Revised welcome to the Gordon Stamper, Jr. General Blog

Back when blogging wasn't too cool and wasn't something to brag about when listing your publishing credits, I had The Mad Artist Blog at heyregion.com.  I reviewed movies and music, covered local (as in Da Region, Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois) art show openings, and once in a while editorialized to agitate the masses--at least my three to five readers--against the man.

Now that blogging is considered oh-so-awesome and not having a blog makes people wonder if you're really a writer, I' m back to foist my random musings and opinions on anyone willing to read them.  If you the reader are lucky enough to find some profundity here, I'm happy for you.  You didn't even need to risk walking in the woods and risking wild dog attacks, strolling on the beach and being bitten by sand flies, or getting food poisoning for your epiphany.

And now for that unfortunately necessary disclaimer—the contents of and views expressed in the Gordon Stamper, Jr. General Blog reflect only my opinions and not the opinions, policies, or viewpoints of my employer(s).

Thanks for reading and hope my writing here merits your time and attention.

Gordon Stamper, Jr.
Writer and Provocateur

Welcome back to school--my return to college teaching

My blogging activity was slowed last week by my new yet old pursuits:  attending staff meetings, creating Blackboard Vista class sites, and getting a syllabus ready for my three sections of English 101 Composition this fall at Purdue University North Central (PNC).

As I prepared the course schedule, I started wondering, "Why did you get back into this?"  I considered the hours of planning, the scaffolding of learning in the classroom, the promise of essay grading ahead, and, of course, the lure of that big part-time college instructor paycheck.  Oh $38/hr. OT on my legal proofreading job, how I miss thee!   Previously teaching for 17 years, I knew what I was in for, so no more whining.

It isn't just brown-nosing to state that my new PNC colleagues have made me feel welcome.  I've already been invited to attend department Tech Writing committee meetings and be in a select group of instructors piloting the e-book version of the freshman comp. textbook Engaging Questions, including its assessment tools and exercises.  But enough of the blabby shop talk.

At least the butterflies were still there on the first morning of the semester.  This isn't a bad thing.  It made me realize I wasn't taking this new opportunity for granted.  Besides, I missed being able to make a direct impact on students' lives.  Writing is a necessary skill to practice, especially to keep up in our hypertextual online world. Not all of us are going to be novelists, but as a writing instructor, I could help people discover another important means of expression.  Find their voice.  Here I was, with another chance, and it was exciting.

Today my classes discussed the importance of critical thinking.  Students brought up real life issues from their own varied experiences, and were already making connections from their lives to the rhetorical principles in the academic world.  Though some looked like they needed more caffeine, most seemed engaged and interested in the discussion.  Afterwards, I walked into the blazing hot afternoon, and thought this is doing something that actually makes a difference.

Proofing a legal prospectus--as lucrative as that can be--doesn't bring such personal satisfaction.

The Blue Room Cafe's Seventh Annual Tribute to the Beatles--brief opinion and recap

Nomad Planets at the Tribute to the Beatles 2012, Hammond, IN (photo by Gordon Stamper, Jr.).

In Northwest Indiana, annual festivals of note include Whiting's Pierogi Fest and Valparaiso's Popcorn Festival.  The Blue Room Cafe's Tribute to the Beatles in downtown Hammond has grown so incrementally in size and stature over its seven years that it will be at least in the regional festival discussion.  And with fame and size comes mixed blessings.

Past Beatles tributes produced by the Vezmar brothers brought crowds in the hundreds to downtown Hammond.  Many were there not only to share their Beatles fandom, but also hear inventive recreations of the Fab Four's music, not just note-for-note covers.  Several regional music artists were in that spirit at this year's event as well.

Joshua McCormack opened, a Tribute regular, doing his usual deconstruction of Beatles music with theatrical flair.  Nomad Planets satisfied through a set list filled with excellent song choices from the Beatles solo project catalog, including a John Carpenter-led (the regional music producer and Nomad Planets guitarist) version of George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness."  Bunkertown, with Chicago and Hammond roots, were a bit more traditional with song choices, including Abbey Road's "Golden Slumbers" medley, but still put a garage-rock spin on the music.

Although the event has steadily grown with such a musical approach, the attendance swelled into four digits, beyond the parking lot and into the surrounding park area for gated general admission in 2012, mainly thanks to the addition of nationally known Beatles cover band American English as the closers.  They duplicate Beatles songs note-for-note and dress to resemble John, Paul, George, and Ringo as much as possible.  Their sets are entertaining and fun, but no artistic stretch.

One result of American English's presence were a large number of newcomers who were not too knowledgeable about the Beatles catalog.  After early sets featured album tracks from Sgt. Pepper's . . . and the White Album, one "fan" turned to me and asked, "Are they playing Beatles music" with utmost sincerity. 

Probably the act that suffered the most from the influx of wrote Beatles cover fans was Rhythm Scholar, a DJ from Chicago who inventively remixed Fab Four records, including a chill-out room "Because."  Many in the new VIP section seemed puzzled and generally ignored his work.  Rhythm Scholar's logistical setup and placement in the lineup for two sets between main stage headliners didn't help him either.  The rooftop presence across from the parking lot venue was novel, but turned into an isolative disadvantage for any close appreciation of his work as the night progressed.  At least it was good beer garden line music, and he had the DJ set later at the Aquavor night club to present the music in a more dance and listener-friendly setting.

As for the new VIP and corporate booth sections, as a regional music fan, I'm happy to see profit and success for local music promoters and venues.  However, much of the feeling of community from past years was zapped by the partitioning of sections and the size of the crowd.  In the past, running into a neighbor or Beatle buddy was a regular occurrence, but if concertgoers did this time, it was by accident and chance.  Ironically, part of the VIP concept collapsed when American English took the stage and dozens of non-VIP fans rushed easily to the front.  I'm not expecting symphony etiquette at a rock-and-roll show and I don't want it, but if the promoters insist on price levels . . . oh well.  I guess at least VIPers (of which I was one) had a nifty Yellow Submarine laminated lanyard to show for their status.

Much of the Tribute to the Beatles was well-organized, including the beer, food, and refreshments concessions, but with its massive increase in size, the experience has changed over the seven-year run.  As a Region resident, I'm happy for the Vezmars' success, but I hope they realize that with business sponsorship, corporate booths, and priced sections, the fan experience and the festival itself drastically changed.  It's still an entertaining experience, but it's a more corporate and coldly distant one.

Life Lesson Learned at Muskegon State Park

Yours truly in hiking mode at Muskegon (MI) State Park (photo by Heather Stamper).

During a July vacation excursion to Michigan, my wife and I began a thought-provoking conversation.  One early morning in our hotel room, we discussed how people generally didn't give much consideration for their fellow humans anymore.  Our conversation ranged from competitive road rage behavior and people having an unrelated conversation on their mobile phones at the front of a busy line to economic policies shaping up to exclude large swaths of the populace.

Of course, this isn't the type of talk you want to dwell on for long during a vacation.  Stuff like that is a big reason you need a break.  We dropped the dorm room talk and headed for some self-serve continental breakfast.

Breakfast brought back the issue.  A man of large girth and his family lined up at the waffle maker, putting their gourmet touches on the batter heading for the hot griddle, in the meantime cutting half the diners off from being able to choose the healthier whole grain cereal and yogurt options nearby.  Many were even blocked from being able to sit down.  The bleak outlook of man talk returned, compliments of a big, fat rude dude.

The talk shifted to class warfare and survival of the species.  I discussed the increased inequity of wealth and drop in charitable donations during and after the Great Recession.  I worried about shrinking state and federal programs reducing the amount of aid for infirm people, and unglamorous infrastructure projects which could lead to long-term job growth, just two examples of problems only a government has enough scope to tackle.  Heather referred to Jesus' call to cast your bread on the waters, something that holds up whether you are a Christian or a Social Darwinist--sharing some wealth and giving of yourself, even if the motivations are really long-term personal fulfillment and species survival.

Sensing it was time for a mind-clearing beach walk, we headed for nearby Muskegon State Park, a peaceful place with clean white sand and clear Lake Michigan water lapping on the shore.  But we didn't get there for a while.

While thinking I had found an entrance for parking with some sand blow-over, I nose dived our Nissan Cube into a big drift.  Fortunately, two wheels were still on the paved road, but the front-wheel drive vehicle was hopelessly stuck in several feet of sand.  We passed the ranger station about a mile before the beach and we were readying ourselves for the long walk and a call to AAA for a tow.

Heather saw a family gathering at a nearby park beach house.  She approached them and two vehicles soon approached the Cube, one a group of young adults in a Jeep Liberty with Michigan plates, and grandparent-aged visitors from New York driving an Audi Quattro SUV.  With double-tied ropes secured under the Cube's rear bumper, the latter vehicle pulled us from the sand.  Our car was fully operational and there was no damage.

Our Good Samaritans wanted nothing in return, except some information on our unique-looking car, and never said how stupid we were, and never passed any judgements in general.  They even reassured us that they've seen similar incidents at the same park.  There was no class warfare here, no people ignoring someone in need.

This is just one event and one set of lives.  No cataclysmic situation would've happened in the long run, but one day of vacation for us, if not all of it, was saved by the kindness of others.

You could argue the inherent good nature of man.  I would argue as a believer isn't it just like God to address almost every major point of our earlier conversation into the microcosm of this small event.  But I think we can all agree:  isn't it an amazing and useful thing when we try to help one another.

My picks for Lollapalooza 2012 (annual unofficial guide)

 

Another weekend of sweltering heat, humidity, and rain--must be Lollapalooza time!  As a six-time veteran of the Grant Park event and two-time member of the music press there, I advise you the potential attendee to limit the booze, and maximize the water, iced tea, and sunscreen if you want to have any staying power to enjoy yourself and the potentially great music out there.

And oh by the way, if you don't have a weekend pass or single-day ticket at this point, forget about it.  I don't mean in The Sopranos way; really, forget about it!  All legit passes and tickets are gone, scalper stuff is likely counterfeit, and it's got to be the actual buyer who walks through the gates.

For those lucky enough to be going to the weekend music endurance fest (to answer a probable question, I'm not), here are some lineup tips for each day, with a realistic shot of seeing most if not all of each recommended acts' sets the main goal.  Being Lollapalooza 2012's best day, Sunday is particularly tricky and cruel with schedule conflicts, so I devised a Strategy A and Strategy B line of recommended act attack for you, each focusing on one side of the park.  You're welcome and here we go.

Friday, August 3:  Sharon Van Etten, 3 p.m., PlayStation Stage (Petrillo Music Shell); Metric, 4 p.m., Bud Light (Millennium Park side main stage); The Head and the Heart, 5:15 p.m., Sony Stage; The Shins, 6:15 p.m., Red Bull Soundstage (museum side main stage); M83, 7:30 p.m., Sony; The Black Keys, 8:30 p.m.

Toughest Friday choices--The Shins vs. Passion Pit, 6 p.m., Bud Light; and M83 vs. Dawes, 7:15 p.m., PlayStation.  If you absolutely have to see Black Sabbath (8:05-10 p.m., Bud Light), which is now more of a curiosity show than a music act, over The Black Keys, who are playing on the opposite side of Grant Park, it's surprising you're reading my blog.  Good for you!

Saturday, August 4:  If you get there early, catch J.C. Brooks & The Uptown Sound, noon, Sony.  Otherwise, Delta Spirit, 2:15 p.m., Bud Light; Alabama Shakes, 4:15 p.m., Bud Light; Franz Ferdinand, 6:15 p.m., Bud Light; Red Hot Chili Peppers, 8 p.m., Red Bull.

Toughest Saturday choices--Alabama Shakes vs. tUne-yArDs, 5 p.m., Sony; and Franz Ferdinand vs. Bloc Party, 7 p.m., Sony.

Sunday, August 5:  Strategy A--Oberhofer, 1 p.m., Bud Light; White Rabbits, 2:30 p.m., Bud Light; Dum Dum Girls, 3:30 p.m., Google Play Stage; The Gaslight Anthem, 4:45 p.m., Google Play; Florence and the Machine, 6:15 p.m., Bud Light; Justice, 8:30 p.m., Bud Light.

Strategy B--Bombay Bicycle Club, 12:45 p.m., Red Bull; The Walkmen, 3 p.m., Sony; Sigur Ros, 4 p.m., Red Bull; At The Drive-In, 6 p.m., Red Bull; Miike Snow, 7:15 p.m., Sony; Jack White, 8:15 p.m., Red Bull.

Criminally scheduled--it's a raw deal for the delightful Icelandic collective Of Monsters and Men, 6 p.m., Google Play, scheduled opposite Florence and the Machine and the reunited At The Drive-In.  At least they have a sold out House of Blues after show.