This week Tim Spradlin returns to the Strand on Saturday April 3, 2010.   The show starts at 8:00pm.   Tim will be singing his favorites from 25 years of performing.

Please support this great entertainment.   Tickets are $10 advance and $12 at the door.

May 7th Performance

Adults $7.00 Age 14 and Under $5.00

May 8th Performance

Adults $7.00 Age 14 and Under $5.00

Tickets purchased online will be held at will call.

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Tickets

Adults $7.00 15 and under $5.00 50 and over $5.00

Tickets purchased online will be held at will call.

Jonathan Roberts & Second Chance

  Jonathan Roberts. Second Chance is Dustin Oakes, Danny Sheetz and Miriam Solomon. They are a Christian rock band affiliated with Christ Fellowship Church in Knightstown, Ind. They’ll be performing music from their debut CD, “Finally Me.”

Gone Fishin’ is Jeff Owens, Greg Martin, Brian Martin, Linda Martin, Tony Sadler, Jeb Bass and Rhonda Trebley. They are a contemporary praise and worship band affiliated with Shelbyville Community Church, Shelbyville, Ind.

• Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the Strand in Shelbyville, Ind.

• Showtimes: Gone Fishin’ at 6 p.m., Jonathan Roberts & Second Chance after an intermission.

• Tickets: $7 adults, $5 for ages 15 & under and ages 50 and over.

• Jonathan Roberts “Finally Me” CDs will be available for purchase after the performance.

Tickets available at Blue River Printing, Mickey’s T Mart, band members and on this website.

Infectious blend of funk, rock and blues shines at Strand

One can sometimes tell a lot about a band by its audience and Saturday night’s concert at the Strand Theatre was no exception to this critical theory.

Just as artists have “painters’ painters”, authors have “writers’ writers,” so to do musicians have “bands’ bands” and this became obvious as the crowd filled the Strand to listen to and enjoy “Nuff Said!,” a local band.

As the six members of this band opened the show with a rousing blues fury, it was readily apparent that there were more musicians and singers in the seats than there were on stage and that “Nuff Said!” is indeed a “band’s band.”

As the concert unfolded in rhythmic waves of melodious, yet at times raw, harmony it also became quite clear that this is a band with the energy, spirit, passion, talent and sheer lust for music that creates memorable performances . The 31-song, two-set show was like a feast of many varied courses that left one full, satiated and enjoyably spent.

Midway into the second set of their high octane music brimming with energy it also became crystal clear that “Nuff Said!” are masters of many schools and facets of blues, rock and funk.

Similarly, each song glistened gem-like with an often infectious energy that radiated from the stage as each individual band member shone like a diamond, sparkling with a deep-felt almost mystically hypnotic enthusiasm for music and musicianship.

Critically, this concert is difficult to asses other than to say that every song and musical style “Nuff Said!” endeavored to play became a raucous jam across the stage as each member of the band took flight in a synchronized frenzy.  Fingers danced across instruments, voices wailed, melted or swooned singular or in harmony as band members lost themselves repeatedly in the groove to revel in and within the music and performance.

So without further adieu and in no apparent order I shall briefly attempt to pick out the individual highlights of a concert entirely comprised of highlights.

Beginning with vocals, where everyone but bass player Jim “Biscuit” Wisker, sang leads, we shall proceed alphabetically and first peruse the variable, often eclectic singing styles of Aimee and Glen Yarwood, the primary vocalists.

On Aimee, suffice it to say, that she has voice filled with textural tempos and tones that on one particular swooning ballad oozed like a sweet sticky syrup into your soul. Of particular note, however was her rendition of “Black Velvet,” a song she seems to own. Her voice, on this tune, is a perfect fit as she alternately sounds like the feel of either smooth, black satin or like a drink of fine warm brandy: rich, robust and refreshingly resonate.

In regards to Glen’s exceptional range I will also just dwell on two songs in particular.  First, on “My Baby Wrote Me a Letter,” he not only seemed to visually channel Joe Cocker but to call forth his spirit through both vocal cadence and his raspy, guttural gargling rendition. In another song, “Sweet Home Chicago,” his rendition would have made John Belushi proud.

Beyond the blues, whether Memphis, Chicago or St. Louis styles, these twin lead vocalists  also soared into textual tempests on several 1980’s pop songs, southern and Detroit rock songs and even in a two song  tribute to Indiana’s own musical son, John Mellencamp.

Speaking of Mellencamp, it was on the twin Hoosier ballads that Joe Schipani switched gears rising from his hauntingly, sonorous keyboards to let his dexterous fingers cascade across an accordion. It was on his well-worked keys, however, that Schipani shined and hummed like an auditory laser, especially on the “House is a Rockin.”

This song also featured an exceptionally fluent riff by lead guitarist, Jeff Brunk, who also belted out a growling rendition of an alternative song by “7 Mary 3.” Throughout the evening and in repeated, rhythmic, raptures Brunk played off and with the funk-filled bass lines of Wisker in several extended, excitable riffs and jams.

Wisker, who sang not a lick, seemed at times to be the  primary musical inspiration of this band as his popping, thumping, ever funkified bass drove the musical assault of these gifted performers.

No rock and blues band, however, is complete without the real driving back beat of a drummer who initiates the rhythms, beats and tempo of a band and “Nuff Said!’ is blessed with just a such a staccato  percussionist in Kevin Austin. His sticks dictated, prodded and initiated the night’s often furious and always rhythmic interplay of music and vocals.

As I alluded to earlier, this 6-member maestro act is a “ bands’ band’ and it is more than enough said to see a veritable bevy of musicians and singers, a regular who’s who of local  talent, all  paying to watch another band. This alone is a testament to the passionate perfection of “Nuff Said!”

On Saturday March 27, 2010 Nuff Said performed on the Strand stage.   This talented group rocked for two full sets.   The performers included:

• Glenn Yarwood
• Aimee Yarwood
• Jim Wisker
• Jeff Brunk
• Kevin Austin
• Joe Schipani
• Mark Hill

Everyone had a great time.  It was a great concert!

The Strand Theatre is proud to offer on-line purchasing for upcoming events.   This is done through PayPal via our web site.     Our first on-line patron was Zach V. from Mooresville Indiana.   He bought his tickets for Operation Comedy from our web site!

Operation Comedy came to the Strand on March 26, 2010.   This comedy show is touring to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The evening started with Indianapolis native Troy Davis.    He served as the MC for the evening too.    He was followed by Mike Malone and then the organizer of the project Jon Stites.   The final comedian was April Macie.  April is based in California.     Below are Jon on stage and April and Mike after the show:

This was the first “adult” only show we have hosted at the Strand.    The laughs continued all evening.   We are pleased to be able to help a worthwhile project.   Before the show, a patron discussed what the Wounded Warriors meant to her family after her son was injured in Iraq.    Listening to the story made us realize at if we can help just a little bit, it is worth it!

Did the weather get nice, then not so nice?   We are looking forward to a break in the weather to get our marquee finished.   The new front panels will be installed when we are finished wiring the sockets.   We have half done, so it won’t take long once we can get started again.   One of the things you can see is the dirt that we have to deal with at the Strand.  This is not the dirt of popcorn spilling, but the dust of State Road 9.   Since the bulbs are exposed on the front of the marquee, they make it easy to see the black soot that covers everything.   As any of our volunteers can tell you, it is grimy.  We clean the outside windows before each show.  The paper towel is black with dirt.   Next time you stop at the theatre, look up and you will see the dirt coating the bulbs.   Before we button things up, we will thoroughly wash the inside of the marquee.

This week we start with something very special at the Strand.   Jon Stites will bring his “Operation Comedy” on Friday night.  These outstanding comedians will perform to help support the Wounded Warrior Project.   Our own Waldron High School has supported this cause in the past.   (This is an ADULT comedy show).   The Strand is pleased to bring these great performers to our community.   Let’s hope they give us a plug on Bob & Tom!    The show starts at 7:30pm.   We anticipate a full house, so get there early.

On Saturday night we have another great rock show at the Strand.   Smashed Productions is presenting Nuff Said with Special Guests Dead VanZandts.    We look forward to these performers on the Strand stage.   The concert starts at 8:00pm

This past weekend we had wonderful music from several genres.   On Saturday night Pressed in Black returned, and on Sunday the Dave Hepler duo performed.   We have reviews of these concerts on our web site.   Speaking of reviews, have you noticed that most events at the Strand are reviewed on our site?   We have a few people doing reviews with the bulk of them by Strand volunteer Terrance Aldridge.   In our plans, we have always felt that the Strand needs to act and present itself as a professional venue.  Just because it is run by a bunch of volunteers,  doesn’t mean we should ever lower the standard.   We do many things to try to accomplish this.   We are a fully licensed music facility.   As hard as it is for us to believe, there are those out in the ether that do not follow the rules.  That’s, OK for them, but not for us.   We may not always get it right on the first try, but as we learn, we comply.  In this vain,  the reviews add to the experience at the Strand for our patrons and performers.   Not everyone can make it to every show.   The reviews help give a sense of what took place on our stage.   The Strand has many performers that are experiencing playing in a theatre for the first time.  Many of these groups have never had a review or critique.   This gives them something to look at and think about.   We ask to keep our reviews positive, trying to highlight the diversity of performances.   We have had Strand reviews quoted on many web sites and promotional materials.   This is a good thing to help get the word out of what we are trying to accomplish.  It also promotes a positive image of Shelby County.    These are all small pieces in what we feel it takes for the Strand to be successful.

Thanks for all the support.  We hope to see you at the theatre soon!