Tim’s Picks: It's Still Summer edition
Parmalee’s at Long Center. So is a Taylor Swift laser show. Mudhound's at the Art Museum lawn. The Operators are at the Spot. That, and more.
Thanks today for ongoing help from Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette, presenting a summer lineup including Tusk, A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Friday, Aug. 2. For tickets for the show and other events, go to longpac.org.
Here, again, with five suggestions for your Greater Lafayette week, it’s …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Mudhound, 7 p.m. Friday, July 26, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St., Lafayette — “Hill country” blues-rock will be on exhibit this weekend for the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s Friday Night Live series. Mudhound, a new mononymous slide guitarist and vocalist, jammed in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a hotbed for blues music, before re-establishing in Lafayette. The musician calls his style “Indyssippi” to honor his dual connection to the Hoosier State and his influential time in Mississippi sharing stages with the likes of Joe "Ice Man" Williams, Watermelon Slim and Anthony "Big A" Sherrod. Mudhound will soon release a new album, “The Dirt I’m Used To,” which features the talents of drummer Sad Max Senteney of Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band.
Parmalee, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 26, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — North Carolina pop-country band Parmalee spent more than 10 years scratching and clawing to get to mainstream country music success. From their obviously beloved hometown of Parmele, North Carolina, (they changed the spelling for proper pronunciation’s sake) to Los Angeles, where they took on any songwriting and recording job they could find and even collaborated with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe, then finally to Nashville, Tennessee, where a new label and platinum singles in “Carolina,” “Just the Way” and “Take My Name” finally manifested. The band is supporting its latest album, “For You 2,” released last fall. $25 and $40. (Moved from Loeb Stadium.) Tickets.
Also at the Long Center: Change this “Cruel Summer” to a cool summer by shaking it off to the music of Taylor Swift as the Taylor Shines: The Laser Spectacular moves into the “Gorgeous” confines of the Long Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27. DJs Tiff and JC will spin the many hits of Swift to a light show sure to impress. But will it be better than the Pink Floyd laser light show I saw in high school? Most likely. $15. Tickets.
The Operators, 9 p.m. Saturday, July 27, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — One of Indiana’s best ska bands was recently signed to prominent Chicago label Jump Up Records. From (mostly) Indianapolis, The Operators are Lafayette favorites, but now the nation will get to hear its new release, “Self Titled Second Album.” Jump Up was formed in 1993 by DJ Chuck Wren, a longtime Chicago ska proponent, and released pivotal 1990s compilations that helped introduce traditional and third wave ska to thousands of new fans. Jump Up eased into releasing and re-releasing records for legends like The Toasters, The Pietasters and The Slackers as well as more recent work from Deal’s Gone Bad and Lafayette’s own Green Room Rockers. With Jump Up’s backing, The Operators are cooking not only with the new album but with new festival and touring opportunities as well, having just returned from a short tour to New York City and back. The band had yet to break out of the Midwest, but it’s now ska’s the limit for The Operators. “Self Titled Second Album” is available now on Spotify, Bandcamp, cassette, CD and LP. The best way to take in the music, though, will be by purchasing from the merch table Saturday at The Spot.
Art in the Park: End of Summer Bash, 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, Armstrong Park, 851 Beck Lane, Lafayette — As July winds down, so do most folks’ summer relaxation. Back to school time is never tardy. However, Lafayette will celebrate summer one more time. The End of Summer Bash is part of the Art in the Park series of events. This edition is on Lafayette’s south side at Armstrong Park, which will be brimming with food trucks, local artists and artisans, outdoor games for all ages, and crafts for the kids. While it’s technically summer until Sept. 22, this event is designed for you to get outside for a beautiful evening that only a Lafayette summer can bring.
Bella’s Bartok, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Bella’s Bartok, a theatrical band from Massachusetts, will start its leg of a Midwest tour in Lafayette next week. With an eclectic folk punk sound marinated in Eastern European influence, the band is led by Asher Putnam, the ringleader of a sonic circus that features horns, accordion, washboard, guitars and overseas rhythms sure to get fans dancing. $10. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
THIS AND THAT/OTHER READS …
The Associated Press account of President Joe Biden’s address from the Oval Office Wednesday, his first since dropping out of the 2024 presidential election, included this passage: “Insisting that ‘the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of former President Donald Trump. He did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history will remember his one and only term in office.” Here’s more from the AP: “Biden delivers solemn call to defend democracy as he lays out his reasons for quitting race.”
Indianapolis Star reporter Kayla Dwyer had this from Vice President Kamala Harris’ stop in Indy, to speak before the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s national convention: “Kamala Harris calls out Project 2025, rallies Black women in Indy.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Whitney Downard had this account from Indianapolis: “Harris calls on Zeta Phi Beta members to mobilize voters ahead of November election.”
The Tippecanoe County prosecutor charged five people in connection with a shooting that hit a truck, a parked car and a house in November in Lafayette. WLFI had this account: “Five people charged in November shooting in Lafayette.”
From Washington Post reporter Devlin Barrett on Wednesday: “The gunman who tried to assassinate former president Donald Trump had searched online days earlier for information about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and used a rifle with a collapsible stock that may have made it easier for him to disguise the weapon before climbing onto a roof, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Wednesday.” For more from the testimony before the House Judiciary Committee: “Trump rally shooter searched for info on JFK assassin, FBI chief says.”
Thanks, again, to Based in Lafayette sponsor Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Lafayette. For information on upcoming events, go to longpac.org.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Continue to ban these weapons. They don’t kill bears (you don’t need a gun like this), these are for killing people! It is shameful how many people know their second amendments, but DO NOT KNOW THE 1st amendment rights!