26
November 2011
Long Afternoon’s music infused with ambiguity
by Elizabeth Timberlake-Newell
INTERVIEW
State College area indie band The Long
Afternoon released its third album, “An
Index of Maladjustments” this August.
Lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Eston
Martz sat down with Voices to talk about
music, ambiguity and a band that has
about 25 years of history but rarely does
gigs.
Voices: So when did The Long
Afternoon come about?
Martz: [The Long Afternoon] started in
Pittsburgh in mid 1980s. We started
because we felt that we had to do it. The
band formed with likeminded people I
went to high school with.
There were lots of independent and
underground bands in Pittsburgh, but we
came at it from a much artier angle. More
on the Talking Heads, angular and nerdy
end of things … Plus we had something
we wanted to get out…I don’t know what
exactly what that was.
We started [the band], and from the very
beginning, it was all originals. Played a
couple of covers here and there, but the
focus was on writing and trying to record
new material. Went strong for four years,
achieved some level of success. We
became the de-facto opener in State
College for bigger indie bands.
But it fell apart. Still don’t know exactly what happened. One member left.
Blame it on artistic differences.
I tried to bury all that, move on. I really wasn’t happy not making music. That
always ate at me. Ultimately, what happened is that I was thinking for years
about getting back into it in some capacity, particularly as the barriers to recording
disappeared.
I played in a house band, and their drummer was amazing, just rock solid, like a
Ringo kind of drummer. I decided to
approach him and another musician Jeff
“Our aesthetic is so ambiguous. A whole theme that
runs through our work is
ambiguity, and that we can’t
take a clear side one one
issue or the other.”
--Eston Martz
Edmunds from the band SEEN, [who] was
the best bass player I knew. I asked if they
would like help to record these songs. We
happened to click.
Voices: So why do people make music,
and what are the differences in listeners?
Martz:There are so many different motivations. The majority of people are completely happy with what is played on the
radio and won’t be compelled to dig any
further. Then there are people like myself
and others in the band and other people
I’ve known, and they are compelled to
keep finding something different.
Voices: What do musicians who are
essentially making music for themselves
think of these programs such as American
idol? Do you think they affect music?
Martz: Not really. It commodifies and
enshrines the performer aesthetic, and
there’s nothing wrong with that. We need
performers. But it elevates that to a level
that I personally don’t subscribe to. In
terms of how much that really makes
music as a whole worse, it’s always been
terrible. And it’s always been wonderful.
You are always going to have this.
There’s nothing challenging about
some bands. I want to see something
that’s different. Take Marilyn Manson.
There was a lot of shock and outrage, a lot
of chest thumping. But he took Alice
Cooper’s act from the 70s and recycled it,
and [Cooper] was recycling an act from
the 1950s. You can take it all the way
back to the murder ballad. There has
always been that sort of outrage.
But to come up with something really
Photo by Elizabeth Timberlake-Newell
Bassist Jeff Edmunds, singer/guitarist Eston Martz, drummer Greg Elliott and guitarist JP Mulley of
The Long Afternoon are seen here in a practice session.
transgressive or threatening, that’s not
going to do it. There are things like that,
but you won’t hear that.
Voices: Speaking of transgression, I read
on your website that a reviewer for the
CDT called you a “psychedelic menace?”
Martz: Yes. That was in the review. We
were really thrilled with that. But as much
as I love psychedelic bands and drew a lot
of inspiration from them, there really isn’t
that much of it in there. It’s there, but not
in that trippy sort of way. And the reviewer thought specifically that “An Index of
Maladjustments,” which is an 11-minute
drone, not everyone is going to dig that.
Voices: It’s humorous to hear you talk
about the democratizion of music and that
anyone should record, but you have a specific reach, a specific thing you wish to
do, and you don’t wish to do the things
that some have done, like REM did with
their album Green.
Martz:Part of what’s nice about making
music now is that you don’t have to. I’m
much more interested in hearing the
music that was much more personal to
someone.
The original drummer for Jefferson
Airplane, Jerry Peloquin, recorded an
album called “Oar.” A lot of people heard
it, a lot of people hated it. It’s not a commercial record, it is very unfocused and
out there, but it is the record he had to
make. It gives you a real sense of who this
guy was. Nothing else sounds like it. A lot
of freak folk draw on that record.
Whether my personality comes out with
what I do, I have no idea. Our aesthetic is
so ambiguous. A whole theme that runs
through our work is ambiguity, and that
we can’t take a clear side on one issue or
another. There is a lack of definition. That
what it means to us isn’t what it necessarily means to the listener.
Voices: So you don’t do gigs?
Martz: I feel better when I’m creating.
Some of it is pretty decent. But at the same
time I’ve never been interested in touring
the country.
Visit www.thelongafternoon.com to follow the band and hear tracks from their
second release, “Signifying Nothing.”
27
November 2011
Staci Egan opens the Contempo Artisan Boutique
by Veronica Winters
Staci Egan is not only a jewelry maker
but also a business woman. She crafts
beautiful contemporary jewelry pieces
made of wire, semi-precious stones and
freshwater pearls. She makes wire jewelry
for any occasion, especially for weddings.
“Bridal jewelry is definitely my
favorite,” Staci Egan said.
The artist’s custom-made, natureinspired jewelry pieces are made to order
and are symbolic of family or friends.
Egan creates special earrings sets, necklaces and hair pieces that adorn brides on
their wedding day. Yet those pieces are
simple enough not to lose their function
and can be worn again and again.
“Bridal jewelry allows me to build relationships with clients,” she said. “It
In the studio
becomes more personal for both me and
my customers.”
In one of the art’s designs, a peapod
necklace with freshwater pearls, each
pearl symbolizes a family member or
loved one and serves as a reminder of
special relationship.
The artist looms her jewelry in Branch
style and Bloom style.
Soon, she will begin to teach her jewelry-making techniques at her new
Contempo Artisan Boutique in Boalsburg.
Egan has decided to use the space on
the second floor to offer art classes and
workshops for the community. She has
Photo by Veronica Winters
Staci Egan at the newly opened Contempo Artisan Boutique. Egan sells art pieces here as well as offers
art classes.
Teamsters Local 8
Proudly Supports
Local Youth Activities
The Men and Women of
Teamsters Local 8 Encourage
Supporting Local Youth Activities
invited young and emerging artists to join
her team of teaching artists and to display
their unique objects at her boutique.
Egan, who recently relocated from the
Surface Co-op, is happy to open up her
own shop. Egan’s vision is to display and
sell art pieces that are unique, yet affordable, stylish, functional and made of either
organic, eco-friendly or recycled materials.
“I want to keep it different from other
shops in town,” Egan said.
Egan introduces a younger vibe into the
local scene by selling work of several
emerging artists besides displaying the art
of few established ones. The offerings are
tied together through their professional
quality and strong sense of design and
material use.
Egan’s shop offerings comprise an
eclectic mix of artists. Melanie Foster
makes warm, cute mittens from recycled
sweaters and colorful pot holders from
fabric. Callie Shumway, just 19 years old,
offers hand-made, fun stuffed toys.
Kelly Poese creates shadowbox art that
carries inspirational messages. Kim
Hambric does amazing quilt pieces made
of hand-dyed and hand-stamped fabric that
are decorated with beads and findings.
Ann Pangborn makes her own yarn and
creates felt scarves and floral pins. Amily
Wenda is a mixed media artist who supplies Egan with unique cards and display
objects, like little looms with images
made of recycled fabric and paper.
Amy Frank sews clutches and handbags. Other artists on display include
Randy Doughty, who is a member of the
Potter’s Guild, and Kelly Green, who
makes bath and body products.
Egan feels excited and determined
about her business, yet unnerved about
balancing her family responsibilities and
career.
“It’s a struggle, and I often feel selfish
to work on my own business while raising
two kids,” she said.
Despite that, Egan is in high spirits and
welcomes all of us to see her store.
Contempo Artisan Boutique is located
at 109 S. Church Street in Boalsburg. The
artist/boutique owner is also on
Facebook.
Egan can be reached at www.contempojewelry.net;e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 814.769.9398.
28
November 2011
Palmer Art Museum hosts faculty art exhibit
by Katherine Rodriguez
Imagine works made of neon, gold,
chewing gum, even fake eyelashes.
Faculty members of the School of Visual
Arts at Penn State show their recent work
at Palmer Museum of Art’s “Studio
Practice” exhibit.
The exhibit features 32 faculty members through their photographs, sculptures, ceramics, videos and more.
The first work of art displayed in the
exhibit is a photograph entitled “Chester”
by Lonnie Graham, professor of photography. The chromogenic print spans about
10 feet and features a beautiful landscape
of trees and mist.
The exhibit helps visitors better understand and know the faculty members.
Through their work observers gain a
glimpse of the ways they lead the artists
of tomorrow.
“It’s always interesting and so enlightening,” explained Lonnie Graham. “Art is
so incredibly revealing of other individuals and how they relate to the world
through their medium.”
In class students are critiqued by these faculty members and
learn how to make their work more powerful. The “Studio
Practice” exhibit turns the tables, allows the student to critique the teacher.
Penn State usually hosts faculty work
in other galleries in the Visual Arts building and the Pattee-Paterno Library, but
every few years the Palmer Museum dedicates space to the School of Visual Arts
faculty.
“We typically organize an exhibition of
faculty work every five or six years,” said
Joyce Robinson, curator for the exhibit.
“We think it’s a wonderful opportunity
for students, faculty, staff and community
members to become aware of the very
interesting work that’s being done right
here in our midst.”
In class, faculty members critique students and help them to make their work
more powerful. The “Studio Practice”
exhibit turns the tables, allowing the student to critique the teacher.
Photo by Katherine Rodriguez
Lonnie Graham, professor of photography in the School of Visual Arts, stands in front of the Palmer
Museumof Art, where his photograph “Chester” is currently featured in a faculty exhibit.
“I think it’s important for students to
have an insight and to be able to actually
see what professors are doing,” said
Graham.
Jenna Ferraraccio, a fifth year student
in Integrative Arts with a concentration in
photography visited the exhibit.
“It makes it easier to have a connection
with [our teachers],” she said. “To have a
connection to their work is to have a connection to them.”
A book containing illustrations of the
works as well as an essay from Irina
Aristarkhova, an assistant professor of
women’s studies and art, accompanies the
exhibit and is available for visitors to borrow.
The Palmer will host a series of noontime gallery talks by the faculty members.
On Friday, Nov. 11 at 12:10 p.m., associate professor of art Bonnie Collura will
speak and on Friday, Dec. 9 at 12:10 p.m.,
distinguished professor of art Chris
Staley will appear.
The “Studio Practice” exhibition runs
until December 11. The Palmer is open
Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4:00
p.m. The museum is located on Curtain
Road, and admission is free.
29
November 2011
Full Roaming Vapor: a class V rock band
by Elizabeth Timberlake-Newell
Full Roaming Vapor was named for the
a certain green ghost in the 1984 film
“Ghostbusters,” but the rock band’s style is
anything but easily classified.
On Oct. 14, the State College-based
indie band rocked the Toast Smoking Bar,
playing to a crowd of diehard fans, musicians including Annalisa Barron and curious listeners.
The band—Kael Weis on vocals and
acoustic guitar, Chip Taylor on Bass guitar,
Z on drums and Jason Britten on lead guitar—played songs written by Weis and an
eclectic mix of covers.
The show opened with Weis singing a
few of his own songs accompanied only by
an acoustic guitar, but shortly thereafter,
the rest of the band joined him.
“I have been fairly adamant that we culture our
sound and our lineup through live playing and
hours of rehearsal each week.”
--Z, drummer for Full Roaming Vapor
The Full Roaming Vapors, as they call
themselves, are working to defy a trend
recognized by music fans in State College.
“It’s a tough town for original music,”
said Charles Decker Brown, a fan of the
Vapors. “Eighty percent of the venues in
town are solely sports bars or only hire
cover bands. Kael is emblematic of the travails of original musicians. He’s been
working on it for years.”
Though the band is still developing a
name for itself locally, according to Weis,
the band gets gigs and has play the
D a r k h o r s e ,
Houseasaurus Co-op
and Toast.
The band got its start
with the reconnection
of
Kael,
the
guitarist/vocalist with
the warm voice that
morphs into a rocker
scream, and the drummer described as “passionate” by his bandmate.
The two were working together on another Full Roaming Vapor displays this work of art, entitled “Ghost Chases
project and decided to Man,” which depicts Ghost Busters' Slimer (a “full roaming Vapor”)
join musical forces in chasing a person, at music website reverbnation.com.
what Weis called “a
very intense musical moment” to become said.
One such song in the band’s lineup is
the core of the Full Roaming Vapors.
Then Adam Bugaj, textural synthesizer Fell Swoop, a song that Weis introduced as
and Chip Taylor joined the band. Bugaj being about “love, fighting and a giant spisplit from the Full Roaming Vapors short- der.”
To draw in listeners who would be wary
ly after the gig at Toast. Very recently, guitarist Jason Britten joined. He was shoe- of something unfamiliar, the Full Roaming
horned into a corner for the performance Vapors also play a few covers interspersed
but still found enough space to move with their own originals.
“Some of the covers are ones that Kael,
around with his music.
As of yet, the Vapors have not recorded as the primary vocalist, feels he can pull
an album and are still developing their off well,” Z explained when describing
how they chose cover material. “Mostly
sound.
“I have been fairly adamant that we cul- we look for songs that we feel we can
ture our sound and our lineup through live ‘make our own’ or that really get our mojo
playing and hours of rehearsal each week,” cooking.”
The material the Vapors pull to make
said Z via email.
Kael Weis, who identified indie rock their own runs a wide rock gamut from
bands such as the Pixies as influences, Simple Mind’s “Don’t You Forget About
noted that he believes rock music should Me” to Coldplay’s “Clocks” to the classic
be more orchestral and include more “Ring of Fire.”
Full Roaming Vapor will playing at the
dynamic tension. Also, he said that in the
songs he writes, he draws on fantasy ele- Darkhorse Tavern on November 2 and
Toast again on November 18. A selection
ments.
“I’m telling a story, like Lord of the of their music can also be heard at
Rings, but the story has to be relatable,” he www.ReverbNation.com.
30
November 2011
To advertisers who believe in the power of our Voices...
Thank you!
We encourage our readers to spend their dollars wisely, and when deciding which
local businesses to patronize, to support those who support a truly free press.
3WZ Radio
Arms For Peace Family
Memorial
Acoustic Brew
Affinity Connection
Alzheimer's Association
Albrecht Audiology
Amber Concepcion
Appalachian Outdoors
Arc of Centre County
Art Alliance of Central PA
Art Goldschmidt
Be Well Associates
Black Walnut Body Works
Blackhawk Homestead
Nursery & Garden Center
Belladonna Herbs
Bryce Jordan Center
Cafe Lemont
Central Pennsylvania Guild of
Craftsmen
Centre County Farmland Trust
Centre County Women’s
Resource Center
Centre County Solid Waste
Authority
Charles Ulsh
Child Care Information
Services of Centre County
Child Development and
Family Council of Centre
County, Inc
Chris Exarchos
Clearwater Conservancy
CNET
Community Acupuncture
Centre
Community Diversity Group
Community Environmental
Legal Defense Fund
Delafield, McGee, Jones, and
Kauffman, P.C.
Dix Honda
Downtown State College
Farmers’ Market
Environmental Coalition of
Centre County
Elizabeth Kirchner
Elk Creek Cafe
Easter Seals Child
Development Center
East-West Crossings
Foxdale Village
Foxhill Gardens Nursery
Freeze/Thaw Cycles
Full Circle Farms CSA
Gateway Lodge
Gemini Enterprises
Green Drake Gallery & Arts
Center
Greenmoore Gardens CSA
Groundswell
Groundwork Farms CSA
Harrison's Wine, Grill &
Catering
Herwig’s Austrian Bistro
Howard's End CSA
India Pavillion
IngleBean Coffee House
JADE Family Farm
Jon Eich
Jonathan Grine
Long Lane Flower & Garden
MetLife Bank Reverse
Mortgage Consultant, Amy
Ansari
Michael Pipe
Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery
Nature’s Pantry
Nittany Valley Chiropractic
Nittany Valley HealthSouth
Rehabilitation Hospital
Nittany Valley Symphony
North Atherton Farmers’
Market
Pacific Intercultural Exchange
Penns Valley Conservation
Association
Pennsylvania Association for
Sustainable Agriculture
Penn's Civilians Educational
Organization
Penn State Jewish Studies
Program
Penn State Continuing
Education
Pennsylvania Certified
Organic
Plowshare Produce CSA
Raymond James Financial
Services
SPE Federal Credit Union
Sarah Klinetob
Science, Technology &
Science program, Penn
State
Schlow Library
Sierra Club Moshannon
Group
State College Community
Land Trust
State College Peace Center
State College Tuesday
Farmers Market
Stocker Chevrolet, Subaru
Stone Valley Community
Charter School
Sustainable Kitchen
Tait Farm
Teamsters Local 8
Toast Bar & Lounge at The
Autoport
Transition Towns Centre
County
The Room Doctor
The Rag and Bone
The State Theatre
Triyoga with Theresa Shay
Tubbies Home Furnishings
Tussey Mountainback
UpWright Ch'i
Village Acres CSA
Volkswagen, Volvo, Audi,
Nissan & Mercedes-Benz of
State College
Websters Bookstore Cafe