Arts & Entertainment www.gazette.net | Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 | Page B-4
Physician, heal thyself: Psychotherapist copes with hole left in her heart Miller tells story of slain granddaughter
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BY ELLYN WEXLER SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
The irrefutable fact is that Alice Miller’s granddaughter doesn’t live here anymore. Irrefutable and horrific. In April 2013, the U.S. Army sergeant who recruited and seduced the Michelle Miller 17-year-old Rockville High School honor student and star athlete, murdered her and killed himself. And, thus, her grandmother contends, Michelle Miller became “the face of collateral damage.” “To the Army, she is just another statistic that they would
BOOKS probably prefer to forget,” Miller said. “Her family now lives with the loss … and continues a long journey through unimaginable loss and grief.” Miller, a Potomac psychotherapist who was already a published author, felt compelled to tell “the story of Michelle’s bright life and her tragic death… All I can do is something positive in her name.” Her book, “All That Bright Light,” she said, is “the story of that sorrow, spirituality and the struggle to reach forgiveness.” The original edition – printed in Michelle’s memory, and also in honor of the Wounded Warriors (“of which, she was one,” said Miller) – sold out at a reading. Proceeds of more than $3,000 went to the American Red Cross’ Wounded Warrior Program at
See PSYCHOTHERAPIST, Page B-5
PHOTO BY TARA BRADY
Author Alice G. Miller sits in her Potomac home with a copy of her book, “All That Bright Light.”
Out of the red
Band plays mix of classic hits, new songs from latest album n
BY
KIRSTY GROFF STAFF WRITER
Alternative metal outfit Chevelle has managed to keep their sound fresh while honoring their hits over the last 15 years, providing for a career-spanning set available to hear at their concert Tuesday at the Fillmore Silver Spring. Their 2002 platinum-album “Wonder What’s Next” featured two of their biggest hits, “The Red” and “Send The Pain Below.” However, the band hasn’t let their early success go to their heads; drummer Sam Loeffler and crew know the importance of making fans from all stages of their music career welcome — especially as concert-goers themselves. “I think because we’re fans, we know what it’s like to see a band play the new stuff and barely touch the old,” Loeffler said. “We still want to hear a lot of the hits. So we try to pepper them throughout our show.” Their upcoming Silver Spring show is part of a tour supporting their seventh album “La Gárgola,” which was released in April. The sound is heavier than longtime fans might expect, influenced by the likes of Marilyn Manson, Ministry and Rob Zombie. Keeping their music fresh has always been crucial to the members of Chevelle, currently with Pete Loeffler on lead vocals and guitar and Dean Bernardini on bass and backing vocals along with Sam’s percussion role. The process of creating an album can be hard, with multi-
COURTESY OF CHEVELLE
Alternative group Chevelle will take the stage on Aug. 26 at the Fillmore in Silver Spring in support of their most recent album, “La Gárgola.”
CHEVELLE n When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday n Where: The Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring n Tickets: $37.50 n For information: getmorechevelle.com, 301-960-9999
ple takes on demos and producers cutting certain songs entirely. Ideas can be used up, and patience can wear thin — chang-
ing up the style every now and then can keep the entire record process fresh from start to finish. “A lot of times, musicians will bask in that success and go and enjoy their life a little bit,” Loeffler said, “and unfortunately many times the more success you have, you don’t work as hard. At the end of the day, if you like the songs you’re writing that’s what counts. There are many people who have written records they don’t like.” Much like recording albums hasn’t lost its appeal after a decade and a half, touring is still
one aspect of being musicians that the members of Chevelle are fond of and still look forward to — not to say that the preparation is easy. Hours of practice take place each day — and that’s before even stepping on stage before the live audience. “You cannot get out on the stage in front of those people and play them or sing them like Pete does every night unless you know them, back and forwards,” he said. “The only reason I can get up there and do it every day
See CHEVELLE, Page B-5