American Indians enlighten, entertain crowd at Sunday service

In Native American culture artistic expression is often a form a spiritual communion and this religious, mystical experience was shared Sunday afternoon at the Stand Theatre by the members of the American Indian Center of Indianapolis.

For more than two-hours, audience members were educated, entertained and participated in a cultural forum sponsored by Shelby County Reads which focused on the traditions, history, lore , spiritual beliefs and artistic celebrations of the original caretakers of American soil.

“The drum is the heartbeat of Native Americans,” Doug Poe told the rapt audience gathered in the theater. “Drumming, dancing, singing and playing music are a form of prayer in our culture.”

This eye-opening, often haunting journey opened and closed with a rather fitting   bridge across cultures: a “Veterans Dance,” performed by several dancers in full, “traditional regalia” accompanied by the resonant drums and other-worldly vocals of Four Winds singers and musicians.

This “Veterans Dance” is a celebration and thanks-giving offering to all who served our land, community and country, added Poe, of the American Indian Council. The final performance of this more modern dance included quite a few veterans from the audience who danced on stage after being praised for their service. The crowd, in fact, joined the dancers several timers on stage during “inter-tribal” dances during the afternoon.

In a not so subtle irony, Native American’s dance was outlawed by the United States government in 1883 said Poe, during a Power- Point presentation that highlighted the historic litany of physical and cultural genocide against Indians in the country. This ban, which in effect outlawed a form of religion, was historically inspired by the “Ghost Dance” that swept the Great Plains in the aftermath of Gen. Custer’s disastrous defeat.

While a “Ghost Dance,’ was not performed Sunday, another traditional Plains Indian mystical dance was. The “Grass Dance is the oldest surviving dance of the Plains Indian cultures. It is a spinning dance designed, it seems to me, as a trance- inducing shamanistic communion with the creator.

Another clearly inspired mystical, mythic dance was the “Hoop Dance,” a crowd favorite Sunday afternoon. This “ medicine” dance is a metaphoric allegory of the world, an interwoven series of circles that symbolically come together to both describe and define the Native American vision of the world. It was and is replete with the symbolism of circles uniting and coming together to form into visually complex images and forms that also simultaneously merge to form the world as a series of circles.

Aside from these often spiritually infused dances, the evocative nature of native American  musical traditions was driven home to the crowd by the echoing of the drums and a rather poignant display of flute music by Jeff Roberts.

In American Indian culture the flute was traditionally the instrument of courtship, according to Poe. While it was used to serenade brides, the inspired flute play of Roberts evoked a more emotion laden and lamenting experience. His very haunting, willowy, textured tones of breadth and melodic breaths were again filled with longing and spirit.

In a rather significant ceremony, which highlighted the spirituality of the event several members of the American Indian Center blessed the theater prior to their performance in a ritual sage  burning ceremony.

Following the initial Flag and Veterans Dances which serve as traditional Native American national anthems the crowd rose to its feet. The ceremonies then reconvened with Carolyn Statler of Shelby County Reads addressing the awed crowd.

“Welcome to this wonderful, wonderful event,” she said, “and I would encourage everyone here to also attend our program featuring  James Alexander Thom, author of “Follow the River” and his wife Dark Rain Thom, who will speak Wednesday night at 7 in Breck Auditorium at Shelbyville High School.”

Overall, this American Indian Cultural Forum was a colorful, yet thought provoking journey that once again reminded one of the importance of creativity, celebration and art that spans, informs, influences all cultures across this globe that we call home.

In conclusion, anyone with an abiding interest in Native American culture was well served by the Sunday’s service at the Strand Theatre and should, could and can further educate themselves about this traditional culture at the Shelby County Library, the Grover Museum or by reading any of the books currently being promoted by Shelby County Reads, which can be purchased locally at Three Sisters Books and Gifts on the circle.

Submitted by:  Terrance Aldridge

This independent review does not express the opinion of the Strand Theatre.

On Sunday February 21, 2010 the American Indian Cultural Forum came to the Strand stage.  This was presented by The American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. This group aspires to promote a sense of unification among the American Indian people of Indiana. They are based in Indianapolis and have been operating since 1992.

SHELBY COUNTY READS

Follow the River by James Alexander Thom has been selected as the main adult 2010 selection. Shelby County Reads has a series of events this February  that focus on Native American history and culture.    The event at the Strand is part of this series.

Local bands Rock for Relief

A trio of local bands jammed out for charity and entertained an energetic all- ages crowd Friday night at the Strand Theatre during an exhilarating evening of eclectic music and inspired performances.

The benefit concert “Band Together for Haiti,” was organized by Sara Chappella and all proceeds from the show were donated to the American Red Cross.

“I decided to get this together after seeing the faces of those affected by the devastating earthquakes in January on television and seeing pictures on the internet,” Chapella said. “As human beings it is our duty to help out those in need, and it should give us hope that we will receive help when we, too, are in need.”

Each of the 15 musicians on stage during the benefit exuded passion in their performances and joyous revelry in their inspired, often extended jams.

“All three bands came out for a good cause and treated the audience to a wide variety of music from the blues to funk to punk,” said bassist Jim “Biscuit” Wisker, one of many local musicians in the audience during Friday‘s charity extravaganza.

The opening act “The Jugbusters,” is a self-styled “barn –band” whose opening song was filled with fluid intonations which recalled jamming out on the back porch on a lazy summer afternoon.

After this rather mellow intro, the band jumped full-fledged into blues, southern rock and rockabilly inspired music that had many small children jumping and dancing in the aisles. It is not everyday that one sees a band led by dual harmonicas accompanied by thumping bass and slow-hand style blues guitar work. This harmonica- infused music was only intensified as the band invited special guest, Carson Diersing, on stage for three songs.

In three songs this 12-year-old prodigy stole the stage and thunder first with a soaring harmonica and then on guitar in a rockabilly romp through Chuck Berry’s classic “Johnny B. Good.” Later in the night, Diersing joined the final act, “Sub* Mission,” to display his musical range in a punk take of Johnny Cash tune.

If “The Jugbusters” is, indeed, a “barn-band” then that is one rocking barn and surely all the animals would be grooving and dancing ecstatically, especially during this band’s raucous version of the blues classic: “Little Red Rooster.”

The second act of this eclectic night expanded the evening’s musical horizons in a high-energy, funkified set filled with popping guitars and the full, fat sounds of screaming and wailing horns.

The members of “Day Job Blues,” literally jumped, bounced and bounded with unbridled energy, especially trombonist and lead singer Eric Kendall, during an intense set that rang out with excitable, popping funk to the hard-core down and dirty grit of the blues.

The fat, full, brick wall of sound conjured up by this 5-piece band was driven by the inspired horn play, both saxophone and flute, of Cathy Hurt. This woman, in point of fact, is a one-person horn ensemble whose emotional range is exceptional.  From the trilling flute of “Jethro Tull” through saxophones of “The Average White Band” to “Michael Jackson” and James Brown tunes, her horns wailed, screamed and reigned supreme. The godfather of soul was a natural for this band’s funky, tremulous barrage of robust and ripping sounds.

After this ribald romp through the big sounds of 1970’s Motown, the evening’s final band, “Sub* Mission” launched into a raw, fast, avalanching cavalcade of old-school punk.

Led by Scot Schrader’s vocals and guitar work this band’s highly energetic and frenetic tour of alternative musical vistas hits one like a rush of adrenaline.

From drummer Dave Fannin’s  growling lyrics on “Thunderkiss 5000” to bassist Mark Dietrich’s  vigorous take on  “Plowed” by “Sponge ,” this hard-core  trio live up to  the amphetamine aesthetic of punk style.

I have seen “Sub*Mission” many many times and they are a band that continues to musically grow and expand their vision.  During Friday’s set, for example, of the first 12 songs the trio performed I had only heard one performed by this band before. Several musicians in the audience, in fact, ask me which punk band ever before covered either “Johnny Cash” or “The Everly Brothers” before. Thrash takes on Cash I have heard, never, however, do I recall anyone punking –up “The Everly Brothers.”

In retrospect, “Band Together for Haiti” was an exciting, energetic and exhilarating evening that proved to me once again that art fused with passion can and should make a difference in the world both abroad and at home. The evening, in fact, was best summed up best by another local musician enjoying the night from the comfort of the crowd.

“It was night of great music by fantastic musicians and all for a good cause,” said drummer Jim Whitaker.” A good time was had by all.”

Local advocate Sara Chappela produced a concert for Haitian Relief at the Strand Theatre on February 20, 2010.   The proceeds from this concert were sent to the American Red Cross on East 10th Street in Indianapolis.  The funds were directed to their Haitian Relief Effort.

Three bands volunteered their talents for the effort.

OK, that was fun!

This past weekend it was just plain ‘ol fun at the Strand.  On Friday Hoosier Dylan performed:   22 musicians, 1 poet laureate, 50 songs and over 4 hours!   Wow.    On Saturday for our very first Dinner and a Movie:  Tables for 64, tickets for 76…..it was interesting, but still fun.

Learning is something we always do at the Strand.  The past week we learned a tremendous amount from both shows.   The Friday night Hoosier Dylan didn’t use any of our sound equipment.   To bring in equipment, the Strand had to have the appropriate power, space and facilities to handle it.   We passed with flying colors.   The biggest winners were Ron B., Gordon H. and Cody V. who didn’t have to move or set up anything!

On Dinner and a Movie, we didn’t quite know what to expect.   John from Grandma’s Pancake House had a great menu.   Overall things went really well.  We took notes and will tweak a few things for next month.  Everyone had a great time.   The film looked great on the big screen.  It is a great movie!

Let it snow, let it snow let it snow.  The weather outside is frightful, but my dear the Strand’s delightful….   Snow again.   We are checking every day to make sure our roof vent problem doesn’t reoccur.   So far so good, but this is something we have to remain vigilant.    The sidewalks are going to be cleared by the downtown contract, so that will be a little help to our volunteers.   We have been shoveling the snow from our theatre all the way to Hendricks Street.  It is a greater distance than you might think.

We had volunteers check out our motor generators in the attic.  They are making their plans and preparing to get them out.   They don’t think that the units will be as heavy as we think, but they are disassembling as much as possible just to make sure.   While their at it, we are going to remove the old neon transformers.  This will be done with the advise and guidance from the Shelby County Waste Management District.  We don’t want to take any chances.

The Strand is getting new bookings every day.  The interest in our theatre is very rewarding and humbling.  These requests come from near and far.  Gary N. juggles the schedule and keeps things on track.   We just booked a Jazz concert, a film premiere and a rock concert!

This weekend, on Saturday night at 7:00pm, the Strand is hosting “Band Together for Haiti”.  This is the creation of community leader Sara Chappela.  She was moved by the tragic events from the earthquake in Haiti.  She is producing this event will proceeds going to Haitian Relief with the American Red Cross.   This is the first time that Sara has attempted anything like this.  It will be a great show for a worthwhile cause.  The Strand is proud to participate in our own small way to help those whose lives have been devastated by this natural disaster.

On Sunday, Shelby County Reads hosts a very interesting program at the Strand.   The American Indian Cultural Forum will take the stage at 2:00pm.  This forum presented by the American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. will feature drumming, dancing, flute playing, a power-point presentation, and informational tables.   This event is free.
Even with the snow, we have continued installing the sockets for the chase lights on the marquee.  We are almost finished with the north half of the marquee.  Soon it will be time to screw in 300 light bulbs… lefty loosy, righty tighty.    That is a day to which we are looking forward!

Thanks for your support.  The great audiences this past weekend help energize everyone connected with the Strand.  It should energize you too, since you are the most vital part of the Strand project.   Thanks for the support.

Regional musicians celebrate Dylan’s legacy

An especially rich and talented ensemble of 22 singers, musicians and a poet gathered Friday night at the Strand Theatre to celebrate the eclectic genius of Bob Dylan.

It was a show that musically defined why Dylan is more than mere legend and how this maestro of Minnesota is still able to inspire new generations as he musically morphed from a folk singer to hipster to electronic hippie and then became a guru of grunge. All these styles, plus several more Dylanesque  incarnations , were on display Friday night at the Strand in “Hoosier Dylan,” a show conceived by Tim Grimm.

The show opened with the reflective harmonies and mellow, rapturous voice of Bobbie Lancaster singing alongside the rich throat of Jennie DeVoe. Nearly 50 songs and more than four hours later this entertaining, educational exploration of Dylan’s massive repertoire of musical styles ended as 20-some performers packed to the stage to sing “Like a Rolling Stone.” In between, the music ranged from bluegrass to folk, blues, children’s songs, classic hits and even a spoken word tribute to the beatnik bard by Indiana Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf.

Krapf’s spoken ode to Dylan, “the Voice,” was a proper, fitting tribute to the man who fused lyricism, social protest and music into a new genre. “I really push to reunite poetry and music and what a great format this is for that,” Krapf said .

Musically, Shelbyville was represented on stage Friday night by “the Complete Unknowns,” whose rousing, thumping, pounding electric folk rock songs of the early Dylan energized the audience.

It was, however, the women, DeVoe and Lancaster, accompanied by lead guitarist Gordon Bonham, who opened the eyes and ears of the crowd to Dylan’s stylistic gyrations. First, Lancaster of Bloomington, recalled Dylan’s early socially significant ballads with “Masters of War,” a song sung with a sweet voice of righteous anger that wiled angelic and indignant. DeVoe, for her part, concentrated on the blues tunes of Dylan, in her haunting, spellbinding version of “Man in a long Black Coat.”

While immensely enjoyable, these two rather expected styles of Dylan merely warmed up the audience for two eye-opening acts that displayed the wide ranging legacy and cross generational influence of Dylan’s musical evolutions.

The initial shock came from the “White Lightning Boys,” a band from Brown County who escorted the crowd into Dylan’s forays into country music, especially bluegrass. This band brought the gritty, down- home, earthy styles of Dylan with their controlled frenzy of fine picking, plucking, strumming and full -finger playing of traditional bluegrass.

The other often unexpected manifestation of Dylan as godfather of grunge music was highlighted a band of Columbus East High School students: “Joyous Garde.” This band played some later, heavier more electrified songs of Dylan, as well a s few classics that were written and recorded several generations before these musicians were born.

All- in- all, “Hoosier Dylan,” was a masterful musical retrospective and it is obvious that each band, musician or singer have mastered one or more styles of Dylan and his multitalented, perversely rebellious take on music and musicianship.

Friday night’s finale ,“Like a Rolling Stone” was literally a wall of sound vocally, visually and musically as this talented ensemble gathered on stage for a final romp through the eclectic tomes of Dylan in a show of truly epic proportions that ended with a standing ovation.

Submitted by:  Terrance Aldridge

This independent review does not express the opinion of the Strand Theatre.

The American Indian Cultural Forum will be at the Strand.

*Don’t miss this special event! This forum presented by the American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. will feature drumming, dancing, flute playing, a power-point presentation, and informational tables.

Four Winds will be performing a large floor drum. Jeff Roberts will be playing the flute. Dancers include: Chelsie Eastwood, Virgil Lewis, Louella Lewis, Aubrey Lewis and Kayleigh Lewis. After the opening ceremonial dances, there will be an open dance where everyone will be invited to participate. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Audience members may also pick up more information from Running Buffalo Circle and the American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. at the event.

The American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc. aspires to promote a sense of unification among the American Indian people of Indiana. They are based in Indianapolis and have been operating since 1992.

The Strand tried a new concept for our theatre.   The concept of Strand Board Member Joey G, we hosted a Dinner and a Movie.   Our first offering was on Friday February 13, 2010.   We showed the 1942 classic Casablanca.

The dinner was catered by Grandma’s Pancake House.   The Moroccan inspired menu was fantastic.   The Strand had over 75 people attend this first dinner!

Everyone had a great time.   Thanks to all who spent their Valentine’s Day Eve with us!