Dec. 18, 2014 -Jan. 7, 2015

DEC. 18, 2014 -JAN. 7, 2015 -----------------------------------------Cover Story • A C2G Christmas ---------------------------------------- Deck the Music Hall’s Walls By Steve Penhollow attained “extraordinary” levels of variety, Minnich said. Throughout the 60s and 70s, “It really does feature the best local tal- crooners like Bing Crosby, Andy Wil- ent,” he said. liams and Perry Como would take to New to the concept this year are The the airwaves every December and of- Gregg Bender Band. fer variety specials. Bender said this concert will represent There is nothing quite like these the first time his band has played Christmas Christmas specials on television any- music in a live setting. more. “Being involved in this is really a big The hosts would usually start by deal for us,” he said. “I went to the show inviting viewers into their “homes” last year to see Mike Conley, Sunny Taylor, (which had been mocked up on sound- the Bushongs and all the others because I stages), and then they would sing the respect them all as musicians and wanted Christmas songs they’d become asso- to get a little holiday spirit going. Mike’s ciated with. They’d also visit with any Christmas CD is one of the best you’ll ever neighbors who happened to stop by – hear.” like Michael Landon, Sally Struthers When the call came asking him and his or David Bowie. bandmates to take part this year, Bender said The results were cheesy but irre- it was “a surprise and nerve-wracking all at sistible. the same time.” It is hard to find a contemporary “This is huge for us,” he said. “What a singer on the national scene who is as great venue, and how cool to be part of the closely associated with Christmas as Crosby, Williams and Como were. But we have one here in Fort Wayne. He’s Mike Conley. On Saturday, December 20 Con- ley will be a featured performer at the Summit City’s perennial yuletide variety show, A C2G Christmas. Clockwise from top: Mike Conley, The In 2009 the local rocker released Reindeer Quartet, Smooth Edge 2. his self-produced dream project, a CD called It’s a Conley Featured on the cover (left to right: Mike Christmas. Conley, Sunny Taylor, Hannah Bushong, In the years that have followed, one of Conley’s rendi- tions was included on a national Christ- The Gregg Bender Band mas compilation that also featured Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go’s and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics (among others). And Conley was the special guest Christmas show! It has pushed us as a band to learn new ma- artist during the Fort Wayne Philhar- terial that is true to the original artist but also encompasses monic’s 2011 Holiday Pops concerts. our style.” And in 2012 the first A C2G For this show only, Bender is adding a female vocalist to Christmas was held. his usual five-piece band. This year’s edition of A C2G She’s June McCullough, director of the Voices of Unity Christmas also features Sunny Tay- choir. lor, Hannah Bushong, the Reindeer Bender said this concert will probably eclipse his favor- Quartet, the Gregg Bender Band and ite musical Christmas memory: his acquisition at the age of Smooth Edge 2. six of the Alvin and the Chipmunks album, which he “played There will be no celebrity neigh- till the grooves wore away.” bors involved, but Conley promises Another fresh addition to this burgeoning C2G tradition to expand the definition of variety is the seven-person a capella group, Smooth Edge 2. by “telling stupid stories in between The name Smooth Edge 2 would seem to suggest that acts.” somewhere in the world, a Smooth Edge 1 is performing, and Admission to the show is only $5 that elsewhere, a lawsuit against Smooth Edge 2 is percolat- with the donation of a canned food ing. item for the Community Harvest Food But Smooth Edge 2 are no Creedence Clearwater Revis- Bank. A C2G CHRISTMAS ited, ELO 2 or Gallagher Too. Pastor Mark Minnick, C2G’s gen- THE REINDEER QUARTET, SUNNY TAYLOR, Ron Harker said the name was inspired by a high school eral manager, described the compari- HANNAH BUSHONG, SMOOTH EDGE 2, band that was fronted by the brother of one of his fellow son of the show to Christmas variety singers. specials of the late 20th century as “perfect,” a good thing THE GREGG BENDER BAND & MIKE CONLEY Harker remembers saying, “‘We can’t possibly call our- because this writer wasn’t likely to give it up without a 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 selves Smooth Edge if that was your brother’s high school fight. band name.’ With the addition this year of the Reindeer Quartet C2G Music Hall “And thus Smooth Edge 2 was born,” he said, laughing. (four professional string players who, according to Conley, 323 W. Baker St., Fort Wayne It is not known what most people think of when they will race over to the Embassy Theatre after their C2G set Tix: $5-$10, www.c2gmusichall.com to participate in Holiday Pops), A C2G Christmas has truly Continued on page 22 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com ----------------------------------------------------------December 18, 2014 whatzup Volume 19, Number 20 ince we’re not publishing December 25 or January 1, this is our last issue of 2014. This means (1) that you’ll find this week’s calendars a bit fatter than usual, as we’ve made sure they’ve extended at least until January 8, On Sale Now! S2015; and (2) this is our last chance to wish you, the loyal whatzup reader a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (or simply Happy Holidays, for those who prefer it that way). It also means that this issue includes our annual New Year’s Eve party pullout section which you’ll find on pages 11-14. There seems to be something of a theme this year as, at least judging from the ads in the pullout, the cost of a New Year’s Eve on the town has gone down dramatically over the past couple of years. Whatever your preferred method of ringing out the old and ringing in the new, you’re most likely going to find something fun and affordable in this special section. As we mentioned in this space last week, for the first time ever, all whatzup readers will be able to participate in our readers poll nominating process starting the first of the year. Check whatzup.com early next month, as our intention is to have the nominating ballots online sometime between January 2 and January 8. Nominating will go on all month, with the actual ballot going online sometime in February. That’s going to push the Whammy Awards into later in the year and, with any luck at all, much warmer weather. Meanwhile, there’s plenty to keep you busy as the holidays wind down, and you’ll find pretty much all of it in these pages. So read on, find your fun and be sure to tell everyone you meet while you’re out and about that whatzup sent you. • features ON BOOKS ..................................... 19 No Hero SCREEN TIME ............................... 18 A C2G CHRISTMAS ..................................2 It’s Time to Catch Up on Would-Be Classics Deck the Music Hall’s Walls DINING OUT ................................... 19 DOTTY MILLER ..............................................4 Friends Too No Part Too Intimidating FLIX ................................................ 20 TRICHOTOMOUS HIPPOPOTAMUS ..............5 Top Five Remember That Name FARE WARNING ............................ 23 The Steadfast Tin Soldier • columns & reviews • calendars SPINS ...............................................6 Taylor Swift, Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, Medicine, This Will Destroy You LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ...................8 BACKTRACKS ..................................6 MUSIC/ON THE ROAD ...................16 Big Star, #1 Record (1972) ROAD TRIPZ ..................................13 OUT & ABOUT ...................................8 MOVIE TIMES ................................20 Old Dog Doing a New Trick Again STAGE & DANCE ...........................22 PICKS ...............................................9 Kool Keith ART & ARTIFACTS .........................22 ROAD NOTEZ ................................. 16 THINGS TO DO ..............................23 Cover design by Greg Locke SUN. JAN. 25, 2015 • 3PM Embassy Theatre | 800-745-3000 Tickets also available at the Embassy Box Ofﬁce, All outlets, and at www.ticketmaster.com For Group Discounts (10+) Call 260-424-5665 December 18, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------ www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 BROUGHT TO YOU BY: --------------------------------Feature • Dotty Miller ------------------------------ 3 Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli .............................5 20 Past 4 and More ..........................................................19 The Alley Sports Bar/Pro Bowl West .............................17 Arena Bar & Grill ................................................................11 AWS Fantasy of Lights.....................................................17 Beamer’s Sports Grill ..........................................................8 No Part Too Intimidating C2G Live/The TV Show ......................................................17 By Jen Poiry-Prough better suited for crazies.” also gets to use her performance skills on a As an adult she continued to act and has daily basis. C2G Music Hall...................................................................18 “I love connecting with people,” says found Fort Wayne a city full of great oppor- “My focus is recruitment, employee Calhoun Street Soups, Salads & Spirits ......................12 Fort Wayne actress/singer/pageant coach

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