Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Four

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/11/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-four

Nora at the State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Three

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

 Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/10/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-three

Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day Two

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/09/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-two

Nora at the Indiana State Fair - Year of the Farmer: Day One

First published in NUVO newsweekly: 

Click here: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/08/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-day-one

Nora at the Indiana State Fair: Year of the Farmer - Eve

First published in NUVO newsweekly 

Click here for the first installment: http://www.nuvo.net/FoodDrinkBlog/archives/2015/08/07/nora-at-the-fair-year-of-the-farmer-eve

house concert - chad mills

View from the best seat in the house - Chad Mills concert

Have you ever been to a house concert? It's just that - a concert in someone's house. I love them - everyone is there to listen - no bar chatter or blenders whirling drinks or freakishly tall people standing in front of the stage. And the musicians have time to tell stories and talk about their songs. I took Mom to see one of my favorite musicians, Chad Mills, play the Redbud House Concert Series tonight.

I'm a big fan of Chad's - not only do I think that he's a great songwriter and I've enjoyed seeing him grow and stretch his wings in the last five years, but Chad is an outstanding member of our music community. He plays early morning farmer's markets*, charity events and is generous with his time. But most importantly, he's committed to his beautiful wife and cute-as-a-button daughters. He seems to manage the balance of home, work and family.

Click here to hear "Meant To Be." 

I've heard musicians say that they feel naked playing a house concert. There is no microphone or equipment or smoky haze to hide behind. As an audience member, I felt stripped down also - no notepad or camera or speaker to shield me from the music. And that is what makes house concerts so great, you really have a chance to connect with the words and music.

I encourage you to attend or host a concert. It's as easy as pie (ummm, pie). I wrote a cover article for NUVO about house concerts - you can read it here. If you're interested in hosting a house concert read my how-to guide here. 

I'm mad at myself that I didn't think to shoot a video of one of Chad's other songs, but I didn't think of it until his final song of the night. .I'll leave you with the video I took of his last song, the title track  and bar band anthem from his latest CD, Make the Door. You'll have to excuse my late start and my giggling at hearing his mom shout, "DRINK LIKE FISH!"

See you tomorrow!

 * I asked Chad to fill in at the Broad Ripple Farmer's Market for last minute cancellation. Not only was the weather cold and rainy, but the Broad Ripple High School marching band was practicing just a few yards away. 

nuvo memorial piece for tim

Here is the NUVO piece I wrote about Tim : Click here.

leavin' on a jet plane

I’m headed to the Austin City Limits Festival. It’s been the usual scramble getting ready for the trip. By the time I pack, get the house clean enough to let someone in to feed the cat, get my shifts covered and work organized I’m ready for another vacation.

I think that half of Indianapolis will be there – I’m making plans to meet up with friends that live a few blocks from me that I never see. I’m also looking forward to seeing people that have moved from Indy to Austin and one to NYC.

This will be my third trip to Austin, the first trip I was only there for 36 hours for my Aunt Bernadine’s funeral. I took a taxi from the airport to the church to pull up just in time to see the mourners coming out of the church.

I went to the Austin City Limits Festival (ACLF) last year and loved every second of it but only stayed for four days. This time I’ll be in Austin for a full week. Watch out!

hello....anyone still out there?

Um, hi. Is there anyone out there? Can you hear me? I don't blame you if you're gone.

I've been busy doing boring life stuff - keeping all of the balls in the air and trying to be a good employee, daughter, writer and hostess. And keep the house picked up and the basement clean and the grass mowed and the truck from falling apart and the weight off.

I got to write about one of my favorite things this summer - the Indiana State Fair. Read my Top 10 picks by clicking here.

I also went to the State Fair each day. It almost killed me! You can follow that here.

I'm committing to checking in here more often.

Pinky swear

nuvo winter celebration (holiday party #1)

When I got the invitation to the NUVO party I was excited. Not only was it fun last year, but I knew that it would be a good chance to catch up with Kim. And it was at the Jazz Kitchen, within walking distance of my house. 

I didn't walk, there is the whole being sick factor and it's a crappy icy rainy night. 

It took me forever to figure out what to wear. I'm used to having only six minutes to get ready for a party. Having six hours really threw me off my game. Plus I got motivated last week and took a bunch of holiday clothes to the consignment place. I finally found a sparkly skirt that fit and paired it with the velvet top that I'm sure you'll be seeing lots of. 

I was so frazzled by my lack of appropriate shoes (note to self: find some shoes that are not worn out from work or thrift store purchased boots) that I forgot my camera. And my iPhone battery was worn down, so I couldn't snap a photo that way. For the first time in the year that I've had the phone I forgot to charge it. I've been sleeping on the sofa and the charger is in the bedroom and it never occurred to me to plug it in there. Clearly, I've not been myself. Anyway, I took the photo above in front of my Boy Scout wreath when I got home. Okay, back to the party--

The party was lovely. I squeezed in to Kim and Wayne's table. The food was great - and even some half-way healthy choices, a tasty strawberry salad. I balanced that out with a big hunk of brie topped with brown sugar. 

It was fun to meet other freelancers and hear what they are working on. And I got a nice compliment for this interview of one of my favorite musicians from a writer that I admire. 

I was happy to hear the publisher's recap of the year. NUVO is doing well. Circulation is the highest ever. Ad sales are up. I wish I could remember how many people have contributed and how much money they've been paid. Anyway, all good news in the face of other papers laying off employees. 

I'm thrilled to write for the paper and they seem happy with me. I had a moment of panic when the publisher and editor were teasing me about all of the places I write, but they were clearly okay with it. 

This might be one of the most disjointed things I've ever written. I'm calling it a night. Work tomorrow, ya know. 

achy breaky feet

I cannot even tell you how tired I am. Seriously. Tired. I am.
It has been a fun week. I just figured out that I'm on track to see at least 40 different bands/musicians this month, so I'll catch you up on that.

In other news, I got to help a friend host David Sedaris at her book shop yesterday. David was charming and signed books for seven hours! I love what he wrote to me: Nora, thank you for doing stuff. And, I did do a lot of stuff yesterday. Ugggh.

The NUVO night life guide came out today. I got to write some of the blurbs. Since I'm always writing it was fun to have something written about me. From the contributing writers section:

Nora Spitznogle
With all her work for the Broad Ripple Gazette and her Web site Queen Bee music, and her day job as director of operations at Second Helpings, it's a wonder Nora Spitznogle finds the time to write about music for NUVO. But who better to write about Broad Ripple than Nora, the former manager of CATH Coffeehouse and a fixture at local shows and bars.

I think it is great, except for the "fixture [in] bars" part. I like to point out the I work in a bar and I go see music in bars....wait, maybe that does make me a fixture. Dang it!

[edit]

It is only 6:30 and I'm in bed with a Peanut Buster Parfait, the new David Sedaris book and my feet up propped up.
I'm guessing I won't be doing any laundry.

cover girl

Lookie! My first cover story.

I didn't want to jinx it, so I didn't talk about it. It has been in the works for months.

I can't tell you how excited that I am and I'm sure I'll bore you with lots of photographs of paper boxes and other goofiness.

The story is about house concerts. Which is just that, a concert in a house. Read all about here.

Read the companion piece: how to host a house concert here.

It's a whopping 3500 words, which is a ton for me to write in third person. Most of the stuff that I write for NUVO runs in the 300-ish range. My Gazette column is often 1500 to 2000 words written in first person, which I find much easier to crank out.

My dear brother-in-law edited the piece, thanks Ron!

And Jolie, thanks for calling after you saw a copy - that made it real.

Wheeee!

[And just 'cause I'm showing off, I also wrote this piece for the same issue: Ryan Bingham. He's one talented young guy. Between his appearance on Conan O'Brien last week and my exciting schedule of meetings and spreadsheets we couldn't coordinate a phone interview.]

greenie

All of my world collided, in a good way. I got to write about Second Helpings for NUVO's Green Guide.

Here is a link to the pdf for the guide. My piece is on page 25.

I like the contributing writers blurb they did for me.
I also like being called a contributing writer!

Nora Spitznogle
When she’s not busy writing for the Broad Ripple Gazette, or contributing music stories to NUVO, Nora Spitznogle works at Second Helpings, the city’s largest food rescue operation that not only averts tons of perishable food from landfills, it redistributes the food to those who might otherwise go hungry. Given its multilevel greenness, we asked her to share Second Helpings’ story and success with you.

Wheeee!

news, news and more news

Writing: I wound up writing two pieces (here and here) for the Emmylou Harris cover story. And my name was listed (in big print) as contributing to the story.

I was quoted in the Jazz News, a jazz um, news thingie. Anyway you can read it here.

Traveling: I just booked a ten day trip to Ireland. I'm going with my Philadelphia friend Kevin and his family and friends. We're going to celebrate Kevin's 50th birthday.


More on all of that later- I've got an article to finish.

nuvo winter celebration (holiday party #5)

The NUVO party was a blast, I'm just sorry I did not get there sooner. I was home working on three pieces that were due for the paper and trying not to touch my new iPhone.

Yes sir, I did it. The Apple store at the fancy mall makes it so easy. There is a concierge dude that greets you at the door. I told him what I wanted, he steered me to a desk stacked with the magical phones. I handed him my debit card, he swooped it on his hand-held scanner and asked if I wanted a paper receipt or to have it emailed to me. I chose email (save a tree), he punched my email address in to his scanner, handed me the bag and I walked out. I think the whole transaction took three minutes. It was so easy it felt a little dirty. I ran out to my truck clutching the bag to my chest and drove home. Then I made myself not open the box. Do you know how hard that was?

The one thing that launched me back out to the cold night was knowing that Kim would be there. It was fun to see her and she's thoughtfully saved me a seat - and a brownie.

The program featured a talent show. When we were all asked a few weeks ago to participate, I didn't think that I had anything to offer. Too late, I got the idea to do an old fashioned 4-H demonstration - how to make toffee or something. I think that Kim and I could do a kick-ass home ec. presentation. Next year, watch out!

JP the editor of NUVO performed a great classic piece. Of course I have no idea what it is called. My education is seriously lacking in that area. I can show you the proper way to measure a cup of flour, but could not name an opera song (aria?) if my new iPhone depended on it -did I tell you that I got an iPhone? Anyway, Jim did both parts - the woman and the man. He did an amazing job and the costume was fabulous.

Here is a photograph of Wayne (Kim's BF) with a six pack of party favor beer. Of course I had to juggle my bottle of wine and brownie to get the shot.

I'm glad that I went - the party was in the spirit of the paper. Quirky, chock-full of talent and outside the box.

comic nora

I adore the cartoon Queen Bee Nora that Wayne Bertsch (boyfriend of Kim) drew. I'm um...curvy. You can check out more of Wayne's NUVO work here.

NUVO also ran a piece about the Tonic Ball. The writer called me a young urban progressive! You can read it here.

And I wrote a music preview for the same issue.

This is my favorite NUVO issue ever! I was drawn curvy, called young and will be paid for writing.

Wheeee!

ugly nora

I'm writing a preview of the (Mr.) Robyn Hitchcock show that is coming to Indianapolis this weekend. Robyn's punk-rock band, The Soft Boys was a favorite of mine back in the day.

Last night two of my friends were discussing how hard it was to find pencils, bicycle vanity plates and key chains with their names on them. Ha! I know that story, not once did I ever find anything with the name Nora on it. Yet I insisted on pawing through everything on the racks, just in case. Hope springs eternal.

The only time Nora turns up in literature she is the upstairs maid or a spinster aunt. The notable exception is Isben's A Doll House.

I was thrilled by the Soft Boys song "Ugly Nora". As a young-punk rocker I felt like it gave me some sort of credibility.

When I was assigned the Hitchcock preview, I didn't dream that I'd ever have contact with him. I sent his publicist a list of generic questions. I just about fainted when he answered then. I would have asked him more specific questions especially about the genesis of "Ugly Nora". And thanked him for it.

I could not find a recording or video of the song, so here are the lyrics:

With your eyes like rattles and your legs like stems
It's a wonder you can walk on them
You make a bee look like a flying bomb
You're so thin, you're not dead, but you're almost gone

But your bones are hip and full of soul
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Hideous Nora, I wanna see your jellies roll

With your eggs like jelly and your skin like moss
What you could have been is so great a loss
But your shrivelled onion made a fool of you
Like a straw babboon in an empty zoo

It's about time I lent you my salad bowl
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Hideous Nora, I wanna see your jellies roll

Let me hear myself, stand back
Aw, do it again, Robbie baby
Now use the fork
Look out for that cat
Heh heh, too bad
Told you

Well, you know I mean it, don't say you don't
It just drives me crackers when you say you won't
All the best things in your life are loud
Forget about whether this stuff's allowed

You've been making a living out of doing what you're told
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Come on ugly Nora (Nora, come on)
Hideous Nora, I wanna see your jellies roll

Squash it, kim
Squish

i like boys

I’ve never been a goal setter, which might explain why I’m single, 46 and just now buying my first house.
One thing that I’ve always had in the back of my mind was to be a “writer” -- whatever that is. The fact that I now get to write for two publications just blows my mind.

I write a regular column, “Buzzing Around Town” for the Broad Ripple Gazette about music. I have been doing this for about a year and a half and I love every second of it. The column is more observational than critical, so I get to be my usual goofy self. Some of my blog posts have make it in to the column. The BRG is a community, family newspaper. BRG often “scoops” the bigger papers on community issues.

I’ve been writing music previews for NUVO for six months. NUVO a weekly arts, entertainment and social justice paper. They are more provocative. The pieces I write for them are third person profiles of upcoming music. My niche for NUVO is singer/songwriters, folk musicians and under-the-radar sorts of stuff. I’ve always been a fan of NUVO and am honored to write for them – and not just ‘cause they pay me. Leslie Benson is the new music editor and she has done a tremendous job of expanding the music coverage. She will send me an e-mail asking if I want to write something and include the deadline and any information that she has. If the musician has mailed a promo pack to the NUVO office she’ll forward it to me.

I’ve been super busy at work. Leslie e-mailed me last week to see if I wanted to write about Fr*dr*ck *ord (I don’t want to make his name Google-able). Without reading the bio she sent me, I told her I’ve love to. I clicked on the name of the musician’s publicist to set up a phone interview. I told the publicist my phone number and a good time to reach me. I didn’t think about it again until about 10 minutes before I expected the call.
I clicked on FF’s Website and just about fainted.
His first love is music (electronica /dance), but his career is made on g*y p*rn. Holy Crap!
I ran and put on another layer of clothes.
I had my legs crossed, eyes closed and I blushed throughout the whole conversation.

I often think that people must wonder about my sexual orientation. After all, I’ve never been married and am fairly capable. A good number of the women musicians I write about are l**b**ns. I was joking with my friends that the FF piece would really make people wonder.

I went to the Indianapolis Indians day game yesterday. My brother and some of his friends joined me at the Red Key. I grabbed a NUVO to see how the piece turned out. Beer came out of my nose when I saw it. It has a rainbow banner over it.

No wonder I never get asked out.

rock star

People often think the life of a music writer in the 12th largest city in country is glamorous.
Limos, backstage passes, gourmet meals, massages, trendy clothes, good drugs, tour buses and swanky hotels.

The reality: most of the musicians I write about travel by hatchback, play in venues that barely have a stage – let alone a backstage, drink the crappy beer in my fridge and sleep on my sofa.

I write a lot of previews: promoting the shows and giving people a glimpse of the musicians. I do most of my work online and via e-mail and telephone, often in my jammies. It is mostly a solitary and occasionally frustrating job. Musicians, venues and publicists campaign for coverage in the papers that I write for. And often then disappear – not returning phone calls or emails.

I write a column about music for the Broad Ripple Gazette a twice-a-month paper with a great reputation and ever-growing readership.
I often see things that have been covered in the Gazette later get covered in a larger paper.
For NUVO Newsweekly I mostly write music previews and profiles. I sometimes review shows and have worked on several feature stories. NUVO is known for its coverage of music, arts and social justice issues.
I am also part of a panel that votes on the Top Ten Live shows each week. The Top Ten list is published in INTake Weekly, a division of the Indianapolis Star – a Gannett paper.
It is pretty amazing that I’m in NUVO and INTake each week. No one else is.
There is a perceived competition between the two, I’m not sure how real it is.
I make it a point to see as much music as possible, which I think it is necessary in order to write about it. I know that I’m see at least, if not more music than most music writers. Not that I am faulting them – I don’t have a family and other obligations that other folks do.

Anyway, all of that said, I often feel like the chopped liver of music writers. Since I don’t write about the big sexy shows, I don’t often get invited to the parties.

That all changed last night -- I was invited to sit at the big kid's table.
I was invited to the kick-off party to introduce the summer line-up of Verizon Music Center (Deer Creek), our large outdoor venue.

There was valet parking and a red carpet. The party was on the stage, lots of food, tasty beverages and ice cream for dessert. They took photos that were given to us, but I could not resist a few of my own photo ops.





Nora on stage, mid air guitar solo.




Nora with the classic rock-geek hand gestures.



My friend Tammy (or in the guest list lexicon, my PLUS 1) rushing the stage.

We also got to tour the dressing rooms.
They were not as exciting as I thought they might be.
No swings or beds.

I was not impressed until I checked out the bathroom.


No comment about the guitar players that I've dated.

off to see the wizard

I worked entirely too late tonight (I'm still at work and its past midnight).

I spent the day interviewing candidates for the director of volunteers job.

Then I had to do my job and get organized enough to take Monday off.
I also had an ass-load (sorry I've used up all of the good words from doing six straight interviews and writing blurbs about 20 bands) of work due for NUVO.

Speaking of NUVO, the big musical family tree article I was working on was published this week. Its really cool --and my name was on the cover. Woo Hoo.

I'm leaving for Nebraska tomorrow...oh, today...Matt (from the nice suit fame) is taking me to the airport, Jerry is picking me up in Kansas City and we're driving to Cliff and Marilyn's farm.

I'd better get home and pack.
If the weather man is right I can't go wrong with rain boots and a slicker.