Steel-drum band entertains students

As students basked in the sunshine in the arboretum yesterday afternoon, music from Steel Panache placed them a little closer to the Caribbean.

Steel Panache, a professional steel band based in Bloomington, performs music with influences from Trinidad and Tobago.

The band played under the gazebo at 10th Street and Fee Lane for an hour as part of IU’s Arts Week Everywhere.

While some of the instruments looked more traditional, including a drum and a cymbal, others stood out — many of the members were playing on whole or partial 55-gallon oil barrels, and one was playing a wine bottle.

The oil barrels are the only acoustic instrument to be invented in the 20th century.

Adam Smith, the member playing a handmade instrument that included the wine bottle and cymbal, explained that in Trinidad, it is traditional to play instruments made of tiny trinkets.

Codirector Tom Berich said that in Trinidad, it is also more customary to use rum bottles.

“But we’re wine drinkers,” he said.

Although plenty of students heard the band, few stopped to listen on their way to class. A few took pictures of the eight-man band while they continued walking.

“This is still a bigger crowd than we were expecting,” Berich said between songs.

Bloomington resident Judy Downey was one of a dozen or so audience members who remained seated for most of the concert. She said she had seen some of the band members perform elsewhere and that they were so much fun, she wanted to see more.

“I read about this show last week, and I love steel-drum music,” she said. “It is just such a beautiful day for an outdoors concert.”

The beautiful day presented problems for the band, however. Halfway through the concert, the band had to relocate to the shade.

“The sun heats the drums up and kicks them out of tune,” one of the band members explained.

Berich said the band’s ability to improvise in such situations is what makes its members so close. Although they have only been playing together for about 18 months, he said they are tuned in to each other’s styles.

“In this particular group, everyone has really good ears and can improvise as an ensemble together,” Berich said. “They’re probably the best in the world at it.”

Despite the setback, the band finished the show and continued turning heads.

“This is why I go to Indiana,” said one passerby while dancing to the music.