Tim’s Picks: Getting you to Mardi Gras
Five picks to get your weekend going.
Thanks for ongoing support from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
And now …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
“The Revolutionists,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 12-14; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-21 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — Sometimes art imitates life a little too much. Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette’s newest show, “The Revolutionists,” opens tonight. The four-woman show centers on various revolutionaries and revolutionary moments against power centuries ago. The characters talk about their lives and what brought them to become “Revolutionists” and what their bravery and dissatisfaction with those in power brought. The cast representing these women include Onyx Uzomah. Often on-stage in singing roles, Uzomah will take her star turn as Marianne Angelle, a fictional character who represents woman leaders in the Haitian slavery revolution in the 1790s. And then there is a trio of French women — some more known than others — that made real impacts during the French Revolution, which was unleashed in 1789. Olympe de Gouges (played by Sammie Resnick), a playwright and activist, is best known for her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen and other writings on women’s rights and abolitionism. Young actress Hanna Buckner will portray famed assassin Charlotte Corday, and then there’s Marie Antionette (Rachel Young), who felt the brunt of the French Revolution real close to the shoulders like. “The Revolutionists” will make you laugh, think and perhaps cry when reminded of the state of things off-stage. $17.50-$26.50. Tickets.
Mardi Gras Party with Star City Rhythm Revival and Wildcat Social Club, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, Digby’s Pub, 133 N. Fourth St., Lafayette — To get you ready for the advent of Lent (Catholic word jazz, baby!), Lafayette’s own New Orleans-style blues, soul and funk band Star City Rhythm Revival will get the party started early. Star City will be joined by a new band of similar sound and ilk, Wildcat Social Club, which features the powerful vocal stylings of Sheree Reeling. Guitarist and vocalist Stuart Carlton will be doing double duty in both bands, and both groups will share the same four-piece horn section, which features Alex Mason and Bonyea Killebrew from The Velocity District (see below).
Romantic Rager with Master Hunter, No Advocate, Hamarr, Chromarama and King’s Gambit, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — What better way to say “I love you” than taking your valentine to a heavy music mini festival at North End Pub? Let the romance flow through the heavy riffs, mosh-inducing breakdowns and blastbeats provided by Lafayette’s metalcore maestros King’s Gambit. Joining in this orgiastic display of rage will be Lafayette/Kokomo vets Master Hunter and long-distance loving from South Bend metalcore Casanovas No Advocate and Indianapolis hardcore Lotharios Chromorama and Hamarr, an Indianapolis “hardcore death metal” act that has made the rounds at death metal festivals around Indiana and beyond. $10.
Lyra with Third Wheeling and Strands of Serenity, 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, The Spot Tavern, 409 N. Fourth St., Lafayette — A youth movement is happening at The Spot, fueled by the always buzzing Purdue University house show scene. Eventually, these young musicians turn 21 and little by little, the more serious Purdue bands trickle to Lafayette bar venues like The Spot. Three such acts will make their Spot debuts this Valentine’s Day: Metalheads Lyra and Strands of Serenity, who both cut their teeth on recent opening slots at North End Pub, will be joined by ska punks Third Wheeling. A cool piece of Third Wheeling trivia: The excitable band of mostly Purdue students features Elijah Yakimicki on guitar and vocals. Yakimicki’s father, Joe Yakimicki, played guitar in Brassknuckle Boys back in the late 1990s and early ‘00s. When I moved here in 2000, Brassknuckle Boys were one of the top bands in town, putting out excellent records and playing all over Indiana and beyond. It’s true the punk rock apple does not fall far from the tree. $10.
The Velocity District, 6 p.m. Tuesday, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with one of the best Lafayette bands around. The Velocity District returns with a fat set of funk, jazz and soul music for this Tuesday. These versatile musicians are sure to touch on some New Orleans-inspired sounds for their tasty originals and covers. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS PICKS: Purdue Convocations has a couple of offerings coming up:
The second of two productions of “Great Expections,” part of residency by The Acting Company, will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Loeb Playhouse in the Stewart Center. Tickets.
The 30th anniversary tour of “STOMP” comes to Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. Tickets.
Thanks, again, for support from the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For tickets and details on all the shows and events, go to longpac.org.
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.