Connecting with the Community

Ah … food, clothes, shelter and music. The necessities of life. At least for the Indiana Trip Factory, that is.\n As sophomore guitarist Ryan Hertz said, that's really what life is all about. That and energy.\nThe exchange of energy between band and audience is one of the reasons they play. Music isn't about fame or success. It's not about just the fans, and it's not about just the band. And it's certainly not about the money. For ITF, music is about the experience.\n"What's important about what we do right now is that every time you see a show, 80 percent of the show is happening for the first time … and it will be the last time that happens too," says Hertz, who says ITF plays to the moment.\nThe group began when Hertz and sophomore drummer Jeff Shiffman, two high school friends from Detroit, were looking to start a band in college and expanded because of the "the guitar pick of fate."\nThis first was meeting junior classical bass major Jesse McQuarters at music school orientation and exchanging names. Then it was strolling into the guitar store.\n"This was fate … we went in, and Chris was playing," said Hertz. Chris Welz is a sophomore from the suburbs of Chicago who joined the band with a six string in hand. \n"It was a weird experience," says Welz. "I just kind of looked over and saw them and I kept playing, and they just sat down next to me, and (we) started playing together without even speaking." \nAnd so it was. ITF was born almost by accident during the band mates' freshman year.\nThen with a preclass show outside of Read Center one musky August eve this past fall, freshman Andrew Kenower witnessed his future: the auxiliary percussionist of ITF. \nDuring the first year, the original four started jamming outside of McNutt Quad. They hung an extension cord out a window and played outside to a miniscule crowd until a woman told them it wasn't allowed. She then hired them to play at the Parent's Weekend Brunch.\nITF's first real show was at the Cheshire Café in Collins Center last March. Since then the group has played at various dorms, bars, T.I.S. Music Shop and the Indiana Memorial Union.\nThe group tries to stress playing shows where it can reach as many people as possible. ITF acknowledged it's been playing a lot of bars lately, but only because there aren't many other places to play. A preferred venue for the musicians is a good house party. \nOne of their better shows, though, wasn't even in the Bloomington area. It was at a summer gig in Noblesville.\n"There was such a good vibe there, good people," says Welz about the band's summer gig. ITF played at Timber Ho campground in Noblesville, home to Dead Creek campground during the mid-June Phish concert.\nYet in Bloomington, the band's best experience is connecting with other people in the community, not just playing music. Hertz believes the key to music is that it breaks down barriers between people.\n"There is hope," adds Shiffman, with one of many three-word catch phrases of the day. \nThe stars of success are not in the eyes of ITF. Sure, it would be nice to play outside of Bloomington and host larger crowds, but the band seems to emit the general attitude that success doesn't really matter. These musicians will play anywhere the opportunity arises. \n"One of my goals with the band is to have as much variety as possible," says McQuarters. \nWith the band's blend of jazz, rock, heart and energy, I would have to agree with the musicians. There are absolutely no limits. \nIndiana Trip Factory will play Jan. 26 as part of a local Grateful Dead tribute at the Cellar Lounge, 123 S. Walnut St.; Jan. 27 at Sigma Phi Fraternity on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette; and March 10 at the Cellar Lounge. ITF also has four home-produced CDs available, three live discs and "Chili Mac," the band's demo. For more information, check out IndianaTripFactory.com or e-mail IndianaTripFactory@hotmail.com.