Wild applause, warm smiles and friendly handshakes welcomed President Obama as he arrived to present his motivated agenda in his State of the Union Address to Congress at 8p.m. Tuesday.
“Hey, how are you. Good to see you,” said Obama, smiling and waving to his congressman on his way to the podium.
Once Obama reached the microphone silence ensued. He outlined his ambitious plans to not pass on debt to our children, to expand the promise of education to all children, to end the war responsibly and to end tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
Obama vows that “we will recover” from the failing economy and explains his primary measures to begin this mending.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Irish Session article
Alison Neubauer
Jrn 400
First beat article
780
In the corner of a dimly lit, single room neighborhood bar, a circle of 10 empty chairs await the arrival of their weekly occupants, traditional Irish instrumentalists. These Champaign residents gather each Wednesday at 7 PM In Bentley’s Pub to participate in traditional Irish music sessions.
“It’s a group of local people who all have an interest in in Irish music and get together to play tunes,” said Dean Karres, who plays the Bodhrán, a type of drum. Karres explained that a tune is just a melody, whereas songs have words. 95% of the time they play tunes.
Irish sessions take place in many cities all over the world. Champaign is just one part of a network that connects people from across the map. Karres began playing in sessions in Colorado but has participated in sessions spanning from Kansas, Ireland, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia, France, Switzerland and now to Champaign, IL. People can play in sessions anywhere.
“Every opportunity is wonderful. It’s totally for fun,” said Karres. “A session is a social event. Depending on the environment, it could be for the musicians or the audience could get more involved.”
Musicians continue to arrive and join in throughout the night, participating in the songs they know. Not everybody played the entire time but variations of the same people play each week.
“It’s an open thing, any musicians are welcome. You come if you can come,” said Stacey Rose, the owner and a bartender of Bentley’s. She said that anywhere between 4 to 10 musicians come every week. Karres said that they play banjos, fiddles, concertinas, accordions, tin whistles, and sometimes guitars.
“Public sessions, like this one, demand that you know a few tunes and be competent on a couple. You at least have to know how to play an instrument,” said Karres.
Jake Schumacher, with his eyes shut and a closed smile, grooved to the tunes as he played his accordion and sometimes switched to his keyboard. Schumacher is the program director for WILL fm 90.9 and also leads these sessions. He first encountered sessions when he was in Scotland.
“It’s my creative outlet, my chance to influence other people in town that play,” said Schumacher.
Traditional Irish music is not written down. It’s passed from people to people. People learn by ear. Sessions are one of these ways people learn the tunes.
“It’s a general corpus of traditional tunes that has been developed over the last 300 years,” said Schumacher.
Jordan Kaye sat at a table outside of the circle, smiling and tapping his foot to the beat while strumming a mandolin.
“I‘m just a fan. I play more bluegrass and jazz but I do know a few tunes,” said Kaye. Kaye teaches a guitar class at Parkland college. This is his second time at this session but said that he wants to start coming more regularly. He explained the different rhythms of the tunes. A hornpipe is like a sailors dance, the Air is a slow ballad and the Jig has a distinctive rhythm.
Kaye said that they play a mix of these rhythms. People don’t like to hear the same stuff. They play in sets of two or three songs switching right from one to another. It’s a nice transition.
“One famous song is ‘Irish Washerwoman.’ But never request that here. It’s way overplayed,” Kaye laughed, “It’s like the ‘Free Bird’ of Irish music.”
These sessions usually attract the same crowd of people each week , according to Rose, but they do bring in new people.
Bentley’s is a 21 and over bar located in Champaign. They opened in 2003. Bentley’s has been hosting sessions for about 5 years now and picked up the idea from another bar called Mike and Molly’s.
“I enjoy the music,” said Rose, “it’s a good way to bring in a different group of customers. The crowd is a little older and very laid back.”
The musicians do not play for money. Rose said that only the session leader gets paid and it’s 30 dollars.
“It’s really about having fun and companionship,” said Schumacher. He said that people enjoy it at bars.
When Kaye began singing a song, everyone who knew the words joined in, smiling, laughing, clapping their hands, playing instruments and singing loudly together.
Schumacher said that he plays in these sessions because it is fun and that‘s why people participate. There‘s an expression people say, “the craic, it’s the Irish word for fun. You do it for the craic.”
Source List
1. Dean Karres
217-390-3291
dean.karres@gmail.com
2. Jake Schumacher
jakes@illinois.edu
3. Jordan Kaye
217-867-2700
Jkaye@parkland.edu
4. Stacey Rose
217-359-7977
staceyroses@yahoo.com
Jrn 400
First beat article
780
In the corner of a dimly lit, single room neighborhood bar, a circle of 10 empty chairs await the arrival of their weekly occupants, traditional Irish instrumentalists. These Champaign residents gather each Wednesday at 7 PM In Bentley’s Pub to participate in traditional Irish music sessions.
“It’s a group of local people who all have an interest in in Irish music and get together to play tunes,” said Dean Karres, who plays the Bodhrán, a type of drum. Karres explained that a tune is just a melody, whereas songs have words. 95% of the time they play tunes.
Irish sessions take place in many cities all over the world. Champaign is just one part of a network that connects people from across the map. Karres began playing in sessions in Colorado but has participated in sessions spanning from Kansas, Ireland, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia, France, Switzerland and now to Champaign, IL. People can play in sessions anywhere.
“Every opportunity is wonderful. It’s totally for fun,” said Karres. “A session is a social event. Depending on the environment, it could be for the musicians or the audience could get more involved.”
Musicians continue to arrive and join in throughout the night, participating in the songs they know. Not everybody played the entire time but variations of the same people play each week.
“It’s an open thing, any musicians are welcome. You come if you can come,” said Stacey Rose, the owner and a bartender of Bentley’s. She said that anywhere between 4 to 10 musicians come every week. Karres said that they play banjos, fiddles, concertinas, accordions, tin whistles, and sometimes guitars.
“Public sessions, like this one, demand that you know a few tunes and be competent on a couple. You at least have to know how to play an instrument,” said Karres.
Jake Schumacher, with his eyes shut and a closed smile, grooved to the tunes as he played his accordion and sometimes switched to his keyboard. Schumacher is the program director for WILL fm 90.9 and also leads these sessions. He first encountered sessions when he was in Scotland.
“It’s my creative outlet, my chance to influence other people in town that play,” said Schumacher.
Traditional Irish music is not written down. It’s passed from people to people. People learn by ear. Sessions are one of these ways people learn the tunes.
“It’s a general corpus of traditional tunes that has been developed over the last 300 years,” said Schumacher.
Jordan Kaye sat at a table outside of the circle, smiling and tapping his foot to the beat while strumming a mandolin.
“I‘m just a fan. I play more bluegrass and jazz but I do know a few tunes,” said Kaye. Kaye teaches a guitar class at Parkland college. This is his second time at this session but said that he wants to start coming more regularly. He explained the different rhythms of the tunes. A hornpipe is like a sailors dance, the Air is a slow ballad and the Jig has a distinctive rhythm.
Kaye said that they play a mix of these rhythms. People don’t like to hear the same stuff. They play in sets of two or three songs switching right from one to another. It’s a nice transition.
“One famous song is ‘Irish Washerwoman.’ But never request that here. It’s way overplayed,” Kaye laughed, “It’s like the ‘Free Bird’ of Irish music.”
These sessions usually attract the same crowd of people each week , according to Rose, but they do bring in new people.
Bentley’s is a 21 and over bar located in Champaign. They opened in 2003. Bentley’s has been hosting sessions for about 5 years now and picked up the idea from another bar called Mike and Molly’s.
“I enjoy the music,” said Rose, “it’s a good way to bring in a different group of customers. The crowd is a little older and very laid back.”
The musicians do not play for money. Rose said that only the session leader gets paid and it’s 30 dollars.
“It’s really about having fun and companionship,” said Schumacher. He said that people enjoy it at bars.
When Kaye began singing a song, everyone who knew the words joined in, smiling, laughing, clapping their hands, playing instruments and singing loudly together.
Schumacher said that he plays in these sessions because it is fun and that‘s why people participate. There‘s an expression people say, “the craic, it’s the Irish word for fun. You do it for the craic.”
Source List
1. Dean Karres
217-390-3291
dean.karres@gmail.com
2. Jake Schumacher
jakes@illinois.edu
3. Jordan Kaye
217-867-2700
Jkaye@parkland.edu
4. Stacey Rose
217-359-7977
staceyroses@yahoo.com
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Interview about polyphasic sleeping
Alison Neubauer
Jrn 400 lab
Interview
1092
Sometimes it seems there just isn’t enough time during the day to get everything done. From getting school work done, to having a job, and having time for recreation, it can be hard to fit everything in. Architecture sophomore Alex Chin recognized this problem and is attempting a solution that he read about on the internet. This solution is a polyphasic sleep cycle in which a person takes multiple short naps throughout the day. His cycle specifically lets his body require only 3 hours of sleep per 24 hour period, maximizing his awake hours. I met with him to discuss how the cycle works, it’s effects and benefits.
Q: So, what exactly is the polyphasic sleep cycle?
A: The polyphasic sleep cycle is basically a way to make more time of your day when you’d rather be sleeping. You take 20 to 30 minute naps every 4 hours. Polyphasic means multiple naps per day. I’m specifically on the Uber Man which calls for 6 naps per day.”
Q: Uber man?
A: The Uber man. It’s exactly what it sounds like. But there are a variety of polyphasic schedules and I’m on the 6 nap schedule.
Q: What other kinds of schedules are there?
A: There’s the Dymaxiom which calls for 4 naps per day. A half hour each so essentially 2 hours a day for sleeping. There’s the Every Man. It bases its central theory off a core nap which is around 3 and a half hours and 2 to 3 other naps throughout the day which are 20 minutes each.
Q: How did you hear about these sleep cycles and what made you choose the Uber Man?
A: I first learned about it in high school and it was very ideal but your in high school and you cant take a 20 to 30 minute naps during an 8 hour day so it was not until I came across it again on the internet in college that I decided tonight’s the night I’m going to start doing it, and I did it.
Q: Who came up with the sleep cycles? You say you found it on the internet but who?
A: There are rumors that Leonardo da Vinci was on the polyphasic cycle and that’s how he created all his inventions, Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin. There’s no evidence but the fact there are such rumors shows that maybe it was true.
Q: So why did you decide to go on the sleep cycle?
A: Mainly because of my major. My major is very labor intensive. It’s architecture. Sophomore year is my year right now and it’s the worst year of undergraduate school. So I’ve decided to take advantage, over break, to train myself and by school id be on the polyphonic, in which I am right now
Q: So you started over winter break? And been doing this since then?
A: Yeah pretty much. You get your slip ups, every once and a while you over sleep a little. Otherwise its going great. I have more energy than I had on the monophasic sleep cycle which is the regular, one sleep a day, and it’s wonderful. It’s even helped me out with late assignments in which I did not know I had. I met a friend the other day and he was like ‘you have a quiz tomorrow.’ Had I been on the monophonic cycle it would have been quite a repercussion, but since I’m on the polyphasic I studied all night and aced the test.
Q: That’s pretty good. What’s the transition from the regular sleep cycle to the polyphonic cycle like?
A: I happened to be able to stay up a lot. My schedule called for me to stay up so the training wasn’t too hard. There’s 2 days around day 7 to 10 when the adaptation period is hardest. That’s when my cycle from 4am to 8 am literally killed me. I was probably, for lack of better words, the most f***** up I’ve ever been and I was sober.
Q: So do you feel normal? What does your body and mind feel like?
A: My body is fine. I work out on a regular basis and once your adapted you can do everything you can on a regular sleep schedule and as far as mentally I’m sharper than before because on a monophasic sleep cycle you can always be sharp in the beginning of the day but as the day drags on your mind will be less alert. In polyphasic napping you always have the beginning of the day.
Q: How long do you think you will or can keep this up?
A: Honestly ill probably keep it until I’m bored with it. That’s pretty much straight up. Because, if one day I want to hibernate like a bear, I will sleep 8 hours a day. Otherwise sleep is a tax on life in my opinion. Sleep is for the weak.
Q: What do you do with all of your extra time?
A: Alright, well, I want to say I’m an artist but I like to draw a lot. I have projects, in which case, I use my extra time to develop my projects.
Q: What are some obstacles you had to overcome or are you pretty much into it by now?
A: I am pretty much into it by now and what’s great about the polyphonic is that it’s very flexible and its not always every 4 hours, but when your starting off, and you’re a student, you want to drink, you want to smoke, but that definitely deters your sleeping habits. In which case I had to abstain from it or else it would make me oversleep and I’d have to start over again. Right now it was definitely worth while
Q: What has the sleep cycle done for you?
A: The sleep cycle has made me more positive. Like the fact that I can do anything I want to while everyone else is sleeping gives me a positive outlook on life.
Q: What do your friends and family have to say about this?
A: Well, my mother, actually she semi-supported it during break but now that school started I have not told her I was on the sleep cycle for lack of responsibly on my part. My friends, they think I’m crazy but that’s alright because crazy is good…sometimes and as long as I get to do what I want to do it’s not a problem.
Alex Chin
1-847-287-7725
Iamthechin1@gmail.com
Jrn 400 lab
Interview
1092
Sometimes it seems there just isn’t enough time during the day to get everything done. From getting school work done, to having a job, and having time for recreation, it can be hard to fit everything in. Architecture sophomore Alex Chin recognized this problem and is attempting a solution that he read about on the internet. This solution is a polyphasic sleep cycle in which a person takes multiple short naps throughout the day. His cycle specifically lets his body require only 3 hours of sleep per 24 hour period, maximizing his awake hours. I met with him to discuss how the cycle works, it’s effects and benefits.
Q: So, what exactly is the polyphasic sleep cycle?
A: The polyphasic sleep cycle is basically a way to make more time of your day when you’d rather be sleeping. You take 20 to 30 minute naps every 4 hours. Polyphasic means multiple naps per day. I’m specifically on the Uber Man which calls for 6 naps per day.”
Q: Uber man?
A: The Uber man. It’s exactly what it sounds like. But there are a variety of polyphasic schedules and I’m on the 6 nap schedule.
Q: What other kinds of schedules are there?
A: There’s the Dymaxiom which calls for 4 naps per day. A half hour each so essentially 2 hours a day for sleeping. There’s the Every Man. It bases its central theory off a core nap which is around 3 and a half hours and 2 to 3 other naps throughout the day which are 20 minutes each.
Q: How did you hear about these sleep cycles and what made you choose the Uber Man?
A: I first learned about it in high school and it was very ideal but your in high school and you cant take a 20 to 30 minute naps during an 8 hour day so it was not until I came across it again on the internet in college that I decided tonight’s the night I’m going to start doing it, and I did it.
Q: Who came up with the sleep cycles? You say you found it on the internet but who?
A: There are rumors that Leonardo da Vinci was on the polyphasic cycle and that’s how he created all his inventions, Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin. There’s no evidence but the fact there are such rumors shows that maybe it was true.
Q: So why did you decide to go on the sleep cycle?
A: Mainly because of my major. My major is very labor intensive. It’s architecture. Sophomore year is my year right now and it’s the worst year of undergraduate school. So I’ve decided to take advantage, over break, to train myself and by school id be on the polyphonic, in which I am right now
Q: So you started over winter break? And been doing this since then?
A: Yeah pretty much. You get your slip ups, every once and a while you over sleep a little. Otherwise its going great. I have more energy than I had on the monophasic sleep cycle which is the regular, one sleep a day, and it’s wonderful. It’s even helped me out with late assignments in which I did not know I had. I met a friend the other day and he was like ‘you have a quiz tomorrow.’ Had I been on the monophonic cycle it would have been quite a repercussion, but since I’m on the polyphasic I studied all night and aced the test.
Q: That’s pretty good. What’s the transition from the regular sleep cycle to the polyphonic cycle like?
A: I happened to be able to stay up a lot. My schedule called for me to stay up so the training wasn’t too hard. There’s 2 days around day 7 to 10 when the adaptation period is hardest. That’s when my cycle from 4am to 8 am literally killed me. I was probably, for lack of better words, the most f***** up I’ve ever been and I was sober.
Q: So do you feel normal? What does your body and mind feel like?
A: My body is fine. I work out on a regular basis and once your adapted you can do everything you can on a regular sleep schedule and as far as mentally I’m sharper than before because on a monophasic sleep cycle you can always be sharp in the beginning of the day but as the day drags on your mind will be less alert. In polyphasic napping you always have the beginning of the day.
Q: How long do you think you will or can keep this up?
A: Honestly ill probably keep it until I’m bored with it. That’s pretty much straight up. Because, if one day I want to hibernate like a bear, I will sleep 8 hours a day. Otherwise sleep is a tax on life in my opinion. Sleep is for the weak.
Q: What do you do with all of your extra time?
A: Alright, well, I want to say I’m an artist but I like to draw a lot. I have projects, in which case, I use my extra time to develop my projects.
Q: What are some obstacles you had to overcome or are you pretty much into it by now?
A: I am pretty much into it by now and what’s great about the polyphonic is that it’s very flexible and its not always every 4 hours, but when your starting off, and you’re a student, you want to drink, you want to smoke, but that definitely deters your sleeping habits. In which case I had to abstain from it or else it would make me oversleep and I’d have to start over again. Right now it was definitely worth while
Q: What has the sleep cycle done for you?
A: The sleep cycle has made me more positive. Like the fact that I can do anything I want to while everyone else is sleeping gives me a positive outlook on life.
Q: What do your friends and family have to say about this?
A: Well, my mother, actually she semi-supported it during break but now that school started I have not told her I was on the sleep cycle for lack of responsibly on my part. My friends, they think I’m crazy but that’s alright because crazy is good…sometimes and as long as I get to do what I want to do it’s not a problem.
Alex Chin
1-847-287-7725
Iamthechin1@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Porkchop Sandwich (bar band that plays at Joe's) article
Alison Neubauer
Final Draft
947
Marissa Monson
11/21/08
When the clock strikes 10 PM on 5th street in Champaign the crowd picks up on the main floor at Joe’s Brewery as the live band strikes the familiar chords of Billy Joel’s “My Life” or maybe Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” As the night progresses, the room fills, and people are dancing, smiling, cheering and singing to their favorite songs.
They call themselves Pork Chop Sandwich. The present lineup consists of brothers Callan Beeson on bass, Drew Beeson on guitar and Myles Beeson on drums along with the oldest member Colin Leslie on keyboard and vocals. This four piece cover band plays at Joe’s every Thursday night and jokingly started calling themselves after the Thursday special.
“We’re on the board and cost $6.95 on the side” Callan Beeson said with a smile, sporting a backwards baseball cap covering his bald head.
This band began about four years ago going by the name Doxi and consisted of only three people. They started out playing at White Horse until they were invited to play at Joe’s every week. None of the original members still play but the band’s existence is carried on as members graduate, new members are added until it arrived at what it is today.
“We’ve been here a couple of years now so as long as we keep the band we have the job” Collin Leslie said. The band plays covers everyone sings along to.
“We try to play hits from everywhere” Callan said. Every song is a well known song or hit from the radio that the majority of people will recognize. They consist mostly of popular bar/karaoke songs.
Pork chop Sandwich have tried playing originals but now, according to Leslie, they only play covers since it is easier to market, especially at a bar notorious for dancing, where people want to hear songs they already know.
“The hope is that we play something that appeals to everyone” Leslie said. Some of the regular songs include “Come Sail Away”, “Hey Jude”, “I Want it That Way”, “Lean on Me”, “Piano Man”, and even a country song called “Something Like that.”
“Playing the Backstreet Boys shows that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Leslie said, “We like to have just as much fun as the people who come to see us.”
“We put on a serious show with a not so serious attitude” Leslie said.
According to the band, they never practice together. Callan said that he has had maybe two formal practices ever.
“Our practice is every Thursday night at 10” Drew Beeson said from behind his chin length, curly brown hair. The audience would never be able to tell since the songs are played with little to know noticeable mistakes. The crowd doesn’t notice anyway, they are too busy dancing and having fun. New songs are brought to the table every couple weeks and the first time they play them together is that night.
“ ‘The Clocks’ by Coldplay went awesome on the fly and Ghostbusters were just gonna wing it” Callan said.
Nonetheless the crowd enjoys them. Many people are regulars and go to see the band often. It’s a unique night since the music is live and interactive instead of just a DJ. Plus, the band members are students and have a history at the university. They have made a name for themselves
“It helps that they play on a Thursday which is a pretty big night. They are known because of word of mouth,” Mike Butts said, “A few years ago when they began I noticed they had a huge group of friends that would come watch.” Butts is a manager at Joe’s and has been around since the original lineup four years ago.
Pat McCaffrey is a friend and fan of the band and describes his feelings in detail.
“Drew’s power comes from his hair, like Sampson. That’s why I follow them,” McCaffrey said, “It’s the general aura, his power, and he kicks ass at Super Smash Brothers.”
McCaffrey considers himself a huge fan.
“I put out don’t I?” McCaffrey said with a laugh. This band is all about fun, humor and showing their crowd a good time.
“Watching drunk people try to dance is funny” Callan said.
“We ride the line then we ride the groupies, just not the fats ones, “Leslie said jokingly, “But no seriously we love interacting with the crowd and feeding off their energy. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else.”
According to the band, they love to play every week.
“ I hate it,” Leslie said, “I’d quit but I need to make car payments”.
“I try to call in sick but it doesn’t work” Callan said.
The money they earn isn’t just used for recreation. They put it to use and to pay for college.
“We invest the money into more equipment to make the sound better but it is mainly to get money for college” Drew said.
The band is continuing strong with no end in sight, with plans of a possible live recording at one show and to possibly start playing at Station.
“Everyone has future aspirations of recording their own original songs at some point,” Drew said, “but it’s hard to play originals as a bar band.”
“We discussed an intergalactic tour with Gwar. That sounded good” Leslie said.
Those plans aren’t set in stone yet. As for the near future this band is taking it one week at a time.
“Where do we see ourselves going in the near future? To Joe’s every Thursday night” Leslie said.
Final Draft
947
Marissa Monson
11/21/08
When the clock strikes 10 PM on 5th street in Champaign the crowd picks up on the main floor at Joe’s Brewery as the live band strikes the familiar chords of Billy Joel’s “My Life” or maybe Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” As the night progresses, the room fills, and people are dancing, smiling, cheering and singing to their favorite songs.
They call themselves Pork Chop Sandwich. The present lineup consists of brothers Callan Beeson on bass, Drew Beeson on guitar and Myles Beeson on drums along with the oldest member Colin Leslie on keyboard and vocals. This four piece cover band plays at Joe’s every Thursday night and jokingly started calling themselves after the Thursday special.
“We’re on the board and cost $6.95 on the side” Callan Beeson said with a smile, sporting a backwards baseball cap covering his bald head.
This band began about four years ago going by the name Doxi and consisted of only three people. They started out playing at White Horse until they were invited to play at Joe’s every week. None of the original members still play but the band’s existence is carried on as members graduate, new members are added until it arrived at what it is today.
“We’ve been here a couple of years now so as long as we keep the band we have the job” Collin Leslie said. The band plays covers everyone sings along to.
“We try to play hits from everywhere” Callan said. Every song is a well known song or hit from the radio that the majority of people will recognize. They consist mostly of popular bar/karaoke songs.
Pork chop Sandwich have tried playing originals but now, according to Leslie, they only play covers since it is easier to market, especially at a bar notorious for dancing, where people want to hear songs they already know.
“The hope is that we play something that appeals to everyone” Leslie said. Some of the regular songs include “Come Sail Away”, “Hey Jude”, “I Want it That Way”, “Lean on Me”, “Piano Man”, and even a country song called “Something Like that.”
“Playing the Backstreet Boys shows that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Leslie said, “We like to have just as much fun as the people who come to see us.”
“We put on a serious show with a not so serious attitude” Leslie said.
According to the band, they never practice together. Callan said that he has had maybe two formal practices ever.
“Our practice is every Thursday night at 10” Drew Beeson said from behind his chin length, curly brown hair. The audience would never be able to tell since the songs are played with little to know noticeable mistakes. The crowd doesn’t notice anyway, they are too busy dancing and having fun. New songs are brought to the table every couple weeks and the first time they play them together is that night.
“ ‘The Clocks’ by Coldplay went awesome on the fly and Ghostbusters were just gonna wing it” Callan said.
Nonetheless the crowd enjoys them. Many people are regulars and go to see the band often. It’s a unique night since the music is live and interactive instead of just a DJ. Plus, the band members are students and have a history at the university. They have made a name for themselves
“It helps that they play on a Thursday which is a pretty big night. They are known because of word of mouth,” Mike Butts said, “A few years ago when they began I noticed they had a huge group of friends that would come watch.” Butts is a manager at Joe’s and has been around since the original lineup four years ago.
Pat McCaffrey is a friend and fan of the band and describes his feelings in detail.
“Drew’s power comes from his hair, like Sampson. That’s why I follow them,” McCaffrey said, “It’s the general aura, his power, and he kicks ass at Super Smash Brothers.”
McCaffrey considers himself a huge fan.
“I put out don’t I?” McCaffrey said with a laugh. This band is all about fun, humor and showing their crowd a good time.
“Watching drunk people try to dance is funny” Callan said.
“We ride the line then we ride the groupies, just not the fats ones, “Leslie said jokingly, “But no seriously we love interacting with the crowd and feeding off their energy. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else.”
According to the band, they love to play every week.
“ I hate it,” Leslie said, “I’d quit but I need to make car payments”.
“I try to call in sick but it doesn’t work” Callan said.
The money they earn isn’t just used for recreation. They put it to use and to pay for college.
“We invest the money into more equipment to make the sound better but it is mainly to get money for college” Drew said.
The band is continuing strong with no end in sight, with plans of a possible live recording at one show and to possibly start playing at Station.
“Everyone has future aspirations of recording their own original songs at some point,” Drew said, “but it’s hard to play originals as a bar band.”
“We discussed an intergalactic tour with Gwar. That sounded good” Leslie said.
Those plans aren’t set in stone yet. As for the near future this band is taking it one week at a time.
“Where do we see ourselves going in the near future? To Joe’s every Thursday night” Leslie said.
Goose Island Brewing Company in Chicago article
Alison Neubauer
Final draft
993
Marissa Monson
12/14/2008
The large, faded yellow brick building stands at the intersection of Fulton and Wood streets in a quiet, seemingly vacant corner of Chicago’s industrial west side. Caged windows line the east side of the building looking onto barren, worn down streets that lead to a heavy, industrial locked door.
This door is a portal to a narrow, daunting, steep staircase that leads to another door. Inside opens up to a bright office bustling with smiling faces. I’ve entered the production brewery for the Goose Island Brewing Company.
Goose Island is a beer brewing and soda company that originated in and is located in Chicago. Their history only dates back about twenty years but the name holds many years of early Chicago history. They started out small but have grown within the past ten years to become one of the most well known and established brewers in the country.
Beyond the office the actual brewing area encompasses the remainder of the building. Giant silver tanks tower over the workers amidst a maze of metal stairs leading up, down, and all around the two stories of machinery.
This production brewery is an extension of the original Goose Island pub.
“Clybourn and North Pub was the first pub that began in March 1988,” the head brewer John J. Hall said, “the beer was only available on tap and the main flagship beer was Honkers Ale.”
Hall explained that the name Goose island came from the name of an island on the river nearby. In the 1800’s Irish immigrants had a shanty there where they raised geese to supplement their food. Clybourn is known as the Goose Island corridor.
In 1995 they opened this production brewery and made their first brew here in 1996.
“We brought in the favorite of the pub here to make bottles and kegs of it to distribute,” Hall said, “sometimes we use the pub as a testing ground and if it goes well we take it to production.”
John Hall is also the name of the founder, owner, and president. He started out small, built a customer base, began selling at the Clybourn pub and is now producing 15 beers year round plus some specials.
“As of the past two years, 312 has taken first place as favorite pushing Honker’s Ale to second,” Hall said.
John J. Hall described the basic process of brewing beer. There is a hot side and a cold side of the brewery. On the hot side a substance called wort is made. That is where enzymes break up the starches into sugars. This light brown, foamy gruel goes to the lauter tun where the solids are separated from the liquid.
Then the hops is added before going to the cooler for fermentation. The cooled wort goes into the fermenter with yeast where alcohol and CO2 are produced. This takes three to five days.
This unfiltered beer, known as green beer, gets filtered using a machine called a centrifuge which spins at a high velocity and pulls the yeast to the outer edge. Now it goes to get bottled or kegged.
They do 50 kegs per hour and 215 bottles per minute. The bottles are filled with CO2, not air.
“Air makes beer age before its time. It tastes older sooner,” Hall said.
The bottling process is a crucial step. The head of maintenance, Brian VanVoorhis, spends most of his time making sure everything there is running smoothly.
“If bottling stops, everything else stops,” VanVoorhis said.
All beer is brewed the same in the basic process but it’s small variations that give it unique flavors. Water temperature of the wort will make the beer sweeter or dryer. A higher temperature makes it sweeter and gives it more texture. Lower temperatures makes it dryer and more fermentable. As temperatures rise during fermentation flavors go from fruity to harsh. Lagers are cooler while ales are a little warmer.
Hops have oils and aroma which adds flavor and gives the bitterness. There are about 80 varieties of hops worldwide, Goose Island uses about 16. Some include kinds such as Cascade which has a citrus aroma, Liberty has a spicy, kind of floral scent, Fuggle is earthy, Styrian is leathery and Willamette is herbal.
Barley adds even more flavors. Roasted makes it like chocolate and coffee. Carmel 60 makes colors and sweetness.
Lately for new tastes they have been experimenting with new yeast, bourbon and wine barrels. The flavor from the wood of the bourbon barrels seeps into the beer as it ages for roughly eleven months. The barrels are used only once because there isn’t as much flavor the second time. Goose Island is the first brewery to age in bourbon barrels but it has now become very popular.
They recently introduced their reserve line of beers.
“The reserve line is more unique and has a higher alcohol content. It’s not your standard beer,” Hall said.
The reserve line consists of Matilda Belgium Golden Ale, Pere Jacques which is dark, sweet and Belgium style, Bourbon County Stout and an Imperial IPA.
The Juliet is also a new beer they are working on. It’s a soured beer with blackberries and rye aged in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel. It will be available next year in November.
Anybody can come up with a new idea but then a certain team discusses it and it’s up to the people above to decide if they want to try it. Hall said that the more beers you have the harder it makes things.
Goose island is primarily a beer brewery but they also make pop. They’ve been producing pop for eight or nine years and used to make and serve it at the pub. It has a good profit margin.
“The customer base wanted it. Not everybody drinks and families would go to the local pub so we were catering to children,” Mark Kamarauskas, the operations manager, said.
Goose island brewing company is growing more each year.
Final draft
993
Marissa Monson
12/14/2008
The large, faded yellow brick building stands at the intersection of Fulton and Wood streets in a quiet, seemingly vacant corner of Chicago’s industrial west side. Caged windows line the east side of the building looking onto barren, worn down streets that lead to a heavy, industrial locked door.
This door is a portal to a narrow, daunting, steep staircase that leads to another door. Inside opens up to a bright office bustling with smiling faces. I’ve entered the production brewery for the Goose Island Brewing Company.
Goose Island is a beer brewing and soda company that originated in and is located in Chicago. Their history only dates back about twenty years but the name holds many years of early Chicago history. They started out small but have grown within the past ten years to become one of the most well known and established brewers in the country.
Beyond the office the actual brewing area encompasses the remainder of the building. Giant silver tanks tower over the workers amidst a maze of metal stairs leading up, down, and all around the two stories of machinery.
This production brewery is an extension of the original Goose Island pub.
“Clybourn and North Pub was the first pub that began in March 1988,” the head brewer John J. Hall said, “the beer was only available on tap and the main flagship beer was Honkers Ale.”
Hall explained that the name Goose island came from the name of an island on the river nearby. In the 1800’s Irish immigrants had a shanty there where they raised geese to supplement their food. Clybourn is known as the Goose Island corridor.
In 1995 they opened this production brewery and made their first brew here in 1996.
“We brought in the favorite of the pub here to make bottles and kegs of it to distribute,” Hall said, “sometimes we use the pub as a testing ground and if it goes well we take it to production.”
John Hall is also the name of the founder, owner, and president. He started out small, built a customer base, began selling at the Clybourn pub and is now producing 15 beers year round plus some specials.
“As of the past two years, 312 has taken first place as favorite pushing Honker’s Ale to second,” Hall said.
John J. Hall described the basic process of brewing beer. There is a hot side and a cold side of the brewery. On the hot side a substance called wort is made. That is where enzymes break up the starches into sugars. This light brown, foamy gruel goes to the lauter tun where the solids are separated from the liquid.
Then the hops is added before going to the cooler for fermentation. The cooled wort goes into the fermenter with yeast where alcohol and CO2 are produced. This takes three to five days.
This unfiltered beer, known as green beer, gets filtered using a machine called a centrifuge which spins at a high velocity and pulls the yeast to the outer edge. Now it goes to get bottled or kegged.
They do 50 kegs per hour and 215 bottles per minute. The bottles are filled with CO2, not air.
“Air makes beer age before its time. It tastes older sooner,” Hall said.
The bottling process is a crucial step. The head of maintenance, Brian VanVoorhis, spends most of his time making sure everything there is running smoothly.
“If bottling stops, everything else stops,” VanVoorhis said.
All beer is brewed the same in the basic process but it’s small variations that give it unique flavors. Water temperature of the wort will make the beer sweeter or dryer. A higher temperature makes it sweeter and gives it more texture. Lower temperatures makes it dryer and more fermentable. As temperatures rise during fermentation flavors go from fruity to harsh. Lagers are cooler while ales are a little warmer.
Hops have oils and aroma which adds flavor and gives the bitterness. There are about 80 varieties of hops worldwide, Goose Island uses about 16. Some include kinds such as Cascade which has a citrus aroma, Liberty has a spicy, kind of floral scent, Fuggle is earthy, Styrian is leathery and Willamette is herbal.
Barley adds even more flavors. Roasted makes it like chocolate and coffee. Carmel 60 makes colors and sweetness.
Lately for new tastes they have been experimenting with new yeast, bourbon and wine barrels. The flavor from the wood of the bourbon barrels seeps into the beer as it ages for roughly eleven months. The barrels are used only once because there isn’t as much flavor the second time. Goose Island is the first brewery to age in bourbon barrels but it has now become very popular.
They recently introduced their reserve line of beers.
“The reserve line is more unique and has a higher alcohol content. It’s not your standard beer,” Hall said.
The reserve line consists of Matilda Belgium Golden Ale, Pere Jacques which is dark, sweet and Belgium style, Bourbon County Stout and an Imperial IPA.
The Juliet is also a new beer they are working on. It’s a soured beer with blackberries and rye aged in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel. It will be available next year in November.
Anybody can come up with a new idea but then a certain team discusses it and it’s up to the people above to decide if they want to try it. Hall said that the more beers you have the harder it makes things.
Goose island is primarily a beer brewery but they also make pop. They’ve been producing pop for eight or nine years and used to make and serve it at the pub. It has a good profit margin.
“The customer base wanted it. Not everybody drinks and families would go to the local pub so we were catering to children,” Mark Kamarauskas, the operations manager, said.
Goose island brewing company is growing more each year.
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