Rockers Go For a Ride

By Devin Ross

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

NASHVILLE, Tenn- More than 600 bikers came out on April 21 for the fourth annual biking and music festival “Tour de Fun” to watch 30 bands play at 13 venues across East Nashville.

The day-long festival was started by party planner Tyler Walker while he was an undergraduate at Middle Tennessee State University. The idea came to Tyler at a late night bon-fire after a day of bike riding and show going.

“Me and my friends would all ride our bikes to shows together, so I just decided to combine the two and turn it into something bigger,” said Walker.

          This was the first year the festival was held in Nashville after three years in Murfreesboro. The festival was started in 2009 but took a brief hiatus last year due to friends moving out of town, increasing skepticism from The Murfreesboro Police Department and the ever-present possibility of overcrowding.  

 “I just felt that it had outgrown the city,” said Walker, who relocated to Nashville two years ago. “I could feel the time was right for a change.”

However, this year’s festival was not as large as its predecessors due to competing weekend events going on in Nashville and former tour-goers not willing to make the commute to the city. In addition, Walker was faced with acquiring permits, increased security, port-a-potties, and police officers to direct traffic as a result of the move.

           “We had to be much more legit,” said Walker. “I only got to plan for about six months, and I also plan for “South by Southwest” in Austin, so I probably should have given myself more time, but everything went pretty well regardless.”

             Bikers rode through Nashville’s East Side, starting off in Inglewood and stopping along the way at different venues as they progressed south towards the Five Points District. Bands played about 15 minute each, and there were typically about three performances at two or three different venues simultaneously. Festivities started at 11 a.m with a cookout at the Riverside Village Green, 1400 McGavock Pike., and lasted until midnight with performances at The Crying Wolf, 823 Woodland St., and Foobar, 2511 Gallatin Ave., making stops along the way at art spaces, record stores, and parking lots.

           As the temperature hit the mid ‘80s, bikers kept themselves cool by having super soaker fights and drinking large quantities of alcohol. Only a couple of bikes were stolen, and there were only a handful of minor injuries

Next year, Tyler plans to put on another “Tour de Fun” in Nashville, as well as one in Austin, Texas.  He says he’s happy with the way things went this year but that his proudest achievement with this year’s tour was “proving that me and my friends could work together to pull something incredible off.” 

To learn more about the event visit http://tourdefun.net/.

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Defense Conquers Blue and White Spring Game

By Cameron Hunnicutt

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee State University Raiders football team held its annual "Blue and White Spring Football Game" on April 19 in hopes of getting a preview of where the team stands.

            The White team (defense) came out on top 44-27 due to four turnovers in a scoring system that rewards defensive stops and takeaways. This is good news for a team that ranked fifth nationally in turnovers.

            “Our junior college linebacking core, Cavellis Luckett and Trey Wafford, fell into our plan and our scheme pretty good and adapted well,” said Director of Player Development Brent Brock. “A lot of times you worry about those kinds of guys not adjusting to the new scheme when they’ve been in junior college the past couple of years.”

            Three inexperienced scholarship quarterbacks are replacing Logan Kilgore, who graduated as the program’s all-time leader in touchdown passes last season. Sophomore Quarterback Austin Grammer went eight of 11 passing for 125 yards and one TD.

            Redshirt Freshman Quarterback AJ Erdely was eight of 16 for 85 yards. True freshman Brent Stockstill, a Siegel High graduate, was eight of 16 for 54 yards and two interceptions. Walk-on Quarterback Nolan Genovese threw the third pick of the game.

            The three quarterbacks essentially finished the spring game in a tie, leaving Head Coach Rick Stockstill unsure of a declared starter.

            “There were some shining moments as usual like anything, but we’ve got to clean up the turnover deal, which we put an emphasis on, and a lot of that has to do with inexperience,” said Brock. “It’s kind of a catch-22 situation also where your defense is performing well and they’re very talented. Sometimes it creates some poor decisions.”

            Players like redshirt seniors Patrick McNeil, Leighton Gasque, Isaiah Anderson and linebacker Christian Henry are expected to step up and take leadership this season.

            “I would have to say there are some underclassmen that are going to become leaders and have begun to show leadership capabilities,” said Brock. “The quarterback guy has always got to be that guy too.”

            A few key players were kept out of the scrimmage due to injuries or mishaps that could jeopardize them long term.

            Safety Kevin Byard and Linebacker TT Barber only played in spurts to avoid severe injuries. Four of the team’s top running backs missed all of spring due to injuries, leaving walk-on players to carry most of the load. Wide receivers Christian Collis (broken ankle) and Ed Batties (knee) did not participate in the scrimmage.

            Overall, the team was able to walk away healthy without any self-inflicted injuries. The Blue Raiders open summer camp Aug. 3 before hosting Savanna State on Aug. 30. The list of opponents down the schedule are Minnesota, Western Kentucky, Memphis, Old Dominion, Southern Miss., Marshall, UAB, BYU, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, and U-TEP.

For more information on Blue Raiders football, visit www.goblueraiders.com/section.cfm/sport/football.

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MTSU Chorus Gives Stand-Up Performance

By Desmond Johnson

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—The MTSU Singers gave a wonderful performance on the night of April 17 at a concert in the music hall of the Wright Music building at Middle Tennessee State University.

The concert was made up of nine singers and five instrumentalists. A total of eight songs were performed, including a circle song that volunteers from the crowd used to display their vocal skills. The concert lasted an hour and a half with a crowd of about 150 people in the audience. The crowd was very connected and cheered and clapped after each song was finished. Soprano Jenny Mills and alto Nikki Elias both gave outstanding solo performances. Jenny Mills sang “Cherokee” and Nikki Elias sang “Wave”. Saxophone player Tristan Gordon also gave a great solo performance during Jenny Mills solo.

“I’m usually nervous before the concert,” said Gordon in an interview following the concert. “But when it’s time for my solo, I seem to zone out, for a minute it is just me and my saxophone.”

MTSU Singers Director Cedric Dent was satisfied with the performance of his chorus and praised them afterwards. Dent has been part of the MTSU music program since 2011. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan where he is originally from.

He is responsible for selecting and narrowing down the singers from the fall audition held every school year. Students who make it in are asked to stay in the chorus at least one full school year.

Dent had a career as a singer before becoming a music coordinator. He sang in a gospel jazz group named “Take 6” for 25 years.

“There are always things that we can work on and improve on but they did a great job,” said Dent when asked how he felt about his MTSU Singers overall performance.

The MTSU School of Music has a history of providing education to students who have gone on to have successful music careers. The school invites supporters of music education to make tax-deductible donation gifts to the School of Music. Donations will make a big impact on current and future students, pushing them to become composers, conductors, educators, historians, industry specialists, performers and music theorists.

 For more information on how to support the MTSU School of Music, contact School of Music Director Michael Parkinson at (615) 898-2469 or College of Liberal Arts Developments Officer Meredith Kerr at (615) 898-5223. You can also visit www.mtsu.edu/supportMT.

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Wooten And Friends Rock 3rd & Lindsley

By Amber Danberry

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The jazz/funk band Wooten and Friends played a lively show at 9:30 p.m. April 16 at 3^rd & Lindsley Bar and Grill in Nashville, Tenn. that featured talented musicians throughout the evening.

Regi Wooten

“Every night has got to be ladies night,” Regi Wooten shouted from the stage numerous times as the theme of the night rang loud and clear throughout the venue. It proved to be a very special evening for two ladies who were celebrating their birthday.

Wooten, on guitar and vocals, was one of five very talented musicians to take the stage for the show at 3^rd and Lindsley, 818 Third Ave. S. in the SoBro neighborhood. The other musicians in the group were Erik Blue, keyboard and vocals; Steve Forrest, bass and vocals; Rock Williams, saxophone and flute; and Louis Winfield, drums.

Wooten and Friends kept everyone laughing, clapping and singing from start to end, around midnight. Some of the songs heard throughout the evening were The Temptations’ “Sugar pie, Honey Bunch” and Jackson Five’s “ABC 123,” which segued into a beat boxing performance by local talent Thomas Anderson.

“The Wootens do old school funk as well as, or better, than anybody,” said Ron Brice, owner of 3^rd & Lindsley Bar and Grill.

He also said that all of the band members have their own personal styles, which are very diverse. When they all come together, it goes back to what they love to play.

“It’s always a great show,” Brice noted.

Thomas Anderson

Wooten & Friends originally began as “The Wooten Brothers,” which included Wooten and most of his other talented brothers with him. When they first started playing in 1992, they were more song-based. Today, they do more of a jam-style show, which proves to be more enjoyable for the band as well as the audience, said Brice.

“Their careers have flourished, and they are gone more often, so it has evolved into more of Regi’s thing,” said Brice, who originally booked them at the bar 22 years ago, after their previous regular venue closed down. “When the brothers are in town, they jump in.”

            Catch Wooten and Friends’ next show at 3^rd & Lindsley at 9:30 pm Wed., May 7. The cover charge is $5. To see a list of other upcoming shows at the venue, check out their website at http://www.3rdandlindsley.com. For more information about Wooten and Friends, visit http://crescentmoonentertainment.com/regi-wooten-and-friends.

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