Tim’s Picks: 5 choice ideas for your Lafayette weekend
Plus, a review of CoyoteBear’s new release, ‘Too Many Ghosts’
Today’s edition is sponsored by the Purdue Presidential Lecture Series. Learn about the massive potential of quantum dots from Moungi Bawendi, the 2023 Nobel laureate who revolutionized the chemical production of these tiny particles. Bawendi, a 1978 graduate of West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School, will join Purdue President Mung Chiang for a Presidential Lecture Series event April 25 at 6 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. Learn more about the event, which is free and open to the public, at purdue.edu/president/lecture-series.
It’s Thursday, so it’s …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
“Shrek the Musical,” 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University —Purdue Convocations’ season finale will cap off 2023-24 in a BIG way. One of the pillars of Convos’ excellent programming this year, “Shrek the Musical” was about as beloved on Broadway as the green ogre’s run at the movie box office. You know the story by now: A kind-hearted but often clumsy ogre named Shrek embarks on a journey to rescue feisty Princess Fiona while accompanied by a wise-cracking donkey named, well, Donkey. The musical version was on Broadway for more than a year and has been a touring show since 2010. Produced by a Tony Award-winning team, “Shrek the Musical” is filled with catchy numbers, colorful choreography and BIG laughs. $35-$80. Tickets.
Summoning the Lich with Warforged, Fleshbore and Carrion Vael, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Gather yeself a hobbit, dwarf, elf and wizard most wise for a quest of death metal this weekend. If you don’t know any such intrepid warriors, you could probably find some lookalikes in the crowd or stage at North End Pub this weekend when St. Louis’ Summoning the Lich lays waste to anyone opposed to ye olde head bang or pit of mosh. Inspired by “Lord of the Rings,” Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons, Summoning the Lich are a geeky yet good get for Lafayette. Currently on its Middle-West Metal Quest Tour with Carrion Vael (Richmond, Indiana) and Warforged (Chicago), Summoning the Lich is a powerful force that can vanquish any foe with riffage most brutal. Indianapolis technical death metal paladins Fleshbore will open. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Tickets.
CoyoteBear Album Release Party with Indiana Commune and Heather Redman and the Reputation, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Duncan Hall, 619 Ferry St., Lafayette — Cody Hall can finally celebrate. The local singer-songwriter’s solo project, CoyoteBear, debut LP, “Too Many Ghosts,” is in his hands. And CoyoteBear fans will get a chance to grab their own copy of the record in all of its vinyl glory this weekend. Hall will headline Duncan Hall with local folk outfit Indiana Commune and Dayton, Ohio, soul stirrers Heather Redman and the Reputation opening. “I’m so damned proud of this record,” Hall said. “It’s the product of an immense amount of collaboration, cowriting, crowd funding, inviting a bunch of musical friends to add their influence and performances, four different visual artists for the artwork and an infinite well of support from my family, friends, and fans. It’s a community record, it doesn’t really feel like mine, and I love that.” Indeed, Hall will be backed by some of the all-star musicians that appear on the album this weekend. The atmosphere will have “Too Many Ghosts” floating around but that’s OK because CoyoteBear fans can never have too much of Hall’s signature, no holds barred brand of music — a beautiful mix of folk, blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll with thought-provoking and mood-altering lyrics. Be there. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Tickets.
Bonus cut: I was lucky to get an early listen to “Too Many Ghosts,” and it more than lives up to the early buzz and anticipation. Beautifully mixed, Hall’s voice — his excellent vocal chops and lyrics — stay in the spotlight despite sharing tracks with a host of local players that are usually centerstage — drummers Alex Mason (The Velocity District) and Blake Watts, mandolinist James Morrow, guitarists Jim Voelz (The Mound Builders, The Enstrangers) and Dru Alkire (Ebony and the Ruckus), bassists Maxx Heathcote and Davide Marzoli, wife and vocalist Racheal Yanni, and several others on keys, horns and other sounds. Together, Hall and his all-star roster of musicians create an atmospheric and powerful album. Like his trusty acoustic guitar, Hall utilizes mood as an instrument in most “Ghosts” tracks. We are almost in young Tom Waits territory as songs get dark, desperate and sorrowful as told by a deep, experienced, “I’ve been there, man” commanding voice, but at the same time there is hopefulness, gratitude and even optimism within the vinyl grooves for a deep and extremely worthwhile sonic journey. One of the slower tunes, “Black Lead Balloons” is a standout song with excellent mandolin runs by Morrow exactly where you want and need them. Still, despite the mando and guitar fireworks, Hall’s lyrics and the moods they evoke are the driving force on all nine tracks. The title song is another top listen. Leading off the entire haunted sonic journey on side A, I love that it starts with a slick little drum fill before getting into the meat of the CoyoteBear experience. While Hall stated that “Too Many Ghosts” is a “community record,” it stands and delivers powerful, emotional roots music that can and should haunt hi-fi’s well beyond Greater Lafayette.
“Jeff Anderson — Celebration of Life,” 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, The Arts Federation, 638 North St., Lafayette — A local musician, educator and all-around awesome dude, Jeff Anderson died March 20, 2023, leaving a legacy of hundreds of gigs around Greater Lafayette and dozens of students whose guitar chops were inspired or strengthened when he taught guitar at McGuire Music. Anderson could entertain a bar, restaurant or festival by himself or in front of a band and did so for decades. I liked one summer catching Anderson at a restaurant one week with just his acoustic guitar and on the grand stage of Taste of Tippecanoe in front of a plugged-in rock band the next. Always upbeat, charming and hardworking, Anderson’s talents and life will be honored by the arts community for a somber yet joyous occasion. Anderson breathed music, and his dedication and enhancement of the music scene will always be remembered.
“Friends: Old and New” with the Tippecanoe Chamber Society, 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 600 Ferry St., Lafayette — Area chamber musicians will shine bright in a program that will feature Beethoven’s “String Trio” and Dvorak’s “First Piano Quartet.” $15, $5 for college students, free for children. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thanks, again, to the Purdue Presidential Lecture Series, sponsor of today’s edition, featuring Nobel laureate and West Lafayette graduate Moungi Bawendi April 25 at Elliott Hall of Music. Learn more about the event at purdue.edu/president/lecture-series.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.