Update 1/22/2020

Hello!

It has been a long time since I posted on this blog site. It is difficult to corral the music scene in area code 219. Everyone has their view how it should be done. Each with a promising start. Some die off (like this site), some go stagnate (like this site), while others seem to have the horsepower to endure.

Still, the music scene (and art scene) grows, thanks to all of you who support the dripping talent of NW Indiana. We have bands that have been strong and are staying strong, like the Corey Dennison Band with ties to NW Indiana, and Funky MojoDaddy of NW Indiana. We have the powerhouse, The Steepwater Band who have some roots in NW Indana as well. We have the up and coming Marrakesh Express ⁓ a CSNY Experience. Of course there are many more.

My recommendation is to pick a band, or several bands that you like, "like" their Facebook page, and follow them. Support them. Let them know how important they are to you. In my photography experience when I connect with a band during the photography, they also connect with me. We feed off each other, powering each other with a vibe that heightens our experience. Something that we want to have every time we perform. Dance, cry, clap, sing along, and most of all show your enjoyment, for the band will see that and reciprocate.

The up and coming band I see at the moment is Marrakesh Express. They just played at Three Oaks and blew the roof off. I believe they are just getting started. Each of these individuals have their own art form that is just now coming out. Yes they are a band. Just as much as a yes, they are individuals working toward perfection, and they still want to raise the bar of joy and entertainment. So go check them out when you get a chance.

Support for local music mostly comes from Tom Lounges. He is hosting two weekly interview programs on his show "Midwest Beat with Tom Lounges"  at the Lakeshore Public Radio station on 89.1 FM. Tuesdays from 7-8 PM, and Friday afternoon from 12-2 PM. There is also Tom Lounges' Record Bin located in Hobart. Here you not only can buy vinyl, you can catch some live music every Sunday from 4-6 PM. (218 Main St., Hobart, IN, 219.943.9511 . . . looking for a turntable too, this is the place)

Right next to the Tom Lounges' Record Bin is the Hobart Art Theater. This is not just a movie theater, it is also a music venue, and an up and coming one at that. I really enjoy the sound there (though some musicians believe the stage sound needs improvement). I believe it is well worth supporting this venue.

New NW Indiana scene music support is coming from NWI Jam. Check it out. This can be another source for upcoming music events in our area. You may see some cross posts from the two of us in the future.

Let us not forget about our NW Indiana Rock 'n Rollers. Join the membership and find out what is happening as well.

So yes, I have been slack on this blog site, concentrating on My NW Indiana and More site. I will spend some more time here, first updating, then maintaining. Any recommendations you have on 219 bands and venues to list please let me know. I will also try to visit them as well.

The 219 Music t-shirts did not go over well. Took a loss on that one. I ended up giving many of the shirts that did not sell to the Paul Henry's Thursday Night Jam to give away to those who came. You can find more on venue at my StreetPhoto.ME site, near the bottom of the page.

I believe It's Just Serendipity has a couple shirts left for you to buy if you are interested.

Keep On Truck'n!

You can see a categorized thumbnail of all my blogs by going to StreetPhoto.ME.

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The Tomfoolery Fun Club — 4/15/18

Tomfoolery Fun Club is the happening scene around NW Indiana, supporting the Arts and specifically bringing comedy to the region. Tonight I had the pleasure of witnessing and photographing the event at the Hoosier Theatre located in downtown Whiting Indiana.

I have always said and written that NW Indiana is dripping in talent. The Arts are here. We just need someone, everyone, pulling it together. Tom Byelick and Michele Gonzalez Piskol have the passion that makes NW Indiana feel special, because they are special people. Tonight I spent time watching them. Not only were they the most excellent hosts you could have, there passion to orchestrate an evening like this drives deep with them. They will stop and talk to you at any time. They go out of their way to assist us in anything we want. They reach out to everywhere to give a NW Indiana venue to comedians. They support local business and local art which includes our musical talents like Nomad Planets.

Thank you Tom and Michelle for an enjoyable evening. Please keep up the good work. Promote comedy. Promote NW Indiana as the place to be once again. Promote our local Artists that are dripping in this talent. Please keep supporting comedy, as we will keep supporting you.

Here are some photographs from the evening, starting with the outside of this beautiful Hoosier Theatre in downtown Whiting Indiana.

I did not bring my wide angle lens to better show you the inside of this gorgeous theater first opened their doors in February of 1924. Inside the theater is ornate terracotta design throughout that give the venue a majestic feel when you walk in.

This theater was once the cross roads to Chicago, hosting entertainers like W.C. Fields, Amos & Andy, and the Three Stooges (why certainly whoop whoop whoop whoop). As you read their website you find that James Cagney sold war bonds outside the theater. As of recent, the theater shows first time movie runs, and of course, The Tomfoolery Fun Club.

My photographs do not do the theater justice. I did not bring my card to color balance. You will just have to go see a movie or another event at the theater for yourself!

The photograph above was taken from inside the theater, looking toward the opposite side of the street. The photograph below is one of the wall lights within the theater.

The lineup for tonight: Comedians Micky Housley, Manny Acosta, and Lindsay Lucido. Additional entertainment between the comedic shows included American Idol contestant Justin B. Ray, along with our local musician friends Nomad Planets. Link to all of them can be found at the end of this blog.

To get us started . . .

 Nomad Planets

Mark Mybeck – Lead Guitar / Vocal

Phil Rapchak – Bass

John Carpenter – Guitar

Terry Boylan – Drums

Hosts

Tom Byelick

Michele Gonzalez Piskol

Comedian Lindsay Lucido

I liked all of the comedians tonight. Lindsay brought to the stage a shy doubting presence to her routine and pulled it off. I especially like her walking in the alley skit. (Oh good, I don't know him . . .)

Comedian Manny Acosta

Manny though being from Chicago, brought his ethnicity to his routine tonight. The story about taking a kid to lunch who ordered the Baconator® then proceeded to pull of all the bacon because he did not eat pork, "you are pork . . .". Okay, you had to be there, so why were you not?

Somewhere among all of this as I sat and watched, not taking photographs, was our Allstate agent Jorge Gutierrez on stage who debuted his comedic routine. Don't quit the insurance business George, we need you there . . . (kidding aside, Jeorge came across as a genuinely caring person. Please go check him out if you are in need).

American Idol Contestant Justin B. Ray

All I can say is that Justin and his siblings blew me away.

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Micky Housley

Micky got is in trouble by playing us. His routine focused on the audience and their connections to the person sitting next to us. He had the audience blurting out delayed responses to earlier questions, which he shown pure talent working with that like an improv. Because he was so good, I failed to take better photographs of him. I sat and laughed instead.

 

 

Tomfoolery Fun Club

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Comedians

Mickey Housley

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Manny Acosta

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Lindsay Lucido

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Special Guests

Justin B. Ray

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Nomad Planets

ReverbNation

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Show Sponsor

Allstate Insurance

Jorge Gutierrez Agency

219.225.0300

Special Thanks To

Hoosier Theatre
Website
Facebook

At the bottom of this blog post are five buttons to click on: E-mail this, Blog this, Share to Twitter, Share to Facebook, and Share to Pinterest. Please take advantage of them and share this blog post with your friends.

You can see a categorized thumbnail of all my blogs by going to StreetPhoto.ME. The "219 Music™" is owned by Wes Bushby.

Click on this line and read my copyright.