Kids of Steel

The Louisville Leopard Percussionists have made their name over two decades of teaching children about music and other life lessons, with a focus on kids 7-14 years old. But what happens to the kids after they age out? I asked Leopards instructor and assistant director Meg Samples to talk about the roots of their latest production, an album by smaller spin-off group Steel Leopards called Steel Believin’.

Q: What’s different about the Steels vs. the “regular” group?

A: The main Louisville Leopard Percussionists range from grades second through sixth. In Steel, we take any graduating members of LLP that are interested in learning another percussion instrument, steel pans, and create this overflow group. We were seeing a lot of kids that still wanted to play and create music after sixth grade, so we decided to venture out into steel pans. We have grades sixth through ninth represented, right now, in Steel Leopards.

Q: How much time do you spend working with them? Are they easier to teach than the younger Leopards, or is it a totally different approach?

A: The group rehearses once a week, on Sunday evenings, and all the members are incredibly self-sufficient when it comes to learning new pieces. We give them some basics on how and where to hit the pans, what mallets to use, and where all the notes are located. After that, they learn by ear, without sheet music, and we try to arrange all of our songs collectively. We, the instructors, ask things like, “Where do you want the song to go from here?” “Should someone play a solo here?” “How are we going to start this song?” and “How are we going to end it?” The Steel members already know so much from LLP about form, dynamics, scales, etc., that I really feel like it is easier for them to rehearse and learn new songs. This group runs itself. We, as instructors, are really there just to make sure no one loses an eye during the process.



Q: This is the first Steel Leopards album, right? Whose idea was it?

A: Yes, this is their first album as a group, and the Steel Leopards only began four years ago. The members of the group have been wanting to record the songs they have been playing for a while, but this past year in particular, we had a group that was really driven to perfect their songs and put them on one album to have forever.

Q: Do band members ever write their own songs?

A: Definitely. All of the kids were part of the larger group before joining up with the Steel Leopards. While in LLP, we really encourage them to write their own songs, whether that is collectively or individually, and we end up performing them throughout the year. On the Steel album, Steel Believin’, we don’t do any original recording, only covers and a few standards. But we hope to do some on future recordings.

Q: How did you select Kevin Ratterman as the producer of the album? How did the kids feel about working in his studio?

A: Kevin Ratterman selected us! He is probably the most wonderful person in this city, or at least in the top five. He heard the Leopards rehearse one day, and came to us offering to record any of our projects. We immediately thought of the Steel Leopards group. We were beyond excited to get to record at La La Land with Kevin behind the controls. If you haven’t been there, it is seriously magical. The kids had an amazing experience being in such a great recording studio with a professional, and it made us all feel like our hard work as a group had really paid off.

We did all the songs in one day, all live, with everyone playing together in Kevin’s main space. We have a great group; the kids were professional and did several takes of each tune. We listened and chose the best take of each, and that was about it. Way easier than a lot of recordings I’ve worked on.

c. 2015 The Voice-Tribune

DJ Kim Sorise Gets 8Up on it

DJ Kim Sorise presents “Cinematic Sleaze,” a weekly listening and dancing party Thursdays at the new 8Up Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen in the Hilton Garden Inn. Also an ARTxFM radio host and half of the Derby City Soul Club DJs, Sorise has fused groovy sounds for a decade in Louisville, making her a logical choice to direct the music program at the new nightspot.

Q: How did you get picked for the music director job? You’re well known and admired around Louisville, but I think your fans would have expected a shiny new hotel to go with something safer, right?
A: Well, they asked and I accepted. It was that simple… What I hope is folks who have followed my deejay career know that I am not afraid to take risks and try something new. I have done soul nights, rock and punk nights, cinematic, atmospheric and world beat gigs – so spinning “Cinematic Sleaze” at 8Up is just me playing music that I love. I am very happy that the management at 8Up believes in selecting folks who know their passion and let them follow it; I think that’s happening for all of the DJs there.

Q: How did you select the other DJs in the rotation?
A: I contacted the best DJs that I believed could make the most out of the space: Matt Anthony, Dwight Johnson, JP Source and Alex Bell. For me, building an atmosphere depends on both the music played and the space itself – meaning the music and space work off one another. Making a room sound good is wonderful, but making it feel good? Well, that is a whole different set of skills. When I went in for my initial meeting at 8Up, one of the first questions asked of me was “What music did I think would make the space feel its best?” A little personification can go a long way.

I do not see 8Up as a dance club; it’s an upscale lounge, therefore, the music needs to accentuate that mood. I saw the space as being soulful and classy, but not buttoned-up. There is also tremendous texture and drama in the space that inspires what I play there. For Matt, Dwight, Jon Paul, and Alex, each creates an interpretation of what sounds best and further enhances the mood they want to build. We each have a different approach to what we play, but they all blend very nicely.

Q: Do different styles or approaches work better on different nights? Or is there a less predictable pattern in a hotel?
A: Yes, I do appreciate a varied but still connected approach. I love that each of us have different but also allied followings; our nights sound creatively different and musically varied but there is a common thread that appeals to a wide range of patrons …

Deejaying on a weeknight, in comparison to a weekend, offers a different tone, and at times, a different clientele. During the week, Matt, Dwight (on third Thursdays) and I start earlier at 7:30 p.m. the crowds are generally a nice size, but more low key. It may be folks staying at the hotel, dining at the bar, business gatherings, etc. Weekends are currently busier – the bar is open later. JP Source, Alex Bell and Dwight (first Fridays) start at 9:30 p.m. and offer a livelier party, for lack of a better word. The music may be more upbeat, but reading the room and its patrons are of equal importance. Regardless, we are always prepared to bring a good time.

Q: How has the experience been so far? And were the holidays crazier, or slower?
A: It has been excellent! We have all had a very warm reception from the guests and staff. Everyone is super friendly and eager to have a great time and make 8Up a fabulous space for Louisville. The holidays were very busy – the Night Visions DJs spun on New Year’s Eve and sold out the place! Not too bad for only being open a couple months! All of us are beyond excited for the opening of the outdoor patio; it is beautiful and the view…fantastic! We are already working to create some exciting events overlooking the city.

Q: What will your 2015 sound like?
A: Amazing and always soulful.

To learn more, go to www.8uplouisville.com.

c. 2015 The Voice-Tribune

The Wrists Speak Out

After achieving success with his previous band, Natives, McKinley Moore and pals started a new psychedelic rock band, The Wrists. They play a record release show Haymarket Whiskey Bar on Friday, January 16. Moore caught me up on their antics.

What happened with Natives?
We got to do some great things: made a record I’m proud of, got invited to SXSW without applying, we were personally picked by Graham Lewis to open for Wire. It was some serious life goal type shit. But we went through some lineup changes and hadn’t managed to write a new song in a year. So creatively, it seemed to have run its course. And honestly, how long can you be in a band with three guitar players? That said, those guys are some of the best friends I have in the world. I guess that is why 3/5 of us decided to switch things around and start another band. I moved from guitar to bass. Jason Sparks is still playing guitar and Matt Filip switched from guitar/vocals to drums. About a week after the last Natives show, we got together with (guitarist) Colin Kellogg and it seemed to click pretty immediately.

The Wrists are releasing a new cassette tape. Haven’t you heard that vinyl might be making a comeback?
Gotta stay ahead of the curve! Vinyl is 100% back. Tapes are next! We wrote and recorded that record very quickly and wanted to release it in the same manner. And it just so happened that our friends JC Denison and Matt Dodds decided to start a cassette tape label, AuralgamiSOUNDS, and were willing to make us their first release (other than JC’s stuff he has been putting out under the same name for years). I know not everyone has a tape player these days, but cassette tapes are cheap, quick and a very good way to get people a digital download but still give them an object that they can hold in their hands. And I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Jesse Lucas did such a great job with the artwork!

You’re playing with A7A and Cher Von. What do you like about each of them?
I have never seen two A7A shows that were the same, and I have never seen one that wasn’t amazing. It’s incredibly refreshing to see a show that consists of an entirely new composition. JC (Denison) is a musical force and I’m so glad to have him back in town. And there are so many of my favorite musicians performing with him that night: Dane Waters, Scott Carney, Drew Miller, Drew English, Cheyenne Mize… The list goes on, and it is ridiculous. I am sure they will be setting the bar absurdly high for us to follow. I just hope that we will be able to steal some of them for our own performance.

And I caught a set from Cher Von at Decca recently. I had never heard her before. She is the real deal. It’s like all the talent and ability that you see with TuneYards, except with the added bonus that I actually enjoy listening to it. I can’t wait to see her set.

How do you feel about the Louisville music scene at this moment in history?
Oh man, I couldn’t feel better. I’ve been inspired by all the growth I’ve seen among people in my age group … And I could probably talk to you for an hour about how great I think the young kids are right now. White Reaper are so good, and so are the Debauchees. I’m so happy that kids are picking up instruments and playing things that I love. There was definitely a minute where I thought every person in that generation was gonna grow up to be a DJ - no disrespect meant to DJ’s.

And I can’t talk about Louisville’s music scene without mentioning Cropped Out. I look forward to punk rock summer camp every year … Honestly, I probably would have moved by now if it weren’t for the music scene. There are definitely better places I could go to focus on being a glass artist. I have passed up several opportunities because I have found the idea of leaving my friends and this music scene behind incomprehensible. It really is a special place.

c. 2015 The Voice-Tribune