Here Comes the Sun – A Story of Love, Heat and Short Shorts at the Abbey Road Beatles Fest
Here Comes the Sun – A Story of Love, Heat and Short Shorts at the Abbey Road Beatles Fest
By: Brad Linzy
When the illustrious Editor of the CCO contacted me to cover the Abbey Road on the River Beatles Festival in Louisville, I pounced at the opportunity. In spite of being born less than three years before John Lennon’s tragic murder in 1980, (DAMN YOU, CHAPMAN!), I consider myself an avid Beatles fan, albeit one who couldn’t care less who was really the Walrus, or about Paul’s lack of footwear, or whether he is, indeed, dead. Although the Queen can and does periodically bestow posthumous knighthoods, corpses, they have found, do very little in the event of an actual invasion, unless you’re talking about catapulting them over the castle walls to spread disease….but I digress.
I must admit, no amount of fanaticism could account for soldiering on in the Saturday daytime conditions with which I was presented. Having been several years since I’ve covered such an event in the Ohio Valley summer sun, I can surely be excused the faux pas of wearing long, blue jeans in 95 degree Kentucky heat. The local idiom “it’s hot, Don†doesn’t really cut it here. A more accurate expression might have been, “the Ohio River is nearing boiling point, Don!†or “is it me, or is the sun becoming a Supernova, Don?†Either way, Don wouldn’t have heard you because he would have been too busy talking to the hallucinations resulting from his heat stroke. Never before had “Here Comes the Sun†taken on such a hellish, sinister meaning.
My first order of business upon reaching a nice, sweltering shady spot was to take a sharp knife and cut those blue jeans down to size… Unfortunately, in my zealotry, I cut them a good four inches too short, and in conjunction with the calf high socks I had on underneath, the resulting fashion statement was…well, parade worthy, to say the least. It had something of an Officer Dangle a la Reno 911 element to it. I was one knotted t-shirt away from looking like a character from a Damon Wayans skit. “It’s ok,†I thought. “At least I still have my rainbow-colored press bracelet.â€
Still, it amazes me the number of people who will turn out on such a day to an event. I’m sure even if the news said a comet was about to hit earth, you would still have some hillbillies (likely family members of mine) setting up a tailgate party to watch it. To Louisville’s credit, at least their riverfront has a smattering of green grass and a few trees to absorb some of the blazing rays, a lesson Evansville would do well to replicate on its own riverfront, which is for all intents and purposes just a giant slab of heat-trapping concrete.
Also to the credit of organizers, the Festival was split up into multiple stages, most of which had at least some shaded areas close by, and there seemed to be just the right amount of venders with reasonably priced bottled water. A quick count on my part revealed no less than three large stages, a small acoustic lawn pavilion, a poolside pavilion, and another indoors pavilion inside the Galt House Hotel. Direct access to the Galt House pool was a particularly nice touch on this day. But as nice as a dip in those beckoning waters sounded to me at the time, and in spite of being now properly attired in my Dangle shorts, I had also brought with me my 24-pack abs, which is really not something that all those innocent women and children needed to see, so it was back to watching the bands.
Never in my life have I seen so many Rickenbackers, Hofners, and Gretsch guitars in one place. And how does one go about finding a Paul McCartney lookalike, who also happens to play bass guitar, and also happens to SOUND like Paul McCartney, AND is left-handed to boot? In what weird science periodical was that advertisement placed? And what cloning service filled the order?
The bands were of varying abilities and ages, but they all were enjoyable. I did hear an inordinate number of “Paperback Writer†and “Come Together†reprisals, while I was clearly screaming out demands of “Happiness is a Warm Gun†and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),†but other than that I spent most of my time musing about which era of Beatles outfit would be the coolest in this heat. You definitely don’t want to be the early Ed Sullivan era Beatles with the black suits. That’s just suicide. And you really don’t want to be the early 70s Beatles with the white suits either. While white is cooler than black, at that time they also had massive, woodsman-type beards which would definitely itch and retain heat on the face. I settled on the beardless Beatles in India with the white togas and flower wreaths around their necks. Strangely, I didn’t see any Beatle lookalikes from that era. Most were jamming in black suits with pant legs intact…ouch.
Thankfully, around 7:00pm the sun sank behind a building and instantly the heat receded by at least10-15 degrees. A collective sigh of relief went up from the crowd, and it was just in time for the pièce de résistance, a live 90-minute reproduction of the George Martin produced “Love†album, performed by no less than four different bands, including a horn section, a string section, and jumbotron projections of psychedelic imagery in the background. If The Beatles had all lived til today and decided to do a reunion/farewell tour, I imagine this is very much what it might have looked and sounded like…and it was amazing! What a testament to the lasting power of The Beatles’ music that in a venue of these many thousands of people, ranging in age from 0-100, scarcely a soul could resist tapping a foot, bobbing a head, dancing, and singing along.
In this time of political and economic uncertainty, I probably saw more genuine smiles in that one place than I’ve seen in quite a while, and the reason is simple – these four blokes from Liverpool, England wrote some of the greatest music of all time, and festivals like this are as close as most of us are ever going to get to seeing them perform live. Unless you own a Delorean with a flux capacitor, the time for seeing The Beatles perform their music is gone. But anywhere good musicians can get together, The Beatles’ music can still be made and enjoyed. They won’t be suppressed by bad economies or hellish weather. Their music can be recreated by a couple kids with guitars or a hundred piece orchestra. It sets as well in a bar or backing up Cirque du Soleil. It is music for all people from all walks of life, and I suspect as long as Louisville chooses to put this event on, people will come, because every year brings a new crop of young people waiting to become Beatles fans.
Heading to my car on the way back from the event I saw an elderly couple kissing one another the way they probably hadn’t kissed in ages. A little further I saw people exiting the KFC Yum Center having just infected their minds willingly with Nickelback. And inside my car, I threw on a Beatles CD and listened, rather ironically, to “I’ll Follow the Sunâ€.
IS IT TRUE May 30, 2012
IS IT TRUE May 30, 2012
IS IT TRUE the Office of Mayor Winnecke and GAGE have advised news outlets that they are holding a press conference on Lynch Road today for the purpose of making a “major†economic development announcement?…we are sure that such an announcement will be certain to claim that politicians and their surrogates have “created†some number of jobs?…today’s meeting will be festive with pats on the back for all and that once the party is over the celebration will be over and there will be little fanfare over whatever comes next?…Vantiv advised authorities yesterday that they will be eliminated an additional 24 jobs in Evansville raising the layoff numbers in recent history to nearly 100 with the total workforce reduction now at 128?…this round of layoffs will reduce the employment at this former high flyer to about 75?…that Vantiv was called CMC and was bought by 5th 3rd Bank in 2006, then flipped to a Boston based private equity firm in 2009, and was taken public in 2011?…that we are betting the there will be no politicians smiling for the cameras in the downtown Evansville office of Vantiv tomorrow?
IS IT TRUE that a local publication known as “Our Times†and published by Sondra Matthews has checked in on the Earthcare Energy situation?…the words chosen by Ms. Matthews are self explanatory and were published exactly as follows?
“Earthcare Energy Co., overnight doomed by 3rd Ward Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley, talking about conducting a 100 hours of research on the African American executives of the company, which was primed to bring in over 100 new jobs to Evansville. When has she done so much for so little? Yeah, if she knows anything about business start-ups, it’s about the success story of how many times one went bankrupt, was unable to pay taxes, and how sloppy record keeping was in the early days. Why didn’t she take the information she believed was accurate and help find solutions like GAGE Debbie Dewey did for SealCorp. and Earthcare? Oh, we know, “We’re in Indiana now!†Sondra Matthews
IS IT TRUE the Our Times article gets its message across very clear and that message is that the reason that private vetting efforts were made by Councilwoman Riley had more to do with race and that is how things are in Indiana?…it may serve Ms. Matthews well to go back and read what Councilwoman Riley actually wrote and about whom she wrote it?…that it would also serve Ms. Matthews well to review the presentations made by the Earthcare Energy executives at the March 26, 2012 City Council meeting?…that what Ms. Matthews will learn if she reads and watches this with an open mind is that the Earthcare Energy executive that was the subject of most of Councilwoman Riley’s findings was Mr. Stephen Geldmacher who is not African American?…that the private vetting efforts did uncover one important piece of public information about Earthcare Energy executive Mr. Erwin Washington who was not at the meeting?…that only one African American executive of Earthcare Energy spoke before the City Council that night and that was Mr. Ken Haney who spoke mostly about his perception of the opportunity that Earthcare Energy had before them?…all businesses that are seeking financial taxpayer support should be vetted well and completely without regard to their race?…that it is the quality of the opportunity, the competence of the business plan, and the relevant experience of the management team that should determine such things?
IS IT TRUE that the other print media outlet in Evansville, the Courier Press openly praises Councilwoman Riley for her private vetting efforts and gives her credit for “saving the city millions by doing her homework and discovering that the city’s deal with Earthcare Energy was lackingâ€?…the deal with Earthcare Energy is now in the hands of attorneys and that if the homework would have been done in the first place as opposed to calling a press conference the City of Evansville would not be legally exposed as it now is?…that Ms. Matthews should start doing the kind of homework that Councilwoman Riley did as she works hard to grow the readership and respect for “Our Timesâ€?
Clean Evansville Targets City’s Southeast Side
EVANSVILLE, IN – Six teams of volunteers will spread out across the city’s Southeast Side on Saturday,
June 2, from 8 to 10 a.m. picking up trash as part of Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s Clean Evansville initiative.
The June clean-up will target areas in Ward Two, which is represented by City Councilwoman Missy
Mosby. A team of volunteers also will clean up in the Evansville Arts District near Washington Avenue
and S.E. Second Street in preparation for the Sculpt EVV outdoor public sculpture show slated to begin
on June 9, 2012.
More than 150 people have volunteered for the June clean-up, according to Jennifer Mason, who
coordinates the Clean Evansville volunteers on behalf of Keep Evansville Beautiful. The majority of
volunteers will be picking up trash along Washington Avenue, from U.S. Highway 41 east to Green River
Road; along Covert Avenue, from U.S. Highway 41 east to Vann Avenue; and along Weinbach Avenue,
from Washington Avenue south to Pollack Avenue. The main trash drop-off point will be on the Bosse
High School parking lot near the corner of Washington Avenue and U.S. Highway 41.
Team 1 will be led by Mayor Winnecke, Team 2 by Timothy Weir of Accuride, Team 3 by Councilwoman
Mosby, Team 4 by First Lady Carol McClintock, Team 5 by Patricia Jackson of Vectren, and Team 6 by
Skyler York from the City’s Department of Metropolitan Development.
Since Clean Evansville’s launch in January, more than 800 volunteers have been involved in the monthly
clean-up. They have removed approximately 10,700 pounds of trash, ranging from broken bottles
and cigarette butts to discarded furniture. Allied Waste, a major supporter of the clean initiative, has
provided volunteers to collect and transport trash to the landfill. Rural King has donated $100 per
month for supplies, such as trash bags and gloves.
Keep Evansville Beautiful is recruiting volunteers for the July and August clean-up efforts. In July,
volunteers will target the Glenwood Neighborhood Association area. The August clean-up will focus on
the area around Wesselman Park.
Groups and individuals interested in joining Clean Evansville should contact Keep Evansville Beautiful at
425-4461.
SMG Announces New “Movies on Main Streetâ€!
Evansville, IN— Join us this summer downtown at the Victory Theatre for the new “Movies on
Main Street “! The same great free family-friendly films and food specials you enjoyed at Mesker
Amphitheatre in the air conditioned comfort of the beautiful Victory Theatre. We are all set for opening
night on June 15-16, 2012 with “Big Miracle†on Friday night and “Dr. Suess: The Lorax†on Saturday.
Doors will open at 6:30pm with the show starting at 7:30pm.
Each night will have a newly released family film and full concessions available with food specials
including hot off the grill $1 hot dogs and hamburgers. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will
begin at 7:30 p.m.
To join the fun, pick up a FREE Admission Pass at the following sponsor locations: Wesselman’s
Groceries, News4U Magazine, The Centre, WABX, Hot 96, WIKY, 93.5 The Wolf, JackFM, WEVV-CBS44,
FOX44, Bunny Bread, Garrett Printing and Graphics and Pepsi Cola Offices.
We look forward to seeing you this summer and once again, this event is family friendly, FREE and fun
for all ages! For more information, call 812-435-5770.
USI Alumni Picnic is Sunday
IS IT TRUE May 29, 2012
IS IT TRUE May 29, 2012
IS IT TRUE much to many people’s surprise the latest CCO reader’s poll regarding our reader’s intention on supporting or rejecting VandiGov 2012 resulted in a narrow victory for the supporters of consolidation?…the voting patterns do seem to indicate that there may have been some robo votes or monkey business at certain times on both sides of the issue?…most of us would have bet some good money on this poll reaching a NO victory but that is not the way it happened?…the forces on both sides of this issue are mobilizing and that we expect that between this and the election for President of the United States that Vanderburgh County may be in for a record turnout this year?
IS IT TRUE Mole #11 has advised us that two well known locals will be throwing their names into the ring for the democrat candidates running for the Vanderburgh County Council?…we have been told that Tim Schaffer (don’t know if this is a relative of Steve Schaeffer, Mayor Winnecke’s Chief of Staff) and that crusty dude Clark R. Exmeyer who is believed to be a regular caller to Les Shively’s radio show on WGBF?…Mr. Shively always seemed to enjoy sparring with Run DNC who surely had the sound of Clark?…that we here these two gentlemen will be well funded and give the incumbents a run for their money this fall?
IS IT TRUE of all 50 of the United States only four have employment levels that are at or above their peak employment levels?…the names of these states are Texas, Alaska, North Dakota, and Louisiana?…that eight states are not projected to reach the previous employment highs until the presidential election of 2016 or later?…the names of these lagging economic states are Nevada, Florida, Michigan, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ohio, Alabama, and Arizona?…that this statistic does not get the unemployment rate back to its previous lows because it does not account for population growth?…that a little realized fact about lowering the unemployment rate in a city or state is that when people move away for a job elsewhere the place they left can claim a lower unemployment rate while the place they move to sees little change at all?…that is counter intuitive but true none the less?
IS IT TRUE it works like this?…that if City A and City B both have 10 people wanting jobs and 90 who have jobs they both have an unemployment rate of 10%?…that if one of the unemployed people from City A moves to City B for a newly created job that City A now has 99 people who want jobs and still has 90 who are employed lowering the unemployment rate from 10% to 9.1% (9/99)?…that City B still has 10 who need a job but now has a population of 101 so they only see the rate drop to 9.9% (10/101)from the previous 10%?…that statistics do not always tell the real story and the statistical fact that a city with a shrinking population has an inherent advantage in the statistical calculation of unemployment over a growing city?
IS IT TRUE that given that mathematical truth that the best way for an unemployment obsessed politician to improve his numbers is to find a way to get the unemployed to pack up and leave town?…that running one unemployed person off has the same statistical effect as attracting 10 employed people to town?
Evansville’s Evening on the River
A stroll on the riverfront, a breathtaking sunset over the Ohio River, music, food, desserts and libations… Come experience “Evening on the River.â€
This fundraising event benefiting the Evansville Parks Foundation and Keep Evansville Beautiful will include stage and street performances, horse-drawn carriage rides, a silent auction and a “movable feast†of food, desserts and drinks from area restaurants, wine shops, caterers and grocers, presented at locations along Riverside Drive between Casino Aztar and the Four Freedoms Monument. All proceeds benefit Evansville parks facilities and programs.
Business and Engineering Students Develop Products for Escalade Sports
After spending two weeks in an intensive summer course, six University of Evansville students have designed new products that may go to market as part of local sporting goods company Escalade Sports’ portfolio.
UE students Derrick Dietz, Phoebe Hodina, Clint Hoskins, Monika Kirkiewicz, Shawn Mayo, and Sam Mires are enrolled in Business 380 (Applied Product Development), an interdisciplinary two-week course conducted as a collaboration between the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Students split into two competitive teams that worked from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each weekday — with additional hours outside of class — to develop a superior product and a business plan for Escalade Sports.
This morning, they made their final presentations to company executives, who will select the winning project and award that team $1,000 — along with the possibility of seeing their work become a commercial product.
All of the students signed non-disclosure agreements to protect Escalade Sports and the intellectual property that is the final product of their work. If the company takes either product to market in the future, the UE students will be named as inventors on any patents applied for.
“The University of Evansville shows great leadership within our community by providing this unique course, and we look forward to continuing the partnership in future years,†said Dave Fetherman, president of Escalade Sports. “Our company has benefited from the new product ideas and the increase in our ‘innovation bandwidth,’ and at the same time, we’re pleased to provide UE students with real-world experience that helps prepare them for professional success.â€
Rick Deer, a local entrepreneur and graduate of UE’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and its Executive Master of Business Administration program, co-taught the course with John Layer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
“UE and Escalade Sports began this partnership last summer and found it to be a tremendous success — truly a win-win for all parties involved,†said Deer. “While details about last year’s winning project are still under wraps, it is in serious consideration to become part of Escalade Sports’ product lineup in the future. That’s the most exciting part of this course — students not only learn product design and marketing strategies, but have the chance to see their hard work become reality in the form of a viable commercial product.â€
“This course provides a great introduction to the intense nature of product development, from working long hours into the night to fielding questions from corporate executives during the final pitch,†Layer added. “Once again this year, our students rose to the challenge, and we’re very proud of the tireless energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism they’ve shown throughout this process.â€
“I feel that I’ve learned a great deal about how real design teams develop ideas and put together detailed product concepts in just a few weeks,†said Sam Mires, a mechanical engineering major enrolled in the course. “Being able to work with a company like Escalade Sports has been an incredible experience, and this course is a great asset for the University of Evansville. I’ll definitely use my experiences from this course in my professional career.â€
Additional funding for the project was provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana.