Popcorn and Pen

Friday, July 19 at the 2008 Hamilton County 4-H Fair included the Pygmy Goat show, rabbit show, chicken barbeque contest, aquatic science judging, sheep fitting contest, homemade ice cream contest and dairy goat show. Click “Read More” for photos from the day’s activities. [Read more →]

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz showed his music, guitar playing and onstage antics are just as quirky as his personality while performing to a sold-out The Lawn at White River in Indianapolis Thursday night.

Wearing a fedora, white shirt and dress slacks, Mraz walked onto the stage barefoot – flashing a half-grin behind a Styrofoam cup he sipped on. After setting the cup down and rearranging his guitar from his back to his chest, Mraz proceeded to begin his 100-minute musical journey.

Mraz opened with “Live High,” an indicator of what to expect from his concert – a heavy setlist of We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things songs. But after playing the first song off his latest album, which was released on May 13, Mraz performed his first career single, “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).”

As if the fans losing control wasn’t enough, Mraz himself got swept up in the song and began dancing around the stage as his band – complete with a big band ensemble of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and a rhythm section – continued playing a live jam session. The extended remix of “The Remedy” also included the famous Mraz rap in between his impromptu dances. [Read more →]

Thursday, July 17 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair included poultry judging, the bucket calf show and junior and senior showmanship, Kids Farm Adventure, the 4-H beef grooming contest, dog obedience and dog showmanship. For photos from the day, click “Read More.” [Read more →]

2008 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Schedule [Read more →]

For Kari Lee Castetter, Friday’s 4-H Queen Pageant was “like a dream.”

The 18-year-old Hamilton Southeastern graduate was chosen to reign as queen for 2008.

Visibly trembling and genuinely surprised following the judges’ decision, the Ball State-bound beauty said she is looking forward to the 4-H fair which begins Thursday and following in the footsteps of her predecessor, the 2007 Hamilton County 4-H Queen Erika Obereiner. [Read more →]

The novelty of a John Mayer concert is fading if you’re a mainstream fan of his music.

Nowadays a Mayer concert ticket should come with a warning: Expect the unexpected and assume nothing, especially if there is a song you want to hear.

Mayer is nothing short of a talented musician and a fine technician of the guitar. His voice is smoky smooth and his ability as a songwriter is shown by his strong, simple melodies and mass crowd sing-alongs.

But his past two concerts at Verizon Wireless Music Center – including Saturday night’s stop – have shown Mayer’s live performance as an immensely talented snooze-fest. [Read more →]

To see more photos of Fourth of July festivities from Noblesville, Cicero and Sheridan, follow the link.

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As Tom Petty performed his greatest hits to a sold-out audience in Noblesville, parody king “Weird Al” Yankovic was busy entertaining his crowd musically and comically at Indianapolis’ “The Lawn” at White River Thursday night.

While the two hour and 15 minute set included all variety of genres – alternative rock, classic rock, rap, R &B, pop, funk, ‘70s and ‘80s – “Weird Al” started off the evening with his bread and butter – polka.

“Polkarama” included a polka remix/mesh that begins with the “Chicken Dance” and ends with Kayne West’s “Gold Digger.” Other songs in the medley include radio hits from the Black Eyed Peas, Franz Ferdinand, Weezer, Coldplay, Modest Mouse, Gorillaz, Pussycat Dolls, The Killers, Velvet Revolver, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell and Rihanna. [Read more →]

Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore was injured Monday in an ATV accident on his farm outside Charlottesville, Va. LeRoi was immediately transported to the University of Virginia Health System for treatment.

According to the band’s Web site, www.dmband.com, Moore’s condition has been upgraded from serious to fair.

“We would like to thank everyone for the generous outpouring of well wishes and support that LeRoi has received,” the Web site said. [Read more →]

Will Smith is the undisputed king of the Fourth of July weekend movie blockbuster — and this year isn’t likely to be any different. His previous box office smashes include “Independence Day” in 1996, “Men in Black” in 1997, and “Men in Black II” in 2002 – all of which have grossed more than $50 million in their opening weekend.

But will his latest project, “Hancock,” continue his holiday trend?

Probably – but that all depends on the power of word of mouth. [Read more →]