------Feature • Kenny Taylor------KT Goes Surfing By Michele DeVinney

Anyone familiar with Kenny Tay- lor knows that he always has plenty to do and something new to offer to Fort Wayne music fans. A veteran of the local music scene and known for his involvement with everything from Blue Moon Boys to Deuce, Taylor continues to have a lot of projects which allow him to share his love of guitar music and his eclectic taste for ------Feature • Deal’s Gone Bad------and encyclopedic knowledge of musi- cal genres not always tackled by other musicians. One of his more inventive endeav- ors is the Tikiongas, an instrumental surf music combo which is turning some iconic songs into tiki classics. One Big Bashment Much as Todd Rundgren did more than a decade ago with his CD With a By Mark Hunter sort of time traveler. Yet he’s got a style all Twist, a remarkable reworking of his his own. So does the band. own catalog to make it tiki bar suit- Deal’s Gone Bad have learned how to Corcoran had been listening to Fishbone able, Taylor is finding a unique way make things go right. With their eighth stu- and other bands from the California skate- to express some very familiar songs in dio recording set for an early fall release, an boarding scene, and when he started digging unfamiliar ways. incredibly tight and energetic lineup and a into the music those bands played, he dis- “I wish we had a Polynesian tiki growing fan base, the ska/reggae/rocksteady covered the music coming out of Jamaica in bar here,” says Taylor. “I really love revival pioneers from Chicago are gearing the 50s and 60s. “At that point I just fell in the records of Martin Denny who was up for a major tour next spring. Since 2007’s love with that music,” he said. an American jazz musician. He had a The Ramblers, Deal’s Gone Bad have honed Deal’s Gone Bad first formed in 1994 record called Quiet Village and about their sound and style, adding country and when the so-called third wave ska revival seven other albums that had these exotica would love to do a whole night of Dick Dale rock flavors to their solid Jamaican-inspired was nearing its peak in the United States. covers, and he’d have these jungle noises in songs.” chops. The band played so infrequently, however, the background. His drummer did bird calls, The Tikiongas had their origins several Deal’s Gone Bad return to the Botanical that Corcoran pegs the beginnings of DGB and it was all of this great surf music. I grew years ago when Taylor first started formulat- Roots Outdoor Concert Series Friday, Au- around 1997, when they began playing more up hearing surf music on television, and ing his plan to pay homage to surf music, but gust 30. Unlikely Alibi open. around Chicago. Their first major release some of the Elvis movies had a surf sound, it took him awhile to get the project off the Topping a re- Large and in Charge and I really thought it was cool.” ground. cord as nearly per- DEAL’S GONE BAD came out that year. Finding old records at places like the “I first started the Tikiongas six or seven fect as The Ramblers Constant changes Salvation Army, Taylor found yet another years ago, but it just fizzled out after three is no small or easy w/UNLIKELY ALIBI to the lineup, how- way to make his guitar talk. With the Tiki- months or so. But I never completely let go task, but, according Friday, August 30 • 8:30 p.m. ever, prevented the ongas he’s merged everything from alterna- of it and just decided a year or so ago that I to drummer Mike Foellinger-Freimann Botanical band from refin- tive rock to pop classics to put a surf spin just needed to do this.” Corcoran, the chal- ing and defining its on well-known songs. A video for “Surfs One of the obstacles Taylor faces is lenge has been good. Conservatory sound. More than Like Teen Spirit” can be found on YouTube, time, the enemy to anyone who has too Corcoran, one of 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne just a band that sim- a conceptual video Taylor speaks of with many great ideas and not enough hours to two original mem- Tix: $6 (12 and under free) ply mimicked the pride. accomplish them all. His full-time job since bers (guitarist Dave sounds of Jamai- “I really think that’s a fun video. It usu- May has been as guitarist for Fort Wayne Simon is the other) 260-427-6440 can musicians like ally takes a gestation period of six or seven legends Spike & the Bulldogs, which Taylor has lived and played www.botanicalconservatory.org Prince Buster, The weeks to get it all right, but after playing it says has allowed him to further expand his through the lineup Skatalites and The for awhile we finally got that song to sound abilities. changes and thinks the new record finds Wailers, Deal’s Gone Bad were always striv- right. We also do ‘Surfin’ with the Devil,’ “It’s a real honor to play with those guys Deal’s Gone Bad in even better form. ing for their own style. When Hembrook which is from ‘Runnin’ with the Devil,’ and and to play music from the 50s and 60s. I’ve “After The Ramblers we became a tight- joined, they were one heavy step closer to ‘Sultans of Layla,’ which is ‘Layla,’ but the played 50s music before but not much doo- er band,” Corcoran said. “We did a world finding it. middle guitar section becomes ‘Sultans of wop, which requires forceful singing while tour to support that record, and all the play- “Over the years our biggest changes Swing.’” playing the guitar. It’s a real learning oppor- ing – we did like 180, 200 shows that year – came from lead singer to lead singer,” Cor- Helping him accomplish this surf reviv- tunity for me. I’m just a cog in the machine, really got us together as a band. We became coran said. “What we really wanted to do al are drummer Jamie Simon and bass player and I have to learn my parts, which requires a live band. The new record shows it. It’s from the start was Jamaican soul. The Ja- Andy Pauquette, and Taylor says they’re al- me to be more disciplined.” going to be really fun to listen to.” maican musicians we admired were all lis- ways looking for more songs to remake in He also plays a couple times a year with That’s a no-brainer. Deal’s Gone Bad tening to American music. Obviously they their surf glory. El’s Angels, an Elvis tribute band, along are always fun to listen to. The rhythms are had their own culture of music, and that was “We just worked out an arrangement with various solo shows and the Farmland tight, the tunes yank you out of your seat influenced by R&B. What we wanted to do for Madonna’s ‘Material Girl,’ and we have Jazz Band. and, with Todd Hembrook on the vocals, the was add our influences of Chicago blues and people come up to us a lot and suggest other “The jazz band isn’t my band; it’s the sound transforms you. Hembrook, who for funk. The last record we really got the clos- songs that would be really great as a surf band of Ed and John Renz. I’m the old guy years fronted Fort Wayne ska favorites Ska- est to that.” song.” in the band, which is cool, and I get to play vossas and Heavy Step, started singing with Along with Corcoran, Simon and Hem- Another inspiration for Taylor’s love of the banjo in a Dixieland style. I’ve had this Deal’s Gone Bad after moving to Chicago in brook, the band includes Mike “Spider” surf music is Dick Dale, a guitarist that Tay- banjo around for years just waiting for a the early 2000s. Hembrook’s voice is remi- Hobson on bass, Aaron Hammes on sax and lor is especially quick to praise. chance to play that kind of music.” niscent of the singers who defined the Stax vocals, Pedro Hernandez on trombone and “I hear songs all the time and think, Records sound. And he’s got just enough ‘This would be a great song for Dick Dale.’ I Continued on page 7 Motown in him to make you think he’s some Continued on page 26 6------www.whatzup.com------August 22, 2013 The Butler Did It ------Feature • Acme Bar & Grill------Tops at the Box: Whoa. How did this hap- pen? Can we only assume ScreenTime A Fort Wayne Favorite that this is the Oprah Ef- fect? Somehow Lee Dan- GREG W. LOCKE The Acme Bar is one of those Fort Wayne land- iels’ The Butler took the marks that still embodies the charm of the local wa- No. 1 spot at last weekend’s U.S. box office, selling a stellar $25 mil- tering hole while being a family-friendly restaurant. Brew Review lion in tickets over a very competitive weekend. I’m not saying the film After its brief closing in 2009, it underwent some HEATHER OSBUN SMITH shouldn’t sell big – I hear it’s great and the cast is certainly solid – but updating; without losing any of its appeal, it quickly how did it slaughter both Kick-Ass 2 and Jobs, not to mention We’re reclaimed its “local favorite” status. the Millers, Elysium and Planes? Incredible. Check out this cast: Forest I was thrilled to see them introduce craft beer to had no idea about any of that, but found their website Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., their establishment. I don’t get over that way as often very helpful.) Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, Alan Rickman, Liv Schreiber, Vanessa as I’d like, but I knew they carried a pretty extensive I really want to love Belgian pale ales. Belgian- Redgrave and James Marsden. Cast of the year? Yes, cast of the year. And bottle list. Recently I headed over to see how it rated style beers are my favorite, but pale ales are my least Daniels (Precious and The Paperboy) is a really solid director. Can’t wait for a beer snob like myself. favorite. Combine the two, to check it out. The bottle menu con- and my heart and taste buds Also at the Box: Over its second weekend ensemble comedy We’re tained roughly 85 craft bot- are confused. The smell is the Millers, starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts, tled beers to choose from and all pale ale, and I love the sold just under $18 million in the U.S., upping the film’s 10-day domestic a handful of macro imports smell of pale ales and can total to just under $70 million. And here I thought we had a big stinky and ciders. That’s a pretty at least appreciate one well turd on our hands. Reviews and crowd reactions remain, however, quite impressive selection! After done. This one seemed well- mixed. Taking the No. 3 spot at last week’s box office was Neil Blom- selecting a few they were out balanced and not too over- kamp’s surely great District 9 follow-up, Elysium, starring Matt Damon of, I decided to start with the the-top, as some hoppy beers as, once again, The World’s Hero. The film sold just under $14 million in Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat. taste to me. I did request a the U.S. over its second weekend, upping its 10-day total to $56 million Wheats are a good beer to room temperature pint glass in the U.S. and $94 million worldwide. Not exactly the Star Wars-like start off with, as they aren’t for this beer, and the bar- mega-hit Tri-Star was hoping for, but Elysium should turn out to be at over-powering and won’t kill tender was accommodating least a tiny bit profitable once it’s all said and done. Next up, at No. 4, was tastebuds like an IPA might. and friendly, which I appre- Kick-Ass 2, which sold a very disappointing $13.5 million over its first After the first sip I knew ciated. three days. Bummer. And, finally, rounding out the Top 5 was Disney’s something was very wrong. The last beer of the animated flick Planes, which sold another $13 million over its second I’ve had this beer before, night was my standby “I weekend, bringing the movie’s 10-day total to $45 million in the U.S. and and it’s excellent. The bottle know it’s going to be so de- $54 million worldwide. was dated and past its serve- licious, so how can I pass Also of note, Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, which for some reason is by date. I love brewers who it up” beer: The Kentucky still only playing in 229 theaters, sold another $2.4 million (good enough, date their bottles, and for this Bourbon Barrel Ale. We spe- once again, for the weekend’s best per-screen average), bringing the very reason. My drinking cifically requested the snifter flick’s four-week total to just under $10 million in the U.S. Woody’s mov- companion pointed this out glasses and split the bottle ies always do well overseas, so even if Blue Jasmine doesn’t get a larger to the bartender and she very between two of us, since release in the U.S., he’ll make back all his money in foreign markets and apologetically took away the beer. Mistakes happen this beer carries a higher ABV of 8.1. The first time eventually turn a profit with Blu-ray and DVD sales. Woody wins again. and don’t particularly bother me when they’re handled I had this beer I was in Kentucky for work, and my New this Week: Three films will see wide release this weekend, well. client recommended it. There isn’t anything this beer starting with Harald Zwart’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. The next beer I tried was the Four Barrel Brown is lacking. The nose is all soft bourbon with vanilla Looks far too awful to waste any more ink on. Then we have Adam Win- by Triton Brewing Company. When I see barrel, I au- and oak. The taste is smooth and silky with a hint of gard’s low-budget horror film You’re Next, starring nobody anyone has tomatically think bourbon barrel, so my first sip was bourbon flavor and a caramel back. This beer is better ever heard of. The film was produced almost three years ago now and is a bit of confusion; my brain was thinking, “Man, if as it warms, and I strongly recommend letting it sit slated to be “The Next Saw,” or something. It’s yet another home inva- there is supposed to be a bourbon taste, it is really for five to 10 minutes if it’s pulled from a very cold sion film, probably not too much unlike Funny Games or the 10 similar subtle!” Well it’s a four barrel, not a bourbon barrel, cooler, as this one was. It was the perfect beer to end movies that came after Funny Games. The trend in Hollywood seems to so I had to get my brain on another track. Once I read- our evening. be to produce a schtick-y horror film for cheap, then put a whole lot of justed, I was able to take in the subtlety of the beer. It’s Overall, the Acme is a great place to go for people money into advertising it as the “Scariest Movie Since Whatever.” We’ve a nice well-balanced brown. Hints of malt, caramel. who want to try different craft beers. The selection is already seen this strategy several times this year, and I doubt You’re Next It’s not very dense and a little on the watery side for indeed impressive. As someone who is really obnox- is all that different. my taste, but I tend to gravitate towards really densely ious about beer, however, I would like to see all beers Now, finally, we have this weekend’s most worthwhile release, Ed- flavored beers. This is a 2013 Gold Medal winner of served in the proper glass all of the time. I’d like them gar Wright’s already massively acclaimed The World’s End, starring, of the Indiana Beer Cup, and I would definitely recom- to never be out of a beer I would like to try, and I would course, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Joining Wright’s regular duo will mend giving it a try if you like browns. I enjoyed it, like to never have a bad beer sit in a beer cooler. But be Paddy Cosidine, Martin Freeman and David Fincher’s new It Girl, but it didn’t blow my doors off. The server brought we don’t live in a perfect world, and the friendly staff Rosamund Pike. The film, an action comedy about five friends who re- me a small 8-oz. glass to pour it in, a huge pet peeve more than makes up for any shortcomings. I would not unite to attempt an epic pub crawl and become humankind’s only hope of mine. It’s not necessarily the worst way to serve a hesitate to recommend the Acme to someone looking for survival, looks fantastic and is already doing well overseas. Anytime beer, but I do prefer a proper pint glass. to expand his or her beer knowledge, though I might Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim and Hot Fuzz), Pegg and Frost Next up was the Sin-Bin Belgian Pale Ale, also by go with them to make sure they are putting the beer in team up you can count on a winner. Color me stoked. Triton. This beer is the official craft beer of Indiana the proper glass. Man, that really bugs me. ScreenRant: Four exciting indie flicks will see limited distribution Ice, with Sin-Bin being a nod to the penalty box. (I [email protected] this weekend, starting with Wong Kar-Wai’s long awaited production epic, The Grandmaster, a period piece kung-fu flick about Ip Man, the martial arts master best known for training Bruce Lee. Looks visually brilliant, if a bit overly stage-y. Next up is Drinking Buddies, a hilarious DEAL’S GONE BAD - From Page 6 and charming comedy from mumblecore master Joe Swanberg that fea- Anthony Abbinanti on keyboards. Corcoran said the being said, it gets even weirder. At some point it be- tures breakout film performances from TV actors Olivia Wilde and Jake new album reflects the influences of each songwriter, comes a challenge to be consistent and yet not repeti- Johnson. Anna Kendrick and the always great Ron Livingston support. some bringing a little country, others, rock. But it’s all tive.” I’ve seen this one. Twice. It’s a whole lot of fun. Next is Scenic Route, Deal’s Gone Bad. The new Deal’s Gone Bad record comes out in a two-man drama starring Josh Duhamel and Dan Fogler, and, finally, “We were trying to find our voice with The Ram- November. Prior to that the band will release a new Short Term 12, one of my most anticipated films of the year, starring Brie blers. Now we have the same singer and the same set video and another new single. Both should be avail- Larson and John Gallagher Jr. as a 20-something couple who work at a of songwriters. We have more confidence on this than able before the Botanical Roots show, so there’s plen- foster care facility. on the last record. We’re able to take different styles ty of time to check out the new sounds and get your [email protected] and run them through the Deal’s Gone Bad filter. That dancing shoes shined up. It’s going to be a party. 26------www.whatzup.com------August 22, 2013