 VS. PENSACOLA For tickets and more info, visit evansvillethunderbolts.com. The Ford Center is located at 1 SE MLK Jr. Blvd. in downtown Evansville.
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 21
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| 23
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 25
Valentine's Day GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LOVED ONE
LOOKING FOR A GIFT FOR YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE? CHECK OUT THE LIST OF GIFTS BELOW THAT ARE SURE TO EARN YOU SOME BROWNIE POINTS!
VHS CUDDLEGRAMS 30 minute cuddle session with a shelter animal, box of Libs chocolates, 3 red roses, and personalized card delivered to your work place or home Feb. 14.
JUST RENNIE'S Just Rennie's Chocolate Chunk Cookies are the perfect gift for anyone who is craving something sweet.
MIKE LIBS & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Everyone loves a good chocolate
Order by phone at (812) 426-2563, e-mail at
covered strawberry, and Mike
events@vhslifesavor.org or in person.
Libs has the best in town!
BASKIN ROBBINS IN DUNKIN' DONUTS Give them a gift to satisfy their sweet tooth this Valentine's Day!
WESTSIDE WASHTUB Give your loved one the gift of relaxation! 30 minute massage with basic manicure with Shellac
3960 N First Ave, Evansville, IN 47710
Luxe for $60! Reg. $70!
NICE GUY VAPORS With over a hundred different e-juice flavors to choose from,
LUKE COMBS AT THE FORD CENTER Celebrate Valentine's Day a few
Nice Guy Vapors is certain to
days late at the Luke Combs
have the product your loved one
concert on February 16th!
is looking for.
PIECE OF CAKE
26 |
DUNKIN' DONUTS
Nothing says I love you like cake
Donuts, coffee, sandwiches
pops from Piece of Cake! These
and more! Give your loved one
sweet treats are everyone's
something for their sweet tooth this
favorite!
Valentine's Day!
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 27
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
CHEFS
of
NOTE
I N T E R N AT I O N A L C U I S I N E TA S T I N G E V E N T TROPICANA CONFERENCE CENTER | MARCH 17 | 12 - 4 P.M.
2nd annual fundraiser benefiting the Evansville Philharmonic Guild promises a tasty and informative afternoon for all ages
Last year's inaugural Chefs of Note
Conference Center; the selected
some excellent entertainment with
tasting event was a huge success,
chefs - each known for a different
Germania Maennerchor's Rhein Valley
raising thousands of dollars for the
take on international cuisine - will take
Brass serenading the audience with
Evansville Philharmonic Guild, a not-
turns giving their presentations and
the "Chicken Dance" and other fun
for-profit organization dedicated to
providing samplings over the course
German music. Plus, the Evansville
promoting youth music education
of the afternoon. Perhaps best of all,
Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will
through the Evansville Philharmonic
the change of location means parking
play Italian themes as attendees enjoy
Orchestra. Attendees were offered
should be a breeze with Tropicana
a luscious Italian dessert created by
an informative tour of some of the
offering plenty of spots on site.
Biaggi's. Last but not least, silent and
most popular downtown restaurants
live auctions are on the agenda, so
with each resident chef providing
One thing that hasn't changed is
don't miss out on all the great items up
cooking demonstrations and delicious
the delicious nature of the food on
for grabs.
samplings of their signature dishes.
offer. This year's lineup of restaurants
In addition, meet and greets were
represents a virtual trip around the
Tickets are only $25 - but fair warning
available - a rare opportunity to chat
world with Asian fusion (Kanpai),
that seating is limited. Translation:
with the creators of the area's most
German (Schnitzelbank), Irish
Don't wait to purchase your ticket
beloved culinary delights.
(Tropicana), Italian (Biaggi's) and
to this classy, unique event! Table
Mexican (El Charro/El Patron/Cancun)
reservations are also available.
While the inaugural fundraiser was a
cuisines taking center stage. In other
major hit, organizers have tweaked
words, this promises to be the tastiest
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Visit
the formula a bit this year to ensure
St. Patrick's Day in recent memory. And
eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
an even better overall experience -
you might even go home with a few
Tropicana Conference Center is located
beginning with a stationary location.
signature recipes courtesy of the chefs.
at 421 NW Riverside Dr. in downtown Evansville. For more info, follow the
Rather than walk from restaurant to
28 |
restaurant as attendees were asked
On top of all the good food and
Evansville Philharmonic Guild on
to do for the 2018 event, everyone
informative presentations, the 2019
Facebook.
will simply assemble at the Tropicana
Chefs of Note fundraiser will feature
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 29
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | CUISINE & DINING
IN THE KITCHEN
with Chef Amanda Hancock ASIAGO ITALIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
It's February and love is officially in the air. And that means romantic dinners by candlelight with your significant other, among other things. On the cuisine tip, you simply can't wrong with Italian food this time of year, so here's a recipe to try that's
INGREDIENTS •
6 medium sweet peppers, red, yellow, or green
•
6 mild Italian sausages, casings removed
•
1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
•
3 cups marinara sauce
•
1 cup instant brown rice, uncooked
•
1 can black olives
Find more recipes on
•
2 tablespoons parsley flakes
Chef Amanda Hancock's website:
•
1 tsp garlic, minced
www.chefamandahancock.com
•
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
And in her book:
•
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
•
½ cup Asiago cheese
•
Additional shredded cheese for topping
perfect for a Valentine's Day date at home - or any other special occasion. Pair this delicious dish with a good bottle of wine, relax and enjoy your company!
The Best is Yet to Come
DIRECTIONS 1.
Cut the peppers in half lengthwise. Discard stems, seeds, and white pith. Blanch halves in boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove from the water with tongs and set the pepper cups aside while preparing the filling.
2.
Brown the sausage and onion well, until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain the fat. Add the marinara sauce, rice, Italian seasoning, olives, parsley, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the meat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the cheese.
3.
Put the pepper in a baking dish and carefully fill them.
4.
Cover the peppers with foil and bake them at 350F for 45 minutes.
5.
Remove from the oven, discard the foil and sprinkle the desired amount of cheese on the peppers. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Makes 12 servings.
You could easily prep these peppers and freeze them for 3-6 months. After filling the peppers in a baking pan, let everything cool. Wrap first in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. When you are ready to eat, remove them from the freezer and thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the plastic and then follow the baking directions.
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | COUPONS
FEBRUARY COUPONS Save BIG when you shop local! Check out these great deals from local businesses around the city.
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 31
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
PRESENTED BY:
IN TOWN & AROUND THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
Pistons Bar & Grill -- Live Music
Basketball
Radio Tokyo
6:00 PM
Tropicana Evansville
2:00 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- JEB
Franklin Street Tavern -- Corey
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Trivia
11:30 PM
Evitts
Clark
5:30 PM
Someplace Else Nightclub
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Drag
8:00 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
-- Tova Uravitch & Alejandra
Show
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
5: Nick and Jake
Leblanc Leight
Tropicana Evansville
Static Mojo
6:00 PM
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Tropicana Evansville
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Green
Bullseye Womprats
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
O'Brian's Sports Bar --
7:00 PM
9:00 PM
Clark
Superbowl Party
Bar Louie -- Lindsey Williams
Bokeh Lounge -- Logan Dyer &
7:00 PM
9:00 AM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
The Fire
Newburgh American Legion Post
Old National Events Plaza --
Texas Hold 'Em
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Karaoke
#44 -- Obsolete Solace [open to
SuperBride Sunday 2019
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
& DJ
the public]
12:00 PM
Smarty Pints Trivia
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
8:00 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Drag Me to
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Brunch feat. Ursala Major
Cross Atlantic
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
Bullseye Womprats
2:30 PM
8:00 PM
& DJ
9:00 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz:
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Live
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
Bokeh Lounge -- Them Dirty
The Side Men
Jams
Sparky
Roses
5:00 PM
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
Lyle's Sports Zone -- The
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Nick
El Rio -- Family-friendly Blues
Sidetrack Tavern -- Stoney-oke
Jimmies
Hamilton & Deja Vu
Jam w/ Muddy Gutt
Karaoke
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
6:30 PM
8:30 PM
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live DJ
Karaoke
Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke
Someplace Else Nightclub --
10:00 PM
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
7:00 PM
Comedy Open Mic
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ Chidi
& DJ
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
9:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
-- Cornhole
KC's Corner Pocket -- College
Timmy Dunn
Sparky
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Night / Karaoke & DJ
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Evvolve
Lyle's Sports Zone -- 2 Miles
Sports on TV @ 421!
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
Presents: 3lectro Angel w/
Back
9:00 PM
Karaoke & DJ
T3L3PORT
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
11:30 PM
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live
-- Karaoke
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Entertainment
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Tova Uravitch
Sidetrack Tavern -- Super Bowl
9:30 PM
Weekend Black Out w/ DJ CJ
Someplace Else Nightclub -Social Drag Sunday!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 5:30 PM Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2
10:00 PM
5: Fabulous Rodenberg Boys
1:00 PM
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ Chidi
6:00 PM
Ford Center -- UE Men's
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
32 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 33
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
7:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
-- Cornhole (w/ cash prizes -
Sports on TV @ 421!
register @ 6:30pm)
8:00 PM
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
Bokeh Lounge -- Industry Night/
Bar Bingo
Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
9:00 PM
Sports on TV @ 421!
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic
8:00 PM Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Someplace Else Nightclub --
6:00 PM
Karaoke
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
9:00 PM
Evansville Thunderbolts Coaches
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Show
-- Karaoke
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Bluesday
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Tuesday:The Beat Daddys Tropicana Evansville
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
6:00 PM
Clark
Bokeh Lounge -- Boscoe France
7:00 PM
Pistons Bar & Grill -- College
Franklin Street Tavern -- Fact
Beer Pong
Trivia
Tropicana Evansville
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
Sports on TV @ 421!
Green
9:00 PM
6:30 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Franklin Street Tavern -- Ryan
-- Karaoke
Schultz
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
7:00 PM KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
34 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Texas Hold 'Em
KC's Corner Pocket -- Free Pool
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
6:00 PM
-- Opening Band Auditions for
Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton
Hairball
Tropicana Evansville
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- The
Sports on TV @ 421!
Honey Vines
8:00 PM
6:30 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Blues/
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Live Trivia
Open Mic
7:00 PM
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Live
KC's Corner Pocket -- Texas Hold
Jams
'Em
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
Sidetrack Tavern -- Stoney-oke
& DJ
Karaoke
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
8:30 PM
Sparky
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Lyle's Sports Zone -- The Valcoes
Comedy Open Mic
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
9:00 PM
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live DJ
KC's Corner Pocket -- College
10:00 PM
Night / Karaoke & DJ
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ Chidi
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
-- Karaoke
Cody Webb
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Steady
9:30 PM
Flow
Bokeh Lounge -- OTP Open Mic
O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Home School Dropouts (formerly
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Nocturnal)
5:30 PM
11:30 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
Someplace Else Nightclub --
5: The Next Step (formally MAD
Amaya Sexton
Women) 6:00 PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Pistons Bar & Grill -- Live Music
8:00 AM
Tropicana Evansville
Ford Center -- IHSAA Semi-State
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
Wrestling Tournament
Clark
2:00 PM
7:15 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Trivia
Ford Center -- Evansville
5:30 PM
Thunderbolts Hockey
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
8:00 PM
5: Cynthia Murray
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
6:00 PM
Knight Jumps Queen
Tropicana Evansville
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
Savannah Jack
Green
9:00 PM
6:30 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- The Beat
Franklin Street Tavern -- Shane
Daddys
Espenlaub
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Karaoke
7:00 PM
& DJ
Newburgh American Legion
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
Post #44 -- Legends [open to the
Karaoke
public]
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
Old National Events Plaza -- The
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 35
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
Really Big Show benefit for ARC
Barbara Santor & The Side Men
of Evansville
5:00 PM
Victory Theatre -- Evansville
Lamasco Bar & Grill --
Philharmonic Orchestra
Songhouse: Lucas Pate
presents: Country Legends feat.
6:30 PM
Patrick Thomas & Rachel Potter
Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke
8:00 PM
7:00 PM
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Glastone
-- Cornhole
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Savannah Jack
Sports on TV @ 421!
9:00 PM
9:00 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Mother House
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Your
-- Karaoke
Decision
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
9:30 PM
Karaoke
Someplace Else Nightclub --
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
Social Drag Sunday!
& DJ Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Sparky
7:00 PM
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
Sports on TV @ 421!
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live
8:00 PM
Entertainment
Bokeh Lounge -- Industry Night/
10:00 PM
Karaoke
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ Chidi
9:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic
Pfreak Show Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Evvolve
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Presents: DJ K w/ Woo
6:00 PM
11:30 PM
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Evansville Thunderbolts Coaches
Amaya Sexton & Paris Starz
Show Lamasco Bar & Grill -- The Honey
36 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Vines
8:00 AM
Tropicana Evansville
Ford Center -- Frosh-Soph State
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
2019
Clark
2:30 PM
7:00 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz:
Franklin Street Tavern -- Fact
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
Trivia
-- Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Sports on TV @ 421! 7:30 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Old National Events Plaza --
6:00 PM
Chicago: The Musical
Bokeh Lounge -- Boscoe France
8:00 PM
Pistons Bar & Grill -- College
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- Open Mic
Beer Pong
Comedy
Tropicana Evansville
9:00 PM
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Green
-- Karaoke
7:00 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -Texas Hold 'Em
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
KC's Corner Pocket -- Free Pool
Smarty Pints Trivia
6:00 PM
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton
Sports on TV @ 421!
Ford Center -- UE Men's
USI Performance Center -- USI
Basketball
Theatre presents: Pygmalion
Tropicana Evansville
8:00 PM
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- The
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Blues/
Honey Vines
Open Mic
6:30 PM
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Live
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Live Trivia
Jams
7:00 PM
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
KC's Corner Pocket -- Texas Hold
Sidetrack Tavern -- Stoney-oke
'Em
Karaoke
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
8:30 PM
-- Cornhole (w/ cash prizes -
Someplace Else Nightclub --
register @ 6:30pm)
Comedy Open Mic
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
9:00 PM
Bar Bingo
KC's Corner Pocket -- College
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Night / Karaoke & DJ
Sports on TV @ 421!
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
8:00 PM
-- Karaoke
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Someplace Else Nightclub --
9:30 PM
Karaoke
Bokeh Lounge -- OTP Open Mic
9:00 PM KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 37
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ
Stairway to Zeppelin
Chidi
5:30 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- A Dapper
-- Adairs Run
Lamasco Flamenco Experience
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Evvolve
6:00 PM
Presents: LAYLOW w/
Pistons Bar & Grill -- Live Music
FluxKapacitor
Tropicana Evansville
O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Kelo
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
Kaddafi presents V-Day V. 2
Green
10:15 PM
6:30 PM
Old National Events Plaza -- Go
Franklin Street Tavern -- Dustin
Red for Women Luncheon
Huffman
11:30 PM
7:00 PM
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Bokeh Lounge -- Vaudeville
Londyn Starz & Majesti Zahara
Valentine's Dinner Show
38 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
USI Performance Center -- USI
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Theatre presents: Pygmalion
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
7:15 PM
Stairway to Zeppelin
Ford Center -- Evansville
2:00 PM
Thunderbolts Hockey
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Trivia
7:30 PM
5:00 PM
Owensboro Convention Center
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
-- Bill Engvall
Luke Combs Pre-Party w/ Kenna
8:00 PM
Elpers & After Party w/ DJ AP
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
5:30 PM
Scott Winzinger
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
9:00 PM
5: Uncle Fudge
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Karaoke
6:00 PM
& DJ
Tropicana Evansville
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
Karaoke
Green
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
6:30 PM
& DJ
Franklin Street Tavern -- Nick
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
Gregory
Sparky
7:00 PM
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Junkyard
Ford Center -- Luke Combs
Stereo
"Beer Never Broke My Heart"
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
Tour
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live DJ
Newburgh American Legion
10:00 PM
Post #44 -- Mike Mitchell [open
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 39
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
to the public]
Poets
Bokeh Lounge -- Sunday Jazz:
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Preston Arts Center (Henderson)
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
Charlene Blay & Roy Carter
-- Karaoke
-- ILuminate
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live
3:00 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
USI Performance Center -- USI
Entertainment
Ford Center -- UE Men's
9:30 PM
Theatre presents: Pygmalion
10:00 PM
Basketball
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Victory Theatre --
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ
5:30 PM
Social Drag Sunday!
Needtobreathe
Chidi
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Sunday
9:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Big Band
Monday, February 18
Bokeh Lounge -- Goosetown
-- Velcro Pygmies
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Devils
11:30 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Cricket's (Newburgh) --
Someplace Else Nightclub --
7:00 PM
Sports on TV @ 421!
Glastone
Samantha Lynn, Londyn Starz, &
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
8:00 PM
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
Skylar Lewinsky
-- Cornhole
Bokeh Lounge -- Industry Night/
Newburgh American Legion
Karaoke
Karaoke KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Post #44 -- Sunday Open Jam
9:00 PM
& DJ
2:00 PM
[open to the public]
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
USI Performance Center -- USI
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Sparky
Theatre presents: Pygmalion
Sports on TV @ 421!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Mudpit
2:30 PM
9:00 PM
6:00 PM
40 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
Bokeh Lounge -- Poetry
6:00 PM
Karaoke
-- Opening Band Auditions for
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
Bokeh Lounge -- Science w/ a
9:00 PM
Hairball
-- Evansville Thunderbolts
Twist
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Coaches Show
Tropicana Evansville
-- Karaoke
Sports on TV @ 421!
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Bluesday
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- The
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
8:00 PM
Tuesday: Lindsey Williams
Honey Vines
Tropicana Evansville
6:30 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Open Mic
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Live Trivia
6:00 PM
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Live
Clark
7:00 PM
Bokeh Lounge -- Boscoe France
Jams
7:00 PM
KC's Corner Pocket -- Texas
Pistons Bar & Grill -- College
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
Franklin Street Tavern -- Fact
Hold 'Em
Beer Pong
Sidetrack Tavern -- Stoney-oke
Trivia
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Tropicana Evansville
Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
-- Cornhole (w/ cash prizes -
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
8:30 PM
Sports on TV @ 421!
register @ 6:30pm)
Green
Someplace Else Nightclub --
9:00 PM
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
6:30 PM
Comedy Open Mic
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
-- Bar Bingo
Franklin Street Tavern -- Tailgate
9:00 PM
-- Karaoke
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Revival
KC's Corner Pocket -- College
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Sports on TV @ 421!
7:00 PM
Night / Karaoke & DJ
8:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
-- Texas Hold 'Em
-- Karaoke
KC's Corner Pocket -- Free Pool
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Blues/
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 41
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
9:30 PM
Chidi
Thunderbolts Hockey
Bokeh Lounge -- Karaoke
Bokeh Lounge -- OTP Open Mic
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Evvolve
8:00 PM
7:00 PM
Presents: Big Ninja Delight w/
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Frozen Turtle
-- EVVOLVE presents "Bass on
-- Cornhole
5:30 PM
11:30 PM
Main"
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
Someplace Else Nightclub
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Sports on TV @ 421!
5: Dog Town Three
-- Denise's Friend & Pamela
New Crime Theatre
9:00 PM
6:00 PM
Whorehees
9:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Bokeh Lounge -- The Cold
-- Karaoke
Pistons Bar & Grill -- Live Music Tropicana Evansville
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Stares
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
11:00 AM
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Terry
9:30 PM
Clark
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Sartor Band
Someplace Else Nightclub --
7:00 PM
Brunch
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
Social Drag Sunday!
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
12:00 PM
Karaoke
-- Moonshine Bandits
Franklin Street Tavern -- Gumbo
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
Kickoff: Monte Skelton
& DJ
7:00 PM
-- Finals for Hairball Opening
1:00 PM
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Band Auditions
Franklin Street -- 6th Annual
Sparky
Sports on TV @ 421!
7:15 PM
Gumbo Cook-Off
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
8:00 PM
Ford Center -- Evansville
2:00 PM
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
Bokeh Lounge -- Industry Night/
Thunderbolts Hockey
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Trivia
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live
Karaoke
8:00 PM
5:30 PM
Entertainment
9:00 PM
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Jive After
10:00 PM
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Open Mic
New Crime Theatre
5: The Wannabeez
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ
9:00 PM
6:00 PM
Chidi
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Bokeh Lounge -- Corduroy
Tropicana Evansville
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
6:00 PM
Orbison
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
-- Match City
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Karaoke
Green
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Factor
-- Evansville Thunderbolts
& DJ
6:30 PM
Primo
Coaches Show
J's Sports Bar & Grill -- DJ &
Franklin Street Tavern -- Gumbo
O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Deadly
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Bluesday
Karaoke
Kickoff: Sherwood Story
Serious Party
Tuesday: The Amazing Soul
KC's Corner Pocket -- Karaoke
7:00 PM
11:30 PM
Crackers
& DJ
Newburgh American Legion
Someplace Else Nightclub
Tropicana Evansville
Leroy's Tavern -- Karaoke w/
Post #44 -- PJ Hayden Band
-- Chelsey Nicole Stephens &
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Matt
Sparky
[open to the public]
Kendra James
Clark
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Smoke
Victory Theatre -- Evansville
Rings
Philharmonic Orchestra
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Franklin Street Tavern -- Fact
Pistons Bar & Grill -- DJ Swype
presents: Brahms' 1st Piano
2:30 PM
Trivia
Sidetrack Tavern -- Live DJ
Concerto & Stravinsky's Firebird
Bokeh Lounge -- Bokeh Big
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
10:00 PM
7:15 PM
Band Special Double Show
Sports on TV @ 421!
Franklin Street Tavern -- DJ
Ford Center -- Evansville
6:30 PM
9:00 PM
42 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
7:00 PM
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 43
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | IN TOWN & AROUND
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
Bokeh Lounge -- Rachael
-- Karaoke
Goldman Comedy feat. OTP
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
Pistons Bar & Grill -- College Beer Pong
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Tropicana Evansville
KC's Corner Pocket -- Free Pool
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- Bob
O'Brian's Sports Bar -- Mardis
Green
Gras Kickoff!
6:15 PM
6:00 PM
Ford Center -- Evansville
Bokeh Lounge -- Nick Hamilton
Thunderbolts Hockey
Ford Center -- UE Men's
6:30 PM
Basketball
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Family
Tropicana Evansville
Friendly Drag Show
(Cavanaugh's Piano Bar) -- The
7:00 PM
Honey Vines
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill --
6:30 PM
Texas Hold 'Em
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Live Trivia
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
7:00 PM
Smarty Pints Trivia
KC's Corner Pocket -- Texas Hold
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
'Em
Sports on TV @ 421!
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
8:00 PM
-- Cornhole (w/ cash prizes -
Bokeh Lounge -- Live Blues/
register @ 6:30pm)
Open Mic
Kevin's Backstage Bar & Grill --
Cricket's (Newburgh) -- Live
Bar Bingo
Jams
Tropicana Evansville (421) --
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
Sports on TV @ 421!
Sidetrack Tavern -- Stoney-oke
8:00 PM
Karaoke
Lyle's Sports Zone -- Karaoke
8:30 PM
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Someplace Else Nightclub --
Karaoke
Comedy Open Mic
9:00 PM
9:00 PM
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill
KC's Corner Pocket -- College
-- Karaoke
Night / Karaoke & DJ
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -- Karaoke
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 KC's Time Out Lounge & Grill -Mardi Gras Madness Begins! 6:00 PM
44 |
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
Lamasco Bar & Grill -- Karaoke
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Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 45
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | ARTS & ACTIVITIES
FEBRUARY ARTS & ACTIVITIES
Join the fun with all of these great music and art activities around the Tri-State.
FEB 4: AUDUBON PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
began touring together as Drew Holcomb
alt-country, and folk. Known for his sad yet
and The Neighbors. The band has supported
funny songs and entertaining stage presence,
Local photographer David Walker will teach
many national touring acts including Ryan
Snider continues to document his skewed
Adams, The Avett Brothers, Don Henley, and
view of the world through critically-acclaimed
Willie Nelson. For tickets and more info, visit
releases like 2016's Eastside Bulldog. For
buskirkchumley.org.
tickets and more info, visit buskirkchumley.
participants about studio lighting, portable lighting, and natural lighting during the Audubon Photography Group meeting. For more info, visit Audubon Photography Group of Henderson on Facebook.
First Christian Church: 830 S. Green St., Henderson, KY / 6:30pm
Buskirk-Chumley Theater: 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN / 8pm
org.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater: 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN / 8pm
FEB 12: CHICAGO - THE MUSICAL There’s never been a better time to experience Chicago, Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, thousands of standing ovations and now the #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history. Chicago has everything that makes Broadway great: a
FEB 9: COUNTRY LEGENDS
universal tale of fame, fortune and all that
Hear a tribute to the greatest names in country
jazz; one show-stopping song after another;
FEB 14-17: USI THEATRE PRESENTS PYGMALION
and the most astonishing dancing you've
Pygmalion both delighted and scandalized
ever seen. For tickets and more info, visit
its first audiences in 1914. A brilliantly witty
oldnationaleventsplaza.com.
reworking of the classical tale of the sculptor
music including songs by famed singers and songwriters like Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Faith Hill. Nashville-based recording artist Patrick Thomas and Nashville-
Old National Events Plaza: 715 Locust St., Evansville, IN / 7:30pm
based country music recording artist Rachel
is the Pygmalion figure who believes he can
com.
Victory Theatre: 600 Main St., Evansville, IN / 7pm
transform Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, into a duchess at ease in polite society. The one thing he overlooks is that his 'creation' has a mind of her own. Directed by Elliot
FEB 10: DREW & ELLIE HOLCOMB
after their marriage in 2006, the couple
46 |
the British class system and a statement Shaw's hands, the phoneticist Henry Higgins
For tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.
wife Americana duo from Nashville. Shortly
female statue, it is also a barbed attack on of writer Bernard Shaw's feminist views. In
Potter will sing your favorite country classics.
Drew and Ellie Holcomb are a husband and
Pygmalion, who falls in love with his perfect
FEB 12: TODD SNIDER
Wasserman. For tickets and more info, visit usi.
Todd Snider is an American singer-songwriter
edu.
with a musical style that combines Americana,
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
USI Performance Center: 8600 University
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | ARTS & ACTIVITIES
Blvd., Evansville, IN
the fans once again come February, this time in support of their first-ever acoustic live album, Acoustic Live Vol. 1, playing their most
Evansville, IN / 7:30pm
intimate theater shows to date. For tickets and
FEB 23: BRAHMS' FIRST CONCERTO & STRAVINSKY'S FIREBIRD
more info, visit victorytheatre.com.
American pianist Norman Krieger returns
Victory Theatre: 600 Main St., Evansville, IN / 7pm
to perform Brahms' intensely romantic and passionate “Piano Concerto No. 1.” Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “Firebird” became an instant success and the suite from the ballet remains his most popular orchestral work. Experience
FEB 15: BILL ENGVALL
the captivating score and mesmerizing story
Bill Engvall was part of the enormously
of a mystical bird with fiery red feathers. For
successful Blue Collar Comedy concert films,
tickets and more info, visit victorytheatre.com.
which sold over 9 million units and received a Grammy nomination. He also starred on the WB’s hit sketch comedy show Blue Collar TV and in several solo specials for Comedy Central. In 2012 he reunited with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy on the "Them Idiots Whirled Tour," which aired as a special on CMT. For tickets and more info, visit owensborocenter.com.
Owensboro Convention Center: 501 W. 2nd St., Owensboro, KY / 7:30pm FEB 15: LAS CAFETERAS As Native and migrant children who are remixing roots music, Las Cafeteras have developed a genre-bending sound and electric
live
performance
style, infusing
lyrically-rich storytelling with the purpose of sharing the hidden stories of migrant life in Los Angeles. For tickets and more info, visit buskirkchumley.org.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater: 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN / 8pm
FEB 16: LUKE COMBS: BEER NEVER BROKE MY HEART TOUR American country music singer/songwriter Luke Combs has released one album for Columbia Nashville, which has produced four singles: "Hurricane," "When It Rains It Pours," "One Number Away" and "She Got the Best of Me" - all four of which have reached the number one position on Country Airplay. For tickets and more info, visit fordcenter.com.
Ford Center: 1 SE MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville, IN / 7pm
celebrating with The Deplorables - an uproarious comedy show for right minded
FEB 16: ILUMINATE iLuminate
combines
state-of-
the-art
technology with electrifying entertainers who perform in the dark to create the ultimate performing arts experience. For tickets and more info, visit haaa.org.
Preston Arts Center: 2660 S. Green St., Henderson, KY / 7pm
Set against the present-day plagues of meth addiction, missing children, and a failing ecology, this new play explores the complex dynamics of a highly dysfunctional family and their attempts to unearth a second chance in a wounded America. Tickets are $18 for adults
FEB 16: NEEDTOBREATHE
and $16 for seniors, students and University
On the heels of the biggest and best-selling
of Evansville faculty/staff. For tickets and more
NEEDTOBREATHE will take their music to
info, call 812-488-2031.
MAR 1: THE DEPLORABLES TOUR Share the night laughing with friends and
FEB 22-24 & 28: COLONY COLLAPSE
tour of their career, Christian rock band
Victory Theatre: 600 Main St., Evansville, IN / 7pm
Shanklin Theatre: S. Rotherwood Ave.,
thinkers, starring well known comics: Steve McGrew (the hell-bent southerner featured on Comedy Central and Sirius XM), Michael Loftus (1 Hour special on Comedy Central, HBO, Fox & Friends), Terrence Williams (comedian, commentator, and viral internet sensation), The Deplorable Choir (the outrageous singing girl group with hundreds of thousands of YouTube followers) and Brian Haner ("Guitar Guy," Comedy Central, Jeff Dunham Tour). Blending comedy, observational humor, and music, they'll unleash the conservative mindset, transcending mocking
politics
liberals
while
and
unabashedly
celebrating
the
American Dream. You’ll finally be laughing for the RIGHT reason. For tickets and more info, visit oldnationaleventsplaza.com.
Old National Events Plaza: 715 Locust St., Evansville, IN / 7:30pm
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 47
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC
S LEEP FOR THE WEARY NASHVILLE ALT-ROCKERS WITH EVANSVILLE CONNECTION LOOKING TO MAKE BREAKTHROUGH WITH TRILOGY OF EPS The biggest challenge for any band these days is to
full lengths - both written by Shannon but released
break out from the pack, to make some noise rather
under the SFTW banner - that gained some ground
than get lost in the noise of our over-loaded world.
in Nashville and set the stage for a more inclusive
With technology allowing for anyone with a laptop to
approach to Catharsis. "Ian was still the main creative
record themselves, literally thousands, if not millions,
force," Hurst explains. "What would happen is that he
of songs are being uploaded to streaming sites on a
would come up with a riff or progression and send it
regular basis, creating a logjam of choices. That being
to us - and more often than not one of us would take
said, sadly, lots of great music often goes unheard.
the idea in a completely different direction. Ego has
Therefore, even the best bands must keep a high
never been an issue in this band."
profile at all times or risk gettinglost in the shuffle. This openness to collaboration is rooted in the
48 |
This is the predicament that Nashville alt-rockers Sleep
friendship between Hurst and Shannon, two self-
for the Weary are facing, having taken much of 2017
professed "introverted music nerds" who spent most
off from live performance to write and record what
Friday nights at Ball State University hanging out and
is unquestionably their strongest musical statement
playing guitar. "We had a lot of the same influences
to date. The first EP in a proposed trilogy, Catharsis,
- Tool, Nirvana, Alice In Chains," Hurst says. After
released last April, finds singer/guitarist Ian Shannon,
graduation, Shannon headed to Nashville where
guitarist (and Evansville resident) John Hurst, bassist
he self-recorded In To & Out From, the debut SFTW
Eric Woodrow and drummer Rob Edmondson honing
album. Inward-looking and fairly experimental, it was
and building on SFTW's musical blueprint - a hook-
the sound of self-discovery as well as an exercise in
filled nod to 90's alt-rock with a dash of Tool for
learning the craft of production. Meanwhile, Hurst had
good measure. The five-song collection follows two
relocated to Evansville, scoring solo gigs at places like
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC
Bokeh Lounge, Lyle's Sports Zone and Weinzapfel's
to listen." With all band members on board, Readings
Tavern. His sets featured acoustic covers of classic
1-3, a trilogy of EPs, began to take shape. Songs were
alt-rock songs by the likes of Foo Fighters and Stone
assigned to each proposed release based on a tarot
Temple Pilots along with a few surprises. "I always like
card concept with the first batch arriving in April 2018.
to challenge myself, so I would bust out things like "All About That Bass" just to keep everyone on their toes,"
Despite the abbreviated number of tracks, the
he says.
evolution of SFTW is immediately apparent on Catharsis. The Tool influence remains prominent on
Still, there was something missing. "It was fun and I
the heavy "Origami Tigers," but elsewhere, a Middle
still perform on occasion, but when I was up there by
Eastern vibe drives "Ideasthesia" while "Secret
myself, I was always wishing that there was someone
Admirer" flips the script, transitioning from a sort of
to fill in the spaces for me," Hurst says. In short order,
60's pop intro to a very dark place in the blink of an
he reestablished communication with Shannon who
eye. Then there's "Golden Towers," an alt-rock hit in
was in the process of writing and recording Nocturns,
the making. Shannon's emotional vocal hook - "None
his sophomore effort. The conversation between old
of it matters / None of it matters at all" - is an instant
friends quickly turned to the prospect of working
earworm that perfectly captures the disconnect in
together; Hurst agreed to commit to giving the band
a failing relationship. Closer "In Spite of Blue Skies"
idea a go and after a period of networking, Edmondson
starts languidly with a Smashing Pumpkins feel but
and Woodrow were drafted in to solidify the rhythm
builds to a crushing chorus: "Will this struggle ever
section. A one-man show no more, Sleep for the Weary
end? / I'm stranded in the flood again."
roared to life. Songs from the two Shannon-produced albums - especially Nocturns which benefited from a
According to Hurst, the follow-up to Catharsis should
step up in songwriting - became live juggernauts with
have been out by now, but an untimely computer crash
serious muscle behind them. Newly energized, the
has delayed release until late spring or early summer.
guys spent most of 2016 promoting the new album
In the meantime, you can catch SFTW at the Cobra in
around the region before taking a break to map out
Nashville on February 3 as part of a great bill featuring
their next move. In fact, the band would evolve into a
Caging Elliott, SQU-ARE and The Pleading.
"shared parenthood" with each member putting their two cents in.
For more info, visit sleepfortheweary. com. Catharsis is available on all
Nine months and 15 songs later, the band faced a
major online music sites.
creative dilemma: how to present the new material to an increasingly ADD public. After all, the time off from playing live had effectively put them back at square one, profile-wise. "The initial plan was to release all 15 songs in an album format - that's how we grew up, listening to [Tool's] Lateralus front to back," Hurst explains. "But as we were recording, one of Ian's friends had the idea of splitting up the songs into smaller parts so people will take the time
Call for Advertising Information (812) 426-6398 • FEBRUARY 2019
| 49
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC
stories FROM THE STAGE An ongoing series featuring tri-state musicians
KISS EXPO 2003
It's been a number of years since
didn't work on Ace Frehley's guitar solos, as I decided to “wing”
I've lived in Evansville, but I have countless fond gig memo-
those parts. After the first few songs at rehearsal, it was brought
ries and several interesting stories that I could tell. I used to perform with the local groups Bosko and Detail, in addition to teaching music locally at Moore Music, The Musician's Den, Ivy
to my attention that I should learn these solos correctly, as I would be playing them in front of a room full of KISS fans.
Tech, and a few other locations around town.
A few days later it was “KISS day,” so I made my way to the hotel
Of all of the gigs, late nights, and memories that I have, there's
attending the convention. There were several attendees dressed
one performance that sticks out in my mind and I've shared this story countless times over the years. In 2003, I was invited to perform during the Evansville KISS Expo at the airport Marriott, which was organized by local KISS mega-fan historian Allen Tate. The invitation came and I accepted the gig, and I started learning all of the necessary guitar parts and riffs. Honestly, I
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
and loaded my gear while also noticing the abundance of folks in full KISS garb - including the makeup, outfits, platform boots, capes, and much more. Honestly, I've always liked KISS, but I wouldn't say that I'm a huge fan, and - at this point in the story - I felt like a Star Wars fan trapped at a Star Trek convention. At around 3:30 p.m. we launched into our set of music and there was a large crowd of people standing outside of the room where we were performing - they didn't seem interested. After
a song or two, I recall that a pack of children raced toward the front of the stage, sat with their legs crossed, and started headbanging and dancing around on the floor. I felt a little better once I saw the kids, but I started to focus on the adults who were standing outside of the room. Once we started the third song, I spotted a number of people coming through the doorway and the next thing I knew we had a full-on KISS riot. There were people in full costumes
dancing
and
singing along, not to
mention a number of air guitar
solos
mimicking
those classic licks and solos - I was so glad that I took the time to actually learn those guitar parts! By the end of the set, the crowd was roaring with approval and I started tossing out guitar picks, mainly to that
the
children
came
up
and showed their approval early in our set. We cleared the stage for the next group (which was KISS tribute act Strutter), and I made my way into the crowd to meet some people in attendance. I'll never forget the first person that walked up to me and shook my hand was a guy dressed exactly like Gene Simmons. He had the makeup, costume, boots, black wig, cape – the whole nine yards. In my mind, this was Gene Simmons - until I heard him speak, when he casually mentioned how much ass we had kicked. All-in-all, this gig was an interesting experience for me and one that I'll never forget. So even if you think you've see and done it all, there's nothing like playing a tribute gig during a music convention. I guarantee it will remove you from your comfort zone and supply you with an interesting experience for many years to come. - David Brewster
For more info, visit davidbrewstermusic.com.
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| 51
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC
ON THE RECORD RUSS FINN 02-2019
ON THE RECORD
RUSS FINN 01-2019
MONTHLY MUSINGS ON MUSIC YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
BUTCH WILLIS & THE ROCKS When I first discovered Butch Willis & The Rocks, I thought it was
part, falls into classic rock conventions, but Willis embodies the
a joke. I had started playing this video I found on YouTube titled
spirit of punk almost more than anyone I’ve ever seen. Front and
“FORESTVILLE ROCKS w/ Butch Willis & The Rocks” in the hopes
center with his mullet and beard, he's decked out in knee-high
of some Tim and Eric-like humor. The video, a 51-minute episode
snakeskin platform boots, giant shades, white button-up dress
of the near-forgotten “Forestville Rocks,” was a seemingly jokey
shirt and blue tights. When he’s not yelling on the mic during
public access video from 1985. It had everything you’d want from
songs, he’s trembling, perhaps shaking with withdrawal or sheer
a local DIY talk show - bad camera
nervousness in between them. You
work, a low budget set and a bizarre
can’t tell which it is, because he’s
host named Mr. Rock and Roll wear-
too cool to let you know. He doesn’t
ing a ski mask and suit. But it also
care that he shakes and he doesn’t
had one of the greatest concert per-
care that he’s pitchy and never quite
formances ever by Butch Willis & The
in tune. He tells it like it is and you’re
Rocks.
going to listen because you can’t figure him out and you’re in awe.
You can search that exact text in YouTube and find the same video I
When I turned on the 51-minute
watched, and I implore you to do just that. Four years later, it has
video, I had no intention of watching the whole thing. However,
only amassed a few thousand views, so you have the chance to
what I started watching as a joke ended up being something I
be one of a select group to witness something so special. Now,
actually thought had artistic merit. This band was playing for ab-
let me warn you about the unconventional nature of this perfor-
solutely no one and is virtually unknown to the average person
mance. If you judge music based on how pretty or pop-sounding
to this day. But there they were without a care in the world doing
it is, you are going to hate this video; you are going to think that
everything they wanted. Butch Willis, as abrasive and far out as he
I’m throwing you for a loop. But, if you are a fan of the likes of
is, makes good music. You might not like it. It might literally sound
Daniel Johnston and Jandek, Butch Willis is your new favorite out-
like cats tossing around in a dryer sometimes, but Butch Willis
sider artist.
means what he says - and that means something to me.
During this manic performance, Butch Willis and his band play
A former News 4U editorial intern, Russ Finn now resides in Nash-
their hearts out. The Rocks are legitimately musically talented and
ville where he fronts Dialup Ghost, a critically-acclaimed indie
back Willis well as he yells into his mic. Their music, for the most
rock band. Check them out on Spotify.
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC
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| 53
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | ENTERTAINMENT
with Gavin Gaddis Welcome to the Podcast Corner, your source for some of the best and most inventive podcasts around. Each month I'm offering up four bite-sized reviews, so read on and then listen in! Want more podcast recommendations? You can find long-form reviews, musings on happenings in the podcasting world, and links to podcasts I produce at my website: thepodreport.wordpress.com or follow me on Twitter @ThePodReport.
JOIN THE PARTY An actual-play Dungeons and Dragons podcast, Join the Party features a cast of four friends playing fantasy characters who accidentally become the most important bodyguards in the realm. JTP is the perfect first podcast for a D&D rookie, with special edits of the first episode that stop to explain basic rules/concepts, “afterparty” episodes where players chat about what happened/could have happened, and special half-hour recap episodes for each story arc allowing new listeners to get caught up without listening to all 40+ backlog episodes. Each arc comes with a fun theme tied to the arc name. The newest arc is themed after professional wrestling. I’m very excited. jointhepartypod.com
FOREST GUIDE A magical realism audio fiction series, Forest Guide is a four-part story about the night down-in-the-dumps bartender/grad student Shiloh (Jack Pevyhouse) meets the titular guide (Julia Schifini), an elf-like supernatural force seemingly there to get Shiloh’s life back on track. Shiloh is a wonderfully realized and relatable character, slowly introduced as a potential great poet who has given up on writing after spinning his wheels in entry-level creative writing courses. As of this writing there’s only one part released and I can't wait for the next installment. officialforestguide.podbean.com/
LIFE IN SONDERVILLE An audio fiction series, Life in Sonderville brings something interesting to the podcasting table with a choose-your-own-adventure format. The basic plot - a doctor deals with some oddities in their town, including a prison run like a grotesque variety show - can be experienced through the eyes of two different protagonists, and each episode from said protagonists ends with a choice that the listener can make by choosing which episode to listen to next. The plot is complex in a delicious conspiracy theory way, leaving me wanting to bust out a whiteboard to track the movements of each resident of Sonderville across all of the different possible timelines. twitter.com/sonderville_pod
ACCESSION A non-fiction podcast about art, Accession tells the story of works of art as if you’re in the museum with the host. Each episode, host T.H. Ponders visits a museum and leads the listener to a specific artwork by its accession number. While best enjoyed in the same room as the piece, the podcast shines in its attention to detail and storytelling. The episode on Norman Rockwell’s famous painting of a Thanksgiving dinner is about that specific painting, but it’s also about propaganda, American history, and the power of artwork. A consistently fascinating and fun show. accession.fm
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | ENTERTAINMENT
with Marisa Patwa DINNER AND A MOVIE
Dinner and a movie? - it’s a typical first date move. But, is it the right route to go on a pressure-filled night like Valentine’s Day? The combined cinephile and romantic in me says, “Absolutely!” Whether you have been married for 40 years, are going out on your first date or just want to have a good time with your single pals, you can’t go wrong with Rebel Wilson’s Isn’t it Romantic? In this classic rom-com out on February 13, Wilson’s unsuccessful-in-love heroine wakes up after a subway mugging to find her life has become a romantic comedy. And in her new reality, a shirtless billionaire played by Liam Hemsworth is madly in love with her and courting her with extreme fantasy dates. Adam Devine of Workaholics and Priyanka Chopra of Quantico also have supporting roles in this holiday film which looks to be a whimsical, fun comedy that will satisfy both the hopeless romantic in the relationship and the person who just wants to snack on heart-shaped chocolates and make out. For those single folks out there who want to watch a funny movie but don’t necessarily want to be faced with two hours of A-list actors making googly eyes at each other, there's What Men Want, a role-reversal remake of 2000's What Women Want starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. But instead of Gibson being able to read women’s minds, Taraji P. Henson is a sports-agent who wakes up with the ability
to know what men are thinking - a gift that gives her a leg up in her career. Consequently, she's able to prove that she's just as talented, if not more so, than her male-co workers. Premiering on February 8, What Men Want also features an incredible supporting male cast, including Tracy Morgan, Shaquille O’Neal, Max Greenfield, Kellan Lutz and Pete Davidson. Now, for those who don’t want to see a bougie bouquet of roses or an overstuffed department store teddy bear in sight on Valentine's Day, then Happy Death Day 2U is the film for you. It's the sequel to the 2017 slasher hit Happy Death Day, in which college student Tree, played by Jessica Rothe, must relive the day she dies over and over again in order to find her killer. This highly-anticipated follow-up is sure to leave you seeing red on V-Day.
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| 55
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY
FEBRUARY COMMUNITY & FAMILY Get involved and have some fun with these great community activities around the Tri-State.
FEB 1-3: WEST KENTUCKY BOAT
to life and allows vendors to show
show benefit the areas of greatest need
& OUTDOOR SHOW
off what they do while brides take the
at The Arc of Evansville. The 2018 show
entire experience in. For more info, visit
raised more than $87,000 to support
oldnationaleventsplaza.com.
the organization's mission to empower
Formerly
known
Sportsman’s designed
for
as
Show,
the
Kentucky
this
exhibitors
event to
is
display
their products and services, allowing a
Old
National
Events
Plaza:
Locust St., Evansville, IN / 9am
715
individuals with disabilities to build relationships, gain independence and achieve their full potential. For more
variety of businesses to set up in one place to meet the needs and desires
FEB 8-10: GREATER OHIO VALLEY
info, visit arcofevansville.org.
of boat, fishing, camping and outdoor
PICKLEBALL INVITATIONAL
Old
enthusiasts. Admission is FREE. Show
Have you given pickleball a whirl yet?
hours are Friday 4pm-9pm, Saturday
It's
10am-8pm, and Sunday 11am-4pm. For
elements of badminton, tennis, and
FEB 9: PRESCHOOL
more info, visit owensborocenter.com.
table tennis - and it's an absolute blast.
ADVENTURES
Owensboro Convention Center: 501
The pickleball invitational requires a
Bring your little one ages 3-5 to explore
$60 registration fee and includes one
Angel Mounds in this monthly program
division play and a t-shirt. For more info,
featuring topics like archaeology, bugs,
FEB 2: A CHOCOLATE AFFAIR
visit owensborocenter.com.
storytelling,
and
Native
A Chocolate Affair features 10 local
Owensboro Convention Center: 501
Registration
is
required
W. 2nd St., Owensboro, KY
businesses that bring their very best
a
paddle
sport
that
National
Events
Plaza:
Locust St., Evansville, IN / 7pm
715
combines
W. 2nd St., Owensboro, KY
Americans. by
the
Wednesday prior to the program. For more info, visit angelmounds.org.
desserts to showcase their products and
Angel Mounds: 8215 Pollack Ave.,
let guests sample their fine chocolates.
Evansville, IN / 11am-12pm
Music is provided by The Honey Vines and Team Skelton. All proceeds go to Lampion
Center’s
counseling
work.
FEB 15: DIVAS & DOGS FOR
Tickets are $75 or $100 for VIP. For more
PAAWS PRESENTS BOURBON
info, visit chocolate.lampioncenter.com.
LOVE
Hilton DoubleTree: 601 Walnut St., Evansville, IN / 7pm
Come out and support this brand new
FEB 9: THE REALLY BIG SHOW
fundraiser to help raise money for one of
The Really Big Show is a community
the area's most respected no-kill animal
FEB 3: SUPERBRIDE SUNDAY
variety
comedy,
rescues. The Newburgh-based PAAWS
SuperBride Sunday is a totally unique
music, and dance performed by local
organization will hold a bourbon tasting
bridal
designed
residents. The show is written, created,
with local distributors presenting the
with the bride and vendor in mind.
and produced by a nearly all volunteer
bourbons
SuperBride Sunday brings weddings
cast and crew. Net proceeds from the
providing a full buffet that will pair
56 |
event
experience
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
show
featuring
and
Acropolis
Restaurant
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY
with the delicious adult beverages. In
FEB 16-17: OWENSBORO
addition, a diamond necklace custom
SWEETHEART SWISS BRIDGE
made by Brinker's for this event -
TOURNAMENT 2019
valued at $1000 - will be raffled off at
Come on out for the card tourney of the
the event. All proceeds go directly to
year featuring competitive games of
PAAWS No-Kill Animal Rescue.
bridge. Entry fees are $12 per session.
Acropolis Restaurant: 501 N. Green River Rd., Evansville, IN / 6pm
For more info, call tourney chairperson Doris Mills at 270-929-6835.
Owensboro Convention Center: 501 W. 2nd St., Owensboro, KY
FEB 15: GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON 15 years ago, Go Red For Women was
FEB 22: WINE & FRIES
born as a campaign to raise awareness
Hosted by Ronald McDonald House
among
great
Charities of the Ohio Valley, Wine &
health threat - heart disease. Slowly,
Fries is an evening full of fun, food and
the campaign grew into a movement
wine. This exciting night out features
- one that not only brought together
a fabulous dueling piano group, wine
thousands
but
tastings, a wine pull, delicious food and
passionate,
to top off the fun, McDonald's world
women
became
of
about
women
the
their
annually
trusted,
relevant force for change to eradicate
famous
fries.
heart disease and stroke all over the
Ronald
McDonald
world. Go Red For Women provides
of the Ohio Valley. For tickets, visit
a
rmhcohiovalley.org.
platform
for
women
and
their
families to lead healthier lives, and drive collective action for community
Tropicana
All
proceeds House
Evansville:
benefit Charities
421
NW
Riverside Dr., Evansville, IN / 6-10pm
transformation. For more info, visit oldnationaleventsplaza.com.
Old
National
Events
FEB 22: GARDEN BROS. CIRCUS
Plaza:
715
Locust St., Evansville, IN / 10:15am
A family tradition for over 100 years, the Garden Bros. Circus is packed with special effects, concert style lighting
FEB 16-17: BULL BASH
and 3 rings bursting with excitement,
Get ready for 2,000 pounds of pure
laughter and memories that young
power when the 2019 “bull bash” slams
and old alike will treasure. Featured
into
performers from 18 countries make up
It’s
the man
Owensboro vs.
riding.
the cast of over 60 who put on a fast-
Buckle up and see why they call it
paced, 90 minute show with highlights
the toughest eight seconds on Earth
including the Human Pyramid, daring
starring wrecks, rides and raging bulls.
aerial, 6 motorcycles in the Sphere of
Plus outrageous and dangerous bull
Fear, the Crazy Cossack Horse Riders
fighters. For tickets and more info, visit
and comedy. For tickets and more info,
owensborosportscenter.com.
visit gardenbroscircus.com.
Owensboro
bull
pro
Sportscenter! bull
Sportscenter:
Hickman Ave., Owensboro, KY
1215
Owensboro
Sportscenter:
Hickman Ave., Owensboro, KY
1215
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| 57
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
THE REALLY BIG SHOW OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA | FEBRUARY 9 | 7 P.M.
ANNUAL BENEFIT FOR THE ARC OF EVANSVILLE SHOWCASES THE TRI-STATE'S MOST TALENTED PERFORMERS It's always one of the most anticipated - and entertaining - events of the year. The annual Really Big Show, hosted by WFIE's Jeff Lyons and co-writer Marc Scott, brings together many of the tri-state's most talented performers in the name of charity; more specifically, to help fund The Arc of Evansville, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children and adults with disabilities opportunities to achieve their full potential. Headlined by blues-rock duo The Cold Stares - recently named News 4U Entertainers of the Year - this fun-filled evening will feature live music, dance, comedy and much more with production duties handled by a nearly all-volunteer cast and crew. Everyone involved has a common goal: to raise lots and lots of money for Arc. Last year, net proceeds for the Really Big Show exceeded $87,000 and the hope is to top that number on February 9 at the Old National Events Plaza!
2019 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP THE COLD STARES 2018 TRI-STATE’S GOT TALENT WINNER VERONICA RODIONOVA PERFORMING BOLLYWOOD DANCE MAGICIAN BRANDON BAGGETT & ABBI MARIE F.J. REITZ HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
KEN GOANS THE ARC OF EVANSVILLE’S REALLY LITTLE DANCERS RIVER BRASS SIX KATIE WATTS LEGACY DANCE COMPANY PHOENIX BELLYDANCE KIMBERLY HILLIARD THE EVANSVILLE CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND MORE! As noted, The Cold Stares are one of the area's hottest acts, having released 2018's critically-acclaimed Mountain back in October, a great collection of singles and tracks from previous releases. Singer/ guitarist Chris Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins are currently hard at work on Ways, an album of brand new material, while continuing to rock venues throughout the tri-state and beyond. They'll be supported by an incredible group of area performers plus an appearance by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and so much more! Tickets are $20 for adults; $10 for children ages 12 & younger. To purchase, visit the Old National Events Plaza box office, ticketmaster. com or call 1-800-745-3000. The Old National Events Plaza is located at 715 Locust St. in downtown Evansville.
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| 59
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
WINE & FRIES TROPICANA EVENTS PAVILION | FEBRUARY 22 | 6 P.M.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES FUNDRAISER OFFERS EXCITING EVENING TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED Helping children in need is what Ronald McDonald House Charities
provide the entertainment, pounding out a variety of tunes for your
does best. Since 1974, the organization has created programs that
enjoyment while everyone snacks on McDonald's famous fries (paired
strengthen families during difficult times, giving sick kids comfort and
with several choices of dips for tasting) and a host of other good eats.
support when it counts. This dedication to serving our youth manifests
Chances are you'll be thirsty, so be sure to get in on the wine tastings
itself in various ways, including the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
and participate in the wine pull for an opportunity to go home with a
that are located just steps away from a pediatric or intensive care unit,
top quality bottle!
offering a place for parents and relatives to congregate yet remain close by while treatment is underway.
Every year, millions of children and families are served by RMHC, so please come out and support this wonderful event or consider
Now located in 64 countries and regions, RMHC local chapters are
donating or starting a fundraiser of your own. Special thanks to local
the backbone of the organization, providing communities around the
McDonald’s owners and operators for supporting this event!
world with the necessary tools to make a difference in the lives of so many children. The tri-state's Ohio Valley chapter is doing just that,
Wine & Fries is expected to sell out so get your tickets today!
holding fundraisers like the upcoming Wine & Fries to help further the
Tickets are $100 per couple or $75 per individual. Purchase yours at
organization's important mission.
rmhcohiovalley.org.
Set for February 22 at the Tropicana Events Pavilion in downtown
For more info, call 812-402-7642. Tropicana Pavilion is located at 421
Evansville, Wine & Fries promises to be an evening full of fun, food
NW Riverside Dr. in downtown Evansville.
and - yes - wine. Rock & Roll Dueling Pianos out of Nashville will
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FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | UPCOMING EVENTS
When you enter this place, you will find understanding, acceptance, joy, and hope.
Sunny Side Up: A BREAKFAST IN JACOBSVILLE
What you won’t find is judgment and condemnation. Welcome home.
DREAM CENTER EVANSVILLE | MARCH 9 | 9-10 A.M. YOUTH-FOCUSED ORGANIZATION BUILDING UP EVANSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH HOPE AND INSPIRATION Evansville's Jacobsville neighborhood has a true friend in the Dream Center, an organization founded on the belief that connecting children and families to God's will empowers them to be successful, selfsufficient members of the community. More than ever, area kids need a helping hand and DC's programs are designed to provide a sense of safety, love and togetherness through positive relationships in Christ. To help educate the public about the Dream Center, the organization is hosting Sunny Side Up: A Breakfast in Jacobsville on March 9. The one hour, informative community gathering will include a presentation from Executive Director Jeremy Evans plus tours of the facility. And breakfast, of course! Dream Center kids will happily serve up a tasty start to your morning. Keep in mind, the Dream Center has many programs that you can get involved in. After school and out of school programs are provided for your kids. These include hot meals and a fun educational environment for the students. It's all about helping kids achieve their dreams and transforming Jacobsville into a neighborhood characterized by faith, hope, pride and inspiration. For tickets, visit eventbrite.com or check out the Dream Center on Facebook. Dream Center Evansville is located at
16 W. Morgan Ave. For more info, visit dreamcenterevansville.org.
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| 61
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | COMMUNITY & FAMILY
SUCCESS STORIES & FUTURE 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/older residents.
SKIDADDLE: Skidaddle is a female brown
tabby cat. She’s 2 years old. She came in as the mom to the “frolic” kittens who have all been adopted. Now she’s living large in the Cageless Cat Lounge. She hides sometimes when it’s super loud in there, but with a little time and patience she warms up! Her adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. She’s the VHS’ secondlongest feline resident, waiting on a home since May 16th.
ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT BUTTERCUP & SWEETHEART
Shera Smith and her husband have a very full house in Evansville with three kids and a virtual menagerie of pets, including two Boxers, sugar gliders and the latest addition to the family, two guinea pigs adopted from the VHS. The latter pair of animals wasn't initially in the plan, but Smith's 14-year-old daughter convinced mom and dad that she could handle the responsibility of caring for them; in fact, she drafted a three page document about the upkeep of guinea pigs to prove it. Pretty impressive. So when her daughter's birthday arrived, Smith took her to the VHS to see about adopting Buttercup and Sweetheart after checking them out on the shelter's website. "It was love at first sight," Smith says. "My daughter got to hold them and then she didn't want to leave them." There was just one problem: The enclosure that the Smiths had ordered for the guinea pigs wouldn't be arriving for a few days. Worried about losing the adoption, they asked if they could place a hold on the animals, but the helpful VHS workers offered to let them take the shelter's cage with them for the interim. So, Buttercup and Sweetheart headed to their new forever home where they are being spoiled rotten with lots of love and attention. Another successful adoption!
WILLOW: Willow is a 2-year-old
ANGEL: Angel is a 2-year-old New Zealand
transferred to VHS from Evansville
a chance to get to know you, and loves
Animal Care & Control when
strawberry tops as treats! She’d make a
they were out of space, so not
great bun for just about anyone. Sometimes
a whole lot is known about her
people are “freaked out” by albino bunnies
background. She weighs 60 lbs.
with red eyes, but there’s no reason to be.
Her adoption fee is $110 and
Honest. They are often the sweetest buns of
includes her spay, microchip, and
all. Angel’s adoption fee is $40 and includes
vaccines!
her microchip and spay.
female Bullmastiff mix. She was
rabbit. She’s very friendly once she’s had
400 Millner Industrial Drive | 2 blocks west of Garvin Park in Evansville 812-426-2563 | Adoption Hours: Tues-Sat 12-6pm | www.vhslifesaver.org
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | RELIGION
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | OPINION
ASK THE PASTOR
THE WRITE STUFF
with Kevin Fleming of First Presbyterian Church
Q:
HOW CAN WE HELP THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SOMEONE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY?
with Jonathan Gluff
There is always a little trepidation approaching Valentine’s Day. Some people are fortunate enough to have found that person who
Ya Gotta Keep ‘Em Separated (or “You Got Religion In My Politics!”)
reciprocates the love extended to them. Others are going through those painful times that follow a break-up, a divorce, or the death of a loved one. Still others have not found that genuine love, though they have been searching for it for years. We know that one of the things that enhances our humanity is giving and receiving love. If you are one of those fortunate enough to have that one person who makes you more fully who you are - glory to God! But I hope you’ll also be aware of those around you - family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances - for whom the whole and
Valentine’s
even
painful.
Day Pity
hoopla is
not
is
trying
needed.
Understanding, sensitivity, and compassion are always helpful. This is a different but equally important kind of love to share on Valentine’s Day. This is a love that comforts, heals, and eases the potential pain. A kind word, a gentle action, an anonymous gift - love can be expressed in ways that bring wholeness and even joy. And we’re always in need of that.
First Presbyterian Church is located at 609 SE 2nd St. / 812-423-6297.
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No doubt we’ve all heard the cliché that there are two things which shouldn’t be discussed: Religion and politics. Unsurprisingly, I’m going to talk about both. Venture into the wasteland of online religious debate and you’ll see this scenario: Someone against religious political influence will mention “Separation of Church and State.” Like clockwork, someone else will chime in that those words aren’t in the Constitution. While they’re not wrong, they’re not exactly right, either. I say “not exactly,” because those precise words don’t appear in America’s founding documents. However, our First Amendment starts with what is commonly known as the Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Naturally, there have been protracted court cases regarding the precise meaning of this. But despite what Christian apologists masquerading as historians (cough David Barton cough) say, there’s proof this statement can indeed be interpreted at face value. The phrase’s origin lies with Thomas Jefferson, third president and author of the Declaration of Independence. In an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut, he stated: “... I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
FEBRUARY 2019 • www.evansvillemediagroup.com
American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” (I won’t even mention him unfavorably comparing the Immaculate Conception to Roman/Greek mythology...) Next, we have the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11: “...the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." While this clause is hotly debated (and left out of the 1805 revision), Congress and President John Adams nonetheless unanimously ratified the treaty with this clause intact. And the mentions of God in the Pledge of Allegiance and on money? They weren’t added until 1954 and 1956, respectively. Make no mistake: This isn’t a hit piece on conservative Christians. In fact, It’s the opposite - it’s a call to be better. It’s a plea to disprove the prevailing stereotypes. It’s asking to adhere to the truest form of patriotism: Following the footsteps of the Founding Fathers. This is a topic I feel very passionately about, and I truly hope we can all respect each others’ religious doctrines (or lack thereof). We can’t unite as “one out of many” while forcibly legislating beliefs.
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | POLITICS
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | OPINION
TRI-STATE
POLITICS with Bryan Fox
MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING OLD...
AN OPEN LETTER TO COUNCILMAN JUSTIN ELPERS
with Johnny Fletcher
Your name has been dragged through
for fear people/businesses might get
the mud; you've been called many
sued over their religious beliefs, you
things by people who want to throw
held your Christian ground.
bombs your way without confronting you directly. And for what? Because you
On
think it's inappropriate for drag queens
Republican mayor has been absent over
issues
even
where
our
own
to read to school children.
the past eight years or might have even supported some of these measures you
You stood up for your Christian beliefs
were against, you showed no fear as you
where even God himself calls cross-
know God will always be with you.
dressing wrong (Deuteronomy 22:5). As a Christian, I'm sure you take comfort
Councilman Elpers, as a Christian and a
in John 15:18 where Jesus says, "If the
resident of Evansville, I urge you to run
world hates you, know that it has hated
for mayor of our great city. If not this year
me before it hated you."
- as Winnecke looks to be a shoe-in - at least in the next election cycle in 2023.
Mr. Elpers, as a citizen of Evansville, and I believe I speak for many, I applaud your
Our country, our state - our city -
efforts on the city council to put God first
needs
and our Constitution second. In an age
higher office. You've already proven
where keeping your mouth shut might
you'll support measures as a Christian
seem like the easy way out, you've held
and I'm sure pray about them before
firm on your faith in God and standing
deciding. You will definitely have the
up for Christians around our city.
support of our city's Protestant citizens
more
Christians
to
run
for
as well as many others who believe in Just like when you were one of two
putting God first before everything as
council members to vote "no" on
you have shown, councilman. Please run
amending the human rights ordinances
to be our next mayor.
What a Drag I can only hope that by the time the February News 4U arrives on stands the controversy surrounding the EVPL's 'Drag Queen Story Hour' will be a non-issue. Maybe I'm just getting old, but surely we have more important things to worry about. The sad part is, many kids these days don't read well - or aren't even interested, preferring to Netflix and chill or whatever. Back in the days of my youth, I was quite happy to have someone - didn't much care who - sit and captivate me with gripping tales told from classic literature. It was all about the presentation - the more melodramatic, the better. Decades later, I'm still a voracious reader, in part because of those early, positive experiences with books. Sure, if the 60 minute session currently under the microscope was called 'Drag Queen Disrobing Hour' I'd be a little concerned. But this just feels like one of those issues that ruffles the feathers of the righteous. Fair enough. Still, I'm convinced that the pros outweigh any cons here and no one needs to lose any sleep. Or boycott the EVPL. Let's just be thankful that kids are being offered something else besides another shot at the latest X-Box gore-fest. Kind of crazy that the ultra-violent video games young people play seemingly 24/7 go unchecked and yet, there's all this hullabaloo about an hour of storytelling. What a drag.
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MOVIE PREVIEWS
FEBRUARY MOVIE PREVIEWS COLD PURSUIT (R) RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 8TH Starring: Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum
Nels Coxman's quiet life with his wife abruptly spins out of control when their son is unjustly murdered by a local drug cartel. Nels sets out to find those responsible but inadvertently ignites a gang war that threatens to engulf the town.
THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (PG) RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 8TH Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnet
It's been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.
WHAT MEN WANT (PG-13) RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 8TH Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree
Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is a successful sports agent who's constantly boxed out by her male colleagues. When Ali is passed up for a well-deserved promotion, she questions what else she needs to do to succeed in a man's world.
ISN'T IT ROMANTIC? (PG-13)
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 13TH Starring:Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam Devine
New York City architect Natalie works hard to get noticed at her job but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels than to design the city's next skyscraper. But things change when she has an encounter with a mugger that renders her unconscious.
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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG)
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 22ND Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchet
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless' discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup's reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make decisions to save their kind.
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | FILM REVIEWS
BIRD BOX NETFLIX
In an attempt to push mystery to the forefront, Susanne Bier manages to force her horror epic Bird Box into the abstract. As we've come to expect with these Netflix originals, the look and feel of Bird Box gives its viewers an experience that boasts top-notch performances and high quality production; but all the money in Netflix's seemingly limitless coffers couldn't save this unfortunate adaptation by Eric Heisserer of Josh Malerman's novel of the same name. This debacle could be blamed on Malerman's literary prowess, proving that much of his novel was simply too surreal to capture on film. The only argument to this would be the affective storytelling in similar films like The Quiet Place or even The Happening (which by its own merit is a failed motion picture, but for different reasons.) Bird Box isn't all bad. The underlying storyline pulls at an inherent concern in all of us, and feeds into the undeniable need we all have to survive at all costs. The villain in this case isn't the mysterious monster that sends people into a suicidal mania at first sight, it's the fear that we can so easily give way to our most base impulses, proving that maybe what we truly desire most is to prove our own mortality with self-destructive behavior. In the end it points to ourselves as the thing we fear most. - John Thurgood
Showplace Cinemas East 1801 Morgan Center Drive Evansville, IN 47715 Showplace Cinema North 4200 N. 3rd Ave. Evansville, IN 47710 Showplace Cinemas South 950 Hebron Ave. Evansville, IN 47714 Showplace Cinemas Newburgh 8099 Bell Oaks Drive Newburgh, IN 47630 Showplace Cinemas Princeton 2691 W. Broadway St. Princeton, IN 47670 Showplace Cinemas Henderson 406 Walker Drive Henderson, KY 42420 Showplace Cinemas Harrisburg 701 N. Commercial St. Harrisburg, IL 62946
FOR MOVIE INFO CALL 812-422-3456
WHEN ANGELS SLEEP NETFLIX
This psychological horror film starts off slow, but builds to a startling crescendo. In a series of truly unfortunate events, German, played by Julian Villagran, goes from debased corporate cog to the edge of his own sanity. His mental journey proves that even those who practice their beliefs with the best intentions lose sight of themselves and their moral dignity when circumstances abound. And they certainly do in the case of When Angels Sleep. The plot unfolds from the outset with a ticking clock. German is going to miss his daughter's birthday, and he must get out of a meeting and on the road as soon as possible in order to be there for his daughter. From the very beginning, the divide between German's actions and his intent are apparent. An accident on the ride home pushes him further from his goal, which only compounds when he continually makes matters worse by trying to do the right thing. The truly unfortunate aspect of When Angels Sleep is that no amount of moral imperative can erase one's culpability. If altruism does exist, it certainly doesn't reside on the backroads of the Spanish countryside, and if it does, it continually turns its back on the characters in this film as they struggle to find salvation. - John Thurgood
www.showplacecinemas.com
FEBRUARY MOVIES
2/1 Miss Bala
2/8 Cold Pursuit The Lego Movie 2 The Prodigy What Men Want 2/13 Isn't It Romantic?
2/14 Alita: Battle Angel Fighting with My Family Happy Death Day 2U 2/22 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Rhythm Section Run the Race
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC REVIEWS
ICE CUBE Everythang’s Corrupt Lench Mob/Interscope Records The sum of this album is less than its parts. Originally teased to be released in 2015, Everythang’s Corrupt has come out three years late, and it shows. All this bravado hits a boiling point in the first single, "Arrest the President." It feels like the first two or three tracks were written more recently - as if the subject matter wasn’t clue enough - while most of the album suffers from having been left on a shelf. Corrupt opens with Ice Cube painting a bleak picture of currentday America. Then the blaring horns of the first single come in and I’m ready to rock and roll. Then, just as a good head of steam is built up, the album shifts into a set of anti-drug songs. Sure, hard drugs are dangerous and kill millions of people. I’m on board with that, but this feels like an R-rated after school special. The intention comes from a good place, but they’re so on the nose it borders on hilarious at times. Tracks one and two feel like 2018 tracks, the rest feels like a generic anti-drug album left on a shelf for years. - Gavin Gaddis
WATSKY Complaint Self-Released Musically, Watsky has come a long way in the past decade. Cardboard Castles-era Watsky focused on songs about being a nice person and working hard to achieve one’s dreams - but he wasn't averse to being goofy, either. However, Complaint displays an older, more adult Watsky. Opening track "Welcome to the Family" reads as a familiar song about love and finding those who understand your problems, yet the music video is filmed to show the song’s message is being delivered by a cult leader profiting off said message of love and belonging. A few months ago, Watsky posted an open letter about how he’s spent the time between albums getting his life together - falling in love, going to therapy, getting vocal coaching. This is the album where the 32-year-old San Francisco native gets a bit more real than he has before. Complaint is a hip-hop album about love and relationships in 2019, shrugging off the industry standard generic terms to directly talk about what it wants to talk about. Keeping good mental health and helping keep a partner’s mental health in good shape is hard. There are songs about good relationships, bad relationships, and the dangers of self-sabotage. Simply put, Complaint is one of the best albums I’ve listened to in a long time. - Gavin Gaddis
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THE CHAINSMOKERS Sick Boy Disruptor/Columbia Records What is there to say about The Chainsmokers that hasn’t already been said in that one YouTube video where a guy writes a Chainsmokers song onehanded? Even the title of the first track on the album, "This Feeling," is indicative of how immediately forgettable their work can be. It's a song title (and song) so generic it could be from any pop/electronic band working today. Even listening to it now, the combination of semi-uplifting lyrics, acoustic guitar and electronic beats just feels like The Chainsmokers were asked to write the trailer song for a B-grade animated film nobody will see. Sick Boy is forgettable to the point of frustration. I’ve not had to unlock my phone to see if I’d accidentally hit shuffle and was relistening to the same song more than once per album before listening to this. It’s been ages since I’ve heard Chainsmokers' first album; maybe this is a step in the right direction, but it’s not a step far enough. Two dudes with laptops synthesized a grey morass of Imagine Dragons vocals by way of Maroon 5. Whoop dee doo. It’s shocking this band has as much Top 40 clout as they do. - Gavin Gaddis
CLEAN BANDIT What Is Love Atlantic It may have a horrible, almost un-Googleable name, but What Is Love is a great example of an electronic duo who have a distinct style and aren’t afraid to try new things. The lyrics range from passable to gorgeously-written; the music itself is wonderfully composed. The album features a parade of celebrity musicians, including collaborations with Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Charli XCX and Tove Styrke. But not Elton John, unfortunately, who was originally scheduled to appear. Given the amount of garbage shoveled out onto Spotify by huge name artists on a daily basis let’s just agree to make this a rule from here on out: If you get Elton John, you publish said Elton John content. I respect a tight, well-formed album from an artistic perspective but now What is Love will forever have the shape of an English ivorytickling giant hovering over it, the ghost of what could have been. If the preceding paragraph complaining about the lack of Elton John isn’t evidence enough: there’s not much meat to discuss. Clean Bandit have provided a solid album of people with good singing voices singing pretty good songs about generic topics. Call it aggressively passable. - Gavin Gaddis
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | MUSIC REVIEWS
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Hard to Imagine the Neighbourhood Ever Changing Columbia Records Hailing from Newbury Park, California, The Neighbourhood has developed a following of mainly young girls. Relying on love songs, breakup songs, and other songs in the realm of pop ballads, this west coast band rose to fame after their 2013 hit song “Sweater Weather, ” relying on a sound comparable to top-selling acts like Arctic Monkeys and The 1975. However, this former niche indie sound that has rocked the world of Tumblr users and selfproclaimed free spirits has become familiar and stale. With Hard to Imagine the Neighbourhood Ever Changing, it seems the band is aware that they have lost their niche role, making an obvious effort to be palatable to the masses and create pop hits - which can only been seen as selling out. Slow drum beats and mumbled words are peppered throughout the album with every song seemingly saying the same thing: “We are almost 30 years old and are still just as angsty as our teenage selves.” While The Neighbourhood has tried to mix it up by incorporating synth and more R&B beats, Hard to Imagine falls flat. Check the band out on Spotify, but do not waste your money on this album. - Kendall Shanks
JOE JACKSON Fool earMUSIC
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Springsteen On Broadway Columbia There's a good reason why Bruce Springsteen is known as "The Boss" because no one in music puts more heart and soul into their work, whether in the studio or onstage. The New Jersey native's marathon concerts are legendary, often stretching to four hours as he and his trusty E Street Band wring every ounce of passion out of every song, leaving fans gasping for air but still wanting more. So naturally, when word got out about Springsteen's proposed Broadway run beginning in late 2017, anticipation was off the charts. Rest assured "The Boss" did not disappoint. Alone, with just a guitar and piano for accompaniment, he performed a stunning, career-spanning set interspersed with expert storytelling that only elevated the musical portion of the show. Of course, only a small percentage of fans were lucky enough to see the live production. But with the release of Springsteen on Broadway you can now experience the next best thing - a superbly-recorded audio document of the critically-acclaimed show that finds the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer delivering classics and deep cuts alike, all with a steely intensity. - Johnny Fletcher
DANNY ELFMAN Beetlejuice Soundtrack (Reissue) Waxworks Records
A British post-punk musician known primarily for the 1982 U.S. top ten hit "Steppin' Out" and fan favorite "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" off 1978's Look Sharp, Joe Jackson has proven to be so much more than advertised over the years, carving out a singular career that's touched on everything from pop to classical with occasional detours into jazz and world music. But sophisticated, moody piano melodies - of the "Steppin' Out" variety - remain Jackson's bread and butter some four decades on, especially when married with his caustic yet empathetic vocals. 2015's Fast Forward signaled a return to form, featuring more than a handful of classic, mournful JJ ballads and effervescent pop moments that belied the singer's 60+ years. However, a sluggish end to the album nearly derailed the comeback.
Anyone born post-1980 may well be unfamiliar with film composer Danny Elfman's musical beginnings. A mention of Oingo Boingo, the Elfman-led new wave act that briefly flirted with mass popularity in 1985 when the band's theme song to Weird Science inched up the Billboard charts, will most likely draw a blank. Ditto that and then some for the Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo, the performance art precursor formed in 1972. But film and TV buffs know all about Elfman. While at the height of Oingo Boingo's success, he was tapped by director Tim Burton to compose the score to Pee Wee's Big Adventure - despite a formal lack of training. Regardless, the partnership worked a charm and the pair struck gold again in 1988 with the eerily whimsical Beetlejuice soundtrack.
But with Fool, Jackson has trimmed the fat, offering up eight perfectly formed songs that cover the distance between his beloved piano work and occasional guitar-based excursions - as evidenced on the rocking "Fabulously Absolute" and the energetic title track. But Jackson truly sparkles on opening track "Big Black Cloud" and closer "Alchemy" - both possessing a familiar, unshakeable melancholy. Johnny Fletcher
Elfman has gone on to score too many projects to mention though Batman, Nightmare Before Christmas and The Simpsons are highpoints worth noting - but Beetlejuice remains a major cult favorite as fans of the film wait (im)patiently for a much-discussed sequel. In the meantime, Waxworks Records has released a 30th anniversary 180 gram colored vinyl edition that brilliantly captures Elfman's unmistakable compositional style. - Johnny Fletcher
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | BEER REVIEWS
FEBRUARY BEER REVIEWS This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com. GOLDEN ROAD PINEAPPLE CART
YAZOO GERST AMBER ALE
URBAN CHESTNUT FANTASYLAND
JONATHAN GLUFF - 4
JONATHAN GLUFF - 4.5
JONATHAN GLUFF - 4.75
PAUL BRAGIN - 2.5
PAUL BRAGIN - 4
PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25
JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4
JABEZ MARTINEZ - 2
JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5
I generally don’t like light and refreshing beers, but I can’t think of any better way to describe this brew. The pineapple is very prevalent, but not overpowering, with notes of citrus adding a little extra zest. It complements pasta really well with its crisp, clean finish. Like pineapple on pizza, it may not be everyone's glass of suds, but it’s definitely worth a shot if you like the lighter side of beer.
A thick white head tops this beer when poured into a wheat beer glass. Scents of pineapple, strawberry and orange fill the nose. The fruity flavors continue with the first sip of the beer, with some banana flavor common to wheat beers present in the finish. It drinks more like a lightly carbonated fruit soda than a beer. It could make a nice addition to your refrigerator during hot summer months.
This is a cloudy but light straw-colored beer with some pretty heavy carbonation. It's an enjoyable wheat beer, although the pineapple flavor is a little light - they could have amped that up a bit. Come summer, this will be a great beer to enjoy after mowing or when sitting by the pool.
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I really enjoy the wide variety of beers I get to write about each month, but it’s nice to occasionally encounter one I’m already familiar with. Yazoo Brewing’s Gerst (not to be confused with the local eatery) has been in my regular rotation for quite some time, and for good reason. With a touch of caramel and smooth, clean, biscuit-y finish, if you like New Belgium’s Fat Tire, you’ll love this nearly universally-appealing amber ale.
A thick white head forms on this deep amber ale. The sweetness of malt first dominates the nose, followed by notes of yeast. Likewise, a burst of sweet malt flavors and yeast coat the tongue with the first tasting. This is a great choice year round, but especially as a thirst quencher during the sweltering months of summer. Pair it with fried chicken or classic German cuisine such as beer cheese dip or Wienerschnitzel.
This was one of the first beers I had a long time ago when I moved to Evansville. I wish I could remember how it tasted compared to now. Regardless, I don't really like it. It looked promising upon pouring into a glass, but I don't like the flavor of the malts or something. It has an odd flavor that I can't truly describe.
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I’m just gonna say it: I hate this “pop-off entire lid” design. It’s terrible to drink from and doesn’t pour well. I hate complaining that much about the can, because I really enjoy this one; I’ll be picking it up in the future. Not too sweet, not too hoppy it’s exactly what an IPA should be. Those who dislike darker beers but want a little deviation from the standard macrobrew fare may find this a nice change of pace.
A thick white head rests on this coppercolored India pale ale. Citrus notes from the hops control the scent profile. The first tasting seems mild considering the wide variety of hops and malts used to brew the beer, but the hops return in the finish and remain for some time. People who enjoy hoppy beers should definitely taste this one. Pair it with your favorite spicy dishes or a vintage Cheddar cheese.
This is a hazy, amber-colored beer with an ABV of 6.5%. I can smell the hops right away. I really like this IPA because it's not as over-the-top with the hops as other IPAs. In fact, it's very smooth and easy to drink. I also think the pint-sized can with the wide mouth opening is a nice touch.
NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | BEER REVIEWS
REVOLUTION BREWING FREEDOM OF PRESS
that I don’t like. So I’ll say this: If you prefer your beer to taste like a can or glass of sour berries, then this is the beer for you. To be fair, it’s pretty good if that’s your style, but it’s also what makes people make fun of “hipster” craft beers.
PAUL BRAGIN - 2.75 JONATHAN GLUFF - 2.5
Look, I get it - we all have different tastes, and I try to be objective when judging styles of beer (or anything, for that matter)
A thick off-white head crowns this beer after pouring it in a tulip glass. The color resembles a rosé wine. Abundant sour fruit scents from the currants used during brewing control the nose. Currant flavors first hit the tongue while drinking the beer, with sour notes becoming
stronger during the long finish. People who enjoy sour beers should try this. Pair it with cheese like goat or blue, fresh fruit or eggs at breakfast.
JABEZ MARTINEZ - 3
I'm not a fan of sour beers and I don't care for this one, either. Why do brewers bother making them? Still, it seems that sour beers have their fans. I gave Freedom of Press a three rating because it tastes like the can advertises. I took about two big drinks and that's all I could do.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
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NEWS4U FEBRUARY 2019 | WHISKEY REVIEWS
DISTILLING IT DOWN with Dusty Barn Distillery
“Malt whiskey” may be less well-known than other whiskey groups such as bourbon and rye, but it has two more recognizable subset: Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey. The use of malted barley is responsible for the entire group’s moniker as well as the Scotch-centric descriptors of blended/single malt. Scotch is a very divisive category with a very - shall we say - passionate fanbase. As such, we’ll only be sampling whiskeys made outside of Scotland with a nearly (or, in the case of Irish whiskeys, completely) identical process. As always, we’ll be pitting a Dusty Barn product (their own Single-Malt Whiskey) versus other established American and Irish brands. - Jonathan Gluff
ROUND 1 - WOODFORD KENTUCKY STRAIGHT MALT WHISKEY: I thought I’d tried
all of Woodford’s offerings, but I had no idea they even made a malt. Several of us commented on its sweetness and exceptional smoothness, and I noticed hints of vanilla on both the nose and finish (this alone should’ve tipped me off that it was Woodford), and Jesse and I caught a touch of caramel. OVERALL SCORE: 22
ROUND 2 - WRITER'S TEARS IRISH WHISKEY: While Irish whiskey regulations do not require peat to be used in the distillation process, a peaty spirit is either Scotch or Irish. Taking into account what we were sampling, it was clear this was Irish. Kristen and I noted the clean smell, and Jesse agreed that it was smooth; his wife, Leah, was not so much a fan, and found it harsh and spicy. (I can’t blame her - peat is definitely not for everyone.) OVERALL SCORE: 14
ROUND 3 - QUIET MAN IRISH WHISKEY: This one starts with a pleasant, buttery nose. Jesse and I both recognized a grainy, grassy undertone to it, while Leah and Alex picked up citrus notes. Opinions were very divided on this one, with it placing differently on all five lists. I personally found it a bit bland, but it’s not bad by any means. OVERALL SCORE: 15
ROUND 4 - DOC'S SINGLE MALT WHISKEY: Kristen and I immediately picked up on this whiskey’s butteriness (even more so than the last), while she and Jesse tasted a hint of caramel. Leah noticed licorice, Alex picked up corn, and he and I both noted it benefitted from ice, becoming far smoother and even a little fuller-bodied. OVERALL SCORE: 17
We each ranked them in order of favorite to least. The results were:
JONATHAN: 1, 4, 2, 3 | LEAH: 1, 3, 2, 4 | KRISTEN: 4, 1, 3, 2 | JESSE: 3, 2, 4, 1 | ALEX: 1, 4, 2, 3 FINAL NOTES: Next time you stop by the Barn, be sure to check out their cherry-infused whiskey! Distilled multiple times to cut back on graininess, it’s then infused with 75 lbs. of cherries for a very smooth - and very cherry - drink. Try it straight, mixed with cola, or in an Old Fashioned! The Dusty Barn Distillery is located at 6861 Carson School Rd. in Mount Vernon. For more info, follow them on Facebook.
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