@onwardetc

@immrkirstopher

@captainsson

@randallshreveandthesideshow

WANNA BE IN DEITRA?USE THE HASHTAG

#DEITRASCENETO SEE YOUR PHOTOS

IN THE NEXT ISSUE!

#DEITRASCENE

06

d e i t r a m a g . c o m

i s s u e

Read about our cover girl Raven Ridinger on page

42 36 12

22

28

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

I COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD of this issue of Deitra! We have for you 64 pages packed full of interviews with bands, musicians and emerging artists, reviews of some of our favorite EP releases of 2013, fashion galore, local restaurant and business reviews as well as an all new beauty section that I can’t wait for you all to see! The avante garde approach to the design of this issue has taken Deitra into a realm of design that I’ve been dreaming up since before the first issue of Deitra. This time around, we’ve brought it to a whole new level. You’ll see those elements throughout these pages. Inside you’ll see a gorgeous photo shoot of Megan Lemon modeling our take on high fashion for fall, shot by Deitra’s Feature Photographer, Matt Loveland from the top of the Gillioz Theatre. Also see a vintage inspired spread styled and designed by Fashion Editor Kaycie Surrell. Lotus Sansoucie models incredibly huge false lashes for Beauty Editor Nigel Lee’s breathtaking contribution to Deitra’s new beauty section.

Read about emerging local business Arts & Letters, as well as a look at the Deitra Crew’s amazing experience dining at the famous Italian restaurant, Gilardi’s, written by food writer, Daniel Ernce. We have write ups on several local and international bands and their latest projects in our music section featuring Vagabond Swing from Lafayette, LA, Springfield’s anthem to Red Dirt Cole Porter Band, and our cover star Rosco Rustewaulde of Onward, Etc. We were inspired by Rustewaulde’s interview with us, and are thrilled to feature him on our cover. It has been a complete honor to work with the new Deitra Crew on this issue. A world of thanks to Kaycie Surrell, Nigel Lee, Matt Loveland, Rebecca Kennedy, Richelle Davidson and Daniel Ernce for giving this your all and helping Deitra reach new heights! We present to you Deitra Issue 06. We hope you love it as much as we do.

Thank you for reading!

d e i t r a m a g . c o m

E D I T O R ’ SP I C K S

R O C K - A - B I L L Y R U B :This cinnamon flavored lip balm is addictive, and has the same plumping effect of Buxom without the sticky feel. Balmshell leaves your lips feeling soft and is perfect by itself, or as a primer for red lips. Also available in Peppermint.

S T Y L E :Androgyny. Marie Antioniette.Black Russian veils.

P L A Y L I S T :Can’t stop listening to Randall Shreve and the Sideshow’s The Entertainer and Jester. Also on repeat is “War Machine” from the new Kids and Chemicals release of Pale Horse.

d e i t r a m a g . c o m

F A L L :Yes, black over black will always be a staple. And this season will be all about blazers, cardigans and unique coats. Paired with black, please.

B E A U T Y :Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede in “Backstage,” a perfect dark color for fall that doesn’t smudge or kiss off. And my new favorite, “Trendsetter”: An orangey red that makes a fashion statement.

m u s i c ©

mailDeitra MagazineP.O. Box 5073Springfield, MO 65801-5073

deitra magazine is published by deitra productions inc.reproduction without permission is prohibited

subscriptionsone year for $12.95 in the u.s. and possessions; $22.95 for canada and $55.00 for all other destinations. payment in u.s. funds must accompany canadian and international orders. address subscription orders and inquiries to p.o. box 5073 springfield, mo 65801, or call 870.656.4737 or email deitramag@yahoo for faster service.

PRINTED IN THE USA.

e d i t o r - i n - c h i e ft a m a r a s t y e r

f e a t u r e s e d i t o rt a m a r a s t y e rw r i t e r s

c h r i s t c u r t h r a s t i c hk a y c i e s u r r e l l

d a n i e l e r n c e

m a r q u i t t a c a tr e p o r t e rt a m a r a s t y e r

fashionf a s h i o n e d i t o rk a y c i e s u r r e l l

b e a u t yb e a u t y e d i t o rn i g e l k i n d r i c k l e eb e a u t y a s s i s t a n tr e b e c c a k e n n e d y

c u l t u r ef o o d w r i t e rd a n i e l e r n c e

a r tf e a t u r e p h o t o g r a p h e rm a t t l o v e l a n dp h o t o g r a p h e rr i c h e l l e d a v i d s o n

c o n t r i b u t i n g p h o t o g r a p h e r sm a r q u i t t a c a t

c o u r t n e y t u c k e rc a s s i e z a p a t ak a y c i e s u r r e l l

n a n c y d o d s o n

w e bw e b e d i t o rr i c h e l l e d a v i d s o n tvd i r e c t o rt a m a r a s t y e re d i t o rr i c h e l l e d a v i d s o nv i d e o g r a p h e rj i m m y h u n t

b u s i n e s s w r i t e rk a y c i e s u r r e l l

m i c h a e l b r a s i e r

©t a m a r a s t y e r

k a y c i e s u r r e l l

d a n i e l e r n c e

m a r q u i t t a c a t

t a m a r a s t y e r

b e a u t yn i g e l k i n d r i c k l e e

r e b e c c a k e n n e d y

c u l t u r ec o n t r i b u t i n g p h o t o g r a p h e r s

t a m a r a s t y e rr i c h e l l e d a v i d s o n

v i d e o g r a p h e rj i m m y h u n t

d e i t r a m a g . c o m

k a y c i e s u r r e l l

m i c h a e l b r a s i e r

fall

fallback

14

14 highstreet

w i l dabandonbeauty by nigel kindrick lee

w i l dabandonbeauty by nigel kindrick lee

20

feathered styled by nigel kindrick lee

& rebecca kennedy.

feathered fatale

23

“WHETHER DRAMATIC OR SUBDUED,” SAYS MAKEUP ARTIST NIGEL LEE, “FALSE LASHES ARE A DARING YET BEAUTIFUL CHOICE TO THICKEN AND ENHANCE NATURAL LASHES.”

“I COULDN’T FIND ANY LASHES BIG ENOUGH FOR MY LIKING,” SAYS LEE. “I REPURPOSED A PAIR OF A FRIEND’S EARRINGS FOR THESE LARGER THAN LIFE PEACOCK FEATHER LASHES.”

&28

kids FROM THE SAME ELECTRONIC dance music we love comes Pale Horse, the newest installation from Kids and Chemicals. They have a show you cannot miss and can’t keep from dancing at the front of the stage, but also a compilation of sound from this new album that leaves you entranced. From the emotional “Out the Window” to the driving “War Machine,” this album is one that can loop on your playlist. The beat-driven tracks that infuse hip-hop, soul, IDM and jazz have a dark note, but an overall intense dance feel. Liz Carney’s voice is captivating, a smooth and haunting soprano that soars to intense screams over the high energy beats of Patrick Carney’s electrifying synth melodies. Drummer, Blake Mixon, takes the driving music to the next level, and brings a hard hitting energy level in their live shows, making the experience even more effective. Musical equivalant of X, anyone? “The album became sort of a paranoid apocalyptic fever dream,” says Patrick Carney. True, it sends us into a head trip every time we hear it.

chemicals

kids chemicals

brief

FROM THE OPENING LINES of Brief’s sophomore project, Death of a Salesman, you can tell it’s a totally different animal than its predecessor, Bleeding Out, but packs all the same punch and no-nonsense attitude. Produced by Adam Schoeller at Sound Under Studio, the mixtape is more than double the length of last year’s Bleeding Out EP. When asked about Death of a Salesman’s predecessor, the heartbroken and depression-riddled Bleeding Out, Brief says, “Bleeding Out was just me complaining over a beat…this is a serious album. Bleeding Out showed you what fueled the music. Now, we’re traveling off of that fuel.” And serious it is. “Step Back” carries all the same deliberate and calculated ferocity you heard on “Stronger”—Tag Magazine’s winner of best song of 2012. Tracks “The Get Back” and “Change More” don’t pull any punches when hashing up past

relationships. Themes of travel and life’s roots are also prevalent throughout the album as Brief notes his tours through Alaska and pays homage to his hometown of Aurora, IL. Brief also keeps listeners on their toes, rattling of blindingly-quick verses that will have listeners playing the tracks over and over in disbelief. Death of a Salesman is packed to the gills with talent. Every line is exacting and precise, delivering weight and building upon meaning. But beyond Brief’s lyrical ability, the album features verses from Missouri natives Dutch Young, Droopie G, and Loogey, as well as the musical talents of local artists Shawn Eckles and Lacoma Jefferson. Death of a Salesman is a must-have for any hip hop fan. It won’t let you down and is guaranteed to stay on your iPod’s repeat for weeks. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for other projects by Brief this winter—a Mask and Glove album is rumored to be near on the horizon.

29

SUPER STRING THEORY IS Springfield’s instrumental rock band. What makes them stand out? It’s all jazz theory, man. And any fanatic musician can appreciate their odd time signatures and chord structures. Ready to have your mind blown by music theory? It’s the educated musician’s bread and butter. Guitarist Aaron Roten is a virtuoso, with mixtures of complex and colorful tonalities and technique. Drummer John Anderson masterfully leads you through syncopation, mirroring every note with the guitar, all so while defining the pulse and highlighting the hooks within the melody. Bassist Rick Stansfield introduces the missing piece of the puzzle, cutting through the mix, finding the low-end and merging the world of melody and syncopations. Their name comes from “superstring theory,” which is an attempt to explain all of the particles and fundamental forces of nature in one theory by modeling them as vibrations of tiny supersymmetric strings. Fitting for a guitarist who uses his instrument as a model for pushing the limits of music theory. An Invention for Times Like These is an anthem to progressive fusion rock, with influences that range from metal to jazz to classical acoustic flamenco. The recording is flawless, done by Jeff Smith, of Studio 2100, and showcases the band’s ability to the fullest. Find their music at reverbnation.com/superstringtheoryrocks. And if you can, catch one of their shows and you won’t be disappointed with your purchase of An Invention for Times Like These.

superstringtheory

THE LUCID CHIMERA EP is here and the quality has only gotten better. The production has been elevated leaps and bounds from On the Record (and that’s saying something). The EP includes three hard hitting tracks with two snippets on either end acting as bookends to a short story. Back to

lucid

RADKEY ARE A TRIO of teenage brothers from St. Joseph, MO making truly badass punk rock well beyond their years. The brothers have already received national attention for their inspired brand of bravado and musicianship and will be well into their UK tour with British band, Drenge, following the release of Deitra’s sixth issue.

Radkey’s recent EP release, Cat & Mouse showcased their unbelievable talent and appreciation for beloved punk rock icons before them like Bad Brains, The Misfits and The Ramones. The vocal range and theatrical wail of the band’s lead singer combined with traditionally fast paced instrumentals sound streamlined and consistant. Their creative blend of rock and roll with blues and garage punk on songs like “Pretty Things” and their title track are hard hitting bangers that get your blood pumping. They remind us that good ol’ punk rock music can still happen and can be made by a bunch of kids much younger than us who haven’t lost sight of what’s really important... melting faces.

their in your face antics, from “Red Herring” to “Sunburn to Reason,” you really get a sense of growth from the trio of artists. With a hip hop stage presence like Kyle Colson, a guitar-shredding master behind him in Jake Bollinger, and a DJ as hype as Flavor Flav with Chris Tilley, they really are indescribable and an entity that you have to experience for yourself. If you have not checked it out, it’s a quick listen to get just a taste of what the fellas have in store. There’s a reason they are touring with Taproot this Fall.

radkey

31

THE NEWEST ALBUM FROM Fayetteville based band, Teenagers, proves that they’re only getting better with age. The band has come a long way over the years and developed their surfy style of anthemic indie rock into something smoother and more clever than ever before. Track one, “Friends”, provides a quick and clean introduction to an album that on first listen seems reminiscent of indie favorites like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Animal Collective. The poppy overtones of the album are met with an ethereal musicianship that shows the hard work they’ve put into perfection. It’s the perfect album to road trip with or to dip into the nostalgia most frequented in the fall (for me, at least). Track three, “Brother from the Mountain,” is a personal favorite for its slow burn and punctuated vocal and instrumental build around two thirds of the way into the song, but I can’ t deny the catchy tug at my heartstrings when I listen to track five, “Concrete Youth”. It may be a song about spring but apply that seasonal serenade to your favorite time of year and it may as well be a year round anthem for fresh beginnings. Buy their new album at teenagers.bandcamp.com. Do it now!

teenagers

CA

lucid

LOCAL GARAGE ROCK KIDS, The Gardenheads, have released their second full length and most promising album yet. Their self-titled release in 2011 gave listeners and burgeoning fans a taste of their honest songwriting and dependable instrumentals but their follow up album Growing Season shows a mature understanding of personal change, fervor for their musical predecessors and a truly local flavor evocative of “Ozark alternative.” The second track on the album, “We Are F’d Up Kids,” is a booming testament to their youth despite inevitable maturity through time, and they continue to speak to that nagging sense of responsibility and pressure on tracks like “The Dishwashers Union” and my personal favorite, “Adderall.” The songwriting is honest and the instrumentals follow suit, keeping their sound well rounded and unified without taking precedence over the message of the

garden radkey heads

album. Growing Season is one to keep your anxiety attack at bay knowing that you’re certainly not alone. Check out their discography at thegardenheads.bandcamp.com where you can listen to the entire album. To purchase it on black vinyl check out weerockrecords.com.

d e i t r a m a g . c o m

FRANK HOIER AND MOSELLE SPILLER first blasted through Springfield back in 2011 going by the name Boom Chick, a name coined by Hoier when he was teaching Spiller to play the drums and trying to describe the sound of the instrument. They’ve since decided on a new name to fit their surfy style, inspired by vintage slang, artwork and timeless musicians. You can call them Crushed Out. Deitra was lucky enough to talk to the band about their new name, their personal sense of style and the inspiration behind their songwriting. “Crushed Out” was a slang term used in the ‘20s for breaking out of jail and also means to be head over heels in love. Both meanings of the phrase seem to fit the couple behind the

crushedout

instruments and their work as a band. The two met in Brooklyn and it wasn’t long before their musical exchange broadened beyond making mix-tapes for one another. They’ve completed 8 tours in two and a half years, the last two of those years under their new name. “We were legally forced to rename our band due to a trademark violation. Late last summer we received a cease and desist on the second to last day of a grueling five month tour of pouring our hearts into the band,” says Hoier. “Crushed Out also has the meaning of being head over heels in love, and we thought it conjured youth and heartache all while being just surfy enough. Now that we’ve toured hard behind Crushed Out and released a new album the name feels like a dear friend and we are really happy with it.” Though their first album as Boom Chick was an inspired blend of bluesy rock and roll reminiscent of Link Wray and early White Stripes, their recent album, Want to Give, really showcases what the duo can do. They’ve embraced an independence and style that stands out and shines on tracks like “Black & Purple” and “Push Down & Twist.” They’re able to find unique ways to include personal moments from their lives and their tour in the lyrics of songs like “Sweaty Dress” from their EP release without making listeners feel left out.

“‘Sweaty Dress’ was an attempt to write a slightly creepy/obsessive slow dance tune deliberately to try and get people to slow dance with each other,” says Hoier. “Moselle was loading out from a gig one night and said, ‘I have to get out of this sweaty sweaty dress.’ I just looked at her and thought it was such a strange and interesting thing to say.” They’re the first to admit that it’s important to them to get people moving and interacting with one another. They promote a self-described “people coming together” vibe that emanates the visceral kind of joy from sitting around a bonfire, running through wet sand on a beach at sunset and having fun making messes. Hoier and Spiller are the first to admit that there have been plenty of bumps along the way but still manage to keep their energy level through the roof and remain grateful for the flow of opportunities they’ve had over the years they’ve spent touring. “I find that when I think about all the ups and downs we’ve travelled through this year, the most rewarding moment is always when an entire venue of people are dancing and going crazy,” says Hoier. “When you are playing your music and really feeling it, and a bunch of people are feeling it and giving back, that is just about one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever experienced. The music is liquid and we all are floating.” Want to Give is out now and available at crushedoutmusic.com where you can hear the album in its entirety or purchase the limited edition cassette tape that includes their 7 inch b-side slow dance number, “Sweaty Dress,” along with a digital download of the album. Keep your eyes peeled for the band as they make their way to Missouri in 2014.

33

modern

always feels ready. You could call us at any point in time and we’ll be there and we’ll be perfect,” says Bailey. “Working with a technically sound band is fun. I like that I can sit back there while I’m playing and enjoy watching my band.” Their sound is eclectic and extremely high energy. It’s all the good things that indie pop used to be. Lighthearted, silly and a little bit sexy. There’s no denying that the members love playing together as is apparent in the way they joke with one another between songs and aren’t afraid to have fun. And they never cease to talk to the audience after they play, not only to thank them for coming but to show a genuine interest in their fans. The guys just finished working on their upcoming album recorded at Nick Sibley Studios and it will be out before the end of the year. If you just can’t wait that long to hear them, check them out on October 26th at Nathan P. Murphy’s in downtown Springfield or on Facebook where you can hear tracks from their previous albums.

epic

PER THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE local band Modern Epic describes themselves as “genre orphans and students of pop,” which is a pretty good way to define them considering their respective musical backgrounds and creative endeavors. Founding members David Hill and Andy Sun started playing music together in 2008 and never looked back. Though members have come and gone they’ve continued building Modern Epic and working to create a bigger and better sound than ever before. “In college it’s kind of like a revolving door because people want to play music but it’s not their life and now I feel like everyone in Modern Epic is a tremendously dedicated musician,” says Sun. Most recent Modern Epic additions include Tim Roark who joined the band at the end of last summer, and Robert Bailey who came on less than a year ago. Both were already prominent in the local music scene and had played in several bands, Roark in Sex Ogre and Bailey in New Monsters Collective. Though they’re no strangers to the time and dedication required to work consistently as a band, both admit that playing with Modern Epic doesn’t always seem like work. “I get really excited when I’m playing with a band that

ph

oto

gra

ph

ed

by

ma

tt lov

ela

nd35

gorlons

LOCAL FIVE PIECE psychedelic garage band, The Gorlons, have been steadily rising as one of the local music scene’s most promising acts taking cues from bands like Brian Jonestown Massacre and psychedelic rock bands of the sixties. You could say the band was born out of reclusion and too much time spent together by founding Gorlons members Ross Murphy and his twin brother Conner. The two spent a great deal of time living in an abandoned farmhouse just after high school and it was there they both learned to play guitar and started referring to themselves as “Gorlon” after a decidedly tired overuse of the word “Warlock”. After moving to Springfield the brothers started going to local shows where they met Seth Goodwin who would play keys for the band. The Gorlons caught their first lucky break opening up for a band out of Memphis called Tiger High and

won their affections, landing them a spot on Trashy Creature Records. The lineup they took with them to record their upcoming album includes current members Ross and Seth along with Geoff Green on bass guitar, Joe Nanez on drums and the last member to officially join the band, Conner Murphy. “We opened up for them at the Outland about a year ago. They immediately loved what we were doing and we needed somebody to record with, so we got their numbers and they basically offered to record us just by seeing us live,” says Ross. “We showed up to record with a completely different lineup and a few different songs.” Those are the songs that are on their upcoming album, one that is influenced by everything from the lives of the band members, women and relationships, humanity, the sun, grizzly rock and roll and even a car wreck the guys were in. They’re nothing if not interesting and are absolutely captivating live. All five of them have a personal style when it comes to musicianship and fashion as well. While a practical pair of jeans seems an obvious staple for musicians who are constantly on the road and playing shows without the promise of clean garments, The Gorlons manage to make that grunge work in their favor. You’ll see them in cutoff denim vests, bright green and dusky red skinny jeans, worn-in penny loafers and patterned button downs. They are the perfect blend of old school sensibility and psychedelic style. Keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming album set to release by the end of this year.

swing away

swing away

17

38

HANGING OUT IN THE green room at the Outland Ballroom, the guys of Vagabond Swing relax before their set, playing acoustic guitar and telling stories from their tour. They are on the road most days out of the year and Deitra got the chance to catch up with them since the last time we’d seen them on stage in Springfield a year prior. The Gypsy rock band spends most of their time either traveling in their van or performing. The band’s love of their musical form is apparent in their enthusiasm to play. They bring a high energy live show of music packed with musical influences ranging from folk and bluegrass to ska. They have an experimental sound, slipping into rhythmic gymnastics with a swing vibe that’s lively, playful and a touch mischievous. Most comfortable with rowdy crowds, they find fans all over the country who enjoy their music. Donning war-like face paint that looks like something straight out of Braveheart, and dread locks to match, the band energetically plays their wild range of instruments that their crowds always love. “They get fucking rowdy,” they say of their audiences, “jumping on the stage and singing into the mic. We’ve even had crowd surfers.” Beyond their rough and rowdy stage presence, these guys have a charm that makes them a pleasure to hang out with. For their photo shoot, we had them climbing around on a train, and they couldn’t have been more fun. Their

playful spirit kept them scaling ladders and hanging off the trains as if they were kids on a jungle gym. Passersby certainly did turn their heads at the group of dudes with war paint smeared on their faces, hurriedly moving their young children away, which gave the band a good laugh. Vagabond Swing is made up of Jesse Duplechain, Roy Durand, Hayden Tally, Jon Stone and Bryan Weber, all of whom are multi-instrumentalists, ranging from upright bass to washboard percussion. In 2011, they released Untimely Death, their first full length album produced by Grammy Award winning engineer, Tony Daigle. They describe their music as Louisiana scrap metal. When asked about the history of their band, Tally says, “We are actually all train robbers.” Their laid back demeanors and easy sense of humor are just a few of the things that make them such a pleasure to watch on stage. They don’t take themselves too seriously. But in all seriousness, the members all came together through various bands and eventually came to form Vagabond Swing. Their sound conjures up images of the culture of Lafayette, a city located along the Vermilion River in

southwestern Louisiana. Lafayette is the center of Cajun culture in Louisiana and the United States, and turns into a nightlife hub, which makes it a perfect place for these guys to hail from, with a musical heritage tied to Dixieland jazz, blues and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and the cleverly named swamp blues. Vagabond Swing embodies all of these styles, wrapped into one musically sound presentation performed by five humorous musicians dressed in black vests and faces prepared for rhythmic battle. “There’s not a lot of music venues to play,” they say of their home town, “but the amount of musicians that come out of Lafeyette is pretty mind blowing.” They each mention musical influences, an eclectic array of styles including black gospel, jazz, African music, prog rock and bluegrass. They like to dabble in anything new, exploring au courant sounds and genres. “Albums always tend to grow on you,” they say. “You may not like it at first but then it becomes your favorite thing to listen to.” “I definitely started my professional career playing lots of folk and bluegrass,” says Stone. “It coincidentally happened because I lived next door to a bluegrass band and got super submerged in it. But now I listen to all kinds of shit, and I like finding the old music, like the old recordings of fiddle music. A lot of the songs are all based around each other, so you can find different recordings from different time periods and different geographical regions, and you can definitely tell that they’re the same song but completley different. There

are these little finesse things in there that you have to listen for to be able to tell the difference. But I feel like I’ve learned a lot about music from this band. Everybody listens to different stuff and we end up traveling in vans all the time. I’ll be sleeping in the back row, thinking, ‘Who the fuck is that you’re listening to that is so awesome?’ But before all that folk stuff, I listened to lots of blues, 311 and Sublime and got into some of the good Houston hip hop influences. And then I got really into Gypsy jazz and Western swing.” Gypsy jazz is dance music, which attracts dancing crowds to the amalgamation of rural, cowboy, polka and folk sound. Sounds fitting. Along with Gyspy jazz, or “manouche jazz,” which is important because of it’s rhythm guitar and strumming, known as “la pompe,” a similar percussive sound to the “boom-chick” in bluegrass style. It’s what gives the music its fast swinging feel, and a harmony of minor chords. The band finds its influential history in classic rock like Guns and Roses as well as punk rock, as many bands of this generation do, but what they listen to on the road doesn’t fit in any one genre. “Definitley some of my favorite moments from the band are when they put on some of the female singers they listen to, like Etta James or Lauren Hill,” says Tally. “It makes me want to cry sometimes,” he laughs. “This is the first band I’ve ever been in that I’ve really been challenged as a drummer,” says Durand, “because I was always in just one genre of music. It was really hard and heavy and not really broadening my playing ability. They are always challenging my playing. When they write music it feels like I have a new project in my head. Because we all write, and we all write differently, and it shows in our music.” This year Vagabond Swing is touring through several cities in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, and are making their way up to Indiana and Minnesota in November. These guys are the quintessential road gypsies, literally living with only the most frugal means. And they are loving every minute of it. But they still have a deep love for their home of Lafayette.

Vagabond Swing has played with several renowned musicians, such as Snarky Puppy, Ghostland Observatory and Givers. They’ve played Wakarusa and the 2011 Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette. The International Music Festival, they say, is five days of free music, classic Louisiana food and culture. There is a lot of French influenced music, which essentially means you get music from Africa as well as Celtic bands and Reggae. The International Music Festival cooincides with a jazz festival in New Orleans, the band says, so you get two weekends of music. “I think we all just want to play music with our time and we have to financially support as much as we can so that we can play music,” says Tally. “Most of us have jobs that let us come and go. That’s the cool thing about Lafayette is that they’re understanding. It’s such a creative community. The quality of artists and musicians that come out of Lafayette is awesome.” The members of Vagabond Swing all feel that being in this band has made them each better musicians. Their appreication of each other as true friends and musicians is inspiring. And their love of representing their style of music transcends. It’s no wonder why they have found their niche on the road of playing music for a living.

42

BEING A COUNTRY BAND in the Ozarks is no new thing. But Cole Porter Band is ushering in a style of music that has been blooming in Oklahoma and Texas for years, and mainstream music has caught wind of it. Only country could start a music genre named after a color of dirt, after all. Red Dirt is the underground of country music, and like many new incarnations of music, finds its roots deep in the underbelly of alternative and punk. Just as punk was a burgeoning genre in the 90s, Red Dirt is taking over, blurring the once hard lines of genre differences. We’re digging down to the basics, throwing back to Johnny Cash, but with that aggressive nature that only the generation of disgruntled 90s kids can produce. Cole Porter Band is made up of none other than Cole Porter and his lovely new wife Kendra Porter heading up the vocals, guitarist Derek Compton, drummer Jamison Case and bassist Chris Heifner, better known to his counterparts as “Hef.” Though Cole Porter has been playing solo since 2005, his band has been playing together for two years, and just released their new album, Devil by the Tail.

The band writes collectively, each member bringing their piece of the puzzle to create their songs. They have a polished sound that is lost on a lot of up and coming independent bands. It is always pleasurable to hear a band that puts in as much effort as these guys to get a tight live show and professional recording. Their personal influences are all over the place from oldies, punk and ska to country. “It’s a fight for the radio every time we’re in the van,” says vocalist Kendra Porter. “I started singing in church. It was Christian rock and then I went through the Avril Lavigne stage. I mean it was everything. But then I really settled on more of the older country. One of the first songs my dad ever taught me to play was “American Pie,” and old rocker stuff. I was listening to Styxx. But the country part of it was Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette.” She was playing gigs with her father when she ran into Cole Porter. The two hit it off, both musically and personally. Cole Porter brings even more country influence into the mix, idolizing artists like Garth Brooks and Randy Travis. During his teen years he dabbled in rock music, but once he discovered the Red Dirt country scene, it opened up a whole new avenue for his song writing. “I was like, where the hell has this music been?” says Cole Porter. “Because nobody

underground red dirt

underground red dirt

around here was playing anything like that. It wasn’t on the radio and still isn’t around here. It was just foreign to me and it was awesome. It was the first music that made me feel that I had to get in on it.” Cole Porter Band has the corner on the Red Dirt market in a hometown full of rock, metal, indie, punk and bluegrass. But some feel that Red Dirt country is the combination of all of those styles of music wrapped into one homespun, heartfelt basket of musical expression. “We’re close enough to Oklahoma where we can get the wind of it,” says Cole Porter. Other musical styles they draw from include jazz, blues and rock, and many of the band members have gone through the transition from punk music to Red Dirt. “I remember in high school getting a Rancid CD and getting hooked on punk rock,” says Hef. “Punks and rednecks were like arch enemies. I remember getting chased by cowboys in pickup trucks leaving the

bars drunk. So when Cole asked me to join the band, I was like, ‘I’ll do it, but you realize I’ve only ever been in a punk rock band.’ I think one thing we all have in common is at some point in our childhoods we did listen to country. That all did exist at some point in our lives. And then we all went out and did our own things, and I think everybody’s coming back to what they grew up on. I remember my mom listening to Garth Brooks and George Strait when I was a little kid. But when you get older, you just want to rebel, and I found the furthest thing from it. Playing in punk bands and then coming back to playing the more traditional stuff like Johnny Cash and rockabilly music just seems like a natural progression for me to end up in this band.” Red Dirt is a sound that successfully closes the gap between rock and country. But there’s a sense of independence about it. It’s natural, and honest and about real life.

phot

ograph b

y l

evi l

ight.

47

“The nice thing for me was that country music seemed to grow into a different style of music, and into what now is the Nashville sound,” says Hef. “It’s over the top, almost like the hip hop or pop attitude. That ‘look at me’ attitude. That’s not the same attitude of the Merle Haggards and the Johnny Cashes, where it’s really honest country music. And I always felt disenfranchised from country music because I didn’t want to listen to it. This has nothing to do with me at all. I’m not rich, I don’t have a big truck. I’m not gonna listen to this.” “Nobody thinks my tractor’s sexy,” Cole Porter laughs. “I always thought, I’m poor and I live in the city, so I’m going to listen to punk rock,” continues Hef. “But I thought that honest style of country music was gone. I didn’t know it was still out there, and there’s still a scene for it. “It’s almost like you get to have that same honesty that punk rock has, just in a different form.” “Yeah, they’re kind of parallel in a way,” says Cole Porter. “They’re two different sounds, but that mindset has similarities.” “It’s like what we’re doing is almost like the underground punk rock of country,” says Hef. “In the 80s you had your hair metal bands and your punk bands. Now you have your Nashville pickup truck and you got your red dirt guys. It’s like we’re the subculture of country. The

scary thing is that Nashville is starting to throw the Red Dirt thing around. The same thing happened with punk rock in the 90s and it became commercialized. Is Red Dirt on the same wavelength of that? Is it going to grow up?” “I think they’ve tried to do it,” says Cole Porter, “but it still comes across so ingenuine, and so cheesy. We don’t talk about being outlaws and how country we are. We’re just small town kids because we can’t help it.” Red Dirt is a movement that has managed to create an infrastructure enabling regional success. A lot of people in Springfield have been hungry for Red Dirt country, traveling to Oklahoma and Texas for a taste of the authentic sound. Cole Porter Band has a very loyal fan base following them from show to show. “They want to see it keep coming back and they know the only way to do that is to go out to the shows and support it,” says Kendra Porter. “They get it. They know that it’s not going to

happen unless people show interest and it’s awesome.” “It’s going to keep growing,” says Cole Porter. “You’ve just got to keep stoking the fire. As long as you’ve got the momentum, you’ve got to keep going with it.” The band has not only a strong following in Springfield, but also in neighboring cities like Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as at festivals like Music and Mayhem, performing in front of over 5,000 people. “Building that market has now come back to really pay off for us,” says Cole Porter. Having just released Devil by the Tail, the band plans on traveling more and are looking forward to performing their music for more people. They are sure to gain more fans wherever they travel, but true to Red Dirt culture, their hearts will always be about their home.

o n w a r d

moving

o n w a r d

moving

IT’S AIT’S A WARM, SUNNY day in Springfield, MO, and Deitra Mag meets up with Rosco Wuestewald of Onward, Etc. for a cold beverage on the patio of J.O.B. Whiskey Lounge. Rosco has just gotten back from a national tour, having visited cities in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. His second day back into town, he finally gets a moment to relax. Rosco is the kind of guy that’s friends with everybody. He’s the one cheering on other bands at shows and hugging everyone he knows. Always warm, friendly and an exuberant ball of energy, he loves to laugh and tell stories, as well as listen to everyone else’s. As we find a corner on the buzzing patio, Rosco sits on top of a table cross-legged and happily tells us about his recent tour. “I get so mixed up anymore that I just have to go by the state, because it gets so difficult to remember every city,” he says. They got to party with Gogol Bordello and the Lumineers. “It was so awesome, man. It’s good to meet people of that caliber and know how real they are,” says Rosco. “They’re really nice people.” When it comes to his band Onward, Etc., along with Tom Pearson and KC Olsen, their debut album, Old Soul, has spurred tons of fans across the country.

And now fans will have something new to look forward to. Onward, Etc. landed a record deal with DC-Jam Records out of L.A. and will be recording their new album as this article goes to press. DC-Jam Records produces guys like Richie Ramone of the Ramones, Fishbone and Government Issue, among others, and several up and comers including Dirty Filthy, The Generators and Machine 22. “We had to go through a discussion about whether we wanted to take that path and sign our music over. The record company is amazing. They want to work together to make this us. They’ve got our back majorly, so we’re super stoked about it. We’ve got a whole new team of people; a brand new merchandise manager and a whole new booking team. Derek O’Brien from Social Distortion is going to produce our album. It’s super awesome.” A punk rock drummer, O’Brien was also involved in D.I. and performed in the film Suburbia. He has worked in the studio with recording artists such as Flogging Molly and Coldwater Canyon Band. “Derek is a professional,” says Rosco. “He’s done some major albums. Albums that we all grew up with. He is a master. He knows exactly what to do, so it’s going to be a lot easier for us to work with somebody of that caliber. He’s going to create the album into something that we had never imagined. It’s going to be good. And we’ve got so much new material that it’s just fucking awesome. I’m so excited for it. The best part about it is when you have somebody at that caliber that you’ve looked up to, somebody that’s been in a band that you’ve listened to since you were a child, and to know how excited they are to produce your music! It just lights a whole new fire.”

Rosco and his band Onward, Etc. will start touring in October and head over to L.A. to begin recording in the studio. They plan on having several guest musicians on the new album, all of whom you’ll recognize. It’s an exciting undertaking for this midwest band. “It’s happened so quick,” says Rosco. “I remember always hearing about these deals that happened, and now it’s like, holy shit we’re doing it. We can do this. I always hoped for this, but I never thought that it would work out in the way that it has. It’s like a dream world.” Which brings us to the band’s name, Onward, Etc. There are many fables about the way Rosco came up with it, but here’s the real story. It has to do with a recurring dream that Rosco has had for years. He would go into a dream world and find an object, like a desk or a tree, with the word “onward” carved into it. The word was even carved into somebody’s skin at one point. Every time he dreamed, the entire landscape of the dream would be different, but it would revolve around the word, “onward.” After baffling over where that word was coming from in his psyche, he realized that it was his brain’s way of saying that whatever you’re doing you need to keep doing it, and expand it and take it farther. Move past “onward” and see what’s beyond that. That’s where the “etc” came in.

54

“There’s something kind of spiritual in a sense about finding what you love most in your subconscious,” says Rosco, “and really digging into it there rather than in reality, because I think sometimes your subconscious pushes the real world in a better way than you had in real life.” Having this recurring dream not only gave Rosco the name of his musical project, but it changed the direction of his creative endeavors. “It was absolutely substantial for my life. I was at a point where I was going in two different directions. I had just gotten out of photography school as well, and I couldn’t decide which way I wanted to go, either professional photography or professional music.” One day the decision seemed to make itself. Music was definitely the path he would choose. Rosco has been playing music since his early teens. He got his first guitar when he was 13 and started self teaching. “I didn’t get serious with it until probably 19 or 20. I always played it, but I wasn’t thinking that I could do anything with it until then. The music just overwhelmed everything. It became a way of life rather than just a sound.” Originally Rosco created Onward, Etc. as a solo act and traveled to different parts of the country to form different versions of the ensemble. He had a different band on the West coast than he had on the East and so on. That’s the way it ran for a while, jumping

from an 8-piece group to a three-piece overnight, and vice versa. As time went by, he met violinist KC Olsen, who became the first permanent member of Onward, Etc. “He was the first one that I asked, ‘Will you do this forever? Are you willing to jump on this pirate ship and ride through crazy, wavy seas with me?’ And he was all about it.” Rosco and Olsen toured together for about two years before they met drummer Tom Pearson. They had been using a kick drum and a suitcase for percussion, which has it’s cool vibe and expressive qualities, but it was time for another addition to Onward, Etc. The band still reaches out to those musicians who have backed Rosco in the past. They’ll tour to a city and connect with a bassist or a banjo player, and enjoy the addition of those instruments for a night. “It’s always a different thing that keeps it interesting. It’s always a pleasure for the crowd too, I think. It’s always like, ‘Shat’s it going to be like this time?’” The music is captivating; heartfelt songwriting and lyrics and an old folk sound. Rosco’s voice - both smooth and gravelly - mingles with his acoustic guitar like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. The violin chimes in its harmony in ballads as well as foot stomping beats. It’s no wonder why fans are flocking to their shows. But beyond the album, it’s their stage presence that makes people want to keep coming to see it again and again. “I love our album Old School, but I know that it does absolutely no justice for our live show. And that’s what we want to accomplish with this next album. We really want to make you think, ‘Holy shit these guys are crazy,’ and then when you come to a show, you’ll know that it’s going to be absolutely ballistic and fun and a party. You can enjoy yourself and walk in with a smile and walk

out with a smile. We are a party band. We want to bring a party. We want people to leave a show and say, ‘That was a fucking good show and a good party.’ We want to bring a memorable night.” They’re always on top of a table or jumping into the crowd, which is not generally what you see with acoustic singer-songwriter folk music. There’s always something interesting going on at their shows, including the rowdy fans dancing like hippies and singing the lyrics as Rosco shouts them back down from the stage. “It’s weird how quickly that catches on,” Rosco says. “It’s even weirder when you go to a place that you’ve never been before, with people you’ve never met, and you’ve got an entire crowd just screaming the lyrics back at you. It’s unbelievable. It’s the whole reason I do it. It’s just that feeling when you’re affecting people’s lives. It’s the best feeling when you have somebody come up to you and say, ‘Your song has changed my life.’ That’s the best thing when I hear that.” When he was younger, Rosco’s songwriting was very personal. He primarily wrote about things he had experienced. His songwriting has kept much of that element but has evolved into writing about stories based on the things he sees, reads or hears around him. He will pick up on something that he thinks is a cool topic or something interesting that affects his life. “I write lyrics in a way that I understand them. But at the same time I don’t expect anyone else to understand them in the way that I do. I like when people take my lyrics and make them their own. My experience might turn into something that happened in their life that strikes up a memory. I think that’s what I aim for in a sense; trying to be able to strike memories in other people’s lives. Bring up a good time in life, or a sad time in life or a loved one.” Rosco played in a punk rock band years ago, then felt that the style of music couldn’t bring him any further, so he started studying songwriters like Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison and old folk musicians. “I became involved in loving that and blending them all together, which has become our generation’s sound. There’s so many bands that are coming out with that sound. I love it.” Touring with bands like Larry and his Flask and Flogging Molly, Rosco is looking forward to his upcoming projects. But life on the road is not what it seems from the outside. Huge tour buses and jets, throngs of screaming fans, penthouse suites and red carpet events are not the norm for the touring musician. “There’s nothing glamorous about it right now, guys,” says Rosco. “There’s still so much work to do. It’s a hard industry. And I think a thing that a lot of people don’t understand about the music industry is that it’s insanely difficult to get into. It’s insanely difficult to run your life by. It blows my

mind sometimes that people are still doing it. You can get to that point where it’s smooth sailing from then on, but you have to work your ass off to get there.” Everything that could have gone wrong seems to have while Onward, etc. are on tour, from their van breaking down and being stranded on the side of the road for days to scrounging for dinner out of a garbage can. “I chose the route that the majority of human beings don’t choose. And I did it because I just had a feeling. I think about if I would have failed, I would be screwed right now!” Rosco grew up in Yankton, South Dakota, and when he decided not to go to college, it was an upsetting thing for for his surrounding community. “It was really hard for them to understand. It was hard for me to talk to people about it without them trying to talk me out of it. I had so many people try to talk me out of going down the route that I did, and try to change my route in a sense, and now after all these years, it seems like all these people have come back and embraced it. That is a really good feeling to know that I’ve made people proud that were worried about me. People would literally go out of their way to tell me that they were worried about that path that I was taking in life - going and being a musician and trying to go spend my life on the road and make this happen. And I can’t blame them. That’s a terrifying thing for a 17 year old kid to do. But now going back home, those same people that were worried about me come up to me and tell me that they’re proud of me. It’s just great.” This year Rosco held a music festival in his hometown, inviting 12 bands from all over the country to play. There were over 1,000 people in attendance. “It was so amazing. Everyone came out. And everybody loved it and they want to do it again. It was a perfect way of giving a gift back, and even better to have people saying, ‘We needed this. This town needs this.’” Giving back to his hometown community was the perfect way for Rosco to show everyone what following your passions can do. He wouldn’t change his decision to go down that road less traveled for anything. He holds the strong belief that if you want something in your life, you have to go after it. After much hard work and dedication to his music, the hard times are paying off. “We’re floating on a cloud right now,” says Rosco. “We’re in a great position compared to where we used to be. But it’s going to be years and years touring in a shitty van still.” We mention that it’s awesome that he accepts that. So many bands expect to bypass all the hard work and go straight into the money, tour buses and sold out arenas. “It does happen for some people, sure, but 98 percent of bands around, you have to go through the broken down nights,” says Rosco. “You really have to have a state of mind where you know that you’re going to be poor. There’s a chance that someday you’ll maybe be alright. But it’s going to be decades of being poor. You can’t worry about the money.”

After years of hard work and dedication, Onward, etc. is breaking the surface of the sea that is the music industry. They constantly go out on tour, reaching more fans with their music every time they play. “We played a show one time in Salt Lake City, that we literally played to the bartender, the cook and then one other person that came in to pick up their to go order. For the whole set. But the last song we were playing, I see out of the corner of my eye this group of people, like 7 or 8 people rushing across the street, running at the venue. And they run into the venue and come right to the stage and I realize that I knew every single one of them. And they were just walking by the venue randomly in Salt Lake City and heard my music that they knew and ran up. So they missed the whole set, but that’s so cool, man. It was super random.” Onward, Etc. keep finding people around all over the world that love their music. They sell out Alaska and Hawaii every time they go, and have a strong grasp on many cities across the U.S. They have also had much success when touring across Europe in countries like Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Holland, U.K. and Ireland. “Music is its own language,” says Rosco. “So whether or not you’re in another country, people are going to either love it or not, and that’s how it is everywhere. A funny thing about being a road warrior, is that the world collapses in on itself and gets so small. Everywhere you go, people you know are there now, people that know this person or know that person. It’s a huge web of relations that’s constantly out there for everyone. That’s super amazing to come across.” Rosco is the example of going after your dreams. His passion for music has brought him through many tough times, but he has always kept a positive attitude, constantly looking forward. “Just don’t stop and you will be successful,” he says. “That’s the way that I’ve always done it. When you stop, you die. If you don’t stop, you will achieve what you want. It’s the art of war. You just keep pushing, no matter what. There’s one of you and 100,000 of them, you just have to keep up. You’ll win the war. It’s an awesome position to be in though, because then you look back whenever you have gotten to where you see things happening and you know it’s going to be okay. You look back on those days and you’re like, ‘Yeah I totally did it!’”

57

ristorante gilardi’s

THERE’S A BRIGHT, LIVE and bustling feel to Gilardi’s when the Deitra staff sits down for dinner. It’s immediately evident that, with local restaurateur James Martin at the helm, Gilardi’s has upped the ante for Springfield restaurants by turning a great restaurant, into an extraordinary one.

Martin assumed the role of Gilardi’s owner (although, his green chef jacket reads, “Head Dishwasher,”) in February of this year, and has raised the bar by miles. After working in the Springfield restaurant circuit for 15 years, Martin had a pinpoint vision for his restaurant and incredible expectations for his staff, which he has executed with precision, saying, “I’m not going to stop until we’re the best in the state.”

Our party is quickly greeted by the attentive wait staff, who bring us menus and an impressive wine list. Moments later, Martin floats to our table to recommend a series of wines. It’s obvious Martin has an exquisite palate for wine, just as he has for food. The Chardonnay he recommends is clean, warm and melts on the palate, and the Toscano is a mouthful of velvet, full of depth and flavor.

Our first plates arrive and the table becomes electric, full of gasps and laughter. Elegant and perfectly seasoned crab cakes rest against a bed of Israeli couscous. They’re light, succulent and served with a

ristorante

59

gilardi’s

lemon aioli that’s a punch which excites and wakes up the entire dish. I can’t savor it enough.

Between courses, Martin floats throughout the restaurant, talking with guests at every table and making sure all are enjoying their evening to the fullest. But he’s also bussing tables, folding napkins, and filling empty glasses. He’s setting the example for the rest of his staff to strive toward.

The nearly invisible staff is there when you want them, and gone when you don’t. Glasses stay full and, if you vacate your seat, even for a moment, your napkin is discretely folded and returned to your place. The staff is friendly, extremely knowledgeable about the menu and wines, quick to resolve any question or issue, and remarkably attentive. They answer questions before you can ask and do their best to stay a step ahead of any concern.

The salads at Gilardi’s are worth getting excited about. The Caesar is drizzled with a caramelized-onion balsamic reduction that compliments the dressing and gives the dish and unexpected, but welcomed sweetness. The Barbabietole salad is an Italian masterpiece, featuring beets, candied walnuts,

champagne vinaigrette and, most notably, blue cheese. The BelGioioso blue cheese, crumbled from the wheel that afternoon, jumps off the plate at you, and has a complex, evolving, depth of flavor I can’t get enough of.

The delightful evening continues as entrees roll out of the kitchen. The Penne alla Vodka, Martin tells me, is one of their biggest sellers, and I understand why. The chicken is tender and well-seasoned, but the star of the dish is the sauce. The bold tomato flavor lingers as the subtle taste of vodka takes the sauce to a heightened level of richness. Bite after bite, the dish is amazing. The tortellini is simply indulgent and engorged with cheese. It maintains a smoky quality from the Parma prosciutto, and brightens with the fresh pop of peas.

Gilardi’s two seasoned head-chefs, Aaron Rosario and Jeremy Smith, create brilliant specials nightly. Martin explains that the dynamic created by the duo of chefs allows for greater creativity and a deeper menu. Tonight, the special is cioppino, an Italian-American seafood stew. It features clams, mussels, calamari, scallops, crab and is garnished with two of the largest, butterflied prawns I’ve ever seen. The stew comes together in a tomato sauce that’s fresh and lively, not at all fishy. Everything I taste makes me forget my day or what I might have to do the next. It’s transcendent.

The evening concludes with a simple dessert plate which, in and of itself, is worth a trip to the restaurant. It is definitely a course to save room for. A simple, yet, classic house-made cannoli, garnished with freshly-grated nutmeg, sits across from a quenelle of pistachio gelato which brings me to the brink of nirvana. The gelato is beyond words and is its own, unparalleled experience.

Gilardi’s serves up classic, northern Italian dishes that are kept simple, yet created with a precision, flare and expertise that is undeniable. The staff is the best I’ve experienced across the globe and contributes to a perfectly comfortable atmosphere. Martin’s incredible vision and tireless work ethic has paid off, creating a restaurant worth talking about. A trip to Gilardi’s is not just a meal at a restaurant. It is a dining experience unlike any you will find in the city.

ATMOSPHERE: A comfortable mix of fine dining and a welcoming, homey vibe

SERVICE: Supremely attentive in a way that makes you feel valued as a customer

RECOMMENDED: Crab cakes; Polpette al Vino Bianco e Crema (gluten-free meatballs with polenta); Barbabietole salad, Tortellini; Eggplant Milano; daily special

PRICES: Appetizers average about $10 and main courses range between $15-$30

OPEN: Monday-Saturday 5 p.m. – Close

RESERVATIONS: Strongly recommended

CONTACT: www.gilardisonwalnut.com; (417) 862-6400

MEGANNE ROSEN O’NEAL and her partner in crime Laura Provance have been busy. While Provance was living in Rome running a busy travel agency providing tours and teaching English, Rosen O’Neal has been giving the local art scene whiplash with her tireless efforts to provide a constant breath of fresh air to the artistic community. The two have been friends since grade school but weren’t immediately inseparable. They

didn’t achieve best friend status until joining the debate team at their high school where the initial idea for Arts & Letters was dreamt up. When Provance decided to move back to Springfield it seemed like the perfect time to turn their dream into a very real haven for the humanities. Both women have master’s degrees in the humanities and a long list of skills to back up their artistic and educational credibility. Provance is fluent in five languages, Portuguese, French and Italian to name a few and Rosen O’Neal is an active member of the artistic community serving as Creative Director at Lemon Drop, co-founder of the IdeaXfactory and a member of the Art & Design faculty at Missouri State University. Arts & Letters is a melting pot of that long list of achievements that will serve as a platform for the women to give back to the community and engage others in artistic and educational endeavors. During the day the shop will be a boutique and gallery featuring work from local artists and design companies like Culture Flock 61

Clothing and Traders Printing & Design. The shop is filled with hand crafted jewelry and clothing, beautiful artwork and kitschy-cute prints. When the sun goes down Provance will teach interactive language courses. Students can sign up for a sixteen week course with courses once a week and learn Spanish, Latin, Portuguese, French or Italian for just $200 and they also offer a course for children that will take place on Saturdays. Fridays are reserved for special events and on First Friday Artwalks they will feature a local artist and an accompanying musical act. Fiber artist Ellen Neville and local band The Violet Lockets will perform there next month. Arts & Letters will also partner with a different restaurant every month or so for a regular event called Tapas & Topics where they’ll invite the community to join them in highlighting all of the interesting and cultural things that Springfield has to offer. Their first event of this sort will take place at Aviary Café and Creperie and they’d like to try Café Cusco on Commercial Street next. Visit them at 214 S. Campbell or online at artsandlettersspringfield.com.

DE I TRA AFTER DARK

DEC 8 . KA I