Lifestyles The Appalachian
Video Coverage:
‘Polar Plunge’
TheAppalachianOnline.com
| TheAppalachianOnline.com
February 21, 2012 •
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Punch Brothers play to full house at Farthing by MEGAN WRAPPE Lifestyles Reporter
C
hris Thile and the Punch Brothers kicked off their tour at Appalachian State University Friday, playing to a sold-out crowd in Farthing Audito-
rium. The group - on tour to promote their new album “Who’s Feeling Young Now” - marked their first appearance in Boone last weekend. “We’ve been a band for a long time, but we’ve never played here,” Thile said as he walked onstage Friday. “So how about doing it for the first show on our tour?” The acoustic, bluegrass-inspired act then launched into a set packed with songs from “Who’s Feeling Young Now,” which was released four days prior to the concert. The concert also marked the world premiere of the song “Hundred Dollars.” “Most of what you’ve heard tonight is off the new record,” banjo player Noam Pikelny said. “The record came out a few days ago, so this is the official Boone release.” Though the majority of the songs were new, the band’s jam-session sound was still consistent. And there were plenty of people to notice in the seats at Farthing. The show was an indoor concert recordbreaker for the band, which usually plays outdoor venues. “Guys, I think this is the largest crowd we’ve ever played for indoors, so thank you,” Thile told the audience. The Punch Brothers have earned a sizable fan base since their founding in 2006: more than 29,000 Face-
APPS cancels Chairmen show
book likes and more than 8,000 Twitter followers. Though the band is relatively new, Thile has been performing since 1989 - previously as a member of the trio Nickel Creek. “They were a great band and I knew he was really talented,” said sophomore psychology major and audience member Collin McCurry, on Nickel Creek and Thile. The band played for several songs after their encore and still received a standing ovation for more. “The show was incredible and the talent and musicianship between them all was refreshing and is hard to find today,” McJessica Schreck | The Appalachian Curry said. “I really enjoy their Last Friday, progressive bluegrass quintet the Punch Brothers performed at style of music and can appreci- Farthing Auditorium to a sold-out crowd. The members include, from left to right, ate it, having played guitar for Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Chris Eldrige (guitar), Chris Thile (mandolin), Noam Pikelny (banjo) and Paul Kowert (bass). a while.” The audience’s applause took the band members by surprise, being in our own band right now.” if Thile’s parting words were any indication. The Punch Brothers’ latest album was released last “You don’t know how good it makes us feel to play a week and can be purchased on punchbrothers.com or on room this size that’s this full,” he said. “We’re having fun iTunes.
Polar Plunge
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by BLAKE LITAKER
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
by MICHAEL BRAGG Lifestyles Editor
Though Chairmen of the Board was scheduled to perform at Legends for the tenth time Friday, the beach music group’s show has been postponed indefinitely, Programs Director Randy Kelly said Monday. APPS plans to reschedule the show at a later date that accommodates both the band’s and the university’s schedules, Kelly said. APPS felt it was “in the band’s best interest” to postpone the show, Stage Shows Chairperson Megan Ternes said. The band has traditionally performed at Appalachian State University each year for APPS’ Winter Gala. Last year was the first show without founding member General Johnson, who died in October 2010. Band member Ken Knox compared the yearly show to a family reunion, attended by Appalachian students and other bands who come to see the smooth, southern band each year. “Once we hit the stage, Legends becomes a beach club where the audience gets the chance to come onstage and dance with the band and enjoy the tradition,” Knox said. The show is also a great place for the beach-style dancing bands like Chairmen revolve around, senior risk management and insurance major James Paul DeKemper said. “If you know how to shag, this is the place to be - and if you don’t, this is a great place to learn,” DeKemper said. Although the band has remained traditionally upbeat, playing concerts without General Johnson can be rough, Knox said. “Every time I hit the stage, I can feel him with me in spirit,” Knox said. “He is my mentor. And although this last year has been tough, I know he would want me to continue keeping the legacy alive.”
Amy Birner | The Appalachian
Top: Appalachian students partake in the Polar Plunge while poking fun at January’s accident where a white Mustang drove into Duck Pond. The Polar Plunge was held last Thursday to help raise money for the Special Olympics. Right: Two Appalachian students willingly participate in last Thursday’s Polar Plunge. Students paid to jump into ASU’s Duck Pond to help raise money for the Special Olympics.
“Polar Plunge is done at Duck Pond because it is a major landmark for the campus,” said WASU Station Manager Lauren Brigman, whose station broadcast live at the event. “It allows students to come together and be able to do something fun.” Phi Alpha Delta President Joshua Marklin has jumped at Greensboro’s Polar Plunge three times, but jumped into Duck Pond for the first time this year. “The atmosphere is different here,” Marklin said. “It’s a lot more open, chill and bigger than in Greensboro. Greensboro gets a lot more media attention from news companies, but since this is a college campus there’s more small town popularity.” Marklin said he heard the water was 38 degrees, but it didn’t stop him from jumping. “The Special Olympics is pretty much an all volunteerbased organization,” he said. “I’ve
had the chance to work for the Special Olympics and I’m glad to be here and donate money to a great cause. I can’t think of anything better to do.” Polar Plunge has been around since 1999, when a group of fraternity members ran into the water and ran out. Since then, it has become a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, University Police Chief Gunther Doerr said. “The money raised goes to help pay for transportation and uniforms for the Special Olympics athletes,” Doerr said. “We used to do several fundraisers for Special Olympics and Polar Plunge became the only fundraiser.” And of course, safety is a main priority on Polar Plunge day. Watauga Medics, divers and other precautions were all in place Thursday. “We don’t want people to get hurt,” Doerr said.
Amy Birner | The Appalachian
Polar Plunge Award Winners Most Extreme Costume Winners: Male: Flash Santa by Benjamin Franklin Female: Punk Daisy Cart by Courtney Armstrong Top Fundraising Groups: ASU Sports Management Class - $1,587 ASU ROTC - $595 Top Individual Fundraiser: Stacey Critcher - $110 Source: Keron Poteat, Watauga County Special Olympics coordinator
Retired Tuskegee Airman relives career for Appalachian audience the squadron, also known as the Red Tails, which served as the inspiration for a movie directed Retired Army Capt. Harvey by Anthony Hemingway and Alexander, a former member produced by George Lucas titled of the World War II Tuskegee “Red Tails.” Airmen, spoke to a packed For some, just being near audience Thursday night in the the Airmen brought a sense Reich College of security. of Education Alexander Building. rec alled “The thing I always C a p t . want to tell the kids is: one retired Alexander bomber pilot do something that’s answered a who said he going to make you broad array of “never felt so questions from happy and your family comf or table the audience. He in my life happy.” covered various as when I subjects: his time Captain Harvey Alexander was sitting Retired Army Captain, Former as a pilot in what next to those was once the member of WWII Tuskegee Airmen Redtails.” Army Air Corps’ Though only all-black he never saw squadron, his childhood, his battle, Alexander’s experiences experiences with the Civil Rights were unique - including the Movement in Greensboro. racial discrimination he faced in “We had the right to fight for the military and throughout his our country,” Alexander said, life. referring to his time with the “He is a captivating speaker, Tuskegee Airmen. at the same time disarming At 90 years old, he’s one of and riveting,” said Augusto the few surviving members of Pena, interim director for the by MAGGIE BLUNK
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Office of Multicultural Student Development, which cosponsored the event. “I was struck by how he has come to be at peace with the world, in spite of having borne so much irrational discrimination and aggression.” The event’s attendees also included attendees from its other two co-sponsors - the department of history and the department of military science and leadership. “It was an honor just meeting someone who was involved in so many pivotal moments in our nation’s history,” Professor of History Andrea Burns said. “If you saw all the fourth-graders sitting in front and you looked at their faces, they were totally enthralled by him.” Alexander ended his talk with advice for the Appalachian students and other younger audience members in attendance. “The thing I always want to tell the kids is: do something that’s going to make you happy and your family happy,” he said. “Whatever those dreams you have are, keep on dreaming them.”
Courtney Roskos | The Appalachian
Capt. Harvey Alexander poses with a 4th grade class from Hardin Park Elementary Thursday evening in the College of Education’s Gordan Gathering Hall.