On recordings, on the radio and on stage, Little River Band are known for feel-good hits like "Reminiscing" and "Help Is On Its Way."
Behind the scenes, the band's mellow image has been marred a bit by feel-bad discord.
The person who often finds himself at or near the epicenter of this discord is an unlikely candidate for trouble stirring: current lead singer Wayne Nelson, who comes across on the phone as an earnest and principled guy.
Nelson, a Chicagoan whose first big break in the music business came when he toured with Jim Messina, joined Little River Band as a bassist in 1980.
Ne... Read more

Sweetwater Sound's Gearfest is not only unusual among music industry trade shows.
It is unusual among trade shows in general.
Most trade shows are designed to give retailers who sell goods to customers a chance to interact and haggle directly with vendors who sell goods to retailers.
Customers, those folks who just buy goods for themselves, aren't usually invited to such shows.
But Gearfest is open to everyone.
"You don't have to be a member of any organization to come," said Bob Bailey, executive director of the Sweetwater Academy of Music and Technology. "It's free."
And most trad... Read more

The thing about beloved bands - they do have a tendency to break up, leaving die hard fans in mourning about the live shows they never had a chance to see. If your favorite group just happens to be Led Zeppelin, though, you're in luck because the guys from Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience are working tirelessly to recreate not only the seminal music of Robert Plant and company but the one-of-a-kind atmosphere of Led Zepp live and in person.
Zoso formed in 1995, the same year Led Zeppelin were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then, they've played more than 2,000 g... Read more

Arena Dinner Theatre closes out its 2017-18 season with Stephen Sondheim's brilliant A Little Night Music. The 1973 hit musical weaves the stories of multiple love triangles involving an actress, a count, the count's wife and a lawyer and his family, as facilitated by a Greek chorus of servants (sung by Brad Davis, Renee Gonzales, Andrew Gross, Leah Wedler, and Mineli Manoukian). Both hilarious and romantic, the show takes the audience on a wild weekend in the country where everyone plots to find love with the person of their choice.
Leslie Beauchamp stars as Desiree Armfeldt, a popular tour... Read more

When he moved to Austin last October, Taylor Fredricks had already wrapped up filming And in a Moment, a film completely shot in Fort Wayne. Now settled into his new life in Texas, Fredricks is coming home to debut his film at Cinema Center, providing him with a reunion of cast and crew that spent almost six months putting his script to screen.
"When I was writing the script I was going through a relationship that was struggling," says Fredricks. "It was something I could vent with. Most of the things I do help me to vent or cope with a situation."
After the script was finished, he knew he ... Read more

Growing up in a small village in Wisconsin, Kristine Agen had no idea that there could be such a thing as a singer-songwriter, which is ironic since her daughter Addison is the most nationally recognized one currently residing in Fort Wayne.
"There was no such thing as live music there," she says. "I never even saw a woman hold a guitar until I was in college."
That moment changed the course of her life as she not only learned to play guitar but decided to major in music therapy. She has now worked in the field for almost 20 years, the entire lives of her children Korrigan and Addision who ... Read more

Grown, the sixth studio album from hip-hop duo Third Frame, is a wild mix of styles, beats and words, thanks in large part to the broad crew of guest artists who show up on the album. Ry Gizzy and DQ are certainly capable of going it alone - they've been doing this for more than 20 years, after all - but it's the guest list they've put together that keeps this collection especially spicy.
The time that's stretching out behind Third Frame is starting to show in their music, as they admit they're reaching for ideas that are little deeper than the party themes they've explored in the past. That... 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

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

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

Growing up in Muncie, Brenda Drayer's favorite class was art. But even though she says she was always hanging around the art department throughout high school, the thought of making it her career never entered her mind, even after moving to Fort Wayne after she turned 18.
"I loved it but didn't consider pursuing a career in art. I just didn't see how I could make a living at it, so it never occurred to me as a kid."
But she loved that art afforded her the opportunity to communicate without words. So, while not making it a career, it continued to be part of her life even as she followed a mo... 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Light is invisible until it hits
An object or penetrates the pupil.
No effort of intelligence or will
Can else know illumination’s spirits.
Real angels, it seems, are almost the same.
She can’t exist at all until I name
Her, with sounds I can’t think, and she appears,
The breeze from her wings allaying my fears.
She carries a small bouquet of flowers
And her raised right hand is empty, no sword
Or torch — hers are the powerless powers
I dare not test with even a whispered word.
Her wings buffet me — she rises to go.
I finally speak: “Stay.” Her smile says “no.”... Read more