WTTS and Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza have teamed up once again to present a WTTS Rock To Read benefit at IU Auditorium. Benefiting children’s reading programs at the Indianapolis Public Library the WTTS Rock To Read series features three concerts this year and Ray LaMontagne performed the second of those shows. Below you can see a few shots of the show as well as the guitar Ray signed for our listeners to bid on as a part of the charity benefit.
WTTS and Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza have teamed up once again to present a WTTS Rock To Read benefit at Old National Center. Benefiting children’s reading programs at the Indianapolis Public Library the WTTS Rock To Read series features three concerts this year and Chris Isaak & Anderson East performed the first of those shows at the Murat Theater. See the photos below, courtesy Rhythm In Focus Photography.
WTTS Rock To Read, presented by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, returns this fall, as we help to raise money for children’s literacy.
This year, Chris Isaak was our first benefit concert of the season when he played Old National Centre on October 17th. See photos of the show here.
On November 4th Ray Lamontagne played the IU Auditorium. See photos of the show here.
Our third benefit concert was with Spoon on Friday December 8th at Old National Centre. Find the re-cap here.
Once again, proceeds from our Rock To Read shows will benefit children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis and Monroe County Public Libraries. WTTS Rock To Read is also supported by Karma Records.
Chris Isaak
Ray LaMontagne
Spoon
Design by Natalie Warner
WTTS Rock To Read, presented by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, returns this fall, as we help to raise money for children’s literacy. This year Ray Lamontagne plays the IU Auditorium on Saturday, November 4th for our first benefit concert of the season. Tickets are on sale Friday August 4th and 92-3 VIPs can buy pre-sale tickets here. Proceeds will benefit children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis and Monroe County Public Libraries. WTTS Rock To Read is also supported by Karma Records.
Design by Natalie Warner
Be sure to visit Jockamo’s three locations at 9165 Otis Avenue (Lawrence), 5646 E. Washington St. (Irvington), or 401 Market Plaza in Greenwood to register to win tickets from August 28th – September 24th.
Photo Courtesy: Rhythm In Focus Photography
WTTS and Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza have teamed up once again to present a WTTS Rock To Read benefit at Old National Centre. Benefiting children’s reading programs at the Indianapolis Public Library the WTTS Rock To Read series features three concerts this year and Spoon performed the final and possibly most unforgettable of those shows. Below you can see a few shots of the show courtesy of Rhythm In Focus Photography.
Left: Leonard Cohen / Route66 / Shutterstock.com Right: Leon Russell / Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com
Dawes – “When the Tequila Runs Out” (Kimmel)
The Flaming Lips – “How??” (Official Video)
For the past decade, WTTS Rock To Read benefit concerts, presented by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, have raised tens of thousands of dollars for children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis Public Library. We’re excited to carry on the tradition this fall.
CONCERT #1: BECK kicked off our Rock To Read benefit concerts with an outstanding show at IU Auditorium. Thank you to everyone who came for a great night of music. A portion of proceeds will benefit children’s reading programs of the Monroe County and Indianapolis Public Libraries.
CONCERT #2: Amos Lee stared in our second Rock To Read benefit. Thank you everyone who came out and supported children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis Public Library.
CONCERT #3: The Avett Brothers played two outstanding sold out benefits at Old National Centre. Thank you to everyone came out to the shows. Ticket proceeds will benefit children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis Public Library.
CONCERT #4: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats stared in our final Rock To Read benefit. Thank you for coming out for an amzing night of music and benefiting children’s reading programs with the Indianapolis Public Library.
WTTS Rock To Read is presented by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza.
Design by Natalie Warner
Be sure to visit Jockamo’s three locations at 9165 Otis Avenue (Lawrence), 5646 E. Washington St. (Irvington), or 401 Market Plaza in Greenwood.
This fall, 92-3 WTTS will bring back our Rock To Read benefit concerts to raise money for children’s reading programs through The Indianapolis Public Library. To help raise even more money, we are introducing three WTTS Rock To Read Runs Presented by Kaplan University:
Each registrant to the 5k runs will receive a t-shirt and medal from Fun-Races. The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation will be holding a book drive at each run, so bring new or gently used books to further the libraries’ efforts. After the race stick around to enjoy Sun King beer. $1 from every pint sold will go to The Library Foundation. Participants can also register to win a pair of tickets to the next WTTS Rock To Read benefit concert.
Three WTTS Rock To Read Runs Presented by Kaplan University. Also, check out our WTTS Rock To Read benefit concerts.
Friday night, November 13th, WTTS presented the third installment in the annual Rock to Read benefit concert series. Alternative rock band and long-time WTTS favorites, Guster, performed at the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre and proceeds benefited children’s reading programs all over Indianapolis. They also stopped by Sun King Studio 92 earlier in the day. Look for our posting of the interview and photos soon.
Guster began its story in 1991 and have seen much success throughout their career. The band originated in Boston, Massachusetts while attending Tufts University. On this tour for their latest album, Evermotion, the band decided to give high school/college bands the opportunity to open for them at various cities across the U.S. Porky’s Groove Machine opened up in Indianapolis and captivated the crowd with their many members, wacky costumes, and contagious funk grooves. Guster has a dedicated and ever-growing fan base that proved to be present in Indianapolis Friday night.
After WTTS DJ Paul Mendenhall thanked WTTS listeners and Guster fans alike for coming out to the show, the band took the stage. The four members took their places and began playing in front of a black curtain. The stage setup was unassuming and simple, as if to highlight the music. Only lighting changed the mood of the song outside of pure musicianship itself.
The band opened with “Diane” to a crowd who knew exactly what song it was from the first two chords and roared with delight. After the first song, lead singer Ryan Miller told the audience they looked beautiful and followed with, “It’s like Burning Man in Indianapolis…and I like it.” We do what we can, Ryan!
Brian Rosenworcel, who is nicknamed “Thundergod” alternated throughout the show between a traditional drum kit on the right side of the stage and a different set for hand drumming on bongos, congas, djembes, and other percussion instruments. “Thundergod” has to have broken a finger or two over the years of Guster recording and performing. He plays with such enthusiasm and passion that he even strikes the cymbals with his hands and gets great sound out of them. Organ, marimba sounds, brass instruments, synthesizer, and various other percussion instruments were featured alongside the guitars, bass, and keys.
Guster’s members are all blaringly obviously multi-talented and humble. They switch instruments throughout the show, they provide their own backing vocals on stage, and they seem to just enjoy playing together no matter where on stage they may be located for a certain song. It leaves the audience feeling that they’re getting a well-rounded show from men who are all on an even playing field. It makes for some magical tunes.
At one point in the evening, Guster announced that they would be collaborating with Porky’s Groove Machine for a song. Three band members joined them on Trombone, trumpet, and saxophone. Miller announced that they’d play a song they hadn’t played in a year and probably wouldn’t for another year. As soon as the song begins, the fans know it to be “Fa Fa.” The electricity from the stage was infectious from the faces of all those on stage and the crowd went insane. Later in the show, Miller explained that he saw an audience member playing the bongos on his girlfriend’s back along to an entire song. So, in Guster fashion, Miller invited them to the stage to play bongos on an impromptu song about bongos. It was hilarious and so refreshing in a concert of that size.
Highlights of the evening included “Happier,” “Simple Machine,” “Satellite,” “Do You Love Me,” “One Man Wrecking Machine,” and “Barrel of a Gun.” Guster closed with “This Could All Be Yours” before coming back on stage for a 3.5 song encore. They played “Long Night,” Red Oyster Cult,” and “Demons.” The half-song was another improvised song about a crazy cat lady in the audience who wanted them to sign a plastic cat from the stage. It was hilarious. A second encore performance included “Jesus On The Radio” to leave the crowd in musical bliss at the end of the evening.
Between the guests on stage, the simple stage setup, and the overall electricity from the band members who have been playing together (and enjoying it) for over twenty years, the final WTTS Rock to Read concert was a success. Ryan Miller coined it best when he proclaimed from the stage that this was “The night the Egyptian Room turned into a bunch of drunk babies.”
Thank you to all WTTS listeners who attended any of our Rock to Read shows this year! Don’t be sad it’s over, though, as our WTTS Christmas Can Concerts are right around the corner. At the beginning of December we’ll be bringing you Houndmouth (Dec. 3rd) and Leon Bridges (Dec. 6th) with proceeds from the shows benefiting Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in Bloomington.
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Tuesday night, October 20th, the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis filled with the fans of both John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett. The two legendary singer-songwriters took the stage for the second WTTS Rock To Read show of the year. WTTS Rock To Read benefit concerts help to raise money for children’s reading programs through the Indianapolis Public Library.
John Hiatt is a Hoosier singer-songwriter who has written Americana, folk rock, and country blues songs since he moved to Nashville when he was eighteen. Hiatt’s songs have been covered by many other successful musicians. Lyle Lovett is a Texan country folk, Americana, and bluegrass songwriter. Both saw most of their success throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Once Hiatt and Lovett were introduced to the theatre audience, they entered the stage to a standing ovation without having played one song yet. That was an incredible kick-start to the acoustic evening. The stage setup was simple and focused on the two musicians. The two sat in chairs in the middle of the stage. A table of waters and harmonicas sat between them and they were each surrounded by two guitars which they played all evening. No stage hand entered the audience’s vision all evening and it felt informal and relaxed, yet Hiatt and Lovett’s professional and classy demeanor could be felt from start to finish.
Hiatt opened the show with “Detroit Made” and Lovett covered Chuck Berry’s “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” to get the evening started. The two musicians have been friends for years, and it was obvious to the audience. Lovett, the younger of the two, showed open affection for his role model that he shared the stage with. Lovett served as the emcee for the evening, interviewing Hiatt about his favorite guitars, his hippie tendencies, and his time growing up in Indianapolis. Hiatt admitted that “It’s always great to come home” and reminisced on days of being the “ghost of bars past,” playing a coffeehouse on Indiana Avenue, Crazy Al’s, The Vogue, and The Patio in Broad Ripple.
Hiatt and Lovett are both extremely talented guitar players. They discussed the guitars they brought with them (Hiatt’s 1947 Gibson LG2 is notably cool) and the coolest guitars they’ve ever played. Hiatt complimented Lovett on his “damn fancy pickin’” and no one could have described it better. Both musicians had wonderful senses of humor as the two went back and forth with witty banter and comic rapport all night. The men also seemed relatable as they told stories of the past and their homes. Lyle Lovett introduced “White Boy Lost In The Blues” by saying he heard it in 1978 and thought, “This is my life…they know me.” Who hasn’t felt that way?
Highlights of the night included Hiatt’s “Perfectly Good Guitar,” “Feels Like Rain,” “Slow Turnin’” (by request), and “Real Fine Love.” Lovett played crowd favorites “Record Lady” (by request), “Nobody Knows Me,” “If I Had A Boat,” and “Up In Indiana.” The evening closed with Lovett’s “My Baby Don’t Tolerate” before an encore of Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith In Me” and Lovett’s “Church.”
Lovett admitted near the end of the spectacular evening that they were “proud to be at the Old National Centre and the Murat Theatre at the same time” and the crowd roared with laughter. Indianapolis fans and WTTS listeners were absolutely smitten by the pair of singer-songwriters. John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett’s modern-day vaudeville show provided comedic interest on a stage that was inevitably beaming with years of artistry and craftsmanship.
The final WTTS Rock To Read benefit concert of the season is coming up! Tickets are on sale now for Guster at the Old National Centre on November 13th. Don’t miss the final chance to benefit children’s reading programs in the Indianapolis area and see a WTTS favorite artist.
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All photos courtesy of Rhythm In Focus Photography.
