The Farmer’s Market

This past Thursday, May 28, the Belknap Campus Farmer’s Market opened for the season.  We talked to some of the organizers and vendors, then took a look around to see for ourselves the variety of produce available.

The Farmer’s Market is brought to you by the Sustainability Council, whose mission is to promote green and sustainable practices and culture at the University of Louisville.

First, we talked to Mitchell Payne, Senior Associate Vice President for Business Affairs at the University of Louisville. Payne is responsible for the introduction of this event so he was very enthusiastic about the this years Farmer’s Market.

Payne’s words are reflective of a larger trend toward sustainability and locally-sourced food.  Payne’s main goal is to push “farmers food” to the forefront, because it’s better for the environment. His reasoning for this is the fact that most of our store bought food is transported thousands of miles, which creates a massive carbon footprint. Farmer’s Market food is grown and produced right in our backyard, which keeps the money in the pockets of local citizens instead of these huge corporations. This in turn helps give them the financial resources to grow their locally owned businesses.

While this event doesn’t exclusively have healthy food it sure is a break from what is usually offered on campus from day to day. Most campus food is processed and designed for convenience rather than nutrition. When the healthiest food we can find campus is Qdoba then there is obvious problem with the food that is made available to us, and we feel this Farmer’s Market is helping to promote a healthier lifestyle.  Studies have shown a variety of social and economic benefits to buying locally sourced produce.  There is a particularly compelling link between nutrition and education.

Later, we arrived at the farmer’s market and talked to some of the vendors.  Rick Giannini owns and operates the Sweet and Savory Food Truck, which was on site offering its usual selection of breakfast-oriented culinary innovation. We sampled some of his gelato and found it rich and satisfying. Rick operates at a number of different Farmers Markets across Louisville.  He sells some of the most unique crepes in town. His food truck schedule can be viewed here.

Given that May 28 is early in the growing season, it’s not surprising that the selection of produce would be on the thin side.  However, we had hoped at least to find some fruit aside from strawberries and lemons.  A little research showed us that there’s not any other fruit in season in May. Still, it was a little underwhelming for a grand opening.

There was a decent selection of greens, root vegetables, and locally raised pork and lamb.  Beet greens, peas, and radishes may  not be the most exciting offerings, but they’re definitely more nutritious than the food sources normally available in the area.  Moreover, as the organizers and vendors were quick to tell us, the economic and environmental benefits of buying local are overwhelming.

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Despite the limited selection and the muggy 84 degree weather, the event managed to draw a significant crowd.  Students and local residents alike perused the local offerings and listened to live music. Terry Rutledge, who is another sponsor of the local Farmer’s Market is very concerned with increasing student involvement in the event.  She hopes to work with campus authorities to develop the means to allow students to use their Cardinal cash at the farmer’s market vendors.

For health-savvy students living on and around campus, the convenience of the farmer’s market also contributes to sustainability.  Rather than driving to a grocery or a more distant farmer’s market, they can simply walk down the street and stock up for the week.

While we were a little disappointed with the selection, we look forward to seeing how the farmer’s market changes throughout the growing season.  In a few weeks we can expect to start seeing blueberries, blackberries, peaches, broccoli, and a host of other fruits and vegetables.  Buying local means being limited by what’s in season, but it can also mean being pleasantly surprised by the appearance of new items from one week to the next.

The Belknap Farmer’s Market is located on Brandeis St. between 3rd and 4th in front of the Ville Grill.  It is open every Thursday from 3:30 to 6 P.M. through October 15. The Office of Health Promotion will also be on hand to provide free samples for incoming patrons!

Night of the Return of the Dual Record Releases 6/5/15

In a little over a week Louisville’s music scene will once again test our ability to be in two places at the same time.  Last time it was Karass and Touch AC & Doctor Dundiff.  This time, on Friday June 6 Kaleidico and Coliseum will both be releasing new records.  Fortunately, it might be possible to see both bands.  Unlike the previous occasion, these shows aren’t across town from each other–they’re only a block apart.

Kaleidico in action, photo courtesy of The Paper.

Kaleidico will be playing at Zanzabar (2100 S Preston Street) in support of their new LP, Zoetic.  The new album isn’t available digitally yet, but if the previous release, Free Falling Waltz, is any indication, it will be fantastic.  The songwriting and production on that album sound seasoned and professional, with a sound that combines some of the best melodic elements of Radiohead’s OK Computer with the atmospheric textures of one of the early Brian Eno records and maybe a hint of Philip Glass.  You wouldn’t guess from the polished sound that they did it all themselves.  They’ve gone that route again with this album, and I have high hopes that it will be just as satisfying.  Montego and Twenty First Century Fox open the show.  Entry costs $5, and the experience will surely be worth many times that.

Coliseum’s show will be just down the street at the New Vintage (2126 S Preston Street).  With any luck, they won’t play at the same time as Kaleidico, and my plan to catch both acts will be successful.  The new album, Anxiety’s Kiss, is characterized by a little more melody and less raw aggression than the band’s previous records.  That’s not to say that it’s not a heavy album, however.  Even when they’re toning it down a little, Coliseum is a loud, brutal band.  This is another occasion where I’ll counsel you to bring earplugs.  With music from Young Widows, Child Bite, and Exacta Cube, the opening bands alone are worth the $10 cover.

 

A Closer Look at this Year’s Poorcastle Lineup

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Poorcastle is an affordable alternative to the over-hyped megafestival that Forecastle has become.  Set the weekend before its larger counterpart, Poorcastle will be held at Apocalypse Brew Works on July 10-12.  I can’t hope to keep your attention long enough to give a bio of every band in the lineup, I’ve selected a few of what I consider the highlights.

Hal Dolls

They aren’t the only punk band on the bill, but they’re the punkest band on the bill (sorry, DTBP, maybe next time).   Hal Dolls are a trio consisting of veteran punk rockers Erin Fitzgerald, Doug Maxson, and Matt Whitaker, all of whom have extensive credentials in the local music scene (Maxson was playing in The Dickbrains, one of Louisville’s most influential punk acts, before I was even born).  Consider them a can’t-miss.  They play on Friday, July 10.  Here’s an interview and performance with them on This Man is Not My Father.

Howell Dawdy

Musical comedy acts aren’t usually my thing.  In most cases, the music is a crutch for comedy that can’t stand on its own or vice versa.  In the case of Howell Dawdy, the experience transcends music and comedy.  It’s something else entirely, something simultaneously beautiful, thoughtful, and hilarious.  I don’t have the words for it, so just watch this video.  Then watch all of his other videos.  Then come to Poorcastle on Saturday, July 11.

Also, be sure to see Howell Dawdy at the upcoming RYE Back Porch Session on June 18 with fellow Poorcastle artists Cher Von and…

Twin Limb

I can’t express fully how much I love this band.  Originally a duo consisting of Lacey Guthrie and MaryLiz Guillemi, Twin Limb’s songs are still centered around the atmospheric sounds of their drums, accordion, and often Florence and The Machine-esque vocals.  They have since been joined by Kevin Ratterman, who adds a layer of noisy texture to the songs, shifting them from psychedelic folk to moody dream-pop.  They perform on Sunday, July 12.

 

Back Porch Sessions at RYE Showcase Local Talent

The development of NuLu has brought new life to East Market Street, most visibly in the form of art galleries and restaurants.  Places like Harvest, Toast on Market, Garage Bar, and Mayan Cafe offer interesting dining experiences within easy reach of downtown.  Some of these restaurants offer more than that, however.  Decca periodically has live music in their cellar lounge, and every third Thursday of the summer months, RYE hosts the Back Porch Sessions: a free outdoor concert series that puts the spotlight on local musicians.

Jalin Roze performing at RYE last September.

Tomorrow (Thursday 5/21) marks the start of this year’s Back Porch Sessions.  The series kicks off with the minimalist droning sounds of headliner Old Baby.  The band will be supported New Albany’s Dream Eye Color Wheel and Chicago’s Bitchin Bajas.  Sadly, this coincides with the free show at Nachbar I mentioned in a previous post, but it might be possible to see both without disrupting the space/time continuum.  The Back Porch Sessions are supposed to start at 7 PM, while Nachbar’s show is set for 10 PM.  Given that shows in Louisville rarely start when they’re supposed to, there’s no telling when the first show will end and the second will begin, but there’s a chance that they won’t overlap.

The Back Porch Sessions take place on a covered stage in the parking lot next to RYE.  It’s completely free and open to the public of all ages–you can just walk into the parking lot.  They have outdoor booths set up for merch and alcohol sales, and of course the restaurant is open if you want to grab a bite before the show.

This summer will also feature Back Porch Session performances by Twin Limb, Young Widows, and The Hot Wires, as well as a special Saturday event on September 26 headlined by 1200 and (this is the part where I insert a shameless plug) featuring Twenty First Century Fox.

Tuesday 5/19: Daikaiju vs. Kaiju

This one’s actually a scoop; it’s a last-minute show with no promotion on social media.  I heard about it today via text message from the lead guitarist.  Tomorrow night (Tuesday 5/19), Daikaiju will be deviating from their posted tour schedule to play a show here in town at Kaiju on East Oak St.  They’re playing at the Southgate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky tonight.  While Daikaiju isn’t exactly local–they’re based out of Huntsville, Alabama–they play here frequently (their last show in town was last month) and have some pretty close ties to Louisville.  Even if that wasn’t true, I would probably make an exception for them, because there’s honestly no live act locally–and few globally–that compare.  Words don’t do it justice.  Pictures don’t even do it justice.  But here they are anyway, because short of resorting to physical force, they’re the best I can do to get you to come out to this show.

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All of these photos are from the band’s facebook, and all from within the past two months.  These images are typical of their performances.

Daikaiju, whose name is Japanese for “giant monster,” play an extremely loud and heavy variant of surf rock.  Their songs are instrumental, centering around the fast-paced riffs and solos of the lead guitar.  It’s accompanied by drums, bass, and rhythm guitar, all of which are often played from above the crowd’s heads as the members and their instruments crowdsurf.  Check out their music here, but remember to play it loud.

If your speakers go to 11, you’ll need every bit of it.

As someone who’s been to nearly every Daikaiju show in town for the past eight years and about an equal number in other cities, I can offer a few recommendations to enhance your experience.

1. Bring earplugs.  There’s no shame.  This band is seriously loud.
2. Bring a shirt to change into after the show.  The one you wear will be covered in sweat, and most of it will probably be other people’s.
3. Party hard, but don’t try to party as hard as the band does.  They’re professionals and they party harder than anyone.

Tele Destruction Gear at Nachbar 5/21

This Thursday, Louisville’s Tele Destruction Gear brings their unique brand of retro electronic music to Nachbar. Tele Destruction Gear is a trio consisting of drums, bass, and synthesizer. They’ve been actively playing shows for two years since the June 2013 release of their initial EP, Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!.  A year later, in July 2014, Tele Destruction Gear released the single “Silent Service.”  Both it and Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! sound like a combination of 80s film scores and video game soundtracks, which reflects the band’s acknowledged influences.  If titles like “…But First, You Must Fight Abobo!” weren’t a clear enough indicator (Abobo is a character from the Double Dragon games), according to a remark on their Facebook page most of their music “is written specifically either about video games or Blade Runner.”

Since then, they’ve been playing shows around town, including a Marvel vs. Capcom 3 tournament at the Highlands Taproom and most recently the first annual Schnitzelburg Rock festival at the Cure Lounge.  The recordings available online don’t really do justice to the band’s sound, which is bigger and more intense than most headphones or computer speakers can convey.  This is particularly true of my personal favorite TDG song, “Vendetta Vengeance / Visit the Volcano God,” which sports some analog synth bass sounds that would make any EDM artist drool.

By the way, this show has two distinct advantages over most other live music options in town.  First of all, as is typical of Nachbar shows, it’s free.  Second, unlike many other venues which charge high prices for mediocre drinks, Nachbar has some of the best beers and spirits in town at prices that few other bars can beat.  Plus, you don’t even have to fight Abobo, which is fortunate, because he’s really good at fight.

Music is supposed to start a 10 PM.  See you there.

Two Release Shows This Friday

If movies have taught me anything, it’s that messing with time travel is a risky venture for everyone involved.

That’s heavy, Doc.

But I have no choice.  It’s the only way I can hope to go to both Zanzabar and the Highlands Tap Room at the same time Friday night.  Both bars are hosting release shows that promise to be simply unmissable.  Each show has its advantages and drawbacks, but ultimately I can’t see a scenario outside of science fiction that doesn’t involve me spending the rest of my life drinking away my regret at missing one of these shows.

At Zanzabar, Karass will be releasing their newest full-length album, The Donut Industrial Complex.  The album went live for digital download Tuesday at midnight.  In some ways this release is a departure from their last, Order of Operations (2014) and return to the atmospheric instrumental sound that defined Karass on their earlier albums, Imponderable Bloom (2012) and Or Granfalloon (2009).  Like the two earlier releases, The Donut Industrial Complex is instrumental, unlike Order of Operations which featured guest vocalists on every track.  However, the new album isn’t just more of the same.  It opens with the title track, “The Donut Industrial Complex,” which probably has the heaviest intro of any of their songs to date.  The heavy guitar and synth sound of that song comes and goes throughout the record, but the entire thing feels a bit more tense than their previous records.  It’s still atmospheric, but it’s a different kind of atmosphere than before.  It feels like a lonely but urgent journey through space–and sometimes through asteroid fields.  At times it sounds relaxing and at times frantic, the latter especially in the rapid bass line to the second to last song, “Holy Moley.”  Karass will be supported by Cher Von and The Monolith.  Admission is a measly $5.

The other release show is for Page of Cups, the new EP from hip hop artists Touch AC and Dr. Dundiff.  You may remember Dr. Dundiff and Friends as one of the few local artists set to appear at Forecastle.  Touch AC will be performing with him there as well, but you can can get a more intimate experience for the low, low price of free.  That’s right, this show costs nothing to attend (although you might have to shell out for new underwear after you shit yourself when you hear Touch AC’s lyrics).  Unfortunately, you can’t hear Page of Cups online beforehand, but you can get a taste by checking out Touch’s previous album, Satan’s on His Way & He Wants His Drugs (2014).  For a taste of Dr. Dundiff’s style as a producer, I recommend his recent collaboration with Sloe Pink, 27 Club.  Rest assured, both Touch and Dundiff are at the top of their game, as is the full band that accompanies them, the Smoke Shop Kids.

As a bonus, here’s a Karass track featuring Touch AC and a Touch AC track remixed by Karass.

The Best Things in Life are Free

Professional musicians love to complain about the direction the music industry is headed.  David Byrne of Talking Heads fame thinks that the internet threatens to suck all creative content out of the world, Prince files lawsuits against his fans, and Jay-Z struggles to change the future of music streaming with his own paid-subscription-only streaming service.  These guys paint a bleak picture.  If no one pays artists for their work, the argument goes, then artists will have to stop producing it.

Diddy and Jay-Z are just two of the artists struggling to put food on the table in today’s economy.

This kind of argument ignores the fact that the overwhelming majority of artists in the world weren’t making money in the first place–and in many cases, they didn’t expect to.  The expectation that music could be a realistic avenue to fortune and glory has been on the way out since the 90s.  And while some musicians even then could still make a living without a day job, their success depended as much (if not more) on sound engineers, producers, and dumb luck as it did on their own hard work and artistic merit.

Steve Albini has been an active touring musician since 1981, but he’s best recognized as the sound engineer who worked on records by artists like the Pixies and Nirvana as well as Louisville’s own Slint and Crain.

By now you should be wondering what all of this has to do with Louisville music.  Remember those artists who aren’t doing it for the money?  Well, they’re all over town.  The New Old Highlands Taproom offers free live music on Metal Mondays and Keep Louisville Live Tuesdays.  Four Pegs Beer Lounge holds an open mic every Thursday.  On select Fridays throughout the Summer, RYE hosts its Back Porch Sessions, showcasing some of the best musical acts in the city.  Between these and events at ReSurfaced, Kaiju, Nachbar, Decca, and too many others to list, nearly every night there are multiple free music events in Louisville.

Hip hop artist 1200 will headline ReSurfaced on June 12 and RYE’s Back Porch Session on September 26.

Forecastle’s Lineup Lacks Local Flavor

Louisville’s Forecastle Festival keeps coming up short on of its most vital ingredients: Louisville.  According to the annual festival’s website, “Forecastle has consistently promoted local artists.”  Why then is Louisville’s wealth of musical talent so underrepresented?  By my count, there five local acts among the nearly sixty artists in the lineup (and that’s counting My Morning Jacket, for whom the term “local” is a little bit of a stretch these days).

Thanks, Forecastle. My Morning Jacket clearly wasn’t getting enough promotion.

Aside from MMJ, this year’s local lineup features Houndmouth, White Reaper, Twin Limb, and Dr. Dundiff and Friends.  The range of styles these artists offer hints at the rich variety of local acts available: White Reaper’s powerful, noisy punk, Twin Limb’s haunting, psychedelic dream pop, Houndmouth’s light folk rock, and Dr. Dundiff’s unique meld of hip hop, funk, rock, and general weirdness.  While these acts are each worthy of their place in the lineup, a great many more are snubbed year after year in favor of little-known artists from other cities and forgettable one-hit wonders from the pop charts.

iLoveMakonnen’s claim to fame is that Drake remixed his song “Tuesday.”

The five local acts that made the cut might help to promote Louisville as a musical city, but Forecastle could do so much more.  Why can’t Forecastle represent the jazz of Liberation Prophecy or Ut Gret, the bluegrass of Relic or the 23 String Band, and the experimental sounds of Sapat or Cher Von?  Louisville is home to scores of talented musicians worthy of sharing Forecastle’s stage.  For now, I’ll just save the $200 I would have to spend to attend all three days of Forecastle, and instead spend $5 to $7 at a time at truly local music events.  And fortunately, there’s a perfect opportunity the weekend before Forecastle: Poorcastle Festival at Apocalypse Brew Works.

Poorcastle costs $5 a day (hence its name), lasts three days, and features 33 local bands, including Forecastle players Twin Limb.  I don’t think I could sit through a whole Sam Smith set anyway.