Hip-hop dance offers unique experience

April 30, 2009

By Susie Chen
<schen@hilite.org>

The appearance of a Jabbawockeez trike team during the Homecoming Week celebration exemplified the growing popularity of hip-hop at this school, in both dance and music.

Senior Derek Jamerson, one of the Jabbawockeez members, said that although the whole Jabbawockeez ordeal definitely created some laughs, he is normally only seen dancing at school dances. He describes himself as a hip-hop dancer and said he has been dancing for as long as he can remember.

“I have just always loved to dance when I heard music,” he said.

Although Jamerson has never taken a class or had professional training, he said it does not interfere with his abilities as a dancer, a direction of thought Lorenda Carr said she agrees with Jamerson.

“Hip-hop dance has no specific format,” Carr, hip-hop teacher, choreographer and co-coordinator of competition teams at Performers Edge, said via e-mail. “No one needs training in a classroom in order to do hip-hop. There are many names for steps and dances out there, but for the most part, every person has their own style and flair when it comes to this form of dance. When doing hip-hop, teens or anyone, for that matter, can move in a way that makes them feel good.” Read more

Spotlight on Songsters

April 30, 2009

Student bands have difficulty marketing themselves; mediums such as WHJE provide some exposure

By Kelsey Binion

<kbinion@hilite.org>

It takes a tremendous amount of organization and talent to form a band. One has to find time and space to practice, as well as discover musical talent among students and procure instruments. On top of that members must organize and audition for concerts and gigs. That doesn’t leave much time to let the general public know about the band and get them to attend its shows.

BIG SHOW: (From left to right), seniors Kevin Wang, Jonathan “Jon” Schumm, Jonathan “Johnny” Hourmozdi and Michael “Mike” Gospel and junior Katherine “Kate” Haldrup perform at a tailgate before a football game on Aug. 23. Hourmozdi, Gospel and Haldrup compose part of the band Jammin’ Bread, formerly known as Upper House. STEVEN BRISLEY / SUBMITTED PHOTO

BIG SHOW: (From left to right), seniors Kevin Wang, Jonathan “Jon” Schumm, Jonathan “Johnny” Hourmozdi and Michael “Mike” Gospel and junior Katherine “Kate” Haldrup perform at a tailgate before a football game on Aug. 23. Hourmozdi, Gospel and Haldrup compose part of the band Jammin’ Bread, formerly known as Upper House. STEVEN BRISLEY / SUBMITTED PHOTO

That’s a challenge for bands that are more serious about creating music into a career and are looking for the best ways to promote themselves among the sea of local artists. According to senior Michael Gospel, his band, Jammin’ Bread, and its members get together when their schedules are open. For Gospel, promoting the band isn’t a top priority, but it’s still a challenge.

Luckily for them, there are several media outlets to help promote local groups. Events like Houndstock, coming up on May 16, gives student bands a rare opportunity to play in front of their peers. But for some of the bands that are chosen, Houndstock is only a starting point if they want exposure.

Jammin’ Bread has had the opportunity in the past to play at Houndstock and just recently at this year’s Dance Marathon.

Read more

Innovative musicians set stage with bizarre imagery

April 30, 2009

By Renny Logan

<rlogan@hilite.org>

With “fun to funky” costumes, outrageous stage shows, interesting new cross-genres and continual reinvention, these music artists gave the conventional mainstream acts a run for their money.

When bands choose to add unconventional imagery as an accent, equilibrium must be maintained to prevent image from overriding or substituting talent. Read more

5 Greatest Movie Soundtracks

April 30, 2009

By Sam Watermeier

<swatermeier@hilite.org>

AMAZON.COM / PHOTOS

AMAZON.COM / PHOTOS

1. ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)

When the opening credits of 1955’s “Blackboard Jungle” ran, the rock and roll revolution exploded. The song “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets blasted on the film’s soundtrack and pop music instantly became ingrained in our culture. The use of this song in the film not only sparked a musical revolution, but a cinematic revolution as well. Since “Blackboard Jungle,” it has become commonplace for films to prominently feature pop music on their soundtracks. This feature has not only helped carry the emotion of films, but created magic and transported audiences to other places and times. Read more

Summer Concerts

April 30, 2009

By Bennett Fuson

<bfuson@hilite.org>

Coldplay feat. Snow Patrol
June 5, 2009
Verizon Wireless Music Center

It would be utterly useless to give a brief bio of Coldplay.  After all, the Grammy award-winning band that might be more popular than U2 has conquered the radio waves and iTunes commercials.  So I’ll just get down to the meat of it: the British are coming.  (Get it? Coldplay and Snow Patrol both come from the UK.  Punny!)  Coldplay sold out two shows last year in Chicago, a surefire sign of musical success.  And co-headliner Snow Patrol, with music better than their hit single, “Chasing Cars,” essentially guarantees a great night of music from across the pond.

STARPULSE.COM / PHOTO

STARPULSE.COM / PHOTO

Read more

They are up to ‘Shenanigans’

April 30, 2009

Student band uses talent to raise money

ENSEMBLE HITS: Shenanigans performs at the Chinese Community Church of Indianapolis for the “30-Hour Famine” fundraiser. (Far left) Freshman Avi Goot plays the drums; (center) seniors Kyle Borcherding and Samuel Eagleson play trumpets; (far right) senior Steven Lakin plays electric bass, senior David Smyth sings and Eagleson and senior Kevin Wang sit in front. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

ENSEMBLE HITS: Shenanigans performs at the Chinese Community Church of Indianapolis for the “30-Hour Famine” fundraiser. Freshman Avi Goot plays the drums. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

ENSEMBLE HITS: Seniors Kyle Borcherding and Samuel Eagleson play trumpets. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

ENSEMBLE HITS: Seniors Kyle Borcherding and Samuel Eagleson play trumpets. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

ENSEMBLE HITS: Senior Steven Lakin plays electric bass, senior David Smyth sings and Eagleson and senior Kevin Wang sit in front. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

ENSEMBLE HITS: Senior Steven Lakin plays electric bass, senior David Smyth sings and Eagleson and senior Kevin Wang sit in front. MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

Next Page »

April 2009
M T W T F S S
« Mar   May »
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930