Toledo Free Press STAR – July 20, 2011

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“When he’s underwater does he get wet or does the water get him instead?” — TMBG, “Particle Man”

RETAIL: The Art Supply Depot opens Downtown 4 POETRY: Warehouse poets return for Art Walk 5 MUSIC: Dégagé hosts Battle of the Saxes 6 COMEDY: Bert the Conqueror at Fat Fish Blue/Funnybone 8 SOUND TREK: ACGT lives long and prospers 10 THE PULSE: Calendar of Events 15 COMICS: Rise of the ‘Apes’ 18 McGINNIS: Giants say ‘Join Us’ 22

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Kyle WHite’s new CD • THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS • The Art Supply Depo • Bert the conquerOr JULY 20, 2011 • Episode 2 Chapter 29 • Toledo Free Press Star, Toledo, OH: “Blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch, who watches over you.” — TMBG, “Birdhouse in Your Soul”

Monroe rockers in conspiracy for wider audience

By Mike Bauman Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer mbauman@toledofreepress.com

During the past five years, Cold Conspiracy has shared the stage with Boston, Finger Eleven, Saliva, Framing Hanley, My Darkest Days, Taproot, Pop Evil, Flaw, Primer 55, Adelitas Way and Sevendust. For the Monroe-based rockers, getting good shows has not been much of a problem. Getting exposure has.

“We’re trying to get that started right now, but it’s so hard,” Cold Conspiracy frontman Jeff Prewitt said. “That’s what’s cool about Toledo. We like going down there playing and it’s easy for our fans to make it down that way.

But when you try to book out of your range it’s really hard to get into places because they always want you to have a draw, and it’s like impossible to have a draw when you haven’t played in that area yet because all you really have is the Internet to show people.”

A five-piece outfit comprised of Prewitt (vocals), Brian Balk (guitar), Adam Champagne (guitar), Lonnie Stump (bass) and Sean Belcher (drums), Cold Conspiracy will perform at the Omni on July 23 as an opening act for Shadows In Red’s CD release party. Cold Conspiracy wants to expand its music beyond the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan areas, and part of that effort has been through the Internet.

One of those online avenues for Cold Conspiracy is a battle of the bands competition to play on the Best Buy Music Gear Stage on Sept.

9 at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston as part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. Highlights for the grand prize winner include a slot to play on every tour stop of next year’s Uproar Festival, an EP produced

by Jay Baumgardner at NRG Studios in Hollywood and $10,000 in gear through Best Buy Musical Instruments.

“It’d be a big accomplishment, and it’d be another stepping stone for us,” Balk said. “It’s just hard for us, being a few of the guys in the band have families, so they know they have to put food on the table for the kids. So it’s hard for us just to get up and go like a lot of these other bands do that are established.

“We’re not established yet, so we just have to dig in when we can and hope we get our break. Plus, winning something online that our fans can help put us through on would be amazing.”

Cold Conspiracy recorded its self-titled, debut album in the home studio of Champagne’s stepfather Jerry Gysin; it was released on March 10, 2010 and is available for mp3 download on Amazon.com. The band also has a three-song demo — only available through Cold Conspiracy — featuring new tracks “Leave You,” “Break Free” and “Never Let You Go,” which were recorded with Ben Schigel of Spider Studios. The band wants to record its next album with Schigel, who has worked with Drowning Pool, Chimaira and Walls of Jericho, among others.

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While Cold Conspiracy has struggled — like many bands trying to make it as full-time musicians — Prewitt said the group has a strong foundation in Toledo to build on.

“People — if they don’t like you — they’re not going to go out of their way to tell you, ‘Good job,’” Prewitt said. “It’s like, yeah, some people do kind of do that, but we have got such great responses from people down [in Toledo].

It’s kind of unbelievable.

“Of course, you always get your crappy shows now and then where you get booked somewhere and there’s five people standing in front of you, but for the most part any time we play in Toledo we always get a really good crowd reac-

Stars of the Week

tion, and we just need to start spreading it other places, start spreading it further into Ohio, too.”

Cold Conspiracy and The Unknown will open for Shadows In Red at the Omni, located at 2567 Bancroft St.. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $5 in advance. For more information, call (419) 535-6664. To check out Cold Conspiracy, visit myspace.com/ coldconspiracy or visit the website reverb nation.com/cold conspiracy. O

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“His oratory filled his foes with fear” — TMBG, “James K. Polk”

Art supply store to open Downtown Jules Webster, Dana Syrek create The Art Supply Depo.

By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

What was just a dream two years ago will become reality this week as two native Toledoans open an art supply store Downtown.

The Art Supply Depo, at 29 S. St. Clair St., will be open 6 to 9 p.m. July 21, during the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s July Art Walk. Its first official day of business will be July 22.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

Proprietors Jules Webster and Dana Syrek said the shop will fill a niche by specializing in difficult-to-find supplies local artists need.

“We knew the area needed an art supply store,” said Webster, owner of Shine Ceramics and a graduate of the University of Toledo’s art department. “There’s a real void.”

Webster, a Toledo Free Press Star columnist, said UT once had an art supply store, but it closed.

Downtown business Scrap 4 Art deals in scrap art material. Sylvania has For the Love of Art, but there was nothing Downtown, Syrek said.

The business model was inspired by an art supply store Syrek frequented while a student at Miami University in Oxford. That owner caters mainly to Miami’s small art department, working with professors to align what the store carries to what students need for classes.

“A lot of art stores can be overwhelming because there’s just so much stuff,” Syrek said. “This wasn’t overwhelming. It had exactly what I needed.”

The pair is working closely with UT’s art department and has reached out to other local schools as well.

The Art Supply Depo will carry typical items like paint, pastels and colored pencils, but will focus mainly on securing hard-to-find items, including large format paper for printmaking and drawing, rolls of canvas and encaustic, a type of paint made of color pigment and wax.

“There’s nowhere else to get that in town, so we’re really trying to fill some specialty needs for materials,” Syrek said.

The shop will also offer discounted bundle packages containing all the supplies needed for an art class. It will also carry copy paper and basic office supplies, Webster said.

Webster and Syrek, who met through a mutual friend, first looked into buying a franchise but didn’t find one, so they decided to come up with their own concept.

“It was literally one of those things that came to me in the middle of the night,” Syrek said.

Plenty of market research helped focus and refine the model based on what local artists were looking for, Syrek said.

“The model really cares about what people are looking for and that’s the core of how we’re building the business,” Syrek said.

A gallery space will sell work by local artists and patrons will be able to use Wi-Fi, browse art books, read, study and exchange ideas in a lounge area, Webster said.

“We just want it to be a place that sparks creativity and just inspires a new mode of thinking,” Webster said.

Future plans include displaying local artwork and becoming a stop on the Art Walks as well as offering in-store workshops, Webster said.

The store’s logo and website were designed by local artist Jemma Hostetler of Studio Sans Nom. The Downtown location provides proximity to the UT art department, the Toledo Museum of Art and Toledo School for the Arts, Syrek said.

It’s also convenient for the core group of artists who live, work and have studios Downtown.

“A lot of the smaller retail businesses are moving back Downtown,” Syrek said. “We felt like St. Clair Street was really the right neighborhood for us to do well.”

Their idea is testament to the possibilities of small business in Toledo, Syrek said.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this probably anywhere else the way we’re doing it here,” Syrek said. “We really believe in Toledo, we believe in

TOLEDO

Dana Syrek, left, and Jules Webster, owners of The Art Supply Depo.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO BY JOSEPH HERR

Downtown. Small business is possible here and people should embark on their ventures if they choose to. It’s going to be an exciting week. It’s

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

been a long time coming.”

For more information, visit the website www. artsupplydepo.com. O

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“Come inside, it’s fun inside” — TMBG, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme”

By Stefanie Neuman Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Many of Toledo’s underground poets are being included in the summer’s Art Walks.

“Poetry is definitely an underground scene in Toledo. Nobody really hears about it; it’s not talked about,” said Greg Peters, a local poet. “It’s not out there anywhere; it’s not really mainstream.”

July 21 in the Toledo Free Press warehouse at the corner of Huron and Washington streets GROVER Downtown, Peters and local poets John Dorsey, Michael Grover, Kayla Marie Williams, Christina Brooks and Mike Hackney will read their works as a stop on the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Art Walk.

“I’ve been telling people for years that we’re in between two cultural meccas of writing that people aren’t aware of, Ann Arbor and Bowling Green,” Hackney said.

He said all poetry read will be original and most of it will be free verse, without a set rhyme scheme or rhythmic meter.

“I feel obligated to write [poetry] because I read it. It’s a heightened sense of awareness, a heightened sense of language, we all feel passionately about it. Passion is a good word,” Hackney said.

Despite the passion of the writers, they’re having trouble getting attention from the public.

“People get scared of poetry,” Grover said.

“I think the readings by and large are poets reading to other poets,” Hackney said.

Though Peters said about 15 listeners attended the last Art Walk readings, the poets are hoping for a much larger and more diverse crowd on July 21.

The free event will be open from 6 to 9 p.m.

Toledo Free Press is also co-sponsoring the Aug. 6 “Zygote in My Fez Poetry Festival,” from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Collingwood Arts Center. Red Fez and Zygote in my Coffee are the primary forces behind the event, which will feature nearly two dozen poets reading their works.

“It’s not only entertainment; it’s enlightenment as entertainment. And it’s free! It’s the best show in town for nothing,” Peters said. O

! nd ble g a ila in va ter t a Ca y ou rr Ca

Underground poetry featured in the July 21 ACGT Art Walk

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 5

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“We’re splitting the scene, we’re full of beans” — TMBG, “Hot Dog”

Battle of the saxes

The Dégagé Jazz Café to host saxophone showdown July 29 and 30.

By Patrick Timmis Toledo Free Press STAR Staff Writer ptimmis@toledofreepress.com

The Dégagé Jazz Café will host the Battle of the Saxes on July 29 and 30.

The event will feature Gunnar Mossblad, Director of UT’s jazz program, Jesse Coleman, the lead saxophonist for The JAMM Band from Detroit, and Doug Horn, a mainstream saxophonist from Ann Arbor.

Mossblad, who is also the music director for The Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble, grew up in Omaha, Nebraska’s rich jazz scene. He was deeply influenced by John Coltrane but has crafted his own musical feel.

“At this point in time I sound like me,” he said. “So whatever style I play I bring my personality to how I approach the music.”

Doug Horn said he started playing saxophone 46 years ago after watching “The Lawrence Welk Show” with his grandfather.

“Geez, you ought to play that sax,” his grandfather told him.

“I don’t know, there’s a lot of keys on there,” Horn answered.

His father brought home a tenor and an alto saxophone shortly thereafter. His mother told Horn if she had to make him practice even once, the instruments were going back.

“She couldn’t get me to stop practicing,” he said.

Jesse Coleman has lived in Toledo all his life. He was a clarinet

player in his high school band when the teacher switched him to saxophone.

“That basically started me, changed my life really, to be honest with you,” Coleman said.

He said he loves saxophonists such as David Sanborn, who plays the saxophone as a solo, melody instrument.

“Smooth jazz is my element,” Coleman said. “I’ve visited 36 of the 50 states, Jamaica and Canada. That’s where my music has taken me.”

The Battle of the Saxes coincides with the 175th anniversary of the Historic Commercial Building, which houses The Dégagé Jazz Café. Performance times are 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Tickets for the event HORN are $12 and will include 10 percent off a special dinner menu created by Dégagé chef Joseph Jacobsen. Dinner will be served either before or after a performance and cocktails and appetizers will be available during the concerts.

For tickets, stop by The Dégagé Jazz Café at 301 River Road in Maumee or call ahead at (419) 794-8205 ext. 2. O

Gunnar Mossblad is director of UT’s jazz program.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVE HOCHANADEL

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Glistening white triangular tooth. Open up a can of tomato juice” — TMBG, “I’ve Got a Fang”

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“Somewhere they’re meeting on a pinhead” — TMBG, “She’s an Angel”

By Mighty Wyte TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

Many may recognize Bert Kreischer from his popular TV show on the Travel Channel, aptly named “Bert The Conqueror,” yet few may recognize him for his stand-up comedy. Kreischer said his comedic style is based on one principle: “If I experienced it, other people have, too.”

In a recent interview, Kreischer said his sense of humor was developed as a survival strategy.

“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in the ninth grade. My friends growing up were the kind of friends that if you couldn’t hold their attention with a story or make fun of them you were screwed.

So I got really good at telling stories,” Kreischer said.

“I remember being in the eighth grade on a school trip and a friend of mine had me listen to this Sam Kinison tape. I remember just laughing so hard.

Laughing back then had to come from

someone falling or stepping in dog shit or something. It blew me away that someone could make you laugh just by talking,” Kreischer said.

The TV show host/stand-up comedian said that he tailors each of his acts to the crowd.

“I don’t have too many speeds where I can switch up the show. However, if it’s an early show I might not curse as much, but if it’s a late drinking crowd I’ll loosen it up. I tend to improv about 50 percent of the show,” he said.

Kreischer said his mix of improvisation and predetermined stories was designed to stave off hecklers in his New York audiences.

“I know what jokes I have to do but I can’t just do that; it gets stale. If you just tell those jokes and you get heckled, you’re screwed,” he said. “At any time, the guy in the front row could be going to prison tomorrow and he’s just out to have a good time. It’s so depressing when you see someone go into a bit after getting heckled.” n BERT CONTINUES ON 9

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“Was it something you would do for anybody? Was it what you’d only do for me?” — TMBG, “Snail Shell” n BERT CONTINUED FROM 8 Between traveling to shoot “Bert The Conqueror” and his stand-up career, Kreischer isn’t home very often.

“My support system at home is forgiving,” Kreischer said. “I’ve been doing stand-up the entire time my wife and I have been married. In a weird way we get along better when I’m on the road. When I’m home too long you can tell she starts getting to the point where she’s like ‘Get the hell outta here’.”

Kreischer said the travel is a little harder on his daughters, who are still young and have a harder time with daddy being gone so often.

“They eat it up when I’m back,” he said. “They are all over me when I get home, and you can see the panic in their eyes sometimes when I leave, like if they forget to give me a hug or something.”

As host of “Bert The Conqueror,” Kreischer said he has been able to complete a bucket list of vacations that “could never be duplicated or done better.”

“I never enjoyed heights before and now I appreciate a good view. I would never have ridden a roller coaster in a million years but now I enjoy them.”

Kreischer said he fully enjoys peoplewatching.

“I think people-watching should be a ride,” Kreischer laughed. “Whenever we’re down or not shooting, I will just sit down somewhere and watch. Like, look at this guy, who told him he should wear short shorts?”

Traveling and experiencing some of the most thrilling and horrifying rides and activities has desensitized Kreischer to a point.

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“My wife will say things like ‘what can we do in Hawaii?’ I’ll run down a list and she will get excited and say she wants to do these things. I’ve already done them,” Kreischer said.

“Vacation to me is sitting around the house and doing nothing. When my wife says things like, ‘let’s go to Home Depot, I freak out because being around the house and doing things like growing grass really gets me excited.”

Despite time away from family, Kreischer said he enjoys performing stand-up because of the feeling he gets onstage.

“I get nervous about things like flying, but when I get up onstage it’s so comfortable and warm. It’s like the biggest down comforter. I feel like nothing can go wrong, I just get in a zone,” he said. “There is nothing better than coming up with an idea in the morning, working it out during the day and trying it out at night to find that it works. I don’t get that feeling anywhere else. It’s overwhelming.”

Kreischer will perform at the Funny Bone at Fat Fish Blue from July 28 through July 31. Show times and ticket prices vary. Visit the website www.toledofunnybone.com for more information and to purchase tickets. O

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July 22, 2011

Local music — at warp speed

By Jason Mack

419

Toledo

Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer jmack@toledofreepress.com

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) is highlighting the local music scene July 22 with Downtown SoundTrek, an event featuring more than 30 bands at 13 venues in Downtown Toledo.

SoundTrek is a new take on the former Toledo Jazz Festival. The cost of admission provides access to all 13 locations and bus rides between venues. The shows are split between the Warehouse District and the Uptown District.

“We were looking for ideas and ways to expand our services to the performing arts community,” said Ryan Bunch, performing and literary arts coordinator at the ACGT. “We wanted to present Toledo’s music scene in a new way. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we took the model we had from the Jazz loop. We made it a tighter bus loop and more multigenre. It’s representative of what’s going on in venues Downtown.”

According to Bunch, the main goal of SoundTrek is to showcase musicians in Toledo. There are only three bands performing from outside the Toledo area.

“These are Toledo musicians in venues that are working to present live music in the community,” Bunch said. “It’s about elevating and highlighting that. It’s getting people to come down and see the wealth of venues, how close they are, how walkable they are and what a diverse range of music there is. It gives the community a chance to get a broad sampling of everything going on in one night.”

One of the artists the community can see is Kyle White as the acoustic rocker kicks things off at PizzaPapalis at 519 Monroe St. White is releasing her second CD “On With the Show” on July 24.

“Toledo is full of extremely talented people,” White said.

“The music scene in Toledo would rival any big city. I was in a suburb of Chicago in April, and on a Tuesday night there wasn’t anything going on anywhere. In Toledo, you can go out any night of the week to numerous places and find live music.”

Old State Line guitarist Thomas Barden is excited about the promotion SoundTrek provides for local venues. His band is opening at the Glass City Cafe.

“It gets more people out in the neighborhood going to things,” Barden said. “Glass City Cafe is great, but it’s hard because people don’t know about it. It’s a great place. The management is wonderful. After Friday night, a lot more people will know about it.”

While Bunch is excited about the music around Toledo today, he’s also proud of the city’s musical past.

“Toledo has a remarkably long and rich history in

music,” he said. “It’s the birthplace of Art Tatum and John Hendricks. You have the kind of garage blues renaissance that started here and worked its way up to Detroit. There’s a wide-reaching, broad range of music that’s happened here. It’s always been here. We haven’t quite gotten our dues as the next hip explosion, but it’s really rich. There’s a lot of talent here. I’m constantly astounded by how many people are not just talented at what they do but can work across genres. The music community is really well connected and supportive.”

With such a diverse history, Bunch wanted SoundTrek to represent as many genres as possible.

“If we were going to do this, it needed to be representative of the broad range of styles happening in the area,” he said. “As time goes on and digital music becomes more prevalent, the idea of genres is melting away anyway. If you took BUNCH a sampling from most peoples’ iPods, there’s a broad range of stuff on there.”

Because of the wide array of musicians and venues in Toledo, the ACGT formed a committee to select the artists and where they would play.

“We were feeling our way through the dark to figure out how it was going to look and work,” Bunch said. “The committee put their heads together and tried to come up with something that is broad in scope. Since we’re working with a lot of established venues that present music, we wanted to make sure they were comfortable with the music they would be presenting. It was a collaboration between the committee and the venue owners to figure out how we could stretch the borders but not go too far with it. It’s been really fun getting to know a handful of venues and working with them. They’ve all really picked up the ball and been excited about it.”

One venue Bunch is particularly excited for is Bozarts Fine Art and Music Gallery. “[Owner] Jerry Gray put together a killer lineup,” Bunch said. “He was already putting together a show when we contacted him, so it worked out. He has The Staving Chain, which is kind of a traditional Delta blues group. They have Dooley Wilson, who for my money is the best guitar player in the tri-state area.

He’s a killer guitar player. Danny Kroha is playing with them, and he’s kind of a Detroit music legend. That should be an awesome lineup.”

The lineup also includes Boom Chick, a rock ‘n’ roll duo from Brooklyn with Moselle Spiller on drums and Frank Hoier on guitar and vocals.

Downtown Toledo

“I’m super excited about the lineup we have,” Gray said. “It’s going to be mostly blues-oriented rock. Boom Chick contacted me online, and the date worked out. It’s their first time in Toledo. They are excellent.”

Bunch said the ACGT plans to use SoundTrek as an annual fundraising event. Proceeds will fund programs such as Artomatic 419!, the art walks and the gallery loops, all of which are presented free to the community. The event also serves as part of an effort to integrate the performing arts into the ACGT. “The arts commission has always typically been visual arts heavy,” Bunch said. “There used to be a specific performing arts council in Toledo until about 10 years ago.

Since then, the slack has not been picked up. It’s been interesting to go through and see what a really broad and diverse array of individuals and organizations there are that are working and haven’t been brought together yet.”

SoundTrek partnered with the first annual Toledo Music Expo, which is July 23 at the Erie Street Market. The event features live performances and provides networking opportunities for artists, venues and vendors.

“That was kind of a serendipitous aspect of the event,” Bunch said. “When we were brainstorming, we thought it would be cool to have a little expo of people who weren’t going to be on this loop. There are so many music related businesses and companies, so we thought we could have people come down and promote their business and show there is a wide network that reaches across the state. It seemed too daunting to take on for the first time. We just wanted to get the bus loop part right.”

“No sooner did we scrap that idea, and put it on the back burner for future years, than we were contacted.

They pitched us an idea similar to what we were thinking.

It made a lot of sense to cross promote each other’s events and show that over this one weekend there is a broad range of getting a sampling of the music scene. They very generously agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds back to the arts commission. We are incredibly grateful for it.”

The Toledo Music Expo is donating a portion of profits to ACGT and is offering a $5 discount to those who attend SoundTrek.

SoundTrek runs from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wristbands for the event are $15 in advance and $20 on July 22, and admission to individual venues is available for $5. Visit www.ACGT.org for more information.

“If you’re a music fan at all, I think it’s a pretty easy sell,” Bunch said. “If you have any interest in getting to know your city or getting to know like-minded people, it’s all right here. You get to ride around on a bus Downtown and go bar hopping, which is not something you get to do every day.” O

TGIF

12 n JULY 20, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

”Do you find his subtle ways invite you?” — TMBG, “Dr. Evil”

Kyle White

White

white reaches for the stars

By Jason Mack

Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer jmack@toledofreepress.com

419

Veteran pilots band to new heights

Old State Line

By Jason Mack Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer jmack@toledofreepress.com

Mild-mannered college dean by day, guitar hero by night, Thomas Barden plays with Old State Line alongside his wife and a few of their friends.

Barden, dean of the Honors College at the University of Toledo, has performed for more than 40 years after starting in music at 16 in Virginia.

“It was the folk revival,” Barden said. “Everyone was playing. Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan were big. Their songs were simple. I got an old cheap guitar to start with and had a group in high school.

Fin F i d your way to a o the South St. quaint corner of Clair Village

Kyle White put her autobiography to music with her second album “On With the Show,” which she is debuting at a CD release party July 24.

The album is heavily influenced by White’s family. It features a variety of instruments such as violin, trumpet, dobro and mandolin. White’s father Don plays the banjo on three songs.

“He’s been a huge influence on me musically,” she said. “I’ve been surrounded by live music my entire life. My dad’s friends are all musicians. My grandfather [Robert White] is on the wall at the SeaGate Centre for the Lake Erie West Hall of Fame. My dad is an exceptional banjo player and a great bass player, guitar player and singer. It was great to have him on the CD. It’s something I’ll always have.”

The album was also heavily influenced by White’s sister Tamara. White

wrote the song “Forever Friend” for her sister when she was sick.

“The album would have been done a lot sooner, but all of 2009 my sister was really sick,” White said. “We didn’t know exactly what was going to happen. I was sad and just wanted to write a tribute to her. She had to have a bone marrow transplant. There’s only a 20 percent chance a sibling will be a match, but luckily I was, so I was her donor.

Out of the entire bone marrow floor at the Cleveland Clinic, only her and one other person made it. All of that was going on when I was planning on recording. I was driving to Cleveland every few days.”

Tamara made a full recovery.

“You would never even know anything was wrong with her now,” White said. “They said they’ve never seen anybody’s stem cells graft as fast as mine. I blamed it on all the Guinness I drink because it’s full of iron.”

The title track, “On With the Show,” was written as a not-so-subtle hint to her fiancé before they got engaged.

When I got to college, there was an old-time music scene with fiddlers and all those old guys.

It was great. I hung out in a coffeehouse instead of a fraternity. It was just the time it was.”

He stuck with the guitar for years, but Barden’s folk background eventually led him to pick up a mandolin.

“I avoided anything but guitar until I was around 50, thinking it might confuse me,” he said.

“One of the old guys at a jam in Toledo told me, ‘it doesn’t confuse you, it just helps you get better.

The chords are upside down and backwards.’ As soon as he told me that, I got one from Durdel’s Music and just started trying it. He was right. It makes your guitar playing better.”

Barden figured out the mandolin then took up another instrument called a dobro.

“The dobro was a Christmas gift from my

h Ve mo nt Sun flow er See d fres Ver with s erve ba ed bre ad with pres bak an m mor ning coff ee. Jala peñ o Par mes ese che ss swi of e b brea d with a slic Spa nish a at noo n. Pum per nick el brea d; d; brea to Pes an Itali d; O Oliv e brea e!!! mor and d See y awa Car A Am ish D DIN NER ON FRI DAY

wife and kids,” Barden said. “They said, ‘Okay, you’re so smart, figure this one out.’ That one is open tuned with a slide. It is tough. I only do a few tunes with it, only three or four, but it’s such a great country sound.”

After years of watching her husband play, Rayna Zacharias said she decided to learn to play bass guitar.

“She was looking for a way to relax,” Barden said. “She’s been around the band for as long as we’ve been married. She figures it’s easier to be in it than to be a roadie. She’s really good, that’s the thing. We weren’t sure. That was going to be a little tense in the family if she was crappy. We won’t have to have that conversation.”

Zacharias has brought new ideas to the band from her lessons at Durdel’s Music.

“We’re partners in everything else, and being

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music partners is great, too,” Barden said. “She has such a great teacher now in Jason Gahler. She brings home stuff that’s a real stretch, and I get to practice with her before we take it to the band.”

Old State Line also features Cindy Lipman on fiddle and vocals, Larry Meyer on drums and Ramsey Abu-Absi on guitar, mandolin and vocals.

“I’m married to the bass player and I’ve been playing with the fiddler for decades,” Barden said.

“Everybody knew everybody anyhow. It was just an occasion for this jam to go public. Me, Cindy and my wife just did jams on Sunday afternoons.

We talked to Larry about trying to drum, then Ramsey came in. He’s an incredible guitar player and a really good mandolin player, too. We just would do afternoon jams in our house, and it got so good we had to take it out.”

Before forming Old State Line, Barden and

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“We didn’t get engaged until we were together for five years,” White said. “I wrote that about a year and a half ago. It was kind of a message to him. It worked.”

Every song on the album comes from experiences in White’s life.

“I wrote a song about the river and sitting on my boat,” she said. “There’s a song called ‘August in Ohio’ about just hanging out on the front porch. I only write about my personal experiences. I’ve been writing for the past couple of years. I write sporadically.

When a song comes to me, I just write it.”

Writing is still a relatively new experience for White. Her first album “Blue Holes in a Gray Sky” was released in 2009.

“I played covers for eight years before I ever wrote a song,” White said. “Singing so many different kinds of music hones you in to what’s going to come out of you.”

White might have never started a career in music if she hadn’t participated in a karaoke contest years ago. n WHITE CONTINUES ON 14

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“This is where the party ends. I can’t stand here listening to you.” — TMBG, “Your Racist Friend”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 13

The Staving Chain

wilson explores new worlds with Staving Chain

By Mike Bauman

Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer mbauman@toledofreepress.com

Toledo

Having been firmly rooted in the blues for nearly two decades, Northwest Ohio native Dooley Wilson is a little timid about admitting where his initial inspiration came from.

“I think it really began before I picked up a guitar,” Wilson said in a phone interview with Toledo Free Press Star. “I have to admit, when I was 15, ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ came out, and the solo from that song is the reason that I play guitar. Like I saw Slash doing that and — I feel a bit sheepish admitting this to the Toledo Free Press — but when I saw Slash doing that it changed my life. I was like, ‘I wanna do that! I can’t help it. I gotta do it.’ So, for better or for worse, that’s the road I took in life.”

While he never learned Slash’s note-by-

note solo in “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” it marked the beginning of a long musical journey for Wilson, whose interest in Led Zeppelin as a teenager got him into Robert Johnson and led him to pursue the blues.

“By the time I was 19, I was just exclusively kind of militant about pursuing this style of Southern, traditional blues,” Wilson said.

Since the early ’90s, Wilson has explored various forms of blues in groups such as Henry & June, Boogaloosa Prayer and the Soledad Brothers. After a jam session at the old Purple Gang house in Luna Pier last year, Wilson got inspired to start his latest venture. He is the vocalist and plays slide on the resophonic guitar for The Staving Chain, an authentic Delta blues outfit rounded out by John Roundcity (harmonica, mandolin, washboard), Todd Albright (acoustic guitar) and newest member Kassie Morrin (washboard).

On June 21, The Staving Chain released its self-titled, debut album on Danger Limited Sound Recording Company and will play a string of dates supporting the record. Staying true to the origins of Delta blues, The Staving Chain is exclusively acoustic. Albright plays a 1928 Stella, a guitar commonly used in old Delta blues.

“Culturally it’s very compelling, and it’s also humbling when you’re like a white guy from the suburbs because my life experience is so completely removed from the hardships that gave birth to that music and that culture,” Wilson said.

Don’t let Wilson fool you. The white kid from the suburbs has earned his stripes and become well-respected in the blues community over the years. In the fall of 2001, Wilson went down to New Orleans and worked on his chops for up to five hours a day as a street musician,

alongside some of the best in the genre.

In 2004 and 2005, Wilson traveled to Europe as a supporting act with the Soledad Brothers, whose connections with The White Stripes led to the Detroit rockers famously covering Henry & June’s “Goin’ Back to Memphis.”

“It’s a wonderful thing for me because it looks great on my résumé that The White Stripes cover my song,” Wilson said. “I had just come back home and was trying to get back on my feet again when I saw him cover that song on ‘Late Night [with] Conan O’Brien.’ I didn’t know whether to s--t or go blind. I felt so great.”

For a guy who has been honing his craft and fascinated by the blues since his late teens, the decision for Wilson to pursue the Delta blues with The Staving Chain was a natural progression, one that has him just as excited about music now as when he first heard “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” n STAVING CHAIN CONTINUES ON 14

Lipman played together in other groups, such as Midnight on the Water and Ten Mile Creek.

“She started playing because she found her grandfather’s fiddle,” Barden said. “I was a guitar player so I backed her up while she got started with it. We’ve been in band after band for 20 years.

Ten Mile Creek was more blue-grassy than we are now, because there was no drummer. What’s nice about Old State Line is we have Larry Meyer who is a drummer. It takes us into more of a rockabilly and Johnny Cash area than we were with Ten Mile Creek. It’s really fun.”

Old State Line is without Lipman for the summer while she vacations in Maine, so Abu-Absi’s coworker Ted Whalen is sitting in with the band.

“He’s a really good fiddler, but he also plays the harmonica,” Barden said. “We’ll probably move more into the Bob Dylan direction since we have a ESTABLISHED 1980

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harmonica player. We added more Dylan to the set list because we can hear Ted play that harmonica. It’s such a Bob sound.”

The band plays mostly old fiddle tunes and folk songs, and Barden described their sound as Americana.

“Our style can be really wide-ranging,” Barden said. “Kansas City is a style my wife’s bass instructor taught her. She came home playing the licks to ‘Sunshine of Your Love,’ so we threw that in, too. Right now it’s anything we can do that sounds decent.”

Old State Line is the opening act at Glass City Café or July 22 as part of Downtown SoundTrek. The event features more than 30 bands at 13 venues Downtown from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wristbands for SoundTrek are $15 in advance and $20 on July 22, and admission to individual venues is available for $5. Visit www.ACGT. org for more information. O

Old State Line

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14 n JULY 20, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

”She’s got her ear to the walls and she’s tapping the calls’ — TMBG, “She Was a Hotel Detective”

Sound Trek n WHITE CONTINUED FROM 12 “When I was 19, I worked at Primetime and they had karaoke on Sundays,” White said. “I used to sing ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and win the contest. The prize was $50 to the bar, so I would get pizza and pop for my friends. When the cover band Tito Slack was starting out, my friend said, ‘My boyfriend has a band. Why don’t you come sing with them in the basement?’ I sang a couple of songs and I was in the band.”

After joining the band, White decided to take up an instrument.

“I didn’t just want to be a singer, so I started teaching myself guitar,” she said. “I played for a couple years before I played guitar at a show.”

White graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in psychology. If she hadn’t participated in the karaoke contest, she might have been a school psychologist today.

“I was going to go back and get my masters in school psychology,” White said. “I decided to play music for a couple years and see how it goes. It never slowed down.

I’m playing more and more. I’m lucky to be able to do something I love for a living.”

Along with her solo career, White also plays in a cover band called Johnny Rocker and the Hitmen.

The band’s biggest claim to fame is playing at a John McCain rally.

“It’s a complete 180 from my solo gigs,” White said. “It’s so much fun. We play ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and we do costume changes for each era. Sometimes people don’t even know it’s me because I’m in a big blonde afro and a disco costume. They are really fun to play with.”

She also plays covers in her solo act and is happy to

July 22nd schedule: UPTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT 1. Bretz Bar 2012 Adams St.

(419) 243-1900 www.myspace.com/bretzthebar DJs and Drag Show featuring: 11 p.m.: Charlie Slick (electro-pop/dance from Ann Arbor) 12 a.m.: Feleciana Thuderpussy (drag show) All night: DJ Rob Sample (DJ/dance)

2. Ottawa Tavern 1817 Adams St.

(419) 725-5483 www.otavern.com 7 p.m.: Balloon Messenger (indie) 8 p.m.: Microdot (shoegaze) 9 p.m.: Great Uncle (rock/pop) 10 p.m.: Great Lakes Crew (hip-hop) 11 p.m.: GoLab (electro-pop/rock) 12 a.m.: Matt Truman Ego Trip (glam rock) 1 a.m.: Frank & Jesse (rock n’ roll)

3. Truth Art Gallery 1811 Adams St. (419) 460-1343 www.thetruthtoledo.com/gallery 8 – 11 p.m.: 4 Deep (jazz/blues/soul) 4. The Attic on Adams 1701 Adams St.

(419) 243-5350 www.theatticonadams.com 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.: Leyla & Raq the Casbah 10 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.: Big Blues Bob (Chicago-style blues) Plus live magic and more!

take requests. She learns two or three covers every week and has built a catalog of between 200 and 300 songs.

“I’ve always had the kind of memory where if I took notes in school, I never had to look at them again,” White said. “I just kind of remember things.

I have a really good memory, especially for music.”

White has been playing in Toledo for 14 years and plans on sticking around, but she does love to travel.

She has been to all but four of the 50 states and has traveled across Europe several times. The last time she went to Europe, she caught a surprise performance.

“We were jamming with these people at a bar in Amsterdam and Sublime showed up,” White said. “We didn’t know it, but they were playing at a place right next door to our hotel. They showed up to this open jam with only about 30 or 40 people and played a half hour set. I was jamming with the house band right before Sublime took the stage, so that was pretty cool.”

White’s CD release party starts at 7 p.m. July 24 at Mulvaney’s Bunker located at 4945 Dorr St. There is no cover, and the show features 17-year-old Claire Cooper as the opening act.

“I like giving younger people experience playing in front of people,” White said. “She’s a natural. It’s crazy. She is never the least bit nervous.”

White is also the opening act at PizzaPapalis on July 22 as part of Downtown SoundTrek. The event features more than 30 bands at 13 venues downtown from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wristbands for SoundTrek are $15 in advance and $20 on July 22, and admission to individual venues is available for $5. Visit www.

ACGT.org for more information. O

n STAVING CHAIN CONTINUED FROM 13 “There’s just nothing like it,” Wilson said. “It grabs me by the nuts and lifts me above the shite.”

The Staving Chain will play at 10:30 p.m. at Bozarts Fine Art & Music Gallery 151 N. St. Clair St., as part of Sound Trek.

Wristbands for SoundTrek are $15 in advance and $20 on July 22, and admission to individual venues is available for $5. Visit www.ACGT.org for more information. O

5. Manhattans 1516 Adams St. (419) 243-6675 www.manhattanstoledo.com 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. :DFR (funk/R&B) 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.: Tom Turner & Slow Burn (blues/rock)

9. Glass City Café 1107 Jackson St.

6. Toledo School for the Arts 333 14th St.

STADIUM/ARENA DISTRICT

(419) 246-8732 www.ts4arts.com Enter on 15th St., across from Manhattans 7 – 9 p.m.: Glass City Steel (steel drum ensemble) 9 – 11 p.m.: Benny and the Bricks (rock) 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.: The Groove Associates (groovy)

7. Wesley’s Bar 1201 Adams St.

(419) 255-3333 www.wesleysbar.com 7:30 p.m.: Lance Hulsey (of Kentucky Chrome) (rockabilly) 8:30 – 10 p.m. - Mighthaveben (The Band) (jazz/folk/funk) 10:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.: Old School Fridays featuring DJs Todd Perrine, N.Matimoe and Folk (DJs/old school funk, soul, & hip-hop)

8. Toledo City Paper Offices 1120 Adams St. (419) 244-9859 www.toledocitypaper.com 7 p.m.: Raine Wilder (hip-hop) 7:55 p.m.: Ben Barefoot and the Handshakes (indie rock) 8:50 p.m.: Decent Folk (folk/indie) 9:45 p.m.: Stonehouse (jam rock) 10:40 p.m.: Shit Dang Monstertrucks! (alt-country) 11:30 p.m.: Thirty Three & 1/3 (blues/indie rock) 12:20 a.m.: Gold (funk/rock)

Glass City

THe Staving Chain

(419) 241-4519 www.glasscitycafe.com 7:30 – 10 p.m.: Old State Line (Americana) 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. Black Swamp String Band (bluegrass)

10. The Blarney Bullpen/ Toledo Free Press Star 601 Monroe St.

(419) 418-2339 www.theblarneyirishpub.com Enter on Huron Street.

7:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Hepcat Revival (swing/jazz)

11. Table Forty4 610 Monroe St.

(419) 725-0044 www.tableforty4.com 7 – 9:30 p.m.: Bobby May & John Barile (rock/blues) 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.: The Chris Shutters Band (rock/blues)

12. PizzaPapalis 519 Monroe St. (419) 244-7722 www.pizzapapalis.com 7:15 p.m.: Kyle White (acoustic/folk) 8:15 p.m.: The Faux Paus (indie rock) 9:45 p.m.: Chavar Dontae (electronic/soul/rock) 11:30 p.m.: The Quickness (rock/blues/jazz) 13. Bozarts Fine Art & Music Gallery

151 N. St. Clair St. (419) 464-5785 7:30 p.m.: The ‘Leles (ukulele/folk) 8:30 p.m.: Thirty Three & 1/3 (blues rock/indie) 9:30 p.m.: Danny Kroha (formerly of The Gories) (acoustic blues from Detroit)

10:30 p.m.: The Staving Chain (featuring Dooley Wilson) (traditional Delta-style slide blues) 12 a.m. - Boom Chick (blues-surf-rock from Brooklyn)

Partner Event:

The First Toledo Music Expo!

The following day, Saturday, July 23, J&L Entertainment Services will host Toledo’s first Toledo Music Expo. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. Save $5 at the door with your SoundTrek wristband. The First Toledo Music Expo will take place at the Erie Street Market in Downtown Toledo. This event is for local musicians, singers, songwriters, engineers, recording studios, videographers, and more. For more information visit them on the web at ToledoMusicExpo.com. O — Schedule courtesy ACGT.org

“Why they changed it, I can’t say. People just liked it better that way.” — TMBG, ”Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

Compiled by Whitney Meschke Events are subject to change.

MUSIC The Ark This small venue offers a showcase for lesser-known acts.

316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. (734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org.

O Junior Brown: 7:30 p.m. July 24, $25.

O Danny Britt, Marvin Dykhuis: 8 p.m. July 25, $15.

O Michael on Fire: 8 p.m. July 26, free.

Bar 145 This new venue features burgers, bands and bourbon, if its slogan is to be believed. 5304 Monroe St. bar145toledo.com.

O DJ J Wayne: Sundays.

O Jeff Stewart: Tuesdays.

O The Junk: July 21.

O Nine Lives: July 22.

O Dot Dot Dot: July 23.

The Blarney Irish Pub Catch local acts while taking in the pub’s modern Irish and American fare. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www. theblarneyirishpub.com.

O Chris Knopp: July 21.

O Hepcat Revival (Bullpen) and Ben Barefoot and the Handshakes: July 22.

O Pilot Radio: July 23.

Blind Pig A variety of rock, soul, pop and alternative acts perform at this bar. 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor. $3-$20 unless noted.

(734) 996-8555 or blindpigmusic.com.

O The Anatomy of Frank, Syropoulous Rex: 9:30 p.m. July 20.

O Fart Air, A-Bomb, Mogi Grumbles, Charles Trees, Satta Don Dadda, Baron Knoxburry: 9:30 p.m. July 21.

O Tally Hall, Speak, Casey Shea: 8 p.m. July 22.

O House of Chanel: 9:30 p.m. July 23.

O Joe Jack Talcum, the Bassturd, Wolfie Complex: 9:30 p.m. July 26.

Howling Summer of Fun

O The Shout Aways, the Sunset Club, Daniel Kim & the Blueberry Incident: 9:30 p.m. July 27.

Bretz Bar 2012 Adams St. (419) 243-1900.

O Deja Dellataro and Felaciana Thunderpussy: ThursdaysSaturdays.

Bronze Boar Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s namesake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar.com.

O Open mic night with Chris Knopp: Mondays.

O Luke James: Tuesdays.

O Jerod: Wednesdays and Thursdays.

O Noisy Neighbors: July 22.

O Bush League: July 23.

Caesars Windsor Consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com.

O Kiss: 8 p.m. July 27, $95.

Centennial Terrace This venue next to a quarry hosts dance parties, swing bands and rockers. 5773 Centennial Road, Sylvania. (419) 8821500, www.centennialterrace.org or www.ticketmaster.com.

O Pizza Palooza: July 22-23, $3-$5.

O Tedeschi Trucks Band: 7:30 p.m. July 24, $28-$47.50.

Cheetah’s Den A different band performs each week. 702 E. Broadway St. (419) 754-1903.

O DJ Lamont: Tuesdays.

O Devious: Thursdays (also open mic night)-Saturdays.

Dégagé Jazz Café Signature drinks, such as pumpkin martinis, plus live local jazz performers. 301 River Road, Maumee. $5 weekends for cafe seating. (419) 794-8205 or www.degagejazzcafe.com.

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 15

on 107.7 the Wolf and 1077wolf.com!

The Howling Summer of Fun sponsored by FOX Toledo continues: All week win Wolf and FOX Toledo stash at the Ottawa County Fair. Just visit the 107.7 the Wolf Touring Studio!

July 23rd — Wayne Country Jamboree O Gene Parker & Friends: 7-10 p.m. July 20 and 27.

O Michael Peslikis: July 21.

O Morgen Steigler Group: 7:30-11:30 p.m. July 22-23.

O Leo Darrington: July 26.

The Distillery Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www.thedistilleryonline.com.

O Gregg Aranda: Tuesdays.

O Ryan Dunlap: July 20.

O The Eight Fifteens: July 21.

O DJ party: July 22.

O My Sister Sarah: July 23.

O Ben Barefoot: July 27.

featuring Rodney Parker and Liberty Beach July 23rd — Recliners and More Remote with Cliff Smithers from noon to 2 p.m.

As always listen to the Wolf for chances to win tickets to area events including the U.S. Senior Open and the Lucas County Fair! O

ICE Restaurant & Bar This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 2463339 or icerestaurantandbar.com.

O Tim Bowman: 6 and 9 p.m. July 21, $20.

O Dan and Don: 7 p.m. July 22 and 29.

O The Eight Fifteens: 8 p.m. July 23.

JJ’s Pub Live music is on Saturday’s menu; the genre varies, along with the cover charge. Karaoke is on tap 9:30 p.m.

Thursdays, and a DJ starts spinning at 9 p.m. Fridays.

26611 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg. (419) 874-9058 or jjsperrysburg.com.

O John Barile and Bobby May: 8 p.m. July 26.

Fat Fish Blue

Kerrytown Concert House

Serving blues and similar sounds as well as bayoustyle grub. Levis Commons, 6140 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. (419) 931-3474 or fatfishfunnybonetoledo.com.

O Tantric Soul: 9:30 p.m. July 22 and 9 p.m. July 23.

O Bert the Conqueror: July 28-31.

This venue focuses on classical, jazz and opera artists and music. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. $5-$30, unless noted. (734) 769-2999 or www. kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

O Paul Keller & Friends, Bruno Mangueira: 8 p.m. July 22.

O Eine Kleine Liederabend song fest: 8 p.m. July 28.

O Singing Our Brains Out song fest: 8 p.m. July 29.

French Quarter J. Pat’s Pub Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg.

(419) 874-3111 or www.hifq.com.

O Green Eyed Soul: July 22-23.

O Double Dare: July 29-30.

Mainstreet Bar and Grill Ronn Daniels performs weekly at this pub. 8-11 p.m.

Thursdays, 141 Main St. (419) 697-6297 or www. toledomainstreet.com.

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Manhattan’s This “slice of the Big Apple” in the Glass City provides entertainment most weekends. 1516 Adams St. (419) 243-6675 or www.manhattanstoledo.com.

O Vytas and Steve: 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays.

O Open mic with Bread and Butter: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays.

O Quick Trio: 6 p.m. July 21.

O Tom Turner & Slow Burn: July 22.

O Daniel Isaac & Company: July 23.

Mickey Finn’s A variety of genres to wash your drinks down with. Open mic nights, 9 p.m. Wednesdays, no cover; $5-$7 cover other nights.

602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 or www.mickeyfinnspub.com.

O Boogie Matrix: 8:30 p.m. July 22.

O Bathhouse Betty: 8:30 p.m. July 23.

“All alone at the ’64 World’s Fair” — TMBG, “Ana Ng”

pany the fishy dishes. 7130 Airport Hwy. (419) 720-9333 or spicytunasushi.com.

O DJ Jimmy James: 10 p.m. Fridays.

O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Saturdays.

O Jeff Stewart: 7-11 p.m. July 20.

O Brian Bocian: 7-11 p.m. July 27.

Lunch at Levis Square concert series

Stella’s

Weekly concerts will pierce the summer heat. 7 p.m. Thursdays, Commodore Park, Louisiana and Indiana. (419) 8732787 or www.perrysburgarts.org.

O Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Bluegrass: July 21.

Nouveau cuisine gets a helping of music Thursdays through Saturdays. 104 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 873-8360 or www.stellasrestaurantandbar.com.

O C.J. Manning, Karen Harris: July 21.

O Eddie Molina, Marcia Jones: July 22.

O Eddie Molina, Leslie Lane: July 23 and 29.

Tequila Sheila’s

DJs take over on Fridays and Saturdays. 6648 Lewis Ave., Temperance. (734) 847-7222 or mtloonies.net.

A corner bar-type hangout with DJ-provided tunes on Saturday nights. 702 Monroe St. (419) 241-1118.

O Open mic with Jason Kelley: 9 p.m. Thursdays.

O Hip-hop night: 9 p.m. Fridays.

Mulvaney’s Bunker

The Village Idiot

This Irish pub serves the requisite Guinness with entertainment. 4945 Dorr St., Suite A. (419) 534-9830 or www. mulvaney’s bunker.

O Wheeler Brothers: July 23.

Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 8937281, (419) 740-2395 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com.

O Old West End Productions: Wednesdays.

O Bob Rex: Sunday afternoons.

O The Eight Fifteens: Sunday evenings.

O Mark Mikel Band: Tuesdays.

O The Charles Walker Band: July 22.

M.T. Loonies

Mutz @ The Oliver House Offers handcrafted brews and live entertainment. 27 Broadway. St. (419) 243-1302 or www.oh-maumeebaybrewingco.com.

O Open mic hosted by Breaking Ground: 10 p.m. Wednesdays.

O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Thursdays.

O DJs Dirty Baby, APB, Russell Jones: Saturdays.

Omni This club is a venue for music (and music lovers) of all types.

2567 W. Bancroft St. (419) 535-6664 or omnimidwest.com.

O Shadows in Red: 8 p.m. July 23.

One2 Lounge at Treo Live music starts at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com.

O Candice Lange: July 22.

O What’s Next, Raq the Casbah: July 23.

Ottawa Tavern Casual meals with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com.

O F*** Knights, the Hobs: 10 p.m. July 21.

O Aaron Young and His Nightjars: 10 p.m. July 23.

O The Poison Control Center, Dolfish, the Saw Had Eyes That Sea: 10 p.m. July 24.

Party at the Park The track hosts concerts before the evening’s harness races. 5 p.m. Saturdays, Raceway Park, 5700 Telegraph Rd. $2. (419) 476-7751 or www.racewayparktoledo.com.

O Hoozier Daddy: July 23.

PizzaPapalis Get slices with a topping of entertainment. 519 Monroe St. (419) 244-7722 or www.pizzapapalis.com.

O Ronn Daniels: July 22.

O Dick McCarthy: July 23.

Robinwood Concert House A home for the avant garde and untraditional, this Old West End venue hosts artists on the experimental end of the musical rainbow. 9 p.m., 2564 Robinwood Ave. $5 donation, unless noted. www.toledobellows.wordpress.com.

O Morgan Evans-Weiler, BoxDeserter Trio: July 20.

Spicy Tuna This sushi bar offers occasional entertainment to accom-

Downtown Toledo Improvement District sets lunch to music.

Noon-1:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 25, Levis Square, North St. Clair Street and Madison Avenue. (419) 249-5494.

O David Browning: July 21.

Music at the Market

Jazz in the Garden Take in some swing and smooth tunes among the swaying flowers. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 7-Sept. 8, Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr. $6-$8; $48-$64 for season pass. (419) 536-5566 or toledogarden.org.

O Hepcat Revival: July 21.

Club Friday Some of the city’s most talented performers entertain museumgoers during TMA’s It’s Friday events. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Cloister, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

O Voodoo Libido: July 22.

Courtyard Concerts Rock while you eat rolls at this series of lunchtime concerts.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Latham Courtyard, downtown Findlay. (419) 422-4624 or www.artspartnership.com.

O Pantasia: July 26.

Webber’s Waterfront Restaurant

Swingmania

This Point Place eatery hosts weekly entertainment on its patio with a river view. 6339 Edgewater Dr. (734) 723-7411 or www.webbersrestaurant.samsbiz.com.

O Jeff Stewart: July 24.

With its focus on swing music, Jeff McDonald’s group of musicians provides a peek into another era, with music from bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, the Dorseys and more. With combos from trio to full orchestra, the performers provide music for all occasions. (419) 708-0265, (419) 874-0290 or www.swingmania.org.

O Swing Revival Party: 8 p.m.Thursdays, South Briar Restaurant, 5147 S. Main St., Sylvania. (419) 517-1111 or (419) 708-0265.

O Big-Band All Stars: Dancing is encouraged. 8-10:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, Trotter’s Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-2079 or (419) 708-0265.

Wesley’s Bar & Grill A huge variety of beers helps wash down the entertainment.

1201 Adams St. (419) 255-3333 or wesleysbar.com.

O DJs Folk, Mattimoe and Perrine: Fridays.

O Crucial 420: July 23.

Woodchucks The place to go for an eclectic mix of people and music. 224 S. Erie St. (419) 241-3045.

O Karaoke: Wednesdays.

Yeeha’s Country and rock with a little “Coyote Ugly” style. 3150 Navarre Ave., Oregon. (419) 691-8880 or www.yeehas.com.

O Rachael Timberlake: July 22.

O Rock Diesel: July 23.

Zia’s

Sunset Serenades: Polish-American Concert Band

Chip Richter Family fun is on the menu when singer-songwriter Richter serves up stories and songs. www.toledolibrary.org.

O 2 p.m. July 20, Birmingham Branch Library, 203 Paine Ave. (419) 259-5210.

O 4 p.m. July 20, Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. (419) 259-5370.

O 2 p.m. July 21, Point Place Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St. Registration: (419) 259-5390.

O 4 p.m. July 21, Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane. (419) 259-5330.

Noon Tunes Nature and the Toledo Metroparks’ stately manor house provide the backdrop for this series of outdoor concerts.

Picnickers are welcome. Noon, July 22, Wildwood Preserve Metropark, gazebo on the manor house lawn, 5100 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Wayne Firefighter’s Country Jamboree This adults-only down-home showcase benefits the Wayne Firefighter’s Memorial Fund. 3 p.m.-midnight July 22, Wayne Fire Hall , 200 N. Center St., Wayne. $5-$10. (419) 288-2819 or www.waynefirejamboree.net.

O Brushfire: 4 p.m.

O Kelcey Morgan & Freeland Drive: 6 p.m.

O Longneck Strangler: 8 p.m.

O Rodney Parker & Liberty Beach: 10 p.m.

Boom Chick This duo will perform in Toledo for the first time at the city’s indie arts epicenter. 9 p.m. July 22, Bozarts Fine Art and Music Gallery, 151 S. St Claire St. (419) 464-5785.

Toledo Music Expo Tons of fresh, Glass City tunes will fill the streets from bands including the Grubs, ADD, C-Fifth, Secret Stones, Th3 Glitch and Rook Roca. 4 p.m.-midnight July 23, Erie Street Market, 237 S. Erie St. $15-$20. www.toledomusicexpo.com.

Wilson Lake and the Rock Bass

A summer series that capitalizes on Olander Park’s lake views and natural accompaniment (geese and ducks are known to sing backup). 7 p.m.-dusk July 20, Nederhouser Community Hall, Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. $3 parking for non-Sylvania School District residents (or park at nearby Tam-oShanter and walk in). (419) 882-8313 or www.olanderpark.com.

Verandah Concerts The Voices of Harmony Chorus will perform along the stately porch

This Italian restaurant hosts magician Andrew Martin on Sunday nights. The restaurant is open 4-9 p.m. Sundays, The Docks, 20 Main St. (419) 697-7138, (888) 456-3463 or www.ziasrestaurant.com.

of the presidential center. 6:45-8 p.m. July 20, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

This group sets the scene: Fish and turtles splash and groove in the water as squirrels, raccoons and toads begin to boogie to the band’s tunes. www.toledolibrary.org.

O 2 p.m. July 26, Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road, Maumee. (419) 259-5360.

O 4 p.m. July 27, Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. (419) 259-5370.

Check out the expanded calendar at www.toledofreepress.com

Open for Sunday Dinner

®

Full Menu. Bar opens at 4 p.m.

Brown Bag Summer Concert Series Grab your ham (or veggie) sammiches and listen to some tunes while you digest. Vendors will be on hand for those who forget to pack! 12:15-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays, north lawn of Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

O Tom Turner & Slow Burn: July 20.

O Rodney Parker & Liberty Beach: July 27.

Toledo Zoo Amphitheater concerts Performers take the stage near Cheetah Valley. 2700 Broadway St. (419) 474-1333 or ticketmaster.com.

O Steely Dan: 7:30 p.m. July 20, $59.50-$79.50.

O Poison, Warrant: 7:30 p.m. July 28, $55-$75.

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Five to compete in Texaco Showdown final The field of local contestants vying for a national Texaco Country Showdown title has been narrowed to five. Katie Jordan, Zachary Shaffer and Claire Cooper from Toledo, Deana Cromly from Whitehouse and Alina Smith from Laurelville, Ohio, will compete in the final local round of the showdown, to be held July 30 at the Lucas County Fair.

The winner will receive an autographed guitar from country music singer Jason Aldean and entrance into the state competition taking place in Marietta on Sept. 5.

The national final will take place Jan. 31 in Nashville, with the winner receiving a grand prize of $100,000. Each state champion receives a prize of $1,000. A field of 15 local competitors was narrowed to five after two preliminary rounds in June and July, said Jennifer Herman, traffic and business manager for event sponsor 107.7 The Wolf.

“We’re definitely excited,” Herman said. “The idea of the Texaco Country Showdown is to find the next big country star.”

Admission to the event final is included with fair admission. The contest will begin at 9 p.m., immediately following the demolition derby.

“The derby is always a big draw,” said Keith Carr, one of the fair board directors. “When that ends, we want everyone to come right over to the Texaco Country Showdown.”

The Lucas County Fair runs July 26-31.

The fairgrounds are located at 1406 Key St. in Maumee. Toledo Free Press Star is a media sponsor for the event. For more information, visit the website www.lucascountyfair.com. O — Sarah Ottney

‘Annie’ coming to Adrian

One of America’s most famous musicals is coming to Adrian, Mich.

“Annie,” the tale of an orphan looking for her lost parents, will open at the Croswell Opera House on July 15 with seven performances during a two-week period.

Among the pieces featured in Annie include memorable scores such as “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and “Tomorrow.”

The original Broadway production of “Annie” ran for 2,377 performances and won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Book and Score.

“Annie” will be performed at 3 p.m. on July 17, 23 and 24 and 8 p.m. on July 15, 16, 22 and 23. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students and $15 for children 12 and younger.

For more information, contact the Croswell Box Office at (517) 264-7469 or visit the website www.Croswell.org. O — Zach Davis

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‘Apes’ comics give fans what they want

By Jim Beard Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

In this time of comic book reboots, relaunches and great uncertainty, it’s nice to know you can count on a few damn dirty apes. The “Planet of the Apes” franchise is enjoying something of a renaissance, with a new feature film and an excellent new comic book series.

“Planet of the Apes,” from BOOM! Studios, gives “Apes” fans what they want: stories set within the continuity of the original film series. Forget that Tim Burton “re-imagining” from a few years ago; the comic sets itself “1,200 years before a man named Taylor fell from the stars ...” If you remember, the five “Apes” movies were something of a loop, each one feeding into the next.

Writer Daryl Gregory cleverly plants the comic in a time period between the last film, “Battle of the Planet of the Apes,” and the 1968 Charlton Heston classic.

It’s fertile ground for a fascinating tale: humans are losing everything that once made them masters of the world and the apes continue to rise in supremacy. Into this boiling kettle is sprinkled an assassin, who kills the ape Lawgiver and sets off further tensions between the simians and the increasingly subjugated humans.

All credit must be given to Gregory, a novelist

by trade, for his characters. The denizens of “Skintown,” the human ghetto, are led by, of all things, a pregnant woman. Here is no buxom, bubbleheaded blonde in a loincloth; Mayor Sullivan is pretty, yes, but also intelligent, willful and full of action, despite her condition. The apes are represented by Sullivan’s former playmate, the Lawgiver’s daughter Alaya, and the towering Nix, a gorilla general who is released from prison to bring in the assassin.

These characters crackle with life to the point that you’ll yearn to one day see them on the silver screen.

“Apes” artist Carlos Magno infuses the series with scruffy life and detail.

While his apes tend to be a blend of the original film primates and the Burton reboot, Magno draws everything on the page with careful attention, making you want to go back and savor the art after devouring the words. He and Gregory have produced a book worthy of the “Apes” legacy.

Just in time for the new “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” film, August brings the fourth issue of the comic’s first story arc, the trade paperback collection of the first four issues and “Planet of the Apes” No. 5 for only $1. Get your paws on them, ape lovers. O

ParkSmart multi-level parking garages are conveniently located close to the Huntington Center, SeaGate Convention Centre, Fifth Third Field, Imagination Station, Valentine Theatre, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Promenade Park on the Maumee River. When you plan your next visit to downtown Toledo check out our website: www.parksmart.org Downtown Toledo Parking Authority • 227 North St. Clair Street • Toledo, Ohio 43604 • 419-242-7515

“No plus no equals no” — TMBG, “No’

TMA hosts local artists

The Toledo Museum of Art has selected works by 65 local artists to display in the 93rd annual Toledo Area Artists Exhibition from Aug. 26 to Sept. 25.

The museum narrowed 757 submissions from Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan artists down to 66.

For the first time, one of the artists will also be invited to set up a personal exhibition.

The juried show — which will be held in the Canaday Gallery — will include Best of Show and other special prizes, sponsored by the Toledo Federation of Art societies. The Ohio Arts Council and Huntington Bank are also supporters of the exhibition.

Amy Gilman and Brian Kennedy, the museum’s associate director and art director respectively, will serve as jurors for the show.

Only artists from Allen, Defiance, Fulton,

Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties in Ohio, and Lenawee and Monroe counties in Michigan were eligible to enter. Admission to the museum and event is free.

“Part of our mission as a museum is to support the local arts community,” Gilman said. “The Toledo Area Artists Exhibition is a way we can help talented artists in our region gain wider exposure and help to launch at least one of them to a larger platform through a solo exhibition.” O — Patrick Timmis

Summerstock visits ‘Urinetown’

Summerstock Toledo will perform its version of the Tony-winning production “Urinetown,” on July 28-31 at McQuade Theater at St. John’s Jesuit High School.

“Urinetown” chronicles a city that has outlawed the use of private toilets in an attempt to regulate water consumption through a citywide water shortage until one average citizen leads a revolution against the government.

The comedic production is run by Summerstock, a student-operated theater group.

“It’s coming along amazingly,” Co-Producer Sara Klein said.

The show will take place at 8 p.m. July 28-30 and 2 p.m. July 31. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. O — Zach Davis

mexico

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 19

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‘Cars 2’ revs up the action

By Michael Siebenaler Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Tricked-out cars, fast-paced action, and multiplayer options rule this PlayStation 3 action/racing game, “Cars 2” (Disney Interactive), which adds more credibility to games adapted from movies.

There is no online mode, but players can access the special “World of Cars” feature for additional content including additional car characters. Beginning car characters include Lightning McQueen, voiced by Keith Ferguson, Holley Shiftwell and Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. Players can unlock several options in the C.H.R.O.M.E. Missions career mode while the biggest plus is the four-player split-screen in all game modes.

Other main game modes include garage and freeplay, which are a great complement to the regular training for beginning level drivers. Sub-modes include battle race, hunter, attack, survival, and squad series plus competitive (battle arena) and cooperative (disruptor) multiplayer modes.

Another outstanding feature is the 3-D

TV option. The appealing color and lighting schemes help distinguish the visual elements even more as the action pops out in one of the best action PS3 games yet.

The familiar setup and unique actions create some satisfying action with easy to learn controls. Players get speed boosts by performing special moves like drifting, using the circle button, which is the easiest way to get boost.

Players can also drive in reverse for big boost additions by holding the right joystick down.

The trigger button scheme has a nice offense (R2 gas and R1 taunt) and defense (L1 look back and L2 brake) setup. Jump combinations impress as players use the right analog stick after pressing the x button to avoid attacks or attack smaller cars (aka the antagonistic lemons).

Improvements for the next likely installment include better car engine sounds and more original voice talent (***1/2, rated E10+ for cartoon violence, also available on Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, and Xbox 360). O

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1. Not available with some other offers. Monthly payment is $16.67 for every $1,000 you finance. Example down payment: 15.8%. Some customers will not qualify. Take retail delivery by 9/6/11. See dealer for details. 2. For the first 90 days from date of purchase through Ally and at participating dealers only. May require down payment at signing. Not available in Washington D.C. Length of contract limited. Not available with some other offers. See dealer for details. Take retail delivery by 9/6/11. 3. Example based on National Average vehicle selling price. Each dealer sets its own price. Your payments may vary. Payments are for a 2011 Enclave CX with an MSRP of $36,675.39 monthly payments total $15,561. Option to purchase at lease end for an amount to be determined at lease signing, plus $350 or turn in vehicle and pay a $395 termination fee. Mileage charge of $.18/mile over 39,000 miles. Lessor must approve lease. Take delivery by 9/6/11. Lessee pays excess wear and tear charges. Payments may be higher in some states. Not available with other offers. Residency restrictions apply. 4. Length of contract limited. Not available with some other offers. Take retail delivery by 9/6/11. See dealer for details. 5. Example based on National Average vehicle selling price. Each dealer sets it’s own price. Your payments may vary. Payments are for a 2011 LaCrosse CXL with an MSRP of $32,570.39 monthly payments total $12,441. Option to purchase at lease end for an amount to be determined at lease signing, plus $350 or turn in vehicle and pay a $395 termination fee. Mileage charge of $.18/mile over 39,000 miles. Lessor must approve lease.

Take retail delivery by 9/6/11. Lessee will pay excess wear and tear charges. Payments may be higher in some states. Not available with other offers.

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2004 CHRYS CONCOURSE Leather, Loaded .................................. $4,988 2000 FORD EXPLORER Low Miles, 4X4....................................... $5,988 2004 FORD FREESTAR Runs Great! ............................................. $7,980 2010 CHEVY COBALT 2 TO Choose Warranty From ....................... $12,988 2006 FORD 500 Low Miles, Nice! ............................................... $12,988 2008 CHEVY MALIBU Well-Equipped!.......................................... $13,988 2008 SATURN VUE Low Miles, One Owner ................................. $14,980 2008 CHEVY IMPALA Low Miles, Loaded .................................... $15,988 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE Loaded Everything ........................... $15,988 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER Certified Only 3K Miles ................... $19,988 gra

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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 21

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2000 HONDA ACCORD SE Loaded, Green ........................................Was $6,450 2001 CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS Loaded, White .................................Was $8,995 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SE Loaded, Black ........................................Was $11,200 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 Loaded, Silver ..............................Was $14,815 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE Auto, Air, Silver ......................................Was $13,995 2004 HONDA CIVIC EX Well-Equipped, Blue ...................................Was $11,755 1996 NISSAN 300ZX TURBO Loaded, Red .....................................Was $12,995 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA LE Well-Equipped, Silver .........................Was $18,425 2010 CHEVY IMPALA LT Loaded, Black Beauty ..............................Was $18,900 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE Loaded, Silver......................................Was $23,200

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22 n JULY 20, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Catch ‘Jedi of Pop Culture’ Jeff McGinnis Tuesday mornings on 92.5 KISS-FM.

Giants say ‘Join us’ I A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 2, No. 29 Established 2010.

Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com EDITORIAL

Mary Ann Stearns, Design Editor mastearns@toledofreepress.com James A. Molnar, Lead Designer jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Brandi Barhite, Associate Editor bbarhite@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Special Sections Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Chris Schmidbauer, Sports Editor cschmidbauer@toledofreepress.com Lisa Renee Ward, Web Editor star@toledofreepress.com ADMINISTRATION

Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com CONTRIBUTORS star@toledofreepress.com Jim Beard • Amy Campbell • Zach Davis John Dorsey • Matt Feher • Jerry Gray Dustin Hostetler • Stacy Jurich Vicki L. Kroll • lilD • Martini • Jason Mack Jeff McGinnis • Whitney Meschke Kathryn Milstein • Rachel Richardson Patrick Timmis Julie Webster • Don Zellers

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Darcy Irons Sarah Ottney, Proofreaders ADVERTISING SALES

Renee Bergmooser, Sales Manager rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com Matt Mackowiak mmackowiak@toledofreepress.com Chick Reid creid@toledofreepress.com DISTRIBUTION

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Toledo Free Press Star is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 • (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $100 /year.

Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved.

Publication of ads does not imply endorsement of goods or services.

t’s an easy narrative for a writer to latch onto: After charming younger audiences for quite a few years with its children’s albums, veteran alternative rock group They Might Be Giants is finally returning its focus to its adult fans with the new release “Join Us.” But in an interview with Toledo Free Press Star, TMBG co-founder John Linnell said he and longtime colJEFF laborator John Flansburgh are just resuming the status quo.

“This is the heart of what we do. We actually started writing this album a number of years ago,” Linnell said.

“It was back to business.

And at this stage in our lives — maybe time goes by a lot quicker or something like that — but we’ve been making this kind of album for 25 years now. Yeah, it maybe didn’t feel like as big of a gap for us. We just felt like we were getting back on the horse.”

Don’t get Linnell wrong; he’s not minimizing the work TMBG did on its children’s albums — hit releases like “Here Come the 123s” and “Here Comes Science.” In fact, he said in some ways they may have been some of the most important pieces he and Flansburgh ever did.

“It occurred to us that we were doing music for people who were not just hearing us for the first time, some of them were hearing music for the first time. And that was a really different — that’s a much more serious gig, in a way. But it also, in a way, lets us off the hook, because we normally feel like we’re under this pressure to do music that will be compared to other music. And that is not the case when you’re writing for 4-year-olds.”

But the pressure is back on for the Johns.

“Join Us” comes nearly 30 years into a legacy that has seen some of the most wonderfully unique music ever to hit the modern pop scene. For the artists, the passion their music ignites in fans can give every new album added weight and importance. But Linnell said that the duo’s writing process isn’t burdened by such thoughts.

“My sense is, we can appraise the flavor of the project after the fact. But we are a strikingly goalfree band. John and I don’t really know what we’re entering into when we start working on something. We’re just trying to do the best kind of work we can. And I think, maybe, this is the key to doing good work for us. It’s that we don’t try and create parameters for us. We just kind of relax and let our minds wander and make up stuff,” Linnell said.

So it’s like they can’t see the forest for the trees? “That’s pretty fair,” Linnell said. “I think we get to walk out of the forest and look at it when we’re finished, but we are very busily growing individual trees during the making and the planning of the project.”

But there still is pressure to make the overall work as strong as possible, Linnell said.

TMBG’s John Linnell discusses band’s new album.

“One of the reasons that it took so long to make this album is that we’re really fussy about what passes muster. We wrote a lot of songs. We recorded, I think, something like 30 songs. So we have a lot of extra material that didn’t wind up on the album.”

The process of whittling down a work like “Join Us” can be painful, he said.

“Was it William Faulkner who said you have to kill your darlings? That is so horribly true. You slave over this stuff, you grow fond of it and then you realize you’re going to have to get out the long knives,” Linnell laughed.

That kind of effort makes having a strong collaborator all the more important. Linnell and Flansburgh have worked together longer than most bands exist. What’s the secret to their longevity?

“I don’t know. It’s a secret from us, I would say,” Linnell joked. “The secret is very well kept, because even we don’t know what it is. We still get along, and we respect and fear each other.

I don’t look forward to having something I’ve done be rejected or frowned upon by Mr. Flans-

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

John Flansburgh, left, and John Linnell PHOTO: GIRLIE ACTION MEDIA

burgh, and I try to make him fear me in exactly the same way. So I think that’s part of our creative relationship — we have someone we respect who will say something meaningful about what we’re doing, even if we’re not sure about what anyone else is going to think of it.”

Still, Linnell said he hopes longtime fans and newcomers get satisfaction from “Join Us.” “This maybe gets back to the title of the album — I hope people feel that they’re included in it, that they are on the inside of what we’re doing, that it’s not some ‘too cool for you’ kinda thing,” he said. “The way that I want to consume music is that it’s just something that’s available, but it’s not pandering. It’s accessible.” O Email Jeff at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JULY 20, 2011 n 23

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“Minimum wage! Yah!” — TMBG, “Minimum Wage”