Ingrid Michaelson

I have my step sister to thank for my interest in alternative music.  Just a couple of years ago, we would stay up until the wee hours of the morning listening to music and goofing around.  There were many nights where we procrastinated so much that we had to pull all nighters to finish papers due the next day.  All the while, her laptop would be playing the music she had on her iTunes library.  Granted, there was some music I was not interested in at all, there was some that I will never forget.

This past weekend, I graduated from Ohio State and I received a message from my step sister asking me what I wanted as a gift.  I told her I wanted to go see Ingrid Michaelson with her this October and that it would be a great way to relive those crazy times we spent together.  Ingrid Michaelson’s music always has a way of reminding me of what it’s like to be 18 again and still a sophomore in college.

-Jessica

His website, http://parkourhorizons.org/, is dedicated to Parkour Horizons, a non-profit organization comprised of individuals located in Columbus, OH.  Parkour is a physical discipline, as rigorous and sophisticated in its training methodology as any sport, but is perhaps best understood as an art of movement.  Parkour Horizons also offers free training session for anyone who wants to try it out.  The training schedule can be found at: http://parkourhorizons.org/?page_id=9

I was reminded of this project earlier today when I came across a video posted on WOSU’s website.  The video was about Craig Pentak, an Ohio State graduate and filmmaker who won a prestigious editing award in Italy for his independent film about Parkour.  A majority of the scenes are shot in Columbus.  I even noticed my old group member was in some of the film. 

The video I saw: http://www.wosu.org/artzine-video/?date=02/02/2010&id=0

It’s hard to explain the types of movements they do in Parkour.  A picture hardly does the art justice.  It takes immense training and skill to get to the level the men in the video above are.

-Jessica

Kal Poole

The Emerging Artists Studio is a weekly radio show that showcases regional emerging artists, and is hosted by Karen Bell. This interview features Kal Poole.

Bio:
Kal Poole is a professional actor and director in the Columbus, Ohio, area. He currently teaches voice and acting for OSU Marion and Clark State. Over the past 20 years he has worked for a wide array of regional theatres including: Actors Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Rubicon Theatre Co, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, (and his favorite) Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. where has been the education director and now serves as managing director. Kal has a passion for making sustainable theatre and hopes that Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. will serve as a model for how to create high-quality, low-cost “green” theatre.

About the Arts Initiative:
The Arts Initiative is a university-wide effort to poise Ohio State as a leader in the arts, expanding the university’s artistic engagement as we connect with our communities. The Arts Initiative cultivates public and private partnerships with arts, cultural and educational organizations to further the interests and resources of the university, shaping a lifetime of creativity for individuals on campus and far beyond.

Music provided by Restless Blend; the song “High St. Traffic” was written by Erik Braun.
Brian Linville-drums and percussion
Erik Braun-guitars
Matteo Amburgy- keyboards
Marshall Skinner- bass guitar

John Mellencamp

Join Tavis Smiley on WOSU TV for a “week of rock” with legendary performer John Mellencamp, who will debut tracks from his new album “Better Than This” on the show every night this week.

First up on Monday, John sits down one-on-one with Tavis to talk about his new album “No Better Than This” followed by an exclusive performance.

John then returns to close out new episodes of TAVIS SMILEY with exclusive performances that you don’t want to miss!

Tavis Smiley airs on WOSU TV at 11:30pm, Mon-Wed, and Fri this week.

- Scott

Hanson is coming our way to play at The Newport this weekend. Most people know the brothers best for their 1997 hit “Mmmbop”and their subsequent rise to pre-teen stardom complete with Tiger Beat covers and 25 X 30 posters. However, I was as surprised as anyone after listening to a couple of tracks off their newest album, “Shout It Out.” It’s good. Really good. The single “Thinking ‘Bout Something” has been floating around in my head for about two weeks now.

All the songs on the album are extremely catchy, much like their older ones, but their newer stuff won’t require that you listen in secret, in a dark room somewhere, out of earshot of anyone capable of making you question your musical taste. You might even be able to safely roll down the windows in your car.

–Emmy

Colleen Leonardi

The Emerging Artists Studio is a weekly radio show that showcases regional emerging artists, and is hosted by Karen Bell. This interview features Colleen Leonardi.

Bio:
Colleen Leonardi is a choreographer, editor, writer and project coordinator who specializes in creative and organizational endeavors. Currently, she works with the Bebe Miller Company , The Hodge Group, Edible Columbus, Yoga on High, and various independent artists and writers. Her passion and expertise resides in the realms of movement studies, literature and the politics and pleasures of local and sustainable foods. She has a BA from Bennington College, an MFA from The Ohio State University and is a certified Yoga instructor. She is based in Columbus.

About the Arts Initiative:
The Arts Initiative is a university-wide effort to poise Ohio State as a leader in the arts, expanding the university’s artistic engagement as we connect with our communities. The Arts Initiative cultivates public and private partnerships with arts, cultural and educational organizations to further the interests and resources of the university, shaping a lifetime of creativity for individuals on campus and far beyond.

Music provided by Restless Blend; the song “High St. Traffic” was written by Erik Braun.
Brian Linville-drums and percussion
Erik Braun-guitars
Matteo Amburgy- keyboards
Marshall Skinner- bass guitar

They’re everywhere.  I see ‘em at every stop light in my neighborhood, all over campus, even on the highway…  Scooters.  Light, nimble, and I’m pretty sure that one tank of gas will last a lifetime.  Anyone driving by Summit and Hudson can get a good look into Capital City Scooters showroom window.  Curiosity finally got the better of me and I called up the shop and chatted with Caitlin Didier, owner and scooter enthusiast.

What made you want to open a scooter shop in Columbus, Ohio?

Tell me about Capital City Scooters.

So, what about this scooter lifestyle?

Give me the Scoot-A-Que breakdown.

Thanks, Caitlin.  For more information visit www.capitalcityscooters.com

-Eric

This year he released his newest live album, which is a compilation of songs from his previous albums.  With his new album release, he has also decided to go on tour, which makes me extremely happy.  On September 29 he will be playing at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

How to listen: http://www.xponentialradio.org/playlist.php

One of my favorite places to listen to Jason Mraz’s eclectic music style is on WOSU’s XPoNetial Radio.  They play live streaming music over the internet twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.  It’s a great place for me to go when I am working on homework or just needing something to listen to while I clean my room or do the dishes. 

-Jessica

When I listen to one of Collective Soul’s albums I think of rainy spring days.  When I hear Linkin’ Park I think of my older step brother and his favorite music.  When I hear Regina Spektor I think about staying up late with my step sister and playing sequence. 

Most recently, this happened to me while I was at home working on school work and I was listening to NPR’s Xponential Radio and a song by Jewel came on.  I hadn’t heard the song in years, but I almost immediately remembered what it was like sitting in my mom’s classroom while she finished grading her students’ papers after school.

To listen to Xponential Radio: http://www.xponentialradio.org/playlist.php

My little sister, Kaylin, and I were only in the third and first grades and we were very nosey.  At the time, my mom was the sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade science teacher so her classroom was outfitted with all sorts of fun things.  Kaylin and I would spend hours looking at things under microscopes and searching through the cabinets of stuff in the room. 

I love music for this very reason.  I know smell has one of the strongest connections to memory and that the scent of a room can influence anyone’s mood, but I feel sound, specifically music, has just as much of an influence.

-Jessica