It’s Thursday. It’s Tim’s Picks
Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette from our guy Tim Brouk
Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette. But first, a couple of tributes.
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
We lost two stellar guitarists and singers recently. Jeff Anderson was a guitar teacher, singer-songwriter, and a common face on the small stages and corners of Greater Lafayette bars and restaurants, either solo with his acoustic guitar or plugged in with a band. He was always extremely nice and positive to go along with his great talent. He gave back to his community by teaching dozens of young (and older beginners) guitar through private lessons as well as part of the Purdue University Applied Music Studies program for an astounding 18 years Anderson died March 9 at age 46.
Last week, the death of Greg Horn, guitarist and lead singer of the legendary Dow Jones and the Industrials, shook punk rock fans up and down Indiana and beyond. Horn sang lead on most of the band’s memorable tunes, like “Can’t Stand the Midwest,” “It Ain’t Good Enough” and “What’s the Difference?” Formed in the late-1970s, Dow Jones is considered the first punk band in Greater Lafayette, and it quickly rose to prominence and friendship with The Gizmos and other early Indiana punk acts, creating an exciting scene from West Lafayette to Indianapolis to Bloomington. Dow Jones’ style – with heavy influence from Devo and electronic music exploration – remains fresh to this day, which was much thanks to Horn’s passion for audio exploration and saxophone to go along with his ass-kicking punk riffs and vocals. Horn made a gigantic contribution to Indiana underground music, and it will never be forgotten. Years ago, I produced a video with Purdue University professor emeritus Rick Thomas, who was there for most of the band’s recordings in his Zounds Productions basement studio off Salisbury Street. He talks about Horn living in the basement’s recording room and other fond memories of working and living with the band.
Here are five music-friendly Picks. Live music and the people that perform them in the present, past and future must be celebrated and remembered.
Songwriters in the Round, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, The Arts Foundation, 638 North St., Lafayette — Learn and listen to how songs are built from a trio of accomplished local musicians. Lee Anna Atwell, Frank Anthony and Kelsey Patton will lead this event, which is sponsored by The Arts Federation’s REC Room recording studio and the Songwriters Association of Mid-north Indiana. The songwriters could inspire the next great Lafayette musician, and that young musicians should take advantage of the annual Shirley Martin Scholarship. Open to area songwriters ages 14-19, the scholarship fuels a handful of teenaged musicians’ dream musical pursuits every year. Applications for the scholarship are open until April 7
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Purdue jazz bands, 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, Loeb Playhouse, in Purdue’s Stewart Center — All six Purdue jazz ensembles will perform for a big night of classic and contemporary works. This is a rare opportunity to see what every Boilermaker jazz band can do in one night on one stage. Experience what these tuneful future engineers, scientists and maybe professional musicians can do. Free.
Kimmel.Ali.Harris, 9 p.m. Friday, March 31, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — Chicago experimental music trio Jeff Kimmel, Ishmael Ali and Bill Harris turn free jazz on its ear with a thought-provoking combination of cello, clarinet and drums. The players are versatile; Ali’s cello gets played and handles the low end like a small upright bass. Harris jumps from (somewhat) familiar jazz beats to a thorough exploration of what his kit can do in just seconds. The trio also utilizes electronic bloops, beeps and distorted resonance to further enhance (or complicate) things. $10 or pay what you can.
“Czech’s Mix” with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — Czech your schedule and Sharpie in a trip to downtown Lafayette for quality classical music courtesy of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. The concert program is headlined by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, but the stars of the show are two future symphonic standouts — the two winners of the 2023 Keller Concerto Competition. Aaron Du is a sophomore at West Lafayette High School and will be playing the third movement of the Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns. He has been a member of Wabash Valley Youth Symphony since sixth grade and was recently selected as the concertmaster. Jack Ma is also a sophomore at West Lafayette High School and will be playing the first movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. He has played piano since he was 6. $8-$39. Tickets.
Genevva, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Dreamy folk pop duo Genevva returns to Lafayette in support of the Louisville, Kentucky, duo’s new album, “Slip Away.” While the vibes are laid back, the new record offers up-tempo fare to balance the soft, quiet tunes. Led by the beautiful vocals of Jenni Cochran and with musical partner Aaron Crakerd in tow, the pair put together a modern indie pop release but with nods to 1960s and ‘70s music. Tracks “Isn’t It Lovely” and “Dream On” contain sweet vintage grooves while “Gone with the Wind” and “Sweet Dreams” keep in the band’s wheelhouse of soft, acoustic folk pop. Great stuff. $10. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Love Tim’s picks. Esp how it reminds us to get out and see local talent