The message from the clergy has been received and their orders have been executed. There is new blood leading Ghost once again.
In a recent turn of events, the leader of one of the hottest bands in the world has been replaced. Papa Emeritus III, long revered as the neoteric who finally put the band over the top, helping them gain mainstream exposure as well as a 2016 Grammy win for Best Metal Performance, has relinquished power to upstart Cardinal Copia.
With Copia at the helm, Ghost have been reenergized and have positioned them to not only continue their worldwide dominance but their pu... Read more

Last year was a difficult one for guitarist and songwriter Derek Trucks. Not only did he lose his uncle, Butch Trucks, to suicide, but Gregg Allman, one of his musical mentors, died of liver cancer. One might assume that Trucks would take the year off to grieve and process his pain. Instead, he spent it writing new songs and touring with his wife, Susan Tedeschi, and their 10-person band, who will take the Embassy Theatre stage Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m.
"A lot of people in the band have gone through some tough times the last couple years," he told me in a recent phone interview from the roa... Read more

The 4th annual Arab Fest kicks off the summer festival season with a lineup of world-renowned performers, great food, shopping and, of course, camel rides.
The celebration of Arab culture is fast becoming a must-attend event for area festivalgoers. This year the festival, which takes place... Read more

Going by the monikers That Guy and DJ Fathouse, local space pop act EyE-C create a hip-hop act that's not afraid to release albums with close to 20 songs, about half of which include no vocals. Though they label themselves as "space pop," the layperson would probably categorize them as lo-fi hip-hop.
EyE-C's latest release, Long Distance Calls, is more on this hip-hop side - sounding as if former Indianapolis heavy hitter Sirius Blvck had aerated his rhymes with plenty of Korgs.
The duo has been making music and expanding upon what each of the members can bring to the table since 2016. Voca... Read more

If the names Chuck and Kara Pastor ring any bells, it's with good reason. They spent more than 13 years as owners of Chop's Steak & Seafood, expanding the menu and opening the Wine Bar in 2010. Before that, both held management positions at Cork 'n Cleaver. Together, they have decades of experience in the restaurant business.
The Pastors sold Chop's in 2014 to spend more time with family, but now they are back! In February, Chuck and Kara opened Pastor's Place, a soup, salad and sandwich shop located in the Northbrook Village Shopping Center at the corner of Dupont and Lima Roads (in the fo... Read more

In the last year or two, several cover bands have appeared with a focus on the music of the 1990s.
That wasn't the case 10 years ago when FM90 first formed in the Anderson area and were anxious to bring the 90s back amid a myriad of bands focusing on classic rock and the 1980s. Chad Bishop had played bass with bands who had done the latter, but he was anxious to find some fellow players who were interested in bringing back the music Bishop had grown up listening to in the 1990s. He eventually found drummer Kyle Gibson and guitarist Kevin Boyer.
"I was playing and out traveling with a band ... Read more

Drive south out of downtown on Fairfield, past the neighborhoods that randomly switch from uber-swanky to rundown, and you'll eventually be visually bombarded with a bright red, pink and orange, bubbly facade climbing a few stories and accompanied by the blue, highly encouraging words, "Don't Give Up."
Art tends to be more cryptic in its message, but local artist and prolific producer of artwork Matthew Plett wanted the mural to pop out and encourage those who drive or walk past. It reveals a comfort with art and expression that started not in an elementary art class, but in front of the te... Read more

Few people can strike the perfect balance between their passion and their career. Brian Ernsberger is the exception.
As a child, Ernsberger was "painfully shy" but an avid reader with a strong imagination. He credits his love of books for paving his way into theater.
"[I loved] imagining myself in someone else's life or situation," he says. "Onstage, you get to be a part of a more fully realized and immersive version than what you can picture in your mind's eye, and it helps [you] develop a sense of empathy."
It wasn't until middle school that Ernsberger took his first step onto the stage... Read more

For many years, Seoul Garden on Coliseum Boulevard was this city's only Korean cuisine option. It provided me with my first taste of bulgogi, bibimbap, and kimchi, and I fell in love. I was delighted when a new Korean restaurant opened its doors a few months ago. Now another area of our city can enjoy some of my favorite dishes - and one of my favorite zip codes (the 05) can add Korean food to its growing list of diverse culinary offerings.
Ryu's Kitchen, located on Hobson Road near State Boulevard, is a bright, open (albeit small) space, with cheerful d... Read more

There I was, trying to find someone on Craigslist willing to lower their standards enough to play music with me, when I clicked on a link to a local music video. I know it was local because I had to double check it a couple of times.
This great music (and the equally impressive video) came out of the wee little burg of Fort Wayne?
Girl Colors are three gents who focus heavily on the song, with melodies and catchy, hummable parts that are equally nostalgic and modern. "Saint Anthony's Fire," the first song that I heard, is sparse, with clean guitars playing a 50s guitar-style accompaniment to... Read more

When Tom Henry won his first mayoral election in 2007, changes were already underway for downtown Fort Wayne. But he inherited a few problems that would take time to unravel, including some reluctance - even bitterness - over the construction of what was to become Parkview Field. Not everyone thought there was a need for a new ballpark, and many of those opposed were not shy about sharing their opinions. But a year after he took office, he joined the city in celebrating opening day at the new home for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, and that was when the tide of public perception began to change.
"W... Read more

Every month, Sweetwater invites members of the community to come together to relieve stress and make new friends through the therapeutic power of percussion.
From 7 to 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, individuals from all backgrounds gather to create raw and inspired rhythm.
"It's a very social event," Executive Director of Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology Bob Bailey explained. "The whole concept of a drum circle is you get a whole group of people together. You start with a basic beat and that grows and evolves and changes overtime based on who is bringing what."
At thi... Read more

When NBC's The Voice first aired in 2011, it seemed an obvious attempt to capitalize on the enormous popularity of American Idol for almost a decade before it. But while that was no doubt the inspiration, The Voice perhaps tapped into something altogether different and likely changed the course of such talent searches into the future. Because while American Idol first gained attention from the often caustic critique of Simon Cowell, The Voice brought a kinder, gentler approach to the concept.
Gone was the notion of "judges," replaced instead with "mentors." For the four who fill those seats ... Read more

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Brian Wagner was introduced to theater by his teachers at Paul Harding High School, and he continued his education at IPFW with Larry Life, among others. But his move from high school and college drama classes to executive director of the Arena Dinner Theatre has taken some twists and turns along the way, and those experiences made him uniquely qualified for the diverse job requirements at Arena.
Wagner credits not only his teachers but also his early theater days with giving him a pretty wide range of experience both on stage and behind the scenes. As many have... Read more

Just a short 15-minute drive from Dupont in the heart of downtown Garrett lies one of the best-kept dining secrets of northeast Indiana.
Shorty's Steakhouse boasts a menu featuring mouthwatering wet aged steaks, fresh seafood, prime rib (available on Fridays and Saturdays) and a handful of unique main dishes. For northsiders, Shorty's should be added to your regular dining out rotation, especially when you realize you live closer to downtown Garrett than downtown Fort Wayne!
The ambiance is cozy and reminds me of Henry's or Calhoun Street Soups Salads & Spirts in Fort Wayne. Shorty's small... Read more

If you've ever met Brock Ireland or seen him perform onstage, it's hard not to be won over by his openness and his warmth.
Ireland grew up in Wabash, a town of fewer than 10,000 people. Although he says he was a born performer, he also says he "was not one of those stereotypical theater kids who put on productions for their family and was always singing some sort of show tune."
Nevertheless, he was drawn to performing, which he says came naturally to him.
"Performing helped me grow into the sociable and outgoing person that most people know today," he says.
Even as a child, he was drawn t... Read more

I don't know the cumulative years of studio experience among the lineup of the Sweetwater All Stars, but I'm guessing it's in the centuries. These musicians know their craft, but it's not the technical prowess gleaned from decades of playing that shines the brightest on the collection of covers. Rather, it's the sonic warmth that comes from professionals who know how to make a polished record without pushing the production too far.
For the most part, the album's track listing lives comfortably in that place where soul, gospel and R&B met rock in the 60s. Many of the tracks depend on the powe... Read more

Sometimes being in the right place at the right time can lead to destruction. A stray bullet finds its way through your body or your car gets caught in a fender bender. Other times, it's a blessing and stars align to create something special.
For Michael Collins, helping to manage Bravas Burgers on Fairfield Ave. helped his art to flourish in both creative and utilitarian ways.
"I'm extremely proud to be involved with the [Bravas] team, and it's truly refreshing to be surrounded by so many caring people," Collins told whatzup via email.
"I didn't start freelancing until two years ago arou... Read more

A fool I knew said the world was broken,
That paradise no longer existed,
As if the field mouse’s neck wasn’t twisted
By the owl before the snake dropped his token
Of love into the hand of fearless Eve.
It’s spring. The screech owls nest and redbuds glow.
That’s all the paradise we need to know,
Though tragedies occur and the good grieve.
It took forty days and nights of deluge
To wash away paradise, leaving mud —
Just mud — not even bone and hair and blood.
All dissolved in a maelstrom centrifuge.
We live post re-genesis. Each life dies.
Each day I tell myself, “Open your eyes.�... Read more