Triple Cities Carousel August 2014

CAROUSEL triple cities

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august 2014

vol. 2 issue 8

living local. loving life.

Sometimes a picture is worth 1000 words.

editorial.

What can I say? Carousel really, really loves round-a-bouts. And also, it’s late and I’m tired and there’s no profundity left in me, so what better way to delve into the first ever Carousel picto-editorial than by posting this picture of me and former Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan gazing longingly at each other from the warm embrace of an air mattress? Sorry, Sheila.

Also, to Binghamton’s current Mayor, the honorable Rich David: it’s a king-sized air mattress.

There’s plenty of room for three! (This is how politics works, right? Right?)

Also, to the two-thirds of our readership that haven’t got the slightest idea what this all even means, fret not. Come September, I’ll totally write the most profound editorial ever written.

Next month.

-Christopher M.F. Bodnarczuk TRIPLE CITIES CAROUSEL P.O. BOX 2947 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Christopher Bodnarczuk Assistant Editors Heather Merlis, Ronnie Vuolo Creative Consulant/Calendar Guru Ty Whitbeck Advertising Christopher Bodnarczuk, Kathleen Klein, Ty Whitbeck Staff Writers Krissy Howard, Ilana Lipowicz, Rose Silberman-Gorn, Felicia Waynesboro, Phil Wescott, Nick Wilsey, Ahlpheh Ohtis Wilson Contributors Dick Andrus, Connie Barnes, BingSpot, Pat Hutchinson-Day, Melissa Mischke, Miles McNulty, Kevin Salisbury Photography Ty Whitbeck Layout/Design Christopher Bodnarczuk On the Cover “The Dream” -Robert Hoover

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Copyright 2014 by Triple Cities Carousel. All rights reserved.

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August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 3

contents.

charlie moore............................................................5 music.............................................................................7 art...............................................................................18 persons of interest...............................................21 calendar....................................................................22 theatre and dance.................................................25 food and drink.........................................................27 film.............................................................................33 dog days of summer.............................................34 books..........................................................................36 bingspot.....................................................................39 fun stuff...................................................................40 more fun stuff........................................................42

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 5

Charlie Moore October 18th, 1951 – July 7th, 2014 “When did you meet Charlie?” people ask, and I answer like people who aren’t from here do: moments pass and a softened, thoughtful countenance belies the minds’ memories swimming back through endless nights here. Nebulous, we wonder, “When did I come to this godforsaken place?” Then with certainty we answer, “Whenever that was... that’s when I met Charlie.”

“Where did you meet Charlie?” is stranger still, because Charlie was everywhere. Everywhere, with his soul at stake, hunting music, art, people and culture to feed his colossal rock and roll heart’s thump.

“It’s a long and convoluted story, sweetheart...” Charlie’d say like a sigh.

Charlie was born and raised in Susquehanna, PA, a beer and joint’s ride from Old BingoTown. His grandfather worked the railroad when trains carried human beings to New York City and anywhere else they fancied, instead of gas and coal and flourinated god knows what. His grandma Margie worked a gig in the beautiful Arlington Hotel, now a parking lot, and little Charlie came to visit her on Front Street when everybody in half a hundred mile circle put on their Sunday’s best for Binghamton to join in her bustling. He loved his mama, a nurse they called Red. His father loved drinking, but never drank at work, so he was good for something.

Charlie graduated Susquehanna High School in 1970, in a class of eighteen. He drew Playboy bunnies on the board when the nuns skulked out to the hallways to beat latecomers. He wrote not a word in his notebooks; though they filled with wavering lines the size of words as Charlie feigned scholarship in the back row, diverting the wrath of Sister Concillia. He played basketball and the trophy he won lay forgotten for me to find on the shelf behind his books of Borges. The first time ever he heard Jimi Hendrix he let go his dreams of playing and became Listener.

At a hootenanny in the high wooded pits of the mighty Susq came red-headed, 23-year-old, six-foot tall Charlie. His friends left early without him and he was itching to get back to town. Russell Snow was headed that way and Charlie caught a ride. In 20 seconds they were 120 miles an hour down the road in a hairpin turn and smashed to an oak tree. Charlie was paralyzed and Russell Snow was just fine. Russell Snow was never charged or fined and could not be sued because Pennsylvania, only weeks before, adopted No-fault insurance policies. Russell Snow was told he’d better leave town and he did. Russell Snow, where did you go?

Charlie bought a hand controlled Malibu Classic with the small settlement the insurance company dispensed as lifetime compensation for his injury. The Stones rang the windows and he drove until the urgency of killing himself descended a little... a hundred thousand miles, three hundred thousand miles?

He made a choice and unembittered his heart. He gave Kathy and Kelly the keys and they lost themselves on the backroads for hours finding their way home. He drank rum with a splash of coke. There, on Ararat Mountain, he saw the circumference of the earth and Pure Blue mediation of the sky. He partied at the Punchbowl and lived.

“You don’t remember this, sweetheart...” he’d say before unfurling his mind in unbroken strings of words, looking in my face with his smile. Oh, Charlie, so much I have forgotten. You, library of a man, can you be really gone?

He spent three glorious weeks in San Francisco when a medical operation brought him there in the early ‘80s. The city’s scape and streets got mapped across his brain like he’d been there thirty years. He didn’t sleep, just kept rolling after life, as usual. When his bus pass was checked out at the end of his time there, he recalled the surprised confusion the woman’s face gave as she tallied him over the ticket’s limit by 368 rides. He dreamed to go back there and he’d bring me with him when we won the Powerball. We’d get a van and put a bed in the back and not pay for hotels and he’d take me to Little Hunan’s where we’d have soup and a meal and tea for five dollars, and if they forgot the tea it would all be free.

“Let’s see said the blind man...”

In ‘78 he moved to Binghamton to study film at Binghamton University (then the Berkeley of the East), with Larry Gottheim and Ken Jacobs. He continued attending classes and events at BU and was heartbroken when the buses were cut and he no longer had a ride home. He sat in on rehearsals of world class musicians at the Forum. In an empty show or a lonely bar, Charlie could be counted on.

At the library, before the hours were chopped, he read chapters of books by the armful until it was time to wheel out to the night and let it all spin up into his shimmering brain web. He read the paper each day, scouring it for information that would be of use to his dreams: a solar theater; the transformation of blighted properties into legitimate handicap accessible housing; freedom from the fist of the bureaucracy of poverty; his sight back; a van; an accessible home that was his.

“Is Charlie a Vet?” many ask. And though Charlie never served in the military, he was a Veteran of America’s War on the Poor: wounded by her for-profit healthcare system, tortured by her uncompromising bureaucracy, broken by her incalculable injustice. “I called it Midnight in America,” he’d say with grimace when Reagan came up. “Mind boggling,” when corporations are people and money is speech. “America, she’ll never be the same. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s, sweetheart, because you never know what they’ll throw at you.” And still, despite it, he served life and he served us.

And the hole he’s left is as big as his soul, our most beloved, Charlie Moore. May you never rest, and keep going, on and on.

-Melissa Mischke Please contact Melissa at sienolaad@gmail.com with thoughts to continue Charlie’s legacy.

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 7

music.

TONY BENNETT When asked in an email interview, whether or not he felt his life and career have been something of a roller coaster ride, Tony Bennett replies, “After six decades as an entertainer I have learned one thing for sure– minimize stress as much as possible.”

Maybe that explains– in part– why the vocal tones of this 17-time Grammy winner go down as smoothly as a fine filet, perfectly seasoned. And it does not matter if your idea of that metaphorical treat is filet mignon or filet of tofu- Bennett’s style keeps attracting audiences of varied tastes and ages. Case in point: his popularity may have begun with the recording of “Because of You” way back in 1951, but that span of time didn’t deter Lady Gaga from popping onstage, amid frenetic cheers, to join him in song last month in Montreal. Amy Winehouse’s last recording was a duet with Bennett, performing the classic “Body and Soul.” He has propelled at least one album to the music charts in each decade from the ‘50s to the present.

Binghamton-area audiences will be able to spend an evening with Tony Bennett when his 2014 tour, “An Evening With Tony Bennett,” rolls into the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Theater this month. “We’re thrilled to get Tony Bennett here,” says the Center’s marketing director, Rosanne Norris. Seating for the concert will range from traditional orchestra seats down front, to lawn seating in the back (through the retractable wall at the rear of the theater). The Osterhout provides a sloping knoll with its own sound equipment to enhance the open-air listening experience. “The sound is excellent,” Norris assures.

Tours are notoriously grueling, and if you delve into the tour schedule at Tony’s official website, this one seems to stretch seamlessly back into previous years’ tours, and headlong towards a December stint in Nashville. Most visits are one-night appearances throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe. Regarding the secret of his stamina and verve, he says, “When I first started out, at the Paramount Theater in New York City, we did seven shows a day, so it gave me the training I needed to be a touring performer from the very beginning.”

Bennett’s wellspring is the Great American Songbook, that trove of time-tested musical treasures from master craftsmen such as the Gershwins, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter. “I always try to find a song that I know I can communicate its meaning to the audience, something that touches me and that I know I can convey to the listener.”

Perhaps his brief stay in our area will also lead to a sketch or painting of some local scape from a hotel window. Many Bennett fans do not realize that he is an accomplished and recognized visual artist, with works in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian, as well as several other venerated institutions. It is rumored that he paints or sketches every day, so when I ask what compels him, he answers, “I have been singing and painting all my life– from when I was very young… it’s something I have to do.”

Bennett’s strong childhood roots have clearly inspired him toward the humanitarianism for which he has been celebrated. Noting that he grew up during the Depression in New York City, he says that when his immigrant Italian family first moved there, they chose not to live where most of their fellow Italian immigrants settled. “They wanted to be in a mix of people.”

Tony was born in Astoria, Queens. He then adds something that possibly only native New Yorkers can understand: “I think that I am so tied to New York that I never even bothered to get a driver’s license!”

“My family was very accepting and demonstrated tolerance, so that was ingrained in me from the beginning. Ella Fitzgerald used to say to me, ‘Tony, we are all here,’ which sounds so simple but if you truly accept the fact that we are all on the same planet together and need to support each other then I think it follows that you want to help others.” On whether it’s true that he once said, “War is the lowest form of human behavior,” he replies, “Yes, war and any violence among humans.” He also modestly admits that it is true that hundreds of young women, dressed in black, stood outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the day he was first married, demonstrating their grief at the loss of his potential availability. You can read about this, and plenty of other tidbits and insights, in several of his published memoirs, the most recent being Life is a Gift: the Zen of Bennett, Harper-Collins 2012.

Bennett has been known to put down his microphone for one selection of the evening, to give the audience a refreshing jolt of the full power that his voice retains. Will he do that at the Anderson Center? No one knows. In any case, the audience is sure to feel they are in good company when warmed by that well recognized Bennett smile. “I have been blessed to be able to make a living doing the two things I love best, and I can honestly say it feels like I have never worked a day in my life.” Although no opening act is formally billed for the performance, Tony divulged that his opening act is usually his daughter, Antonia Bennett, whom he describes as, “an excellent jazz singer… trained at the Berklee School of Music, so she knows how to do it right.”

“An Evening with Tony Bennett” takes place Saturday, August 30th, at 8pm at the Osterhout Theater of the Anderson Center, at the Binghamton University campus on Vestal Parkway.

Tickets run from $31 Lawn Seating, to $96 Front Orchestra. Box Office: 607-777-ARTS. For more information go to anderson.binghamton.edu.

LEAVES HIS HEART IN VESTAL Photo by Mark Seliger.

by Felicia Waynesboro

SEEDSTOCK SOWS SENSE OF COMMUNITY

8 Vol. 2 Issue 8

WITH SIXTH CORTLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ty Whitbeck Creative Consultant

“If you build it, they will come.”

A mantra that has been instilled in us since 1989’s Field of Dreams (okay, it’s actually “he will come,” but who’s counting?). Manifest your destiny. Plant your ideas and watch them grow. Nurture them, and give them love, and interact positively with them, because ideas dig that. There’s an encompassing parenthood that comes with planting from seed. First, there’s the prep. Till the soil and compost until it’s ready to pilot your chosen seed. And then you water it. You do the things it takes to see it to fruition. It becomes your baby. You chase away predators and build community with other plants and pull weeds on your hands and knees and you get all dirty doing it. It begins to take shape. From just one seed has grown massive communal garden that is becoming ever more self-sustaining.

Such is the story of Seedstock. Started six years ago on a farm in Cortland called Reed’s Seeds, founders Jamie Yaman, Tyler Coakley, and Matt Coats had been kicking around

the idea to throw a house party-type festival on the land. They had all been living in this house on the farm, dubbed The COAMANLEY (after their last names) when Chris Merkley offered to help them organize it a little more.

Merkley’s credentials could bill him as a modern day Renaissance man. He’s a musician.

He founded Old Boy Records in 2005. He has also successfully Kickstarted a bus renovation for the touring vessel of Old Boy, which is also tours to schools, teaching sustainability through music and art.

After the first year, Coats moved out, and Merkley moved into the house. The festival started off very small- only a couple hundred people showed up for the first event, the next year became a little bigger, and so forth. But this past year, over 1000 people attended the one-day festival, with an overwhelmingly positive response.

“There’s just something about a small local thing where it’s like a party and everybody knows everybody type thing, and with growth, it’s going to change. We’re not in denial about our role in this… but we view Seedstock as its own thing and it’s going to grow into whatever it’s going to be. We’re there to kind of help nurture it along. It’s kind of like bumper

bowling in a way; we put up the bumpers to try to guide it, but really it’s its own entity.

It’s become something where we’re trying to see what it wants to be and what direction it’s headed in the most natural sort of progression,” says Merkely.

Seedstock has grown into one of the most important days of music, art, and community building in Cortland. Starting at 10am, they do bluegrass and bagels on the acoustic stage on the back porch. With music provided by The Brothers MacRae and Molly & the Badly Bent Bluegrass Boys, festivalgoers bring a dish to pass to start the day off bright and early.

The breakfast set segues into the main part of the festival, and this year’s lineup looks sick.

From the haunting acoustic sounds of Rockwood Ferry to the stampeding Afrobeat fury of Big Mean Sound Machine; the harp-heavy blues-rock of Merkley’s trio, Digger Jones, to the Roc-City reggae fiya of Mosaic Foundation, music of all kinds are represented.

Closing out the night will be Jimkata, about whom Merkley is especially excited. Once the live music has sustained, there will be a silent disco with DJ Gourd and WeazilDust in the Meraki Forest (a tripped out art installation in

the woods). With thirteen regional and local bands, and two DJs, the music and the silent disco will bump until the early morning.

While this is not a camping event, there are still some things to consider when planning for Seedstock 6. It’s family friendly! Feel free to bring your kids and rock out to the music, enjoy the art, and get the family’s faces painted to look like the Simpsons (the cartoon characters, not OJ’s clan). However, from mid-afternoon until closing, IDs will be checked at the gate (18+ unless accompanied by an adult).

Seedstock is a BYO event, meaning, whatever you want to eat and drink, throw it in your cooler. Just remember no glass and no illegals.

The merch is killer and practical this year, too.

Chris Kuklis designed this year’s poster, along with Seedstock coozies, t-shirts, and Frisbees that look like 12-inch vinyl records.

Seedstock 6 is happening rain or shine on August 2nd at Reed’s Seeds Farm, located at 3336 Rt. 215 in Cortland. In the event of torrential downpour, the venue will change to 19 Church Street, also in Cortland. Tickets are $20 at the gate and please carpool, if possible. For more information, visit the Seedstock facebook page.

SUGARLAND’S KRISTIAN BUSH August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 9

Ronnie Vuolo Assistant Editor

Deep within the DNA of all Broome county residents lies the primitive urge to consume chunks of marinated meat cooked on a stick.

It’s a karmic, cellular imperative programed into one’s genes at birth. In 1985, what began as a cook-off between friendly bands of rival Spiedie aficionados burst forth as Spiedie Fest, a public celebration of all things Spiedie. To honor its vast wonderfulness, it was not enough to merely challenge the best and brightest to present their creations; Hot Air Balloons, a car show, a 5K race, really good music, volleyball, kids activities, and vendors were all needed for this event. And it must raise lots of money for charity. And so it was done. And so it continues. This year’s event takes place August 1st through 3rd at Otsiningo Park. Detailed information can be found online at spiediefest.com.

between my high school band and the beginning of Billy Pilgrim where, like today, I started writing songs and singing them by myself.

I even went as far as a cassette release that I titled Politics and Pocketchange. But immediately I took those same recordings and they became the first Billy Pilgrim record. Like the beginning of each of my projects, it always starts with me having written and recorded songs, then deciding what I wanted to do with them. This time it’s different, because my

literature. I tried to study pre-med and made it through organic chemistry, but I got better grades making things up than I did remembering things that already existed.

Regarding “Songs of the Architect” (the music publishing company/songwriting collective he founded in 2011), how does a songwriting collective work? Do you find it easier to collaborate with others on songs, or work alone? I think

You’ve written about having a sack full of song ideas, written on scraps, that you can pull out and use when needed. Have you ever found yourself laying down a rough draft, and not being able to remember the tune later? Do you have a favorite story about a song that started out as a note on a scrap, that you later finished? If I don’t remember a song, it usually wasn’t very good. After all, if I can’t remember it, how could I expect you to? I do write a lot of things down on napkins, matchbooks, hotel notepads. They all go into my backpack that I clean out every few weeks. It feels like notebook Darwinism. Only the strong survive! I’m still writing a song that started in Italy in 1995. It’s called “Fiori Di Piopo.” I had asked the lady at the front desk of my hotel what was happening- it looked like it was snowing outside. She said these trees bloom once a year, for three days. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I wrote it down and I still have the paper on my desk. I’ve made it through one verse. It’s almost been twenty years. Can’t wait to finish that one.

The musical lineup this year begins at 7pm on August 1st with Foghat, and continues at 2pm Sunday with performances

by Kristian Bush, Cole Swindell, Cassidy Lynn and Kaitlyn Jackson.

Prior to founding Sugarland, Kristian Bush performed in a duo called Billy Pilgrim (after the character in Kurt Vonnegut’s book “Slaughterhouse-Five”) with Andrew Hyra. Beginning in 1990, they released five albums and toured extensively. Sugarland came into being in 2002, with Bush, Jennifer Nettles, and Kristen Hall, (Hall subsequently left the band in 2006). Immensely popular, the group racked up numerous awards over the years, including Vocal Duo of the Year from 2007-2011. On their newest album, The Incredible Machine, Bush’s vocals are featured for the first time on two songs, a role normally filled by Nettles. Whether this represents a new direction for the band remains to be seen.

What is certain is that Bush is branching out in another direction, as a solo performer with his Put Your Soul In It tour, and putting together a solo album with Streamsound Records. I caught up with him recently, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions.

vvv Internet press announced that you made your solo debut at the Country-to-Country Festival in London, in March of 2013. Did you do any solo work prior to that? There was a short stint

would you keep? And if life handed you a curveball and your time was limited, what would be on your bucket list? I feel like memories are the most important things we collect as we go. I would try to write them down, look at the pictures, and reach out to the people around me to tell them that I love them. I can’t take that with me when I go.

They should know now. As for my bucket list, a number one solo song is probably at the top of the list right now.

voice fits these songs better than any before.

The press is calling your upcoming album “your first solo album.” What about “Paint it All” in 2002? Paint It All was never officially released. And it was a series of cover songs. It was an experiment to see what I could do with the one guitar and microphone I had left after a fire in my studio.

I love that the Internet remembers it.

You went to college at Emory University. What did you study? I graduated with a degree in creative writing and English

every song is collaboration, even the ones I finish by myself. It always seems like they come from somewhere else. I called it a “collective” because I believe that music is better shared. It’s a combination of musicians, engineers, and songwriters together, creating the music you hear on your radio, in your headphones, or flying through your computer.

In your new song “Trailer Hitch,” you talk about not being able to take it with you when you go. That being said, of the things you’ve accumulated in your lifetime, what do you treasure and what

Spiedies are a regional specialty in these parts. Coming from Georgia, what food represents home for you, and what are some of the memorable regional foods you’ve sampled in your travels? Lastly, since Spiedie Fest is also a Balloon Rally, do you have any plans to go up in a hot air balloon while there?

First things first: yes on the balloon. Anyone want to take me up? As for the best food ever... that’s biscuits and gravy. Always tastes like home. I love breakfast, and I’ve made it my hobby to eat breakfast all over the world. I love Tram in Sydney, Dottie’s in San Francisco, and Cora’s Coffee Shop in LA. Oh, and I ate a pig ear the other day. It was like a classy pork rind.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I can’t wait to see a sky full of balloons while I’m playing.

HEADLINES 2014 SPIEDIE FEST Photo Provided.

[Plans are in the works to get Kristian his ride.]

10% off with this coupon exp. 9/30

AUG. 1st

5 Court St. Downtown Binghamton or

www.riverreadbooks.com

THE ZAC BROWN BAND:

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 11

PEOPLE WHO LOOK

LIKE ZAC BROWN WEIGH IN ON ZAC BROWN Carousel wasn’t able to secure an interview with Zac Brown. We tried, we really did, but his PR team just wasn’t happening. In lieu of interviewing Zac Brown, we drove down to Deposit one night to interview people that look like Zac Brown (everyone in Deposit looks like Zac Brown).

As it turns out, people that look like Zac Brown like to talk about Zac Brown. They also really like to drink.

BALLS OUT AT DICK’S OPEN Photo Provided.

Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief

Imagine, if you will, a rundown roadhouse bar, somewhere in the mid-West.

It does not need to be in Texas, though if that’s where your mind goes, then Texas is perfectly suitable. Flickering neon signs in the window advertise cold beer. The exterior of the building is decorated in rusty signs for gasoline and oil brands that no longer exist. Inside, the floor is sawdust, a machine in the corner sells Lucky Stripe cigarettes, and the air is heavy with the scent of barbeque.

At the end of the bar sits a group of unkempt looking musicians: Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Johnny Cash. Hank Williams is with them, wheezing slightly as he tells stories of his childhood. They drink shots and laugh with each other. They are here every night. The old friends survey the door warily as a group of newcomers walks in, adorned with freshly pressed shirts and cowboy boots that still have their shine. The newcomers saddle up to the bar and order a round of Smirnoff Ices.

They are Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and Brad Paisley. They are clearly out of place, and George Jones, now on his fifteenth shot of whiskey, doesn’t hesitate to explain this.

A fight breaks out. Hank Williams smashes a battle over Tim McGraw’s head. David Allan Coe wields a pool stick as a weapon and attacks Brad Paisley. Johnny Cash punches Carrie Underwood in the throat. The sawdust floor soaks up more and more blood as the freshly-coiffed crowd is beaten into submission. All hope is seemingly lost for these overly coiffed newcomers.

Zac Brown arrived with the victims, though he did not enter the bar with them, opting instead to roll a joint behind the dumpster out-

side. He walks through the door and surveys the scene. Carnage. His friends are in trouble.

The towering singer starts throwing punches with near-Herculean strength, toppling Jennings, Coe, Haggard, Jones, Cash, and Williams without even breaking a sweat. He walks behind the bar, uncorks a bottle of Jack Daniels with his teeth, and chugs it all. “I am the night rider,” he proclaims. “I’m a fuel- injected suicide machine. I am the rocker. I am the roller. I am the out-of-controller.” Then he stands up and walks out into the darkness.

None of this actually happened. Hank Williams has been dead for over 60 years, and he’s since been joined in the afterlife by Cash, Jones, and Jennings. David Allan Coe doesn’t frequent roadhouse bars; he sings racist songs for tips at Kid Rock’s house parties. Brad Paisley would never order a Smirnoff Ice; he is more of an apple-tini kind of guy. Zac Brown never quoted an ill-fated Mad Max character after winning a bar fight. But, all things considered- it totally could have happened. And if it had, the old-timers would have nothing but respect for him.

The hero of this story, Zac Brown (or more accurately, the Zac Brown Band), represents a much-needed return to the shit-kicking genuine in a genre currently more known for frat boys with songwriting teams than for cowboys singing blue collar songs about trucks and women. Born and bred in Georgia, Brown began his musical career the old-fashioned way: by touring. While many of his generational peers got their start moving to Nashville and writing songs for pretty people to sing (or singing songs that ugly people wrote), Brown jumped in a truck with his guitar, his dog, and a backing drummer and bassist; balancing a day job with playing gigs wherever they existed. After a restaurant he co-owned with his father was bought out, he used the money to buy the band a tour bus and set out across the United States, picking up more and more musician along the way. His gritty songwriting and live blending of country roots with Southern rock was a hit, and his band quickly grew

a dedicated following.

When the Zac Brown Band’s first single, “Chicken Fried,” hit the airwaves in 2008, it was no small wonder. Country stations were (and continue to be) dominated by the overly coiffed heartthrobs with their songwriting teams, and Brown’s gruffy, bearded persona was… well, just not pretty. But, people listened anyway, and the song, a loving look at living in the South and the culinary rewards that offers, became a hit, reaching #1 on the country charts and multi-platinum status. In the years that followed, the Zac Brown Band racked up a slew of other hits, including “Toes,” “Highway 20 Ride,” “Free,” and “Colder Weather.”

The music itself is not completely separated from the stylings of the band’s poppy peers; it doesn’t sound completely unique on country radio. The delivery behind it, though- the grittiness, the energy- is what sets the Zac Brown apart. He is more believably capable in a bar fight than, say, Brad Paisley or Tim McGraw.

He is the type of musician that could square off with Merle Haggard and George Jones and not seem out of place. His songwriting stands up. His look stands up. His blue collar sensibility stands up. He is the night rider.

Today, Zac and the band are at the top of their game (this is probably why they didn’t grant Carousel an interview coughcoughcough).

With 3 Grammys under their belt and a new album in the works, it is no wonder. Luckily for residents of the Triple Cities, the view from the top includes En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, where the Zac Brown Band will perform on August 15th as the much-anticipated entertainment for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, Broome County’s very own fancy-shmancy big deal golf tournament. The concert has been sold out for months, although if the marquee in front of the Wendy’s on Main Street in Binghamton is any indication, tickets are still available if you know where to look. So look.

Or, you could stay home and listen to Brad Paisley sing about his beach house. Pansy.

Greg: “I’d like to see the Zac Brown Band. I’ve had opportunities to see the Zac Brown Band, but I haven’t. That’s my fault. From what I understand, he’s a very good entertainer, and I would hope to someday be entertained by Zac Brown.”

Jeff: “I think the band’s overrated, actually. Completely overrated… Actually, I’ve never heard Zac Brown. Everybody seems to love him though. There’s a lot of famous Browns in music. You’ve got James Brown, you’ve got Les Brown. Zac Brownhe’s at the end of the alphabet, so how good can he be? I just wish James Brown was still around.”

Joe: “I’m Zac Brown. I don’t want to talk to you right now. I play a nylon guitar.

It’s weird… I play a lot of golf benefits.

I’m there for them when they’re in need. I prefer a nine iron on the ninth hole... I’m Zac Brown! I’m a golfer. I’m a musician. I do shit… nylon guitars are the shit. Steel strings sound too good. True country: nylon.”

Ann (doesn’t look like Zac Brown): “Zac Brown! I wanna see his hot ass! I don’t look like Zac Brown at all. All I know is that he can sing and he’s got a nice ass.”

Brian: “I don’t even know where they’re from or where they’re going. Are they on the radio? They’re playing over at that golf place. En-dee-cott. En-dah-cott. En-joie.”

Aaron: “I like spiedies. I love golf! Let’s practice that one again…”

Jon: “I can’t even wear cowboy shirts anymore without some asshole saying ‘what’s up, Zac Brown’ to me.”

Sam: “I love the Zac Brown Band. I always have, ever since they came out. I just really love their music.”

Aaron (again): “Zac Brown Band doesn’t got shit on Driftwood. That’s all I gotta say. Jimmy Buffet wrote a song about a pencil thin mustache, and let’s go from there.”

Other Joe: “Does Jimmy Buffet ever go to a buffet?”

Aaron (again): “Zac Brown. PBR is good beer. I think Zac Brown promotes Jack Daniels. But he doesn’t drink it like we do!”

Calya (doesn’t look like Zac Brown): “Personally, I really like the Zac Brown Band. I’ve recently fallen into a love for country. This is American Country. It’s not the best genre of music, but he does it good.”

12 Vol. 2 Issue 8

SUMMERFEST 2014: THE BRITS INVADE DOWNTOWN BINGHAMTON

(AN INTERVIEW WITH TERRY SYLVESTER OF THE HOLLIES)

managers and were swindled out of money, which led to a lot of internal stress. We were entirely different. Now, when I go to the movies and hear our music getting played, I know we will be making the money. That way, there’s been no conflicts.

Phil Wescott Staff Writer

The British are coming! The British are coming!

You and Joey Molland have a long history. Are you excited to be sharing the stage with him again? Oh, absolutely.

We’ve known each other since I was 15, and he a little younger: I’m 67. We lived in the same area as the Beatles, the same area as Ringo.

We call it South Liverpool, but it doesn’t quite describe the area. I love working with Joey, and we’ve known each other so long. We meet up now and again. We never quite know when; our managers oversee the scheduling.

The good thing about playing with him- and Denny, too- the good thing is everyone is going to know every song. I think it’s important that that happens. The audience wants to hear the hits and enjoy the music. I feel like we owe it to them. It’s very important to me. I was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [in 2010], and I felt so grateful to our fans. It’s going to be a blast sharing the stage with Joey and Denny; they deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, too.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion, Equinox Broadcasting (in conjunction with The Venue Sports Bar), is putting on an incredible concert of British rock royalty in downtown Binghamton on Sunday, August 10th, from 5pm-9pm.

Headlining Summerfest 2014 is Joey Molland of Badfinger, who found fame in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with the smash hits “Come and Get It” and “Baby Blue.” Other performers of the night include Denny Lane of the Moody Blues and Terry Sylvester from the Hollies (2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees). Carousel called up a poolside Sylvester recently for an interview. It went like this:

vvv You’ve been touring near consistently for so many years now. Is there a special allure to life on the road or playing on stage that you find especially attractive? Oh, this brings me a few years back. I got into music in the early Liverpool scene, playing with bands such as the Beatles. For most of us, it was about just one thing: getting up and singing. We never had ambitions about recording: we just wanted to get up and sing, and have people listen. Being on stage is the still the biggest thrill. It’s the love of my life, and I’m delighted that people still enjoy coming out and listening.

Personally, I hated the recording studio.

But, of course making a record reached more people. You have a couple of hits, and suddenly you’re touring all over! Touring and interacting with the audience and my fans is the most important part to me. But, it was quite the experience: imagine, just being a boy from Liverpool, and suddenly you’re touring all around the world! I’m playing in Denver for the first time tomorrow: imagine that! The most important thing my dad told me (he’s dead now, but this was when I was 18) was ‘don’t take it for granted. Don’t give up a proper job.’ Of course, I didn’t listen, but he was right. We were one in a million.

Terry Sylvester. Photo via web.

The musical soundscape today is obviously completely different than that of the ‘60s. Are there any up and coming artists that you are especially excited about or enjoy hearing play?

Absolutely not. I don’t listen to the new stuff.

I’m sure that there’s good stuff out there, but I’m far too interested in sports now. I’m 67 and set in my ways. I mean, I’ve heard of Justin Bieber, but I haven’t heard anything by him.

That’s probably a good thing. Tell me about your love of American sportsI’ve heard you were very excited about Joe Torre’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Oh yeah, I was just in Cooperstown. They sure know how to put on a show! It was absolutely fantastic...

I’ve always been into sports. In fact, I nearly signed with the Liverpool Football Club when I was 14, and I played cricket in school as well. I moved to Toronto in ‘97 and became intrigued by baseball, which, you know, is a lot like cricket. I’ve read a lot of books about baseball, learning about the people who came before. I am a Yankees fan, and here’s why: the first time I came to America, I landed at

JFK in New York City. The thing about the Yankees- and New York sports in general- is the absolute passion of the fans. I went to a Blue Jays game in Toronto, which is about 2 hours from Buffalo. There were 48,000 fans that day at the Skydome- 30,000 must have been Yankees fans!

The only American football game I’ve been to was the Bills vs. Houston, oh, about eight years ago. The atmosphere was fantastic: driving to the stadium, people partying in the streets. And F-11 jets were flying overhead as the anthem played. The atmosphere [at games] here is truly incredible.

Of the many ‘60s bands that have come and gone, the Hollies are one of the few that have made it through with relatively little interpersonal conflict, and it seems you all still enjoy each other’s music and company. How have you managed such a long, and I’m sure at times stressful, relationship? We’re partners. We were very lucky, because we had something very rare: an honest manager.

He set us up for life with all the deals he did.

Many of those other ‘60s bands had crooked

That’s absolutely true. I know that here in Binghamton, we are crazy with excitement to hear you play. It’s going to be a great show! Fantastic music, a good time, having a good laugh- it’s all you can ask for!

I don’t do as many shows now as when I was younger- only around 30 shows a year. I used to do hundreds, but as I’ve gotten older, less is best. Of course, the day that no one wants to come see us sing will be sad, but at the moment, we’re still excited that people want to hear us sing!

vvv Summerfest 2014 will be closing down the south end of State Street in Binghamton on Sunday, August 10th. The outdoor event is rain or shine (although Sylvester assured that the weather would be good). Food and drink vendors will line the street, keeping the good vibes flowing with delicious food and chilled beverages. The “doors” are at 5pm and show time is at 6pm. Tickets are $20 ($30 for reserved seating) and can be purchased at Music City in Vestal, Silver and Gold Expressions in Binghamton, or at Equinox headquarters in Johnson City.

GBFC CHICKEN BBQ FAMILY “FUN”RAISER $9 Chicken BBQ Dinner Music Games Basket Raffles Adam Kipp in a Dunk Tank And More!

AUG. 9TH

12-5PM

THE OLD UNION HOTEL 246 Clinton St. Binghamton All Proceeds Go To GBFC Riley U13 Girls’ Soccer Team To Help With Their Youth Soccer National League Trips To North Carolina & Las Vegas

Rec. Park Music Fest After Party?

Yes, Please!

Join Milkweed at the

OLD UNION HOTEL and party the night away!

August 10th

10pm-1am

THE HORSE FLIES BUZZ INTO REC. PARK:

14 Vol. 2 Issue 8

For close to two decades, Binghamton’s West Side has come alive each August with the sounds of live music and chattering families. This year is no different, as the Rec. Park Music Festival returns to the neighborhood for its 19th year.

The free, family friendly festival takes place in Recreation Park all day on Sunday, August 10th, and includes not just music, but a kids’ activity tent and plenty of food vendors. Tessa Dzuba starts the music on the rotunda stage at 1:30pm, and is joined over the course of the day by Outer Reef, The Falconers, Grace’s Ghost, Milkweed, and the Rhythm Gypsys. Headliners The Horse Flies take the stage at 7:40pm.

The Ithaca- based Horse Flies have been a fairly consistent force in the New York music scene for more than 30 years. Husband-and-wife duo Jeff Claus and Judy Hyman (banjo uke/vocals and fiddle/vocals, respectively), along with Richie Stearns (banjo/vocals), Taki Masuko (percussion), Jay Olsa (bass), and Rick Hansen (accordion/moog/organ) have gained acclaim the world over with their distinct blend of old-time fiddle music, world beat, psychedelia, trance, and indie rock; racking up nods from Rolling Stone and MTV along the way. Carousel was able to speak to Emmy-award winning Judy Hyman recently in anticipation of the band’s Rec. Park Fest performance: Well, first things first- your father is world famous jazz pianist Dick Hyman. What was it like growing up in such a musical household? You know what you know.

I don’t know what it’s like growing up in a nonmusical household… I used to go with my dad to the recording sessions. He played all day long every day… He’s 87, still travelling and playing and writing; he’s playing better than ever. He’s amazing!

When did you start playing music yourself? I started playing piano when I was seven, and I started on violin the next year… It was always assumed that I would take piano, and a year later it was proposed that I should do a second instrument. So I went with my mom to a grade school orchestra concert.

I actually liked the look of the flute, but the flutists didn’t seem to be playing very much. I thought the cello sounded nice, but it seemed to be an awful lot of work to be carrying a cello around. I looked at the violinists, and they were playing all the time. I said ‘that’s for me.

I like that.’ Violin was something that my dad knew nothing about. I think it was important for me to have something of my own.

When did the violin morph into fiddle for you? When did you get into oldtime music? I was going to school; I was The Horse Flies. Photo by Thomas Hoebbel Photography. practicing all the time; I was totally working like crazy. I told a friend of mine that I wanted to do something just for fun, and she said ‘I’m going to a fiddle festival. I’ll teach you a couple of fiddle tunes. It’ll be fun, and it’s just one weekend.’ She arranged a ride for me, and the driver is now my husband, Jeff. We went down to Union Grove, NC for the granddaddy of all fiddle festivals. It doesn’t exist anymore, but it ran for well over 50 years.

I’ve heard some early recordings of the Horse Flies- maybe a Cornell show in ’84?

In the early days, the band presented a much more traditional form of music than y’all do today. Can you tell us a bit about the history of the band and when your signature sound developed? Well, the band has been around for a really long time. We really started playing in 1981. We were fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass; basically acoustic. We started out just to play at one of those southern fiddle festivals… We were playing our version of traditional fiddle music: we’re not Southerners, so we kind of had a regional approach to it.

At a certain point, Jeff got me a banjo uke. He learned to play it long before I even started doing anything with it. And that changed the sound of the band.

We made our first album- well half of an album. Side A was the Horse Flies, and side B was our friends the Chicken Chokers; we did that for Rounder Records. Then we went in to do a second album for Rounder- by then, we had started to experiment with original music. When we were looking for a studio, we decided to work with this guy Bill Usher, who was a producer at the time, and a great percussionist. We knew we wanted to incorporate percussion. And it was just the four of us. Bill played a bunch of percussion, and he also had a buddy that was working with a synthesizer. This was a long time ago, so that was still kind of early for synth. It

was a sampler. We made Human Fly, and that’s when things began to change. What we made on the album wasn’t anything we had ever created live. As soon as it was released, we started to get calls saying ‘we like this record, can you do it live?’ Of course, you know the answer to that.

That’s when we really added percussion and synthesizer. That record came out in 1987… That was major. Then, when we recorded Gravity Dance- that was yet another evolution, because by then we were all playing electric instruments. After that whole era, in the mid- ‘90s, we started to go back to playing acoustic. And then our beloved bassist John Hayward passed away in ‘97.

We hung it up for a few years, but we’ve worked our way back into it. Now again, it’s kind of something else, because it’s got a kind of electro-acoustic rhythm or world music foundation.

When the band’s more experimental approach came about, what was the reaction? Did the old-time purists like it or shun it? Certainly both. There were people who were turned off by it, and there were people who were excited by it… For the most part, it doesn’t really matter. You have to do what you do. It was never really a question of ‘well gee, there’s all these people that wish we were still playing square dances and being more acoustic.’

We did that. Now we’re doing this. This is how we feel. If you’re lucky enough to have a group of people who can find the common ground to play cohesive music, you do what that group produces.

Do you have a name for the type of music you create? We’ve come up with phrases before, and it always gets us in trouble. I have never ever been able to describe the band to anybody, and I’ve given up on any kind of verbal description. It’s even hard for us in our printed materials- it’s really hard for us to describe the music, so we usually use quotes of things that other people have said. With Human Fly, we used the phrase ‘neo-primitive bug music’ as a tagline, and we got into all sorts of hot water with reviewers for that one. They thought we were pretentious. Whatever. What do I call it? What do you call it?

Appalachian Middle-Eastern Psychedelic Old-time Trance? I don’t know! I don’t know, either!

In the Horse Flies and on your own, you have collaborated with quite the list of artists: Natalie Merchant, Vieux Farka Toure, dance troupe Galumpha, Tuvan throat singing group Alash. Do you have any standout memories? Everything! I’ve been very lucky. I never imagined my musical career would go so far. Playing with Natalie was a joy and an honor… I probably participated in close to 100 shows with her and I never ever got tired of hearing her sing… The Tuvans! Alash! we’re talking about doing another collaboration with them in November! I hope it will work…

It’s a really interesting thing: they’re all the way from the other side of the world, but our beats match. It’s a lot of fun… the first time we heard Tuvan music we thought ‘oh, we can play along to this!’ It’s so interesting, and we always had it in our mind that it would be fun to collaborate with Tuvans. Now we’re getting to do that!

Any chance that there’s a new album in the works? I sure hope so! We’re talking about it. We just spoke to a studio last week. If we can find the time, we’re ready to do it. At least a number of songs. You don’t have to do full albums these days, I don’t think. But we have a bunch of stuff ready to go.

Other than playing with the band, what have you been busy with? Jeff and I do a bunch of music for film. One of them- I composed the music and he mixed- is a documentary about Frederick Law Olmstead that just aired on PBS. I’m kind of excited about that. We’re starting two other projects now. One is a documentary about the revival of the Lakota language, and the other is a feature film based on a story that was set on the coast of France. For the movie, they reset it and reworked the script to base it in Nantucket. So we’re going to be going to Nantucket and collaborating with the musicians out there.

vvv The 19th Rec. Park Music Fest takes place from roughly 1pm-9pm on Sun. Aug. 10th at Binghamton’s Rec. Park. More info on this free event can be found at recparkmusicfest.com. For more info on the Horse Flies, check out thehorseflies.com.

AN INTERVIEW WITH JUDY HYMAN

by Chris Bodnarczuk

CAROUSEL PRESENTS: FOLKIN’ FUNK

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 15

AN EVENING WITH MILKWEED AND BIG MEAN SOUND MACHINE

Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief

ty taking place in George Clinton’s rainbow dreadlocks.

Enter Milkweed. The Binghamton- based folk group has been a fixture of the local music scene for several years now, thanks to a relentless schedule of gigs, including residenGood things come in twos. cies as both the Old Union Hotel and Kingsley’s Pub. What started It is no secret, Carousel’s as a duo cover project love affair with Big Mean between singer/guitarist Sound Machine. We first Jackie Colombo (The Lucame across the Ithatheran Skirts) and singca based fusion band at er/mandolinist/fiddler an upstate festival a few Claire Byrne (Driftwood) years ago, and we’ve been has taken on a few difhooked ever since: Big ferent incarnations: first, Mean made its Binghamthey added Bess Greenton debut back in March berg (The Falconers) on at the paper’s one-year upright bass; then came anniversary party, and we Joe Alston (Dangerous brought the group back Maybes, Slaves) on voin June for a last minute cals and guitar. Currently, show at Cyber Café West Big Mean Sound Machine. they’re playing as a three (not to mention their upcoming headlining piece- Colombo and Alston, plus newcomer slot at our second annual Halloween Ball in Brian Vollmer on banjo. With a set that interOctober). With a roster of musicians onstage sperses old standards with Alston’s powerful anywhere from 11 to 25 deep, it’s hard not originals, they channel a time gone by: pickin’ to dance up a storm to the trippy, horn and on the front porch, hound dog and shotgun Moog heavy blend of funk, afrobeat, jazz, Lat- close at hand. We’re pretty much in love with in music, and rock. It’s music for the future, if them, too, which evidently makes the Carouthe future consists of a psychedelic dance par- sel crew a bunch of polygamists.

So there we are. Two different bands. Two different eras. Two completely different sounds.

Seemingly unconnected… until August 29th, when they will share the stage at Cyber Cafe West for an event we’re calling Folkin’ Funk.

A curious double billing, indeed.

Milkweed takes the stage first, right around 9pm. They play. We dance. We drink. Then things take a turn for the funky, as the acoustic guitars and banjo make way for Big Mean Sound Machine’s plugged- in tower of sound. They play. We dance. We drink.

Even for those who have seen both bands before, Folkin’ Funk will be a special evening. Milkweed’s newest incarnation has taken their sound in a Milkweed. whole new direction, and the upcoming addition of a new upright bassist (as of press time it is unconfirmed whether or not he’ll be joining the mix) will no doubt bring more change.

Big Mean has a new album with a slew of new songs, and bassist Angelo Peters’s recent stint with Donna the Buffalo may well bring a bit of Cajun influence to the show.

The evening will finish off with some collaborative efforts between the two bands (no word yet on how we expect to fit everyone on stage at once). The sounds of the past meet the sounds of the future, banjo meets trombone, Binghamton meets I-town, folk meets funk. It’s an experiment, alright, but one that should work out to be a one of a kind musical journey.

Says Milkweed’s Colombo: “I never imagined that I would play a show with them! I think it’s going to be an incredible mix. I think with the folky harmonies that we have and their horn section with their harmonies- I think it’s going to be a crazy night.”

Milkweed and Big Mean Sound Machine share the stage at Cyber Café West for a night of Folkin’ Funk on Friday, August 29th.

Tickets are $10, available in advance at the café and at the door day of show. Presale is recommended. Cyber Café West is located at 176 Main St. in Binghamton. Music starts at 9pm.

ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND:

SACRED STEEL COMES TO NORWICH

chopped that spot in half, peaking at No. 75.

On that album, Randolph returned the favor to Eric Clapton, lending him a guest appearance on the recording of the cover of The Doobie Brothers’ “Jesus is Just Alright.” They released We Walk This Road in 2010, gaining one more spot on the charts, at No. 74, another live album in 2010 and, most recently, Lickety Split, in 2013. This is the first release for Randolph on Blue Note Records. This album features guest musicians Trombone Shorty and Carlos Santana on a number of tracks, and steeled out versions of The Ohio Players’ “Love Rollercoaster” and The Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’.”

Ty Whitbeck Creative Consultant

The sanctity of the pedal steel. The holiness of its music. The power of the two combined could be enough to drive one to church.

Sacred steel is taking over in a big way in the churches of America. If music is the next closest thing to heaven, then you need to hear these heavenly sounds. There are some heavy hitters out there when it comes to the pedal steel guitar, including The Lee Boys and The Campbell Brothers, but there is one name that tends to stand out among the rest, a force that defies the great calamities of Mother Nature, and that is Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Randolph first got behind a pedal steel at age 17, and although echoes of the Allman and Doobie Brothers seem to be present in the sound of his slide, he claims to have never heard them growing up. All of what he listened to and played resided in the House of God Church. It wasn’t until his first non-church tour, with his new Family Band and the North Mississippi All-Stars, that he branched out from playing the word of the Lord.

Robert Randolph. Photo via web.

While others may have stuck with the heavy religious undertones of gospel music, Randolph has taken a more secular approach with his style, incorporating notes of rock n roll, blues, and sometimes hip hop into his playing. Hailing from Orange, New Jersey, Randolph was recruited early on by B3 organ virtuoso, John Medeski (of Medeski, Martin & Wood) to join a new funk project with the North Mississippi All-Stars, called The Word.

In 2001, before the release of The Word’s first album, the acclaim of Randolph had skyrocketed overnight.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band was becoming a household name in the secular community. In 2002, they released their first

album, Live at the Wetlands, on Family Band Records. Their sophomore album, Unclassified, released in 2003, garnered the attention of Eric Clapton, and an opening spot on a leg of his 2003 tour. This was also the album that pushed Randolph into the mainstream. With a single and video for “I Need More Love” on major music television networks, the masses were seeing and hearing pedal steel in a way they never had before. Many probably had no idea what the steel was, but one thing was for certain: this music made you want to testify!

Turning non-believers into devout followers, Robert Randolph and the Family Band has made strides on the charts. With Unclassified reaching No. 145 in the US, 2006’s Colorblind

Sure, their albums are great and have a lot of substance, but their live shows are just like being in the House of God Church where Randolph got his learnin’. Everyone is on their feet, hands in the air, giving praise for the rains that fall. Robert Randolph and the Family Band’s shows are so intense, that members of the audience have been known to fall to the ground from the sheer power of the music.

On Saturday, August 16th, you will have your chance to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band for a mere $20 ($30/day of show) as part of the Chenango Blues Festival, in Norwich, NY. Also appearing at the festival on Saturday: Cedric Burnside Project, Nick Moss Band, Samantha Fish, and others. For tickets and more information, please visit chenangobluesfest.org.

16 Vol. 2 Issue 8

OCCIDENTAL GYPSY CHANNELS DJANGO AT THE CYBER Occidental Gypsy. Photo Provided.

Ilana Lipowicz Staff Writer Occidental Gypsy is swinging east on August 23rd and landing at Cyber Café West for a night of gypsy strumming with a twist.

The first seeds of the band were planted about fifteen years ago, when Brett Feldman moved to Rhode Island, close to his brother Jeff. “As a prerequisite for moving there, I told him he needed to learn how to play an instrument.

I’m not going to be playing by myself.” Against Jeff’s hesitation, Brett taught him to play the bass. A few years later, they joined with two other musicians, becoming a gypsy swing quartet playing covers of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, and gypsy versions of jazz compositions, until the former guitar player and vocalist suggested they start writing some original music. Compared with the music they covered, their originals were what Brett describes as “a little more eccentric and modern, and even a little bit more American, with flavors of blues and Latin rhythm, things of that nature, so we became more of a- what do you call it?- a gypsy swing jazz folky band.”

Brett discovered the gypsy sound when he first heard a Django Reinhardt album. “I couldn’t believe someone played acoustic guitar like this; I’d never heard that sound of music before. I found myself listening to a lot of it, and I don’t even think I’ve played electric guitar since then.” The gypsy style is distinguished by its swinging rhythm guitar, two and three fingered chords, trills and arpeggios, and dynamic fiddling that zooms up and down scales and goes heavy on the vibrato. Occidental Gypsy parts from the traditional gypsy instrument combo with the addition of a percussionist, Erick Cifuentes. Brett and Jeff play lead guitar and bass respectively, and the five piece band also includes Eli Bishop, a classically trained violinist who now enjoys carving away at the fiddle, and Jonathan Hurley, vocalist and rhythm guitarist who has composed film scores and produced comedic songs with some strange music videos to go along with them.

A sense of humor and light spirit are shared by the band’s members, and can be felt in their music. Their sets consist of some instrumentals, as well as some lyrical tunes that often add a bluesy tinge to their already-com-

plicated blend of genres and sounds. If you listen carefully, you can almost zoom in on the elements taken from different styles, and zooming back out, it is amazing how seamlessly they all flow together.

If you find yourself getting carried away by it all, you might be getting lost in the story that it’s telling. Brett, who has written most of the music up until now, has composed songs that tell linear stories, not with lyrics but through instrumentals. A newer song that will appear on their upcoming album is called “Song for Vrba,” and tells the story of Rudolf Vrba, a man who escaped from Auschwitz and alerted the Belgian government about what was occurring there, in the end saving around 200,000 Jews. “I found out about this story, on PBS or something, and it blew my mind, and I thought, that would be a great story to write a song about. But the trick came in in writing an instrumental that sounds like the story.”

Another song on the upcoming album is “A Day with Paula May,” about a woman who Brett says was like a surrogate mother to him when he was in his twenties, who recently passed away. “She was kind of crazy and unpredictable and funny and quirky and neurotic, so I didn’t want to write some sad tribute song about her, because that wouldn’t really represent what spending a day with her was like. So it’s kind of a fast, quirky, unpredictable, neurotic song.”

Perhaps the storytelling nature of their music grows out of the importance they place on connecting with their audience. “I know when I go to a concert, no matter how good the musicians are, if there wasn’t that connection it’s like, you know, just another show,” Brett says. Apart from through their music, they have a few ways of bringing the audience into their shows. “I tend to like teasing people.

There’s always somebody in the audience who wants to be teased, and it’s not hard to find out who they are!” While they’ve played some big shows, opening for Ricky Lee Jones and David Bromberg, they have a propensity for small, intimate crowds. “No matter how big the audience is, we always want to feel like we’re in someone’s living room playing for a few people and having fun.”

You’ll be able to get right up close to Occidental Gypsy at Cyber Café West (176 Main St, Binghamton) on Sat., August 23rd. Music starts at roughly 9pm, and admission is $10.

“Like” Holiday Inn Binghamton On Facebook For More Info

BLUE SKY MISSION CLUB

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 17

RETURNS TO THE SCENE WITH NEW ALBUM

AND A BIT OF BING FLAVOR

Heather Merlis Assistant Editor

41 Court Street, Binghamton YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT OUR BEER. YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT OUR FOOD. NOW CHECK OUT OUR MUSIC SCHEDULE! live Bands Every Thursday At 9:30

8/7 Bob Kerber & Tim Linkroum

Join Bob Kerber (Band of Strings, Magnolia Drive, Crooked Dog), and Tim Linkroum (Quatro Blue) for a night of Dead, Floyd, Beatles and Phish (except with Banjo and Guitar).

8/14 Blue Sky Mission Club

Americana/Roots/Soulgrass... Continuing the age old tradition of playing music people love to dance to. Read all about them in this month’s Carousel (look to your right!)

8/21 The Falconers

Uplifting, heavy hitting indie-rock from right here in Binghamton, made to lift the soul, move the feet, and remind us that we are all survivors.

8/28 Band of Strings

Good ol’ fashioned foot stompin’, whiskey drinkin’, frenzy makin’ bluegrass. Perpetual favorites of the Binghamton music scene!

For Hours And More, Check Out Galaxybrewingco.com Or “Like” Us On Facebook!

Blue Sky Mission Club has been through many incarnations, but virtuosic guitarist London McDaniels has been a constant since the group’s inception.

This roots band is primed for the future. Ithaca- based McDaniels is a forward-thinking, revolution-minded leader, and Binghamton native Devinne Meyers, newcomer to the group, is a tech-savvy songwriter who is helping to usher Bly Sky into the digital age. They balance each other musically and philosophically, and it seems like kismet that they found each other.

Carousel had the pleasure to listen to some tracks from the band’s upcoming EP, “Couragio” (a title that came to London in a dream), and to speak with this inspired pair of musicians, in anticipation of their August 14th show at Galaxy Brewing Co.

vvv London McDaniels: I’ve worked with some incredible songwriters, and Devinne is right up there at the top, at just being a natural. She has this pop sensibility- I feel lucky that our paths crossed and the universe smiled at me.

Meyers: He says this every time… I don’t know.

London, could you give us some background about the band?

LM: I think I started Blue Sky in 2005, and there have been stylistic differences between all of our albums. Our first CD, “Riding the Horizon” was very Zydeco-influenced. I have written many different types of music… I studied composition at the Berklee School of Music; I was influenced by jazz, folk, and soul. When I came to Ithaca, I was deeply influenced by the roots movement, and that was something of a musical epiphany.

DM: He started playing upright bass when we first met, and he was like, “I just got this thing,” and he was already plucking away.

What’s really cool about writing with London is that he has all of this compositional knowledge.

guitar. And the bartender said, “You play?

Well, get on up there!” And as soon as they heard me, they were like, “Okay, we want you back next week.”

How did the two of you connect?

LM: Well, for quite a while I have been the creative engine in Blue Sky, but I am such a band person, I love collaborating. So I was really looking for that, especially someone who sings, but even just a songwriter. It was an act of providence that we met. I saw her online, on Reverb Nation, and I thought, “She really needs a band.” I tried to contact her, and I tried to friend her, but at first she refused my friendship.

DM: It wasn’t like he scared me or anything, but I had to think about it first. Then I thought- I’m just going to go for it.

LM: We finally got together, and we started working immediately.

DM: And it’s been like that ever since.

LM: Just songwriting, song after song, and that’s because she’s immensely prolific. Every week, she’s like, “I wrote a song!” It was a little overwhelming at first, but what I bring is that I write a lot of different types of music.

DM: My music is minimalistic, and he adds dimension to it. I’ve never been a jazz artist, and he’s like jazz all day, every day. One thing I had to get used to was dissonance.

LM: And I eat dissonance for breakfast.

Who is in your current lineup?

LM: Along with the two of us on guitar and vocals, we have Brian Volmer (who’s been playing with Milkweed) on banjo and fiddle, Kinyatta King on drums, and Mike Roach on drums.

How have you grown as musicians, since you began working together?

DM: In the most humble way possible, I want to say that I have become a more sophisticated songwriter.

LM: Great music is a mystery that unravels slowly, uses as much space as possible, and also lifts you up. Devinne’s impact on how I write has been really amazing, because she brings such a strong sense of self to it.

Devinne, could you describe your musical background?

What kind of show are we in for on the fourteenth?

DM: I’m fairly new to the game in terms of live performance. Before that I was a YouTube musician, since about 2012. I just reached 200 subscribers, and over 15,000 views, so my online presence was there first. I lived in Denver for a time, and then in New Orleans, and in New Orleans if you play an instrument they welcome you with open arms. I was in a bar one time, and I mentioned that I played

LM: It’s a super-rootsy show, and it relies on all of our collective talents.

vvv Mosey on over to Galaxy Brewing Company, located at 41 Court Street in Binghamton, on Friday, August 14th at 9:30pm to witness musical magic. The show is free!

18 Vol. 2 Issue 8

ROBERT HOOVER:

FOLLOWING THE DREAM

BY ROSE SILBERMAN-GORN

This Page: “The Dream 2.” Opp. Page, from top (L) clockwise-”Oberon,” “The Dream 3,” “Pompeii,” “Coral Cove.”

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 19

Since he began painting 10 years ago, local artist Robert Hoover has completed over 600 pieces and exhibited at 11 First Fridays, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

Hoover’s motivation comes from an extreme love of expressing himself through artwork. “Painting is my whole world; it’s why I’m alive.”

Though he got his start in art fairly recently, Robert has always been interested in creative endeavors.

An avid reader and budding poet, he decided to study English Literature while attending Binghamton University in the ‘70s. After graduating, he moved to New York City and applied to jobs in advertising, television, and magazine publishing.

For 10 years, Robert worked for a credit financial management magazine and a medical publishing magazine. He then moved on to Billboard Publications and Hearst Magazines, where he worked as an Art Director, Creative Director, and VP of Production.

In addition, as Operations Director for Hearst Magazines, he did color press approvals for periodicals such as Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Esquire, and won the NYC Print Craftsman Award for Service in the Industry.

“I loved my job and had a blast!” Hoover says, regarding his 31 years in the magazine industry. But when his division at Hearst Magazines was cut 5 years ago, he needed to find a new direction in life. Hoover had grown

up in Binghamton and still had family living there, so he decided to return to his hometown, a refreshing change after the hustle and bustle of the city.

He’d always been interested in art- he had a knack for capturing faces, and had taken several art classes in college. That underlying interest combined with an extremely vivid dream about painting, were the catalysts that catapulted him into action, beginning his prolific second career as a painter.

Hoover’s first creations were mainly abstract expressionist portraits and landscapes, chaotic and gestural with a lot of movement. As time went on, he continued working on portraits, landscapes, and abstracts, but his style evolved into something much more sleek and stylized.

Hoover’s newest paintings are crisp, simple, colorful, and deliberate, a style that he calls “expressive simplicity.” He works mainly in acrylic paint, a versatile material that allows him to paint quickly and layer extensively.

Regarding his progress as an artist, he says, “I’m still learning, but I’ve developed a lot more confidence.”

His career in the magazine publishing industry impacted his artwork by giving him a unique understanding of color, especially through press checks and doing layouts.

Hoover has also been influenced by his ongoing interest in literature. “I feel that all of the arts are intimately related,” he says, which makes sense as writing, similar to fine art, is a very creative process. One of his literary-inspired paint-

ings, “Oberon”, is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The portrait depicts the character Oberon, King of the Faeries, with a satisfied, dreamy smirk that captures the magic of the play.

Another of Hoover’s literary-inspired paintings, “Clothes for a Summer Hotel,” is one of his favorites, and is based on the Tennessee Williams play of the same name.

Hoover’s goal is to visually convey, through colors and shapes, the feelings that the book or play invoke in him.

He also produces many portraits of actors, musicians, or other cultural figures who he finds interesting or admirable. “I try to capture the iconic image,” he explains.

Hoover’s most recent portraits are of Lily Tomlin, Cary Grant, Al Pacino, and Marlon Brando. Inspired by the iconic portraits of Andy Warhol- which started as images silkscreened onto canvas, then expertly painted on- his portraits use stark contrast and a limited color palette.

T h o u g h Hoover paints various subject matters, they are linked by the common thread of being about his “emotional and sensory experiences.”

All of his artwork, he says, is the result of life experiences including “working with people, and knowing the people that I did, and having fun... falling in love and breaking up, art history class, and traveling.”

He’s also very influenced by abstract expressionists, including Willam de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock. Mark Rothko’s influence is very apparent in some of his newer works such as “What the Thunder

art.

Said,” and “Coral Cove,” both of which feature vibrant stripes of color.

Robert’s been extremely involved in the downtown art scene since returning to Binghamton, and has exhibited at many venues including Burger Mondays, Lost Dog Cafe, Water Street Brewery, where he returns this month.

He was the first First Friday opening at WSBC, and was offered the show because he was friendly with the owners, Michele and John Bleichert. They’ve been early supporters of his work, and have several of his paintings permanently on display, so Hoover was thrilled when they approached him again about this month’s show. Entitled “Recent Abstracts and Portraits,” the exhibit will display 25 of his newest paintings, none of which have ever been exhibited before.

“I’m creating artwork with my whole heart,” he says, invoking a quote from St. Francis of Assisi, “He who works with his hands is a laborer; he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, and he who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

“Recent Abstracts and Portraits” will open on August 1st at Water Street B r e w i n g Company, 168 Water Street in Binghamton, and remains on display through the month.

The First Friday opening reception will take place from 6pm-9pm. For more information on Robert Hoover, visit his website at flickr. com/photos/roberthoover or roberthoover. etsy.com.

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 21

persons of interest.

SHART PHEROMONES ARE COMING FROM YOUR INEFFABLY BEAUTIFUL FACE OVER SKYPE:

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Each month, we ask Nicholas Wilsey to interview whoever he wants about whatever he wants. This month seems kind of voyeuristic, because Nick interviewed his girlfriend Colleen Stapleton in the midst of a Skype date. It’s totally worth reading, we promise!]

Mm. Aw! You’ll leave in that I think that you’re just a delicious peach, right?

Do you have a heart-shaped box for your heart? For my heart? Or for the things in my heart?

That should be the end of the interview? Right there? Maybe. But I’ll take more questions.

For your heart. ‘Cuz your heart is the heart-shaped box for the things in your heart, unless your heart isn’t heart shaped? WHAT SHAPE IS YOUR HEART? What shape is my heart? Okay, that just reminds me of my really good friend Leda in high school. I’m sorry if this is a tangent that you didn’t wanna hear, but in high school, Leda would tell me about how she would wake up in the morning and she would have these bizarre morning thoughts, that were, you know, really- just not really coherent- and her brain would say, like, I feel like a star today. So sometimes Leda would just feel like a star. But to answer your question about what my heart is- I would say that my heart might be a triangle!

It might be a triangle shape. ‘Cuz, you know, that’s the shape that usually speaks to me. But, if I were to say that I did have a heart-shaped box, or a triangle-shaped heart box, I think that… nuts and bolts would be in it. Like hardware.

Alright. What’s the red sound in The White Stripes? The red sound in The White Stripes has to be drums! Has to be Meg White. Right? So, like, the color red: it’s direct, vibrant, very sexy- like these are all things that Meg White, you know, encompasses. And the sound is just like: WRRH. WRRH. WRRH. You know?

Wow! Yeah.

I feel like the true value of this interview is coming through as, dually, a portrait of Colleen Stapleton’s soul and a comedy of the public love spectacle. Mhm. I like that. I think that should be the end of the interview. I want you to say that.

What does it feel like to be an atom bomb of beauty and strength? Ohh! Um. I would say that it, it probably- I’m wrestling between the different types of food that it would taste like to be an atom bomb of beauty and strength, and the first one I thought of was to eat a Wendy’s homestyle chicken sandwich. Because then you would know what it feels like. Or! Then I thought, probably like, if you eat a fruit tart- that you’ve made yourself- that you know is delicious, and that will please all of your friends at the birthday party- that’s how it feels.

I’m gonna go with that one.

How do you think- Nick, I love you.

Mmmm. Yummy. What kind of fruit is in the tart? Peaches! Do I look like a fool?

Peaches.

Colleen, I love you too. How do you like being my girlfriend? Hahahahaha! I love it.

I think you’re a juicy little peach. Wow.

I’ll be right back, I’m gonna get my ashtray. Your ass tray?

What if the patriarchy were just a bunch of dads? Oh gawwwd, the worst. That’s what the patriarchy is! That’s literally what the patriarchy is, is a bunch of dads. Okay, do you know what my friend said to me today?

Yeah. I just assumed you were asking me if I was a cinnamon bath bomb.

What? He said- or no, maybe it was yesterday- we were talking about my hairy legs, you know, and he was like “aw, that’s just what men wanna look at.” Yesssss! Thank you! That’s exactly what I’m trying to do! Ensnare men, literally. I’m trying to ensnare them in my leg hair.

Did you know that while your leg hair is ineffective at ensnaring me, it does in fact bring me great pleasure to run my hands along the coily hairs of your legs?

Well, I know that flies won’t say the same thing because they literally get stuck in it, and I swat them… Aw! You look like a shy little bunny.

Do you think that God is wingding, or webding? Ohhh I don’t know, I don’t know about that one. That’s such a hard one. You know, because I think about deceased parents!

And I think, Yeah, definitely pretty webding. But then I think about a lot of other things! Like, um… you know like maybe honey bees talking to each other, and I think that that is the most wingding thing ever. So essentially, I think that God must be both? He must be both, you know, because he created wingding. Let’s be serious here. He created wingding and webding.

So he has to understand both… Does that mean that God has to be a little bit evil too?

Yeah, I wonder if God’s a little evil. Would you define for the reader what wingding and webding are? Sure. So the essence of wingding- a lot of things can be wingding, but if we’re talking about people, I would say that wingding… let’s see… wingding is a sort of, um, nonsensical but whimsical incoherence. So, you know, it’s very entertaining, it’s very pleasing. Wingding is really ideal. So, for example, if you go over to a friend’s house, and you’re talking with him and his parents, and his mom suddenly says: “I like doughnuts!” This is a wingding experience. Or, like, a bumblebee is a wingdinger, you know? A wing-dinger, you would say, for a bumblebee. Webding, as characterized by a human, is someone who thinks that they understand what you are feeling and they underestimate things. So… webding would be... you know, really evil. Webding is someone who doesn’t have the same incoherence, and isn’t able to appreciate, um, kind of the syncopations, I would say… Nick, you have a cute nose. I like it.

Really? You have like, like a really, like beautifully, like, spatialized face- as in like, I think that, like the amount of forehead that you have above your eyebrows- which are like, very beautiful and symmetrical- ’cuz I know you just did your eyebrows- like, the amount of forehead you have up there, yeah, is ideal.

And your lips and teeth. Wow. They’re pretty brilliant! I might have to strike this, like, incoherent praise-babble from the record. I almost might not have to. That’s okay.

Yeah, my ass tray! ...Nick, when you asked me if I was an atom bomb?

Wowwwwww! Those bath bombs are the best. You’re definitely a cinnamon bath bomb. And a shart bomb. A shart bomb!?

I said you’re definitely a cinnamon bath bomb and a shart bomb! Like a shart???

You are a cinnamon bath bomb, as well as- humorously, and less seriously- a shart bomb! Hahaha!

Do you think that “The Karma Sutra” has it right? The Kama Sutra?

The Carmen Satra! Okay, yup.

I’m going to interpret your response as an indication- No, I just didn’t hear the question! I didn’t hear the question.

Oh. Do you think that “The Carmen Saturday” makes some good points in the um, like the asterisks parts of the essay? The asterisks parts of the essay? What!?

I’m just kidding! I think that this’ll be really funny written down if I include this part. Hahaha! It really just started to break down after a while. I just don’t understand what you’re saying!

If Binghamton were a lollipop that you got at the bank, would you suck on it until it completely dissolved, or bite it? Ohhhh, I love lollipops that I got at the bank. Oh my god. My aunt went to this bank that was like, only for firemen. Is that a thing?

No way! Can that be true?

That’s crazy! I don’t know. It was just this crazy firemen bank. I don’t know. Um, I’m confused, but, I think that I would suck on it until it disappeared.

Wow. Yeah. ‘Cuz, you know, Binghamton, I was just thinkin’ about how a lot of the people who are gone I’ll never see again, so that’s awful. So I wanna, like, keep it goin’, you know?

Finally, it’s the end of the world! In like ten seconds! What are you going to do?

In ten seconds?

In ten seconds. I would say I would sniff my own armpit. There’s really not much time for anything else. If I had a little bit more time I would run downstairs and like, hang out with Mom and Dad for a second, but. Let’s be real: If I had ten seconds, I would sniff my own armpit, and then I would be gone.

AN INTERVIEW WITH COLLEEN STAPLETON

by Nicholas Wilsey

triple cities carousel

sunday.

monday.

tuesday.

03 10 17 24 31

04 11 18 25

05 12 19 26

The Triple Cities Carousel Events Calendar is featured each month as a courtesy to our advertisers, however we welcome venues to submit their events to triplecitiescarousel@ gmail.com by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Space is limited, so calendar entries, which have no cost, are picked on a first come/first serve basis. Triple Cities Carousel reserves the right to reject any submission.

The Farnsworth Intervention (CMP) Mansion Tours (PMM) Planetarium Shows (ROB) The Marvelous Wonderettes (CRT) Spiedie Fest (OTS) Sassy Sundays (TRQ)

Mansion Tours (PMM) Anything Goes (AC) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Multi-Ethnic Garlic Festival (DTB) Rec Park Music Fest (REC) Sunday Night Chillout Sessions (THAI) Sassy Sundays (TRQ) Summer Fest (DTB) Rec Fest Afterparty w/ Milkweed (OUH)

Mansion Tours (PMM) Great Expectations (EPAC) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Contra Dance (TTC) Sassy Sundays (TRQ)

Mansion Tours (PMM) Planetarium Shows (ROB) RiverFest (ROB) Heroes (CRT) Sunday Night Chillout Sessions (THAI) Sassy Sundays (TRQ) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

Mansion Tours (PMM) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Heroes (CRT) JC Field Days (HLD) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

Open Mic (BEL) Open Mic w/Dan Pokorak (KING) Tango Lessons (ATOM)

Open Mic (BEL) Open Mic w/Dan Pokorak (KING) Tango Lessons (ATOM) Street Feet & More (FTZ)

Open Mic (BEL) Open Mic w/Dan Pokorak (KING) Kind Composting (YHPL) Tango Lessons (ATOM) The Downtown Book Club (RRB)

Open Mic (BEL) Open Mic w/Dan Pokorak (KING) Steampunk Party (YHPL) Tango Lessons (ATOM) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

AUGUST

Speakeasy Open Mic (CCW) Dan Pokorak & Friends (OUH) Swing Dance (REX) Open Dance w/Kate Pulling (BCDC)

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (YHPL) Milkweed (OUH) Swing Dance (REX) Open Dance w/Kate Pulling (BCDC)

End of Summer Party (YHPL) Dan Pokorak & Friends (OUH) Swing Dance (REX) Open Dance w/Kate Pulling (BCDC)

Milkweed (OUH) Swing Dance (REX) Open Dance w/Kate Pulling (BCDC) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

KEY: (AC) Anderson Center (ARENA) Binghamton Arena (ATOM) Atomic Tom’s (BBW) Black Bear Winery (BC) Binghamton Club (BCDC) Broome County Dance Center (BCPL) Broome County Public Library (BEL) Belmar Pub (BHMN) Bohemian Moon, Norwich (BOB) Bobby’s Place

wedne

06 13 20 27

Jazz Ja De Bruce B Triple Pla

Comedy W Author Eve

De

Comedy W Sea

De

Comedy W Pet

De

Comedy W M Steve A Endicott R

(BREW) Binghamton Bre (BRK) Brackney Inn (BSP) Blarney Stone Pub (BTP) Blind Tiger Pub (BUN) Bundy Museum (CBF) Chenango Blues F (CCW) Cyber Café West (CMP) Cider Mill Playhou (CORT) Reed’s Seeds Far (CRT) Chenango River T (DTB) Downtown Bingha

T 2014

esday. thursday.

am w/Miles Ahead (LDC) eep Cuts Pro Jam (KING) Beadle w/TC Horns (ESP) ay w/Alice Detrick (HPO) Open Mic (JBC) Minerals Rock! (YHPL) Goodfruits (CCW) Comedy Open Mic (MB) Writing Workshop (BUN) ent: Joseph Falank (RRB)

eep Cuts Pro Jam (KING) Open Mic (JBC) Al Millus (CCW) Writing Workshop (BUN) an Dolan & Friends (BEL)

eep Cuts Pro Jam (KING) Open Mic (JBC) Comedy Open Mic (MB) Writing Workshop (BUN) te Ruttle & Friends (BEL)

eep Cuts Pro Jam (KING) Open Mic (JBC) Writing Workshop (BUN) Matthew Cochran (CCW) Argento & Friends (BEL) Restaurant Week (ENDI)

ewing Co.

b, Norwich

Festival

use rm, Cortland Theatre amton

07 14 21 28

Sepia Portrait Painting (POW) Randy McStine & John Kanaz (BTP) The Little Mermaid, Jr. (FHS) Pirate & Princess Adventure (ARENA) Open Mic w/Nate Gross (BSP) Bob Kerber & Tim Linkroum (GXY) Trash Thursdays (MRLN) Odd Man Out (MOS) InnerMission (CCW) DJ Judge (SHEN)

Vermont Cheddar w/Carol Simek (BTP) Great Expectations (EPAC) Open Mic w/Nate Gross (BSP) Blue Sky Mission Club (GXY) Honey Struck (MOS) InnerMission (CCW) DJ Judge (SHEN)

Chris Mollo (BTP) Enerjee Jazz w/Ayana D (LDC) LJ Gates (BHMN) Open Mic w/Nate Gross (BSP) The Falconers (GXY) Never Enough (MOS) InnerMission (CCW) DJ Judge (SHEN)

Vermont Cheddar w/Carol Simek (BTP) Acoustic Jam (EPAC) Nate Gross & Kate Stewart (BHMN) Open Mic (BSP) Band of Strings (GXY) Hindsight (MOS) Heroes (CRT) InnerMission (CCW) DJ Judge (SHEN) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

(DTO) Downtown Owego (ENDI) Greater Endicott Area (EPAC) Endicott Performing Arts Center (ESP) East Side Park, Norwich (FHS) Firehouse Stage (FIVE) Number 5 (FTZ) Fitzies Pub (GXY) Galaxy Brewing Co. (HLD) Harry L. Drive (HPO) Hickories Park, Owego (HOL) Holiday Inn Downtown

events calendar

friday.

01 08 15 22 29

First Friday Art Walk (DTB/DTO) New Works by NEAL (BUN) KAPOW! Kids Art Camp (POW) Rick Iacovelli/TR2 (BTP) Radius (BRK), Trio del Rio (LDC) Beauty & the Beats (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Cans N Clams (HOL), Live Music (BBW) Spiedie Fest (OTS) Matuto (CCW) Delete History/Street Feet (FTZ)

Sepia Portrait Painting (POW) Cans N Clams (HOL),Toy Box Trophies (BTP) Jenn Friedman CD Release (LDC) Water Monsters (BOB) Pirate & Princess Adventure (ARENA) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Citizen 5 (BRK), Live Music (BBW) Genna & Jesse (CCW) Pete Ruttle & Friends (OUH) Author Event: Barbara Taylor (RRB) Basic Printer/Lust (FTZ), Deveroe (BEL)

Mel & Boys (BTP), Great Expectations (EPAC) Zac Brown Band (OPEN), Genna & Jesse (LDC) The Playing Possums (BOB) Cans N Clams (HOL),Splash (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Live Music (BBW) Jeff Love Band (CCW) Pete Ruttle & Friends (OUH) Poetry Open Mic (RRB) Valnad/Hallucination/Inhumatus (FTZ) Dan Pokorak & Friends (BEL) The Yadda Yaddas (BTP) Dance Stories: In the Studio (EPAC) Boots On! (BRK), Jaggery (LDC) Virgil Cain (BOB) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Curiosity Cat (TPC) Live Music (BBW) Heroes (CRT) Maury Rosenberg & David Carter (CCW) Pete Ruttle & Friends (OUH) Cans N Clams (HOL),Raibred (FTZ)

Thom, Beth & Mark (BTP) Jilly May (LDC) 2nd Edition w/Mary Meier (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Live Music (BBW) The Dusty Boxx Experience (MRLN) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI), Heroes (CRT) JC Field Days (HLD) Big Mean Sound Machine & Milkweed (CCW) Pete Ruttle & Friends (OUH) Cans N Clams (HOL),The Tight Spots (BRK)

(JBC) John Barleycorn (KING) Kingsley’s Pub (KNOW) KNOW Theatre (LDC) Lost Dog Café/Lounge (MB) Matty B’s (MOS) Mosquito Lounge (MRLN) Merlin’s (OTS) Otsiningo Park (OUH) Old Union Hotel (PMM) Phelps Mansion Museum (POW) KAPOW! Art Now

saturday.

02 09 16 23 30

The Farnsworth Intervention (CMP) Spectacular Average Boys (BRK) Mansion Tours (PMM) Mike Whittemore (BTP) Seedstock 6 (CORT), Deveroe (BOB) Beard of Bees (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) KNOW Theatre Fundraiser (ATOM) Spiedie Fest (OTS) Comedy/Magic (VCH), Voodoo Highway (CCW) Bag of Bones/If Madrid (FTZ) GBFC Fundraiser (OUH), Mansion Tours (PMM) TCO “Bowl-A-Rama” (BC) Anything Goes (AC) Pasty White & Double Wide (BTP) DJ Castle & Krae (LDC) Scott Freeman Band (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Queens & Kings of Comedy (MRLN) Multi-Ethnic Garlic Festival (DTB) Pat O’Shea & the Honest Men (CCW) Bull Riding (BRK)

Mansion Tours (PMM), A Country Mile (BTP) Great Expectations (EPAC), Odd Man Out (BOB) Pasty White & Double Wide (FIVE) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Robert Randolph & the Family Band (CBF) Binghamton Brewing Grand Opening (BREW) Divas After Dark (MRLN) Ramble Run (BRK). Kim & Chris (CCW) Full Buck Moon Closing Reception (SPOOL) Shut Mouth/Twin Lords/Prelude the Ruin (FTZ) Black Hat (BEL) Mansion Tours (PMM) The Revelers (BTP) The Gravelding Brothers (BOB) Planetarium Shows (ROB) RiverFest (ROB) Heroes (CRT) Zydeco Po’ Boys (JBC) Occidental Gypsy (CCW) The Falconers (OUH) HPA/Ashes of Grandeur/Castrofate (FTZ) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI) Mansion Tours (PMM) Tony Bennett (AC) The Beatles Band (BTP) Planetarium Shows (ROB) Heroes (CRT) JC Field Days (HLD) Janelle & Tom (TTC) We Must Dismantle All This (FTZ) Jamie Willard (CCW) Pawn Shop (BRK) Endicott Restaurant Week (ENDI)

(REC) Rec Park (REX) Rexer’s Karate (ROB) Roberson Museum (RRB) River Read Books (SHEN) Shenanigans (SPOOL) Spool Mfg. (THAI) Thai Time (TPC) Ti-Ahwaga Players Club (TTC) Tioga Trails Café (VCH) Vestal Coal House (YHPL) Your Home Public Library

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 25

theatre and dance.

GIVE YOUR TWO CENTS TO OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TI-AHWAGA PLAYERS PRESENT A PLAY ABOUT CATS (BUT NOT THAT ONE)

Ronnie Vuolo Assistant Editor

Cats are curious. They get into things.

AT DANCE STORIES: IN THE STUDIO Dance Stories Practice. Photo by Veronica Chier.

Heather Merlis Assistant Editor On a Friday in late July, I made my way to the top floor of the Endicott Performing Arts Center (usually referred to as EPAC), for that month’s installment of In the Studio, a salon presented by Dance Stories, EPAC’s resident dance company.

Upon entering the studio, I helped myself to some delicious homemade salsa with chips, cheese, grapes, and chocolate as I was poured a glass of red wine- already well worth the $5 suggested donation, even if the salon turned out to be a bust.

Which it did not- it was great- but let me back up a minute. It seems that, these days, many people are unfamiliar with the concept of a salon. Not the place where you go for a blow-out or whatever people who pay other people to do their hair do at hair salons, but the other kind of salon. A salon is a gathering of people, often creatively minded, organized by an inspiring individual. This individual (in the case of In the Studio, René Neville, Artistic Director of Dance Stories), prompts a discussion and presents a variety of new creative pieces, with the intention to educate and entertain all of whom are present. With the sharing of these young works of art, the creative community flourishes.

Ms. Neville, who wears many hats at EPAC, explains that, for nine months of the year, Dance Stories is creating dances for its annual main stage production, which consists of all original pieces of choreography.

“There can be a tendency, for the public, to think that we’ve crawled under a rock and disappeared. So I came up with a way for us stay connected with everybody and let people know that we’re still doing great things. The

idea came to me to get together a visual artist, a musician, a poet, and the choreographers from Dance Stories, and have a monthly salon.”

In my experience, great poetry is an essential element of a successful salon. In July, the guest poet was the profound and delightful Martin Bidney. August’s poet is Christopher M.F. Bodnarczuk, who compiled a book of original poetry titled Filthy Smut and Other Bedtime Stories, a book “not to be read without latex gloves.” He also runs this paper that you hold in your hands right now. Maybe you should go wash your hands.

Chris started college at BU as a poetry-hating marketing major, and before he knew it, he was sharing his own raunchy verses and hosting the poetry open-mic at the Belmar.

“When I got more serious about writing, and stopped trying to just get a rise out of people, the poetry somehow got better.”

Chris is also an expert in the local arts scene: “I know nothing about this event, other than that I’m in it.” Perfect. Let’s keep this article as vague possible, so that we all may relish the element of surprise come the salon.

What’s so cool about In the Studio is that the audience truly participates (on its own terms), and no one knows what the outcome of the evening will be. Usually, the salon begins with the viewing of an abstract art piece (last month’s was “Blind Eye,” a metal sculpture by the ingenious Ronald Gonzalez), and then, inspired by each other, the artists begin to create, ultimately manifesting in a holistic art piece that incorporates visual art, poetry, music, and dance.

“Once all of the artists have something on the floor, then we can start to work with each other,” explained René. “Everyone creates their piece individually, and then we start to talkthe artists and the audience.”

Normally, as listeners, readers, and viewers, we don’t get to peer too deeply into the cre-

ative process, let alone provide input. Not so at In the Studio. If you think the dancers should tweak their moves, tell them; their choreography is still in its nascent stage. If you feel the musicians should throw in a key change, say something, and they might. If you think Mr. Editor-in-Chief should try incorporating more complex metaphor into his poetry, well… you should really come to this salon, if for no other reason than to be a part of the process. The audience is integral to the creation here.

August’s visual artist will be John Edward Bonaventure Federowicz (known as Jon Ed Bon Fed). Typically, the other artists would get the chance to see the visual art piece about a week in advance. “The August salon will be unique in that it will work almost backwards, because they’ll be no art to look at initially,” said René. In this case, the salon will initiate with the audience discussing their sources of inspiration, and the process should build from there. And with the minds booked for this month, it could go anywhere.

“I have not read Chris’ poetry,” René admitted. “He warned me, though, that he’s dirty.”

August’s In the Studio may be our only chance to see the Daddy Carousel in poetic action, as lovely women dance around him to a freshly composed tune, while a caricaturist interprets it all on paper. Be there- the Carousel nation will surely turn it into an even more festive event.

vvv “Dance Stories: In the Studio” will be taking place on Friday evenings at 7pm; this month’s is on the 22nd, and the series will continue with installments on September 26th and October 24th. Doors open at 6:30pm and there is a suggestion donation of $5, which goes to the educational programs at EPAC, located at 102 Washington Avenue in Endicott. Call (607) 785-8903 or visit endicottarts.com for more information. And don’t forget to bring your latex gloves.

They like to explore. They climb into your grocery bags (well, they did when bags were made of paper), into boxes you’ve just unpacked, into the drawers of your dresser. They climb to the top of your wall unit and crawl under your TV console. It’s a cat thing. Inquiring cats want to know. Cats are also independent. They don’t need us, we are merely servants who provide food and a dry place to sleep, convenient and sometimes pleasant to have around- but not absolutely necessary to their survival. It is likely that we need them more than they need us; they provide us with entertainment and lower our blood pressure (except when they throw up on the bed, or bring dead- or not so dead- things into the house as gifts). So it is not surprising that an award winning multi-talented author (Chris Grabenstein) wrote an entire comedic play about a cat.

Why not? The species already proved a hit on Broadway.

Being a dedicated pet lover, already sharing his home and family with a trio of cats, and a dog named Fred (who, by the way, starred in the Broadway version of “Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang”), Chris was the perfect person to write the story of Curiosity the Cat. The play is actually a part of his award-winning middle grade novel “The Hanging Hill.” It tells the story of Curiosity, a cat that comes into the lives of two children who have been sent to stay with a relative while their sick mother recuperates. The cat, as cats will do in their curious explorations, breaks a music box belonging to the little girl and finds himself tossed out on the street for his transgression. He proceeds to fill his time with an assortment of odd and quirky animal characters he finds along the way, making it his mission to find them homes, while avoiding kitty jail at the hands of the nefarious “Cat Catcher.” There is even a loyal pooch named Fred, in honor of Grabenstein’s own personal Fred. When the children, along with Fred, set off to rescue Curiosity from a life on the streets, the story climax’s in a sure fire happy ending that will leave everyone laughing.

Put on by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., The Ti-ahwaga Community Players will perform Curiosity Cat for one night only, on Friday, August 22nd, at 7pm. Directed by Linda Fenescey, Carolyn Christie-Boyden, and Bonni Brennan, it features a cast of 15 children between the ages of 8 and 15. The Ti-ahwaga Performing Arts Center is located at 42 Delphine Street in Owego. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling (607) 687-2130 or via the online ticket page at tiahwaga.com.

Active in the area since 1958, the group is always looking for new members, both onstage and off stage.

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 27

food and drink.

BINGHAMTON BREWING CO. PREPARES TO OPEN DOORS IN JC

Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief

It is late July when I first step through the doors of Binghamton Brewing Co. I, like many in the Southern Tier, have been awaiting this moment for a long time.

It was 2011 or so when rumors first began circulating on the streets of Binghamton that the brewers were coming to town. No one was sure quite who they were, but in hushed tones, the townsfolk would converse excitedly about India Pale Ales and Grains of Paradise. There were supposed sightings of these elusive brewers but they were few and far between.

“Oh, come unto us, brewers,” the most diehards chanted, “deliver us to the land of milk and honey stout.”

And then they came, like manna from the heavens. Two brewpubs opened in downtown Binghamton, within a block of each other. A tasting room opened in Endicott. Montrose.

Cortland. Fitting, that Binghamton, a city once known for having more bars on one street than there were people, should be the epicenter of such a phenomenon. And the townsfolk did rejoice.

Binghamton Brewing Co. was the subject of many of those early whispers. Kristen Lyons and husband Jason Gardner took on the name in 2011, and their garage-brews were a big hit at a few choice tasting events. And yet the couple remained behind-the-scenes for quite some time, perfecting their craft and looking for the perfect location to open up shop down-

town in the Parlor City.

It is perhaps ironic then, that after three years of work, Binghamton Brewing Co. is slated to open its doors this August on Avenue B in Johnson City, in an old EJ Fire building.

It is three weeks before the anticipated August 16th grand opening when I meet Kristen and Jason for the first time. I am greeted at the door with a bottle of Ommegang, the same beer that inspired the couple to start brewing in the first place (they have a shrine of unopened special edition bottles in their home).

I was hoping for one of their blends, but from the look of the main room, they’ve still got a long way to go before they’re ready to start pouring. What will, possibly by the time you read this, be an inviting tasting room, complete with fireplace and lounging area, is, at the moment, a mess. Tools, paintbrushes, the shell of a sign from the framing shop that used to reside in the space… all of it, everywhere. This is to be expected- they are three weeks from opening, after all.

Under the mess though, a picture emerges.

Kristen shows me the upcycled wood floor that the couple, along with a bunch of dedicated volunteers, made out of old bowling alley lanes. Massive old metal gears sit in a corner awaiting to become a focal point. Jason explains where the bar counter and taps will go and leads me into the brew-room.

The symbolism behind the gears in the tasting room becomes immediately clear upon seeing the brewing operation: some serious cogs have been turning in Kristen and Jason’s heads. Virtually every bit of equipment they use has been retrofitted with mechanisms to make them work better,

colder, or just plain different. Much of their equipment is secondhand, so price may certainly have played a factor in their ingenuitybut upon seeing the pride in Jason’s eyes as he explains how he made the chiller a whole foot taller than it had been originally built, just so he could accommodate the tanks he wanted to use- I suspect that they do things this way just for the challenge.

After being greeted with an unfinished tasting room and a bottle of someone else’s beer, I didn’t expect to get a sample of whatever was in the tank, but Jason graciously offered up one of the first pulls of the “Amber Waves of Grain,” an amber ale that was brewed on Inde-

pendence Day Weekend. It is crisp and aromatic, and even the head pours to perfection.

The Amber Waves is just one of the many beers the couple plans to rotate between six to seven taps in the tasting room, and it will no doubt be available at their grand opening party on August 16th, from 2pm-10pm. They’re calling the event Bing Brew Fest (not to be confused with September’s Binghamton Brew Fest, which takes place at the Arena), and it’s got all the makings to be what they’re referring to as a “Vaudevillian carnival.” Not only will beer be available for sale and for tasting, but they’re bringing in fire spinners, local musicans, and other performers, plus food carts, and they’re encouraging attendees to bring bowler caps and suspenders, and to “grease up those mustache tips.” The $15 admission ticket not only gets all of that, but also commemorative tasting glasses and other gear.

Muckles Ink will be onsite as well, printing up special edition opening day tshirts.

And so it is that the townsfolk welcome another brewery to their midst, albeit one beyond the arch.

Binghamton Brewing Co. officially taps the first pint at their Avenue B brewery on August 16th. The wait is over!

CHASING THE GREEN FAIRY

As we approach the prominent corner lot that is home to Antonio’s Galleria & Cafe, located at 100 Oak Hill Ave in Endicott’s historic Little Italy, we are greeted with murals, mosaics and images that transport us to an earlier time, in a small village somewhere in the Old Country.

Several large windows adorn the facade and offer a glimpse inside. The interior feels exactly as one would expect of an old Italian Bistro: the walls have the feel of being sponge painted by hand with a warm, muted, yellow tone, though they takes no attention away from the clusters of photographs, pictures and decorations that hang there. There is, of course, one wall dedicated to Frank Sinatra (this is a law in Italian eateries). As we enter, our attention is immediately drawn to the large gelato case at the end of the bar. The bar itself is cozy, with seating for 8-10, not including the three pub tables (with seating for three each).

The dining room area can hold about 60 patrons, and the seating can easily be manipulated to various configurations, depending on the size of the party. Directly off of the entrance is a small booth that can seat about two couples comfortably.

My guest and I are immediately seated, and our waitress, Maria (working her first night- this is not evident, as the service is wonderful) takes our drink orders and leaves us to discuss the menu. My guest chooses the Raquel- a blend of Van Gough black cherry vodka, Cointrou orange liqueur, and LaMarca Prosecco: very refreshing, with heavy fruity overtones and a bubbly finish. I choose Antonio’s signature martinithe Coco Chanel: a blend of chocolate gelato, vanilla vodka and, I believe, hazelnut liqueur. It is, as the menu promises, “classy and fabulous,” and it may well be my choice for an after dinner drink, in lieu of dessert. We choose the goat cheese croquettes as or first appetizer, and gorgonzola pizza as the second. The goat cheese croquettes are very light and crispy, with a nice consistency throughout. They are served with a pear and honey sauce that adds just a little sweet to the savory of the croquettes. The gorgonzola pizza is a real treat. A crisp, thin crust, covered in gorgonzola cheese, mozzarella, spinach, roasted red peppers, and sautéed onions.

Whether in a panini or served over pasta, it would be hard to go wrong with this intricate flavor profile. Each ingredient makes its mark while taking nothing away from the other players: delicious, and perfectly balanced.

We order a couple more martinis and decide on our main courses. For entrées we choose the eggplant and chicken stacker and the steak pizzaola. While we await our entrees, I try the Red Velvet Martini, which contains chocolate gelato and raspberry sorbetto, and again, I find it to be delicious, but better suited for after dinner. We sip martinis and eat our salads, and before long our entrees arrive. The eggplant and chicken stacker is a generous portion of breaded chicken breast and perfectly fried eggplant, layered with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, baked until bubbly and delicious. I am a fan of both eggplant and chicken parmesan, and cannot believe that I haven’t thought of this combination before now. The texture of the eggplant creates a blanket of savory crisp for the already well prepared chicken breast. The steak pizzaola is served on a bed of short rigatoni with green peppers, mushrooms and sautéed onions, and simmered in a red sauce.

This is usually the point in the meal when I make executive decisions for my guest and myself regarding dessert, but a rumor I’d heard regarding Antonio’s is peaking my interest: I inquire about the possibility of Absinthe being on the menu, and am told yes, it is, and that someone will be over shortly to explain further.

Absinthe, you see dear friends, makes me think of Edgar Allen Poe or some other slightly eccentric writer of that period. I’ve always wondered what about this drink has made it so widely regarded a s hallucinogenic (and possibly the cause of people losing their minds).

The bartender explains that Absinthe only become legal in the United States in 2007, and that there is still some mysticism and curiosity regarding its effects. A French creation, Absinthe is 110 proof, found in both a green and a white variety. He brings the fountain to our table (yes, an absinthe fountain!) and sets us up: an ice water bath slowly drips over a sugar cube that has been placed on a slotted spoon over the Absinthe itself. It is anise flavored, and most of the time is consumed as an after dinner drink. It has a peculiarly calming effect as we sip it slowly. While I do not find it overpowering or particularly hallucinogenic, I… do… lose track… of… time…

With an extensive wine menu, 20- something flavors of gelato (all made with authentic imported ingredients), homemade Italian selections in the kitchen, and the opportunity to partake in a long lost tradition after your meal concludes, Antonio’s is there to impress. Take a trip to Endicott’s little Italy and visit today… or perhaps check them out during the first ever Greater Endicott Restaurant Week, which takes place August 23rd to September 1st.

AT ANTONIO’S GALLERIA AND CAFE

by Ahlpheh Ohtis Wilson

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 29

THE FIRST EVER

ENDICOTT RESTAURANT WEEK

AUG. 23-SEPT. 1

EAT EVERYWHERE! 1st Thai Basil Antonios Galleria & Cafe Brothers 2 Consol Family Kitchen Corbins Cafe Downtown Quarterback Enfield’s Fast Eddie’s Cafe Feliz Wine and Tapas Greek Key Restaurants & Bar Joeys Italian Ice/Pizzeria Kelly’s Tavern & Sportsbar Kristofors L’Amore Caffe’ Lampys Los Tapatios Mama Guiseppa Italian Restaurant Mama T’s Restaurant Nandos Nick’s Pizza & Restaurant Nirchi’s on the Avenue Ozzies Brisket BBQ Grill Pantheon Restaurant Podlasie Polish Restaurant Smarty’s The Galley Tavern & Grill Tony’s Italian Grill

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA

HOW FREAKIN’ GOOD

ENDICOTT’S ITALIAN FOOD IS? endicottrestaurantweek.com

30 Vol. 2 Issue 8

CALLAHAN’S SPORTSMAN’S PUB OFFERS UP GOOD DRINK AND AFFORDABLE FARE Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief

It’s Thursday night when I walk into Callahan’s Sportsman’s Club, on Main Street in Binghamton.

I know this place. Most of us who have lived in Binghamton for any period of time do. Even those who haven’t- they know this place, too.

There’s a universal familiarity in a good neighborhood dive, and Callahan’s is no exception.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been inside. I ended my first Binghamton Parade Day here, though I didn’t end it well. It may have been my obviously fake ID. It may have been my insistence that “I jus need… I jus… I… whiskey!

All of it!” I may have tried to start a fight with a regular over the merits of Robin Williams’s dramatic prowess. I may have peed on a bar stool. But, like… Parade Day, brah.

My memory of that night is decidedly hazy.

I do remember getting dragged out the front door and being told not to return. I am not an unreasonable man. I listened. I did not return.

Except! Except! They sold the bar! They sold it! And so, accounting for the universal rules of tavern blacklisting that I just made up in my head… that means I’m allowed back in!

New owner= new bar! Right?

Right. See, Callahan’s changed hands this year, and the new proprietor, Bryan Hranek,

knows nothing of my shenanigans. Nor should he. I am an adult now. I have not made a habit of being kicked out of watering holes in at least four years. And so, I find myself stopping in on this particular Thursday night for a few drinks and dinner.

The décor is the same as it has always been, which is good. Familiarity is good. The green paint and woodwork are reminiscent of being inside a giant pool table, even though Callahan’s doesn’t actually have a pool table (there is an old arcade game and one of those table-top touch-screen poker things). Sports memorabilia lines the walls, and three big TVs mounted behind the bar broadcast a football game.

A Canadian football game (I always thought Canadians called football “soccer,” eh). A solid selection of liquor lines the wall behind the bar counter, and the tap selection isn’t half bad. The mirror behind the bar is covered with a long list of food and drink specials. In the front corner, two local musicians (Dan Pokorak and Kali Cromwell) serenade the crowd. The regulars, who range from tattooed 20-somethings to middle-aged professionals, do not recognize me. This is good.

Along for dinner is my hungry roommate, who readers of this publication will know best as “Ty.” We settle in to some stools and order some drinks. The monthly shot special consists of a ridiculously cheap shot of Jameson (when ordered alongside another drink). This is Binghamton. We are young hipster sorts (we claim otherwise, but we’re both wearing

Mon-Sat: 7am-2pm Sun: 8am-2pm

flannel). Two Pabst Blue Ribbons, and two shots of Jameson, please! (There are those in this town that refer to this as a PB&J.) If we were richer young hipsters, we’d probably go for some Southern Tier IPA on draft, or one of their other microbrew choices. If we were not men with dignity, we’d probably order the frozen Dreamsicle (which between you and me, sounds kind of delicious).

As Meghan, our bartender, grabs our drinks, we peruse the food menu. Burgers. Spiedies.

Sandwiches. Fries. Nothing out of the ordinary. This is good. This is a neighborhood bar.

I want bar food. I opt for a bacon cheeseburger. Ty orders a Reuben. Because we are gluttons, we add on an order of 10 Parmesean Hot Wings as an appetizer.

The wings come out perfect: crispy, cheesy, spicy. I spent some years living in the Southwest, so my idea of a “hot” wing is different than most Binghamtonians’… I question Ty, who has a more nuanced palette than mine, if the wings are too mild. They are not. “Session heat,” he calls it. Session heat it is.

The burger and Reuben come out next. My beef is rare, as requested. I always order rare burgers, because I like to live on the edge, and I figure that if I walk away with food poisoning I will know to write a bad review. I do not walk away with food poisoning. This is good.

The giant patty is lightly seasoned, and the bacon is crispy. It comes with a side of mac salad, topped with a dollop of hollandaise (or

something equally delicious). Since the burger is on special tonight, it costs $5. When Ty takes a bathroom break, I sneak a few bites of his Reuben. It’s perfectly greasy, full of corned beef and sauerkraut, with dressing oozing out the edges. The Reuben is not on special, but it still only costs $7.50.

When Meghan takes our plates, they have been scraped clean. We order a few more PB&Js, listen to a bit more music, and head home. My return to Callahan’s has been successful. Good food. Good beer. No peeing on a bar stool. No getting dragged out the front door. This is good.

All in all, my Callahan’s experience is a positive one. I can easily seeing in becoming my new neighborhood dive. There is nothing particularly out of the ordinary here- rather, a universality, a familiarity- but this is exactly what I am looking for. It is comfortable. It is homey. And it opens early, so it works as both a quick lunch stop and an extended evening destination. This is good.

vvv Callahan’s Sportsman’s Club is located at 190 Main St. in Binghamton (next to Kingsley’s).

They’re open daily, 11am-1am Mon-Thurs, 11am-3am Fri-Sat, and noon-1am Sundays.

They offer daily food and drink specials, plus Quick Draw, sports TV, and occasional live music. For more info, check ‘em out on the ol’ facebook.

607-217-4134 JCvillagediner.com

BREAKFAST SPECIALS SERVED ALL DAY Eggs, Omelets, Oatmeal, Belgian Waffles, Pancakes & French Toast Steak & Cheese Omelet – w/ peppers and onions,

LUNCH SPECIALS: 11AM to 2PM Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fried Baskets, Salads, Sandwiches, Soups, Desserts Hand Crafted Stuffed Burgers – choose from bacon

home fries & toast

cheddar, jalapeno & pepper jack, mushroom swiss, bacon blue l,t,o,m, chips & pickle Royale Patty Melt on Grilled Rye – beef patty, grilled onion & mushrooms, pepper jack cheese, chips & pickle Carolina BBQ Turkey Melt – house roasted turkey, bbq sauce, cheese, and coleslaw on grilled sourdough “THAT” Fried Chicken Sandwich – marinated chicken deep fried with cheese on a grilled Kaiser roll, l, t, o, m… also available in buffalo blue style Grilled Cuban – sliced pork loin, ham, dill pickles, swiss, mustard on a grilled ciabatta roll w/ chips & pickle Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla – grilled marinated chicken, crispy bacon, w/ chipotle ranch dressing Fish Tacos – (3x) beer battered cod, chipotle & jalapeno slaw, salsa, cilantro, chipotle sour cream dressing, and chips BBQ Smoked Pork – house smoked w/ Jack Daniels oak barrel chips, topped w/ Sweet Baby Ray’s and chipotle slaw

Sausage Gravy over Homemade Biscuits w/ 2 eggs Grilled Breakfast Burrito – w/scrambled eggs, melted

cheese, salsa, hot sauce, and your choice of meat w/ home fries Loaded Breakfast Pizza – w/ scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, bacon, sausage, tomatoes & melted cheese on crispy tortilla

Bananas Foster over French Toast, Pancake, or Belgian Waffle – homemade caramel sauce infused

w/ sliced bananas, topped w/ ice cream and whipped cream

French Toast Breakfast Sandwich – two eggs, cheese, your choice of meat on French Toast w/ syrup to dip Root Beer Float Pancake – 1 giant pancake topped w/ vanilla bean ice cream and homemade root beer syrup Homemade Pumpkin Pancakes or Waffle – they literally melt in your mouth

Bacon Chipotle Ranch Cheeseburger –

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August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 33

film.

FROM THE

TRAILER TRASH VAULT Movie trailers aren’t always effective in giving useful previews of what a film is about. They’re usually a mess of disconnected images and phrases arranged in order to get the heart beating. Our resident cinephile, ILANA LIPOWICZ, deciphers these trailers each month, and here’s what she’s able to deduce. This information is not guaranteed to be accurate, but it will most definitely save you from feeling like you spent two and a half minutes spiraling towards the earth in a burning aircraft and still don’t know what movie to see.

Let’s Be Cops:

It’s Halloween, and two men who have recently had their masculinity put to the test decide to dress up like cops for the occasion. They wear real cop uniforms- not costumes- and carry real, if unloaded guns, but for some reason they are still surprised when people believe that they are actually police officers. Once they discover the effect of their suits, they go out and about, doing things that it’s funny to see cops do: smoking a joint with some kids, driving recklessly, dancing at the club, riding a roller coaster. Basically, two guys go out and have a nice time, and it’s sort of funny because they are dressed like police officers. (Aug. 13)

Guardians of the Galaxy: At some point during the process of adapting this Marvel comic into a movie, the writers realized it was going to be hard to make a serious film about a clan of heroes that includes an anthropomorphic tree and a raccoon named Rocket. The trailer doesn’t reveal much by way of plot. What we do know is that there’s this guy Peter Quill (AKA the Star Lord), and he just can’t seem to do anything right! Once that’s established, it’s straight montage of explosions, knives scraping against each other, and a raccoon flying, all to the chug of ooga chaga playing in the background. In short, we’re not really sure what this film is about. But this raccoon looks dangerous. So hide your garbage cans, and for a better synopsis, check out the comic book or something. (Aug. 1)

Ilana Lipowicz Staff Writer

Here’s a list of movies that came out in July a decade ago, two decades ago, three decades ago, you get the picture. Get ready to feel old.

2004: Collateral (August 6) Tom Cruise got to play the bad guy as hitman Vincent, kidnapping cab driver Jamie Foxx and forcing him to be his chauffeur and his accomplice for a good ol’ round of mass homicide.

1994: Natural Born Killers (August 26) August is a month of murder. Sociopathic lovers Mallory and Mickey had some rough childhoods. Once they flew the coop, they navigated Quentin Tarantino’s strange world, shooting everything in sight, and we rooted for them the whole time.

1984: Tightrope (August 17)

The Hundred-Foot Journey:

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a good Romeo & Juliet story. In 2014, the Indians and the French are pitted against each other in a film that skirts racism the whole time but never quite offends anyone. When an Indian family opens up a restaurant next door to her own, Madame Mallory (played by Helen Mirren) is not amused by their loud antics and strong-scented food. Here’s a story that reminds us that racism is still a very big problem in our modern world, but not so big a problem that it can’t be solved with one extra delicious omelet. The snooty old French lady teaches the wide-eyed Indian boy (played by Manish Dayal) “subtlety of flavor,” and he teaches her that a little curry can improve even the most finely tuned recipe. In spite of their differences, a romance sparks between Hassan and Madame Mallory’s daughter Maguerite, and they consecrate their love on a bed of croissants and samosas. (Aug. 8)

The Giver:

If you watch the first trailer of The Giver, you might be surprised to see that it’s all in color. It was a pretty crucial element in the source book that the world was colorless to everyone except the Giver himself. In the second trailer, it’s fixed! Turns out the whole thing was an oversight- but when the first one was released, it caused a bit of an uproar from fans of the book. So it looks like fans know the story better than those in charge of the trailer.

Let’s hope the same isn’t said for the makers of the film! For those who haven’t read the novel: the story takes place in a utopian future in which all emotional depth has been drained from society, and all recollection of the past is in the hands of one man, the Receiver of Memories. Young Jonas is assigned this special role, and his predecessor and mentor becomes the Giver. The Big Lebowski’s Dude plays the Giver, and Meryl Streep is the long, silvery-haired “Chief Elder.” Taylor Swift also makes an appearance, so for those who like her: hooray! And for those who don’t: she plays a dead chick. (Aug. 15)

If I Stay:

Isn’t it amazing how life is one thing and then, in an instant, it becomes something else? For more thought provoking aphorisms such as this one, check out this movie. It’s based on the novel by Gayle Forman, who, like Nicholas Sparks and John Green, has achieved just the right balance of melodrama and sappy romance to get her story on the big screen. It almost seems like Chloe Grace Moretz won some kind of shopping mall raffle for the chance to play main character Mia and schmooze with Jamie Blackley, who plays her peer (but is actually six years her senior) and looks like the minor rock star that he portrays. Mia, a skilled cellist and contender for Julliard, feels like nobody compared to her beau. If you actually have no skills, be warned: this movie might make you feel bad about yourself!

But then it’ll put things in perspective when Mia’s parents die in a car accident and she has to make choices. But as the film will tell you: sometimes you make choices, and sometimes choices make you (?). (Aug. 22)

When the Game Stands Tall: There can never really be enough films about small, football playing towns where something goes wrong with the team and everything goes haywire. In this movie, that first crack in the shell is a loss after a 151 game winning streak. When it happens, suddenly everything falls apart: families turn on each other, people die, and the boys remember that they can’t win all the time. Aww. It makes no statement about race like Remember the Titans or mental illness like Radio, but it says a lot about what football is really about- winning and losing- and teaches that when you lose, bad things happen. Someone could die. So for goodness sakes, step it up sissies, and don’t lose! (Aug. 22)

Clint Eastwood as police detective Wes Block had the opposite of the Midas touch: everyone he slept with was raped and murdered by a coffee-drinking psycho killer. It didn’t help that he slept with everyone he questioned during his investigation!

1974: The Longest Yard (August 30) Prisoners and guards got the opportunity to release their strife with each other in a healthy way, by battling it out on the football field. They ended up breaking the rules and beating each other up anyway.

Action. Comedy. Football. The only thing missing was Adam Sandler, but that was fixed 30 years later in the remake starring him and Monica from Friends!

1964: Two very noteworthy films were released this month in 1964- so noteworthy that we can’t pick just one!

A Hard Day’s Night (August 11) Beatlemania was at its height when the quad released their first film, a black-andwhite mockumentary which divulged the experience of the touring life while making fun of it, also revealing the wry sense of humor of the group. It included some real concert footage as well as loosely scripted scenes and finely assembled chase sequences, where the chaser is not a villain but a mob of screaming girls.

The cinematography was innovative and considered majorly influential.

Mary Poppins (August 26) That’s right- it was 50 years ago that this unconventional nanny floated down with her umbrella and made life for the Banks family a little sweeter with a spoon full of sugar and the longest word you know how to say.

34 Vol. 2 Issue 8

dog days of summer.

THE DOGGY STYLE DAYS OF SUMMER

(Haha. “Doggy style” is the funniest term ever. Super sexy.)

You’re really gonna assign me a “dog days of summer” piece, editor? Is it because you know I work with dogs, or perhaps because I have one of my own? Or maybe it’s because everyone is always sharing dog things on my Facebook wall, leaving me to look like some sort of no-life having dog-obsessed weirdo who can’t even download any more apps because the memory on her ancient iPhone is filled to the brim with photos of her own dog in sunglasses/hats/bras?!

That being said, please PLEASE stop sharing dog photos/videos/training tips/peg-leg dogs in adorable wheelchair-contraption memes or whatever else on any of my social media outlets.

Yeah, I’ll watch the videos, maybe even twice, but I will not “like” them. Well, at least I won’t recognize that I do so publicly.

I like it hot (read: disgusting). I don’t mind the heat. I don’t even mind the humidity. In fact, I find anything less than “I will die of heat stroke if I get locked out of my apartment between the hours of 12-4pm” to be hoodie weather.

I work outdoors, so the fact that I enjoy the heat is working out pretty well for me right now.

But don’t fret, people-who-hate-being-outside-of-an-air-conditioned-structure-for-morethan-however-long-it-takes-you-to-settle-into-your-air-conditioned-car, I have some great tips for beating the heat! Actually, it’s just one tip: stay inside. But what will you do in there?

I’M GETTING TO IT! God, calm down! Many of the following are taken directly from the “things to do instead of making my Carousel deadline on time” list, that I refer to every month. Feel free to use any or all of them.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Allow me to kindly remind Ms. Howard that her genius top idea of the month was to write about National LeftHanders Day]

1. Stare at a blank laptop screen, hopeful for hilarious insights to transfer from your brain to the page (you know, or whatever).

2. Lose focus immediately, settle gaze upon the desk in your “office” (read: corner where the dead plants stay), decide you don’t like it thereAT ALL- and that you cannot stand to live like this for one more second.

Long-winded ranting aside, you’ve probably heard the term “dog days of summer.” Oh what’s that? You haven’t? Well put down the internet for five seconds and go talk to someone. Especially an old person. They love saying it. People cannot wait to begin using that phrase as soon as it gets remotely hot outside, although I’m not sure that a lot of people understand the true meaning behind it.

3. Rearrange entire living room.

4. Clean rest of apartment while you’re at it.

5. Go to the bathroom. That just means go into the bathroom. You don’t even need a reason.

You will find something to do. Look in the mirror and obsess over how much worse you look since you last checked. Notice how you need to change the shower curtain (noticing is not doing, relax). Maybe even have a seat for a minute… you’ll definitely have to pee eventually.

Be ready to be shocked and abhorred. It is absolutely disgusting.

It means they support dog fighting.

No, I’m just kidding. It means it’s hot outside.

You see?! You can’t believe everything you read, which is why it’s so important to socialize.

The term “dog days” refers to the “Dog Star” Sirius, which was a super popular reality contest-show featured on satellite radio back in the days of Ancient Rome. “Rome’s Next Dog Star” involved several rounds of talented dogs, all competing for the coveted title, battling it out round after round in categories ranging from “sit” to “evening wear;” the winner being chosen for sacrifice to assure civilians that the sun would, indeed, rise again tomorrow. Of all the sources I consulted, I was wont to find two that could agree upon the exact dates upon which the “dog days” actually fall… but the gist is July-ish through August-ish, or, for all the laymen in the house: the super, duper hot months.

Many people living in this part of the country enjoy cooler climates; they appreciate witnessing seasonal changes and aren’t exiled into a spiral of alternating existential crises from November to April (let’s be real, November to May). They feel this way because they are unreasonable and insane, and possibly approaching morbid obesity, or some other such physical body-type that allows one to withstand negative (something) degrees. I, however, am built like one of those dried up little lizards you see clinging to screen doors in Florida; cold weather does not suit me.

6. Get back on that internet I told you to walk away from earlier. Go search one song from the ‘90s. Prepare to choose your own adventure with the choices you make from the “suggestions” bar on the right of the screen. Come up for air every 2-3 hours. .

Well, they can hold it. Read on:

Now, I’m aware that some of you have pets, or even actual human children (bleghh shut up, no one cares), and you’re thinking that you couldn’t possibly make this “not going outside” plan work, as the pets need to pee somewhere.

7. Instead of letting them pee, dress those suckers up and let the Instagramming begin! If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all those dog videos I was complaining about earlier, it’s that dog + sunglasses + you drinking coffee all day instead of eating actual food = the guy you’re kind of talking to is ‘bout to get his phone blown up for a good, long minute.

I hope these tips have been helpful. May you enjoy not enjoying the best season the Northeastern region of this country has to offer.

(SO MUCH DRAMA IN THE L-B-C...)

Photo by Ty Whitbeck.

by Krissy Howard

36 Vol. 2 Issue 8

RIVERREAD’S RIVER READS

SPECIAL EVENT! BOOK SIGNING WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR

D. MICHAEL PRICE! Join children’s book author D. Michael Price at RiverRead Books during the First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 1st! He’ll be signing copies of The Great Bee Race, Hoppin’ Mad, and Across the River. These are a treat to read for children and adults! If you have interest in fantasy writings and art, you will love these! Humorous, with vision and reflections on nature.

D. Michael Price is a fantasy artist whose works have graced the walls of hundreds of galleries both nationally and internationally. Well-respected as a successful fine artist as well as published children’s book author/illustrator, Michael’s works of fantasy art in the acrylic and oil mediums on canvas are sought after by private collectors worldwide. Their extensive detail and magical atmosphere transport the viewer to another realm, and children and adults alike are spellbound by their humor and originality.

While Michael’s sterling reputation in this genre extends well past his home in Upstate New York, his love of the magical beauty to be found in the hills, valleys, forests and streams of home, provide Michael with constant inspiration. It is his wish to share with the viewer this magic and, for however long a period, transport them.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU DECIDE: 8 KEYS TO BETTER DECISION MAKING

By Sean Brady $14.99 worth of power-packed information and guidance Connie says: “We here at RiverRead Books highly recommend this title for everyone! We have sold nearly 100 copies of this book in just a few short months to people of all ages, schools and corporations. It is a simple, valuable plan to build decision-making skills.”

The dust jacket says: Whether 20- or 30somethings grappling with career choices, 50 year-olds in major life transition, septuagenarians struggling to make a major purchase, octogenarians facing late-in-life dilemmas, school district teams dealing with difficult trade-offs or CEOs making complex business decisions, the reader testimonials and Amazon reviews are clear: the Eight Keys are simple, accessible, immediately useful and effective at improving your decision-making.

THE THIRD PLATE

By Dan Barber $29.95 (20% discount offered) Connie says: “After reading the book, I was privileged to attend a presentation by Dan Barber at Blue Hill Restaurant (at Stone Hill Farms). The taste and quality of the dishes he created from grains, vegetables, eggs and meat raised on these new theories highlight the diversity and reverence for nature he writes about. I started to write a description of the meal for this review but realized I needed way too many adjectives to describe the foodie bliss I experienced.

Just ask me! “ The dust jacket says: Dan Barber, an award-winning chef, moves beyond “farmto-table” to offer a revolutionary new way of eating. After more than a decade spent investigating farming communities around the world in pursuit of singular flavor, Barber finally concluded that- for the sake of our food, our health and the future of the land- America’s cuisine required a radical transformation. Drawing on the wisdom and experience of chefs, farmers and seed breeders around the world, Barber proposes a new definition for ethical and delicious eating. Barber charts a bright path forward for eaters and chefs alike, daring everyone to imagine a future for our national cuisine that is as sustainable as it is delicious.

August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 37

books.

We at Carousel are proud to have partnered with our friends at RiverRead Books (5 Court St. Binghamton) to showcase what’s new in the literary world... what you should be reading when you’re not reading Carousel. Don’t forget to check out their ad on page ten for a discount on your next purchase at Binghamton’s only independent bookstore. Special thanks to DICK ANDRUS, CONNIE BARNES, and PAT HUTCHINSON-DAY for the following previews and reviews!

DANCE OF THE REPTILES

THE CIRCLE

DESERT SOLITAIRE

By Carl Hiaasen

By Dave Eggars

By Edward Abbey

A FIELD GUIDE TO YOUR OWN BACKYARD

$15.95

$15.95

$14.95

By John Hanson Mitchell

Dick says: “Carl Hiassen is the funniest living American writer, and yet he writes about very serious concerns at the intersection of politics and the environment in Florida. My typical pattern with a new Hiassen book is to take it home and read it cover to cover. Don’t start this book if you have important things to do the next day!”

Pat says: “The Circle is a cautionary tale about social media. It deals with several timely topics, including privacy in the internet age. It’s fun and compulsively readable.”

Dick says: “Ed Abbey was an unrepentent original thinker. (In this book) he writes about his formative years as a seasonal park ranger in Arches National Park.

Wonderfully evocative writing about the allure of the desert as well as plenty of Abbey insights.”

$18.95

The dust jacket says: Hiaasen offers his commentary- indignant, disbelieving, sometimes righteously angry, and frequently hilarious- on burning issues like animal welfare, polluted rivers, and the broken criminal justice system as well as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Bernie Madoff’s trial, and the shenanigans of the recent presidential elections. Whether or not you have read Carl Hiaasen before, you are in for a wild ride.

The dust jacket says: When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency. As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company’s modernity and activity. What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

The dust jacket says: Capturing the heat, mystery, and surprising bounty of desert life, get lost in the American outback through Abbey’s eyes.

Connie says: “Before you go packing up and heading out to the American deserts or the deep South to find the beauty in nature, I challenge you to open your eyes right in your own backyard! Witness the miracles of nature and marvel at its beauty- in the rusty coat of a chipmunk, the sweet scent of chamomile, the call of mourning doves, the colors of the potato beetle, the glorious sky blue of chickory. This book is a great guide to that backyard adventure!”

Let vintage romance be the theme of your next gathering!

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August 2014 Triple Cities Carousel 39

bingspot.

Y’all know BingSpot, right? Of course you do. They’re like Carousel’s older sibling in the world of super hip media… the grown up sibling that dresses itself in dapper clothes and can understand the inner workings of an SLR camera and drinks swanky martinis and has a real proper website and stuff. We’re teaming up with them starting this month for a new monthly feature in which we… um… well, we’re really just stealing their photos. They take really great photos. Of things that happen in Bing. Consider this your “last month in the spotlight” column. Or something like that. Are we even supposed to name this section? It says BingSpot twice.

Does that count? It does, right?

40 Vol. 2 Issue 8

fun stuff.

COMICS TO WATCH

B.C.

by MASTROIANNI AND HART

Kevin Salisbury Contributing Writer

This month’s comic to watch is Kaytlin Bailey, a comedian based out of New York City. Kaytlin is the founder of the Pink Collar Comedy Tour, which has made stops in over 30 cities in the U.S. Described as ‘having a nothing-tolose honesty and brazen comedic style,’ Kaytlin is certainly a comic to watch.

Being an only child to an “ex-hippie liberal” mother and and ex-military father, you can imagine she’s got some interesting things to say on stage.

Who are your comedy idols? Patton Oswalt, Louie CK, Wanda Sykes, Maria Bamford, & Doug Stanhope. I would say Kurt Metzger, but we’re on a podcast together and it would get weird if he knew how much I like his comedy.

DOGS OF C-KENNEL

WIZARD OF ID

by MICK AND MASON MASTROIANNI

by PARKER, MASTROIANNI, AND HART

What is your best memory in comedy? When the Pink Collar Comedy Tour sold out the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco, that felt amazing. Meeting Dave Attell was a huge highlight. But nothing beats the feeling of a new joke really working, or those sets where you feel like you’re flying. It’s the best high in the world. Probably. I don’t know, I haven’t tried that many drugs yet.

What are your favorite spots to perform? I love Stand Up NY & the Creek and the Cave. My favorite venue outside of NYC is Deep South, which is a rock venue in Raleigh, North Carolina.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

What can we expect from you in the future? Look for me in the background of your favorite sketches! You can expect really personal, confessional, stand up comedy, earnest essays about my life & politics.

Kaytlin Bailey is one of many featured comedians performing at the 2nd Annual Binghamton Comedy & Arts Festival, which takes place September 12- 14, presented by Binghamton Comedy and The Bundy Museum, and sponsored in part by Triple Cities Carousel. The Binghamton Comedy & Arts Festival will feature over 40 comedians from all over the northeast as well as artists from the Greater Binghamton Area. For more information, including the full line up, schedule, and tickets, go to binghamtoncomedy.com.

(CROSSWORD ON PAGE 42)

THERE’S SERIOUSLY NOT A DAMN THING THAT WILL FIT IN THIS SPACE. NADA. WE REALLY DO NEED SOME MORE COMICS. OR A WORDSEARCH. ANYTHING! AHHHHH!

42 Vol. 2 Issue 8

more fun stuff.

HOROSCOPES

“Oh, Man. I Was Afraid Of That!”

by Paul O’Heron

Each month, CAROUSEL features a guest horoscope columnist. For August, we welcome local musician and artist-of-all-trades MILES McNULTY. As far as we know, he knows nothing about astrology.

Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22) Nasrudin stood up in a marketplace to address the throng. “Oh People! Do you want knowledge without difficulty, truth without falsehood, attainment without effort, progress without sacrifice?” Very soon a large crowd was gathered, shouting, “Yes, yes!” “Great!” said Nasrudin. “I only wanted to know; you can count on me to tell you, should I ever discover such a thing.” Avoid: Long lines. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 17.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Nasrudin went to a Turkish bath. He was dressed poorly, and therefore treated poorly. When he left he tipped two gold coins. The following week he was treated like royalty. When he left he handed the attendant the smallest copper coin. “This,” said Nasrudin, “is for last time. The gold coins were for this time.” Avoid: Overdraft fees.

Lucky Hwy: Rt. 8 Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) “Why are you sitting at the crossroads, Nasrudin?” “One day, something will happen here, and a crowd will gather. When that occurs, I may not be able to get close enough, so I’m putting the time in now. Avoid: Long Island. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 38.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) Nasrudin saw some tasty looking ducks playing in a lake.

When he tried to catch them, they flew away. He put some bread in the water and started to eat it. Some people asked him what he was doing. He replied, “I am eating duck soup.”

Avoid: Processed foods. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 7.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Nasrudin’s neighbor wanted to borrow a clothesline.

“Sorry,” said Nasrudin, “I am using it. Drying flour.” Confused, the neighbor asked, “How can you dry flour on a clothesline?” “It’s not difficult when you do not want to lend it.”

Avoid: Social media. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 26.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) One night Nasrudin woke his wife in a hurry and said, “Run quickly, bring my glasses. I am having a wonderful dream, I must get a closer look.”

Avoid: Television. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 12.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The ship seemed about to sink, and his fellow-passengers who had laughed at the Nasrudin’s warnings to prepare their souls fell on their knees. In their fear, they were promising what they would do if they were saved. “Steady, friends!” shouted Nasrudin. “Be careful what you offer. I think I see land!” Avoid: Obligations. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 171.

Across

Down

1. Acarophobia – Fear of _____.

1. Entomophobia – Fear of _____.

5. Phasmophobia – Fear of _____.

2. “Yes we _____!,” 2008 Obama campaign slogan.

10. Heliophobia – Fear of the _____.

11. Hypnophobia – Fear of _____.

12. One who lives in Basra, Mosul or Baghdad.

13. Pistolpetaphobia – Fear of _____.

3. Where things that never change are written.

4. Performs (fearlessly?) with no outside help.

6. Acrophobia – Fear of _____.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) Nasrudin nearly fell into a river, when a man he slightly knew saved him. Every time the man saw Nasrudin, he would remind him of this service. After several reminders, Nasrudin took the man back to the river, jumped in, and shouted, “Now I am as wet as I would have been. Leave me alone!” Avoid: Police. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 28.

15. “When used as a tool, fear will _____ your preparedness; when used as a guide, it will stop your progress.” - Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience.

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) Nasrudin went to a rich man in search of a loan. “Why do you want the money?” the man asked. “I want to buy an elephant,” replied Nasrudin. “If you have no money,” the rich man said, “you can’t afford to keep an elephant. ” “I came here,” said Nasrudin, “to get money, not advice.” Avoid: Paying taxes. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 79.

16. Solemnly and gravely.

9. Tachophobia – Fear of _____.

17. Racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, feeling smothered, sweating and trembling or shaking could be _____ of a person experiencing a phobia.

14. Gynophobia – Fear of _____.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20) Nasrudin had a buffalo whose horns were very wide apart. He had often thought that if he could mount between them, it would be like sitting on a throne.

One day, as the animal sat near, he realized that all he had to do was sit down, and he was unable to resist temptation. Almost immediately, the buffalo tossed him. His wife, finding him lying there, began to cry. “Weep not!” said Nasrudin, “I have had suffering, but I have also attained my desire.” Avoid: Procrastination. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 41.

Gemini (May 21-Jun. 21) Nasrudin used to sit at a certain teahouse. One day a boy ran passed and knocked his hat off. After several days of the same, Nasrudin’s friend asked him why he did not punish the boy. “That’s not the way this is working,” said Nasrudin. One day soon afterwards, Nasrudin was late in reaching the café, and a soldier was sitting in his place. Out of habit the boy tipped off the soldiers cap. The soldier turned around and cut the boys head off. “You see?” said Nasrudin to the friend who had questioned his inaction.

Avoid: Video games. Lucky Hwy: Rt.11.

Cancer (Jun. 22-Jul. 22) “You may have lost your donkey, Nasrudin, but you don’t have to grieve over it more than you did the loss of your first wife.” “Ah, but if you remember,” replied Nasrudin, “when I lost my wife, everyone said ‘We’ll find you someone else.’ So far, nobody has offered to replace my donkey.” Avoid: Infectious disease. Lucky Hwy: Rt. 96.

20. Apparent death, colloquially known as “playing possum,” is a behavior observed in a wide range of animals. This form of animal deception is an adaptive behavior known as _____ immobility.

22. Pedophobia – Fear of _____.

7. Comic franchise started in the early 1990’s featuring killed CIA agent Al Simmons’ return from Hell.

8. Arachnophobia – Fear of _____.

18. Mysophobia – Fear of _____.

19. Triskaidekaphobia – Fear of the number _____.

20. Astraphobia – Fear of _____ and lightning.

21. A kind of knitting whose name comes from the French for “hook”.

26. Straighten a coil of wire.

23. Too sick (physically or mentally) to get out of bed.

28. Publish again.

24. Trypanophobia – Fear of _____.

29. Thanatophobia – Fear of _____.

25. Hemophobia – Fear of _____.

30. Ryan, Tatum or Shaquille.

27. “Rusty” right fielder for the NY Mets in the early 1970’s.

31. Moray or Electric.

32. Automatonophobia – Fear of _____ 33. Derived units of force (kg-m/s2) in the International System of Units (SI), or fig filled cookies.

31. According to Freud, the _____ is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with reality.