May 13, 2010

Kalamazoo’s Devastating Tornado, 30 Years Later With Blake Naftel and Chris Killian

On May 13, 1980, Kalamazoo faced an unprecedented F3 tornado that carved its way through the downtown central business district destroying everything in its path. The devastation resulted in several deaths and millions of dollars in damages to practically every downtown business.

Journalist Blake Naftel has been collecting video and other data on the tornado for more than a decade. The tornado served as the impetus for Naftel’s career aspirations and has resulted in a sprawling documentary project.

Naftel and fellow journalist Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the tragic events that took place 30-years ago on this day.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

See a video web extra with Blake and Chris here
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May 11, 2010

Seth Bernard Discusses “Is This You?”

Lake City, Michigan’s Seth Bernard has released a new record titled “Is This You?” as a companion piece to his album “This Here”. Bernard spoke to the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the album ahead of a show at The Strutt in downtown Kalamazoo.

“Is This You” takes listeners on a journey through joyful and challenging rites of passage and moments in life. The orchestrations give the album a richness and depth that envelops the listener and is a window in to the talent of Bernard and his musical collaborators.

Recorded in Michigan at the Heart Center Studio, “Is This You” features Bernard’s longtime life and music partner May Erlewine along with a full rock band backing on many selections by Bernard’s friends with engineering by Kalamazoo’s Ian Gorman and mastering by Glenn Brown.

Listen, download, share the interview below.

EXTRA: Have you heard the documentary produced by NCH host Steven Davy featuring Seth Bernard and May Erlewine? Click here to check it out.
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May 11, 2010

Kalamazoo Tornado Web Extra with Chris Killian and Blake Naftel

May 13 marks the 30-year anniversary of an F3 tornado that destroyed much of downtown Kalamazoo, Mich., and wreaked havoc in Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties.

To mark the anniversary, journalists Blake Naftel of Fox 17 News and the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour studio to discuss the event. See them both here in an special NCH web extra.

Also, be sure to stop by the Nonchalant Café Hour in the coming days for a post with the full interview with Blake and Chris. Until then, please enjoy this exclusive behind the scenes video.

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May 7, 2010

The Kalamazoo Tornado 30 Years Later, Also Seth Bernard Releases Is This You: This Week on the NCH

May 13 marks a significant anniversary for Kalamazoo. In 1980, two F3 tornadoes touched down and carved paths through Van Buren and Kalamazoo Counties eventually winding right through the heart of Kalamazoo downtown central business district.

Five people were killed, and over 100 injuries were reported along with millions of dollars in damages.

To mark the 30-year anniversary, journalists Blake Naftel of Fox 17 News and the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Chris Killian will stop by the studio to retell the story of Kalamazoo’s worst day in modern history.

<<UPDATE>> Click here to see a behind-the-scenes video of Blake and Chris

Click here to listen to the conversation with Blake and Chris

Also on the show, musician Seth Bernard has a new album out titled “Is This You?”

We’ll find out the details behind the album from one of Michigan’s most talented and prolific artists ahead of his CD release here in Kalamazoo Saturday May 8th at the Strutt.

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene.

<<UPDATE>> Click here to listen to the interview with Seth Bernard

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

[photo credits: E. Lorey from Vanished Kalamazoo &  Seth Bernard and May Erlewine]
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April 9, 2010

Tambourines to Glory Closes WMU Theatre Season and the KFS Presents The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: This Week on the NCH

Western Michigan University Theatre Department will close out its 2009-2010 season with Langston Hughes’ gospel musical play Tambourines to Glory.

Tambourines to Glory, which features the WMU Gospel Choir, is the story of faith and friendship in a storefront church in Harlem opened by Essie, who wants to deliver the gospel, and Laura, who uses the church to get gambling money and to attract men.

The Nonchalant Café Hour will be joined by WMU Professor of Theatre Dr. Von Washington who directs the show as his farewell production ahead of his retirement later this spring as a full-time professor and director of WMU’s Multicultural Theatre program.

Performances of “Tambourines to Glory” at the Shaw Theatre

* Thursday, April 8–8 p.m.
* Friday, April 9–8 p.m.
* Saturday, April 10–8 p.m.
* Thursday, April 15–8 p.m.
* Friday, April 16–8 p.m.
* Saturday, April 17–8 p.m.
* Sunday, April 18–2 p.m.

Also on the show tune in for a chat with President of the Kalamazoo Film Society Mike Marchak. This weekend at the Little Theater the KFS is presenting The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
directed by Terry Gilliam.

The 2009 film stars the late Heath Ledger in his final performance and cast that includes Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Lily Cole and Michigan native Verne Troyer.

See a trailer of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus below:

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene and our weekly conversation with WIDR Music Director Jeremy Martin in to chat about his top music selections of the week.

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

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April 6, 2010

44 Elite Kalamazoo Hip Hop WIDR Music Director Top Pick of the Week

NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA NCH WEB EXTRA

WIDR FM Music Director Jeremy Martin “Jers” stops by the Nonchalant Café Hour for a regular segment to discuss his top music selection for the week. This week, Jers recommends the Kalamazoo-based hip hop group 44 Elite as his top pick of the week.

Also be sure to check out more picks from Jers in the Kalamazoo Gazette’s Ticket section published every Thursday.

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April 2, 2010

Oberon, Whitsun, Golden Cap Saison Released: The Summer Trifecta of Michigan Beers

Compared to the snow fall this time last year, 2010′s release of Bell’s Oberon matches the feelings of summer the wheat beer embodies with temperatures outside around 80 degrees as I type this.

KalamaBrew contributor Josh Smith has the latest on the release of Kalamazoo’s favorite beer and details on Arcadia’s popular Whitsun also New Holland’s Golden Cap Saison which were both released this week.

Plus the unusual tale of why Founder’s Breakfast Stout has been banned in Sweden. Definitely worth a listen.

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April 2, 2010

Gorilla Comedy Comes to the Strutt also Oberon is Released to the Masses: This week on the NCH

Stand up comedy is headed to the Strutt in downtown Kalamazoo as part of a new series called Gorilla Comedy. The first show of the series is scheduled for Monday April 5 and features some of Chicago’s “wildest” stand-up comedians including Aaron Weaver, Simmons McDavid, Tony Blanco among other.

As a special treat, former WIDR FM radio talent Ken Witzgall will be hosting the event. Tune in Friday for a chat with Witzgall, now in Chicago, for all the details.

And … Check out our regular chat with KalamaBrew for all the latest on the Midwest craft beer scene and our weekly conversation with WIDR Music Director Jeremy Martin in to chat about his top music selections of the week.

Listen to the NCH streaming online:

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March 30, 2010

Ben Lando from Iraq Oil Report Discusses Reporting in Iraq, Complex Energies Market

Journalist Ben Lando, the Iraq bureau chief of Iraq Oil Report, stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour recently for a conversation about the challenges of covering the oil energies market in the heart of the Middle East.

Lando, a former general manager at WIDR FM during his studies at Western Michigan University, is also regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal and TIME reporting on events in Iraq including a moving first hand account of the recent Baghdad hotel bombings which he discusses during the interview with NCH host Steven Davy.

Click on the media player below to stream, download and share.

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March 23, 2010

Chicago Heats Up WMU’s Williams Theatre

Chicago, the hit Tony Award-winning show, opened last weekend at WMU’s Williams Theatre. Actress Kayla Peabody (Velma Kelly) and actor Billy Casey (Billy Flynn) stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday to discuss the show and the incredible work and fun they and the entire cast are having performing in the cabaret courtroom.

Also be sure to check out the NCH Web Extra with Casey and Peabody.

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