Hip-hop shows feature locals, stars Promoters aim at changing Valley's image of the music genre

To Lehigh Valley native Jerry Deifer Jr., hip-hop is a culture, an art form, a way to keep teens busy and out of trouble.

But for plenty of other people, rap music seems more sinister.

"The hip-hop genre has a cloud over it -- people think that it involves drugs, guns," said Deifer, a concert promoter and event coordinator.

As Bethlehem officials try to crack down on gang-related violence, city police even pointed out some rappers' gang affiliations at a July 25 community meeting.

But hip-hop, Deifer said, is "not the gangster, shooting-your-gun thing."

Deifer and his partners at Indaglo Inc. aim to change the Valley's image of hip-hop, starting with a full schedule of rap and R&B acts today at Musikfest. Rising R&B singer Ne-Yo and rapper and actor LL Cool J headline the bill with a 7 p.m. RiverPlace show.

Today's lineup also includes local hip-hop artists like rapper Fuse, known offstage as Lamar Seymour of Allentown. Like the dozen other acts Indaglo has scheduled for a six-hour block of hip-hop starting at noon at Plaza Tropical, Seymour is eager to show off his skills for the tens of thousands of people who attend Musikfest every day.

"[It's] a good opportunity for me to get more exposure, [and to] represent the hip-hop in the Valley," Seymour said. "As far as, like, hip-hop, it might bring more positive attitudes to the Valley."

Instead of violence or drugs, he said, his rhymes are "about my situation and where I'm coming from" -- like how he sold T-shirts out of his house to scrape together enough money to buy recording studio time.

Indaglo, which formed in 2004 and recently moved into an Allentown office, grew out of a chance meeting between Deifer and New York City-based celebrity photographer Walik Goshorn. The pair then joined with Deifer's cousin Matt Deifer, who also had experience promoting concerts.

After their plans to bring superstar rapper Kanye West to last year's Musikfest fell through, the Deifer cousins -- both Whitehall High School graduates -- and Goshorn came back to Musikfest organizers in early 2006 with plans for a full day of hip-hop.

"We thought, 'Gee, let's try it,' " said Jeffrey Parks, president of ArtsQuest, the organization that runs Musikfest. "Our hallmark, if anything, is that we have diverse performers," he added, noting that Musikfest has featured hip-hop in the past.

The shows' target audience is already part of the Valley community, Parks said. "The people who like hip-hop and rap ... they come to our high schools."

Teenagers flood the festival every night, but they typically seem more interested in meeting each other than in the music, Parks noted.

The hip-hop shows, Jerry Deifer said, will "give them something to do, so we don't have a crowd on Main Street" getting in the way of concertgoers and vendors.

It sounds good to 14-year-old Daniel Rodriguez of Allentown and 15-year-old Jason Santana of New York City, who were hanging out with friends Saturday afternoon at Musikfest.

"I wish I had tickets," Jason said when asked about the LL Cool J show.

Daniel added, "It'll bring the girls."

Still, sales for tonight's show have been sluggish. Less than half the tickets had sold by midweek, and it was still far from a sellout by Friday, confirmed ArtsQuest spokeswoman Kim Plyler.

But, she added, "we know there will be a lot of people who walk up and purchase tickets on the day of."

And despite references to some rappers at the meeting about gangs last month, Bethlehem police don't expect any problems at Sunday's shows, said Deputy Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics.

Concert organizers "do their homework on these people and see what kind of activity has happened at their concerts in the past," said Bedics, who serves on Bethlehem's gang prevention task force. "We really don't have any additional concerns."

Police said the same is true in Allentown, where Indaglo is promising a red carpet, star-studded post-show party at Banana Joe's, a club at S. Third and Hamilton streets.

Matt Deifer said he and his partners chose acts they knew wouldn't cause problems. "We booked artists that are going to be family friendly, artists that are going to be ... easier for a larger population to relate to."

LL Cool J, for example, is a two-time Grammy winner who starred in the NBC sitcom "In the House" from 1995 to 1999, and Ne-Yo's CD "In My Own Words" debuted in February at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

"[If] you listen to the lyrics and all that," Matt Deifer said, "it's pretty safe stuff."

Jerry Deifer agreed, saying that, to him, hip-hop can be all about positive messages.

"Stay in school, stay off the streets, [and] bear away from the drug thing -- it's not the right path to go. A lot of people are screwing their lives up at 14, 15 years old." he said. "Whatever we can do to get the kids to listen."

are great. And the beer and the brats make that festival. You just can't get brats like that out here."

But it's really the music that attracts people like Bartels.

"Wayne does such a good job. It's well-rounded entertainment, a little bit of everything for everybody. I get to see people that I don't get to see out here. La Crosse is very lucky to have that festival." Bartels blessed with 'dream band'

Vince Bartels was 8 when his dad hired him for his first professional gig.

Vince had been taking drum lessons for about a year when the drummer in his dad's band didn't show up for a gig at the Plumber's Union Christmas party.

"Put your drums in the truck and put a suit on," his dad told him.

At the end of the night, Hank Bartels handed young Vince $35.

Was he hooked on jazz?

You bet he was.

"I grew up on jazz. My father was the original bass player in the Dukes of Dixieland. Dad played music in Denver and Wyoming, and I was a member of the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.

It was the Troopers, in fact, that first brought Bartels to

La Crosse.

"I came to La Crosse for drum and bugle corps for a Blue Stars competition. We stayed in the homes of the Blue Stars."

He has been here many times since to perform at the Great River Jazz Fest. And he'll be here again this year, this time with his all-star band, Migrant Jazz Workers.

"I've always been playing music since I was a kid," Bartels said. When he started lessons as a 7-year-old, he couldn't read music, so his teacher taught him with rhythms and beats, something Bartels understood very well.

"(Drums) kind of found me. Dad put me on lessons because I kept beating my mom's pots and pans. I would turn Dad's records on and try to play to them."

Following his dad's advice, Bartels pursued music with a passion, but got himself a day job to pay the bills.

"Being in construction, I own my own business," he said, so he doesn't have to worry about putting food on the table. That allows Bartels to play music whenever and wherever he wants.

And what he wants nowadays, he said, is the opportunity to play with the best musicians available to him. Hence, Migrant Jazz Workers.

"I put that band together about three years ago at the LA Jazz festival. These guys have been friends of mine for years and years. I liked playing with them, and we hit it off good."

So, for the first time in his music career, Bartels decided to be the guy in charge.

"Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen yourself," he said. "I put my dream band together. I picked some pretty good guys, and it's pretty hard to book 'em," he said, so they don't play often. "They're from all over the country."

This band is a way of stepping outside of his comfort zone, Bartels said.

"I'm trying to come out of the box a little bit at 50. I've been in bands, and for the first time I'm trying to lead the gigs. The band is awesome. I don't think there's a better band in the country for what we're doing. The greatest say 'yes' when I call them to play. I feel blessed that way."

And the greatest blessing of all, Bartels said, is that he is still playing jazz after all these years.

"I didn't have a choice. It's an addiction. You ask my wife -- I have to do it. If I stop playing, I'm absolutely miserable."

The Great River Jazz Fest, Aug. 3 to 6, in La Crosse, will celebrate its 21st year in conjunction with the City of La Crosse's Sesquicentennial Celebration and the annual Sand on the Riverfront. Riverside Park along the banks of the Mississippi River will be filled with activities relating to the history and culture of La Crosse, including history walks, architectural tours, log rolling, sand sculpting contest, story telling, period costume displays, games, dances, food and much more. The Jazz Fest grounds, with two outdoor stages and the indoor venue in the La Crosse Center Ballroom, will feature 10 jazz bands representing a mixture of jazz styles.

What's up: Fiona Apple, Friday; The Bacon Brothers, Sunday; Jeff Daniels, Thursday; Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush, Aug. 18; Ian Gillan, Aug. 30; Rainer Maria, Sept. 6; M. Ward, Sept. 7; Mindy Smith, Sept. 9; Taj Mahal, Sept. 14; Calexico, Sept. 27.

Why go? The Pabst, which dates to 1895, is every bit as dazzling as the Chicago Theatre--perhaps more so. Not only a National Historic Landmark, but also a vibrant, 1300-seat venue that hosts important pop and rock acts on a non-stop basis.

Street cred: Built by brewing magnate Capt. Frederick Pabst. If beer is not the official beverage of rock, it's hard to imagine what is.

More info: 800-511-1552; www.pabsttheater.org

Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Where: 2699 Hwy D, East Troy, Wis.

Distance from Chicago: 94 miles

What's up: "Family Values" tour with Korn and The Deftones plus Stone Sour, Dir en grey and Flyleaf, Aug. 26; Aerosmith and Motley Crue, Oct. 7.

Why go?: While the acoustics and layout of Alpine Valley make it resemble a cheesehead cousin of Tinley Park's boxy First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Alpine has a more pastoral feel, as it's in resort territory. It also boasts a snazzy wood roof. A fine place to party with 36,000 of your best friends. (On a sadder note, Alpine Valley was the site of Stevie Ray Vaughan's last concert before he died in a helicopter crash there on Aug. 27, 1990.)

Caveat: Local farmers often sell "discount parking" on their land to concert-goers. Last time we checked, Alpine Valley's parking was free.

More info: 262-642-4400; www.livenation.com

Rialto Square Theatre

Where: 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet

Distance from Chicago: 40 miles

What's up: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Aug. 30; Chicago, Sept. 7; James Brown, Sept. 20.

Why go?: If you love the old-time grandeur of Chicago's Aragon or Music Box, Rialto Square will satisfy. Opened as a vaudeville house in 1926, the Rialto Square is deliciously opulent--and big at 1,900-plus seats. Walk inside and you're greeted by a dozen mammoth marble columns, capped with gilded Corinthian crowns.

Street cred: Joliet sits astride the old U.S. Route 66, and scenes from "The Blues Brothers" were filmed at the city's since-shuttered limestone prison. What could be more rock 'n' roll than that?

More info: 815-726-7171; www.rialtosquare.com

Otto's Niteclub & Underground

Where: 118 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb

Distance from Chicago: 65 miles

What's up: The Goodyear Pimps, Aug. 25; Mr. Blotto, Aug. 26; Local H, Sept. 1; Catfight, Sept. 8.

Why go?: Not many rock venues make it past the 20-year mark. Opened in 1985, Otto's has hosted the likes of Wilco, the Violent Femmes, George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, George Thorogood, Ted Nugent, Soul Asylum and Motorhead. Upstairs venue fits 650; underground portion (capacity about 325) has a separate stage with free shows all week.

Caveat: Located on the Northern Illinois University campus, which might not be so great if you're worried about being the old dude in the crowd.

More info: 815-758-2715; www.ottosdekalb.com

Kraftbrau Brewery

Where: 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich.

Distance from Chicago: 150 miles

What's up: The Sinatras, The Sleestacks, Friday; Gerudo, Hammerhead Kid, Salmon, Beastman, Saturday; Baby Teeth (Kazoo School Benefit), Aug. 26; Wolf Parade, Aug. 31.

Why go?: If you're vacationing in Western Michigan, Kraftbrau is as close as you'll get to a Chicago-style indie rock venue, unless you head north to Grand Rapids. Reasonable covers, too.

Street cred: Kalamazoo is a very rock 'n' roll city name. Many Beatles guitars were built there at the former Gibson plant. "K-zoo" is also home to ProCo Sound, famous for its gnarly "Rat" guitar distortion box.

On its Web site, Brook Mays said customers should expect normal turnaround times for instrument repairs.

Meanwhile, SB Capital will look for a buyer for the McFadyen store and its other leased locations, McCartin said. If SB doesn't find a buyer, then it will close the stores.

SB Capital is a retail liquidator, according to Hoovers. SB Capital is owned by Schottenstein Stores Corp. Schottenstein has stakes in Value American Eagle Outfitters, Retail Ventures and about 50 shopping centers.

SB Capital's partners in the Brook Mays purchase are EMCC Inc., Tiger Capital Group and Palisades Collections.

Calls were not returned by SB Capital Group or by Bill Everitt, Brook Mays' chief executive.

McFadyen was started in the 1920s, when Scott McFadyen bought the W.F. Blount Piano Co. and renamed the company after himself. McFadyen operates stores throughout the Carolinas.

Brook Mays was started in Dallas in 1901. The company operates 63 stores under 10 names in eight states.