I, Wombat

Flamingo Nosebleed

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"If you don't dig the blues you must have a hole in your soul." - Jimmy Rogers

Don't get a hole in your soul! Come and experience the blues, Chicago style, in Fort Wayne!

Imagine that it's 1958 and you are going deep into the south side of Chicago to hear the architects of post-war Chicago blues electrify the crowd at some smokey blues joint. The air is filled with the sounds of wailing electric guitars, amplified harmonicas, drums and the voices of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers - The voices that made the Chicago blues famous - These are the artists that helped incubate modern Rock 'n Roll!

The air is also filled with the irresistible aroma of soul food, prepared by one of the epicurial masters from the South, now residing in Chicago. The fact is that Chicago blues musicians and patrons enjoy the food served in these joints almost as much as the music. This entire experience is being faithfully recreated at the 1st Annual Blues and Soul Food Bash Fort Wayne. All proceeds benefit the League for the Blind and Disabled so come and get the real Chicago Blues Experience, while supporting a great cause, at the Blues and Soul Food Bash Fort Wayne. Tickets are only $10 each and include live blues by Chicago's blues harp master and Blue Bella Records recording artist Bill Lupkin and all the soul food that you can eat.

Brought to you by: League for the Blind and Disabled, Sweetwater Sound, Fort Wayne Digital Media Production Group, Allen County Retinal Surgeons, Steel Dynamics, B-Sharp Guitars, 92.3 The Fort, 95.1 Majic, Parkview Hospital, Grossnickle Eye Center, FortWayneMusic.com, and more!

"A furry Austrailian creature" is what I kept saying to people when they asked what a wombat was on Friday night. I can't tell you how many people asked me who was playing and what the hell wombat was. Well after saying that phrase for the 30^th time I got to watch I, WOMBAT kick ass at Rick O'Shays Broadripple. They shared the stage with Autovator, who I had never seen before but put on a good show - especially with their own version of "Wish" by NIN, and the RP Wigs. I knew it was about to be a good time with some good people and good music. The RP Wigs are always a good time and these other 2 bands made it a great time.

So Friday night was a new experience for me. Flamingo Nosebleed, Shot Baker, and Squints down at the Brass Rail. Now I had never experienced the Brass Rail. I have heard stories of people getting shanked outside the bar and fights all over the place and shit like that but although things like that have happened (as they could and do in any city), that place is pretty cool. The walls are plastered with old fliers and stickers from previous shows over the years which give it a pretty dope atmosphere. Stage was tucked away in the far corner from the door so the whole bar can see it. If you've never been I suggest dropping by and grabbing a PBR (yes they serve other stuff too) from the tap and checking the place out.

My Saturday night at Carl's Tavern in New Haven didn't stop with Moser Woods. The other band finishing out the bill and the organizers of the show were the RP Wigs. This progressive metal, and I can't even really call it metal because it's not the typical screamo metal, is something to be reckoned with.  They started in 2006 with 3 original members and adding the 2 remaining remembers in 2007. The band features Chris Johnson and Cory Johnston on guitars, DJ Riley and Landon Hapner killing the beat on bass and drums, respectively, and Korey Zehr frontin' the party on the mic. The reason I call it a party is because that's all I can really compare this high energy show to.  It's a good ass time with a bunch of good ass people, mixed with some music you can really move to.

Saturday night was a night of original music for me. I decided to go check out Moser Woods and the RP Wigs at Carl's Tavern in New Haven. Now alot of people actually from New Haven will know where the band's name comes from but for those of us who don't, it the name of wooded area that surrounds Moser Park. Formed in 2002, Moser Woods is a progressively, experimental approach to their own take on music. The band consists of 2 great musicians. Lance Hoeppner of New Haven, Indiana, provides the melody and a couple samples on keys. Rick Kinney, also of New Haven, provides the rumbling beat behind Lance's 'story telling' like keyboard parts.

Friday night I had a chance to check out a band called Elephants in Mud hailing from from right here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This Reggae/Dub/Punk trio is comprised of Jared Andrews on Vocals and Guitar, either Jon Swain or Tom Robertson holding down the groove on bass, and Lynn Nicholson providing the beat to keep everyone moving all night. My first immediate impression when I heard about the band was that they were just another Sublime or Slightly Stoopid knock off trying to make a name for themselves in the Reggae world.