WTTS Christmas Can Concert With Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness


The WTTS Christmas Can Concert returned to the Bluebird in Bloomington on December 5th, sponsored by Sun King Brewery, and City Barbeque.

This was the first of two Can Concerts this year and it featured Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness.

A portion of ticket sale proceeds went to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, a charitable organization that envisions a community where everyone has equal access to nutritious food, waste is minimized, and all members are healthy, self-sufficient, and empowered to reach their full potential. In addition to ticket sale donations, concert goers also brought generous donations of non-perishable canned goods to share with Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Below you’ll find some of our favorite photos of the show with Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness and more information about Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Mother Hubbards Cupboard

About Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard: Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard increases access to healthy food for all people in need in ways that cultivate dignity, self-sufficiency, and community. We envision a community where everyone has equal access to nutritious food, waste is minimized, and all members are healthy, self-sufficient, and empowered to reach their full potential. Our programs include a client-choice food pantry and free educational programs on nutrition and gardening. Our programs are largely powered by our volunteer-patrons. We welcome any community members who can benefit from our services.

Leon Bridges Interview & Concert Recap


On a chilly Sunday night, December 6th, the second WTTS Christmas Can Concert took place at the Bluebird in Bloomington. Fort Worth R&B and soul artist Leon Bridges took the stage for a sold-out show. There is no need to say that he won over the hearts of the audience because it was obvious throughout the evening that he already had reached each and every one of them.

Leon Bridges is a classic old soul in a young man’s body. The 26-year-old’s gospel roots so very clearly influence his soulful music, reminiscent of the greats like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding. Bridges is still on the rise as he signed with Columbia Records in 2014 after having played open-mic shows around Fort Worth for some time. DJ Spikes, a local Bloomington DJ playing vintage soul and R&B records, performed a set before Bridges took the stage. WTTS DJ Rob Humphrey introduced Leon Bridges and his band, all of whom had just come from performing on NBC’s Saturday Night Live the previous evening.

The band enters dressed very professionally with somewhat of a vintage twist that creates the mood of a 1960s R&B performance. Bridges enters and looks exactly the way he sounds. From his modern-day conk haircut to his mustard tweed suit, Leon Bridges looked quite perfect on the small club stage. The sweetest of sounds boomed throughout the Bluebird that night.

Spoken like a true gentleman, his first words to the audience were “Nice to meet you.” His 7-piece band included himself and one other vocalist, a saxophone, guitar, bass, drums, and organ. Bridges took time out of the show to introduce all the band members and was sure to add compliments or a quick story of their meeting. Bridges admittedly played many songs from his album, “Coming Home” (released in June 2015) and added some new music into the mix, too.

Leon Bridges’ sound is so much more than the “soul” or “R&B” label; It’s fresh but it’s authentic, and it’s the perfect meeting of yesterday and tomorrow. If you’ve heard his vintage voice, then you know that it is effortlessly like butter. His vocal runs and exquisite vintage dance moves transport you to an entirely different place and time and it is a pleasure to be transported there. If you haven’t heard his voice…get to it.

Highlights of the night included “Better Man,” “Smooth Sailing,” “Twistin’ & Groovin’,” “Coming Home,” and “Lisa Sawyer.” He gave small introductions to many of the songs. “Twistin’ & Groovin’” was written about the night his grandfather met his grandmother. “Lisa Sawyer” was written for his mother. “Smooth Sailing” got a different kind of introduction in the form of a drum solo and the crowd really got moving. Bridges closed the set with an intimate performance of “River” in which he played electric guitar alone with his backing vocalist.

After the crowd chanted “Leon, Leon, Leon,” the guitarist enters the stage and the rest of the band gradually joins him for a three-song encore of new music. These included “Pussyfootin’,” an instantly classic love song, and “Mississippi Kisses.” “Mississippi Kisses” is an utterly groovy song that brings to mind Wilbert Harrison’s 1959 recording of “Kansas City.” During “Mississippi Kissses” Bridges instructs different parts of the crowd to go crazy in sections, and then in unison as he addresses them as “Indiana”; They did indeed go crazy for the Southern charmer for the final time that evening. Leon Bridges warmed the hearts of WTTS listeners on a chilly December evening, but that definitely won’t be the last you see of him.

Thanks to all WTTS listeners who participated in the 2015 Christmas Can Concerts by purchasing tickets and donating canned goods to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in Bloomington. Thanks also to Green Bean Delivery for sponsoring WTTS Christmas Can Concert efforts during this season of giving. Happy Holidays from WTTS!

By,

Christmas Can Concert Leon Bridges

Christmas Can Concert: Houndmouth Recap


Thursday night, December 3rd, WTTS kicked off its Christmas Can Concert series at The Bluebird in Bloomington. This first show featured Indiana natives, Houndmouth, and special guest Moon Taxi.

The Bluebird was buzzing with music, WTTS listeners, and canned goods being dropped into a bin to benefit Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in Bloomington. Green Bean Delivery even donated two pounds of fresh produce to the food pantry for each person in attendance. It is the season of giving, after all.

Moon Taxi opened for Houndmouth and entertained the crowd as if they were the headliner. The Nashville-based indie-progressive rock band’s performance was captivating. They played songs like “Year Zero” and “All Day All Night.” The crowd was singing along as if maybe they had come out to see Moon Taxi and Houndmouth was an added bonus! Moon Taxi was unassumingly electric with a simple stage setup and immense sound. They set the stage quite well for the excitement to come.

WTTS DJ Rob Humphrey introduced Houndmouth and the room went somewhat quiet for the only time that evening in anticipation. The band starts to enter the stage casually while the crowd hears a most appropriate song being played through the monitors. The crowd gradually recognizes their stage entrance song to be the Indiana University fight song and sings along with great pride. It set the tone perfectly.

Members of Houndmouth are based in Louisville but were born and raised in New Albany, Indiana (less than two hours from The Bluebird). Houndmouth’s vintage country influence may stem from their roots in Louisville and brings an intriguing interest to their indie rock sound. The lead singer looks like a 1950s greaser in a cool black jacket and slick, black hair. The drummer wears a fur coat and the keyboard player looks like an indie rock version of a 1920s flapper girl. On such a small, simple stage, their appearance alone takes the audience to another place and time.

Houndmouth opens with “Black Gold” and the crowd is absolutely electrified. At one point both the lead singer, Matt Myers, and bass player, Zak Appleby, changed their shirts to Indiana University garb and won the crowd over with ease. WTTS listeners were absolutely smitten with Houndmouth’s wide array of sounds and songs. The energy from the stage transferred to the crowd with every single song; It was extremely impressive. This created a beautiful vocal battle between the band with their microphones and the audience with their beer-soaked voices.

Highlights of the evening included “15 Years,” “Penitentiary,” “Say It,” and “Sedona.” During “Gasoline” (a song in which keyboard player Katie Toupin performs lead vocals) the crowd immediately screamed the lyrics back to her and she utters with obvious pride on her face, “Maybe you guys have heard this song…” After closing with “Sedona” Myers returns to the stage for a solo performance of “For No One,” followed by “Casino (Bad Things)” and “My Cousin Greg.”

Once Houndmouth exited the stage for the final time, the crowd was left buzzing. Beer was spilled, voices were hoarse, and hands were raw from clapping along to Houndmouth that night. In the words of Houndmouth’s Matt Myers, “It’s good to be around a bunch of Hoosiers for a while…”

Thanks so much to all WTTS listeners in attendance at the first WTTS Christmas Can Concert of the season. Sunday night, December 6th, Leon Bridges will play the second Christmas Can Concert to a sold out Bluebird. If we don’t see you there, be sure to check out the VIP room and Concert Connection page for more ways to experience the music.

By,

Christmas Can Concert Houndmouth