SpaceWords à la Mode Satiates Showgoers
Article and photos by Melodie Yvonne Ramey
LAFAYETTE, IN – Music lovers with a sweet tooth traveled from all over to enjoy a little Music à la Mode hosted by the magnanimous men of SpaceWords at the infamous Lafayette Theater on Sunday, July 3. Featured performances by Earphorik and 800 lb Gorilla dazzled a crowd of all ages just as much as the kickoff set by SpaceWords that included a motley crew of special guests. Chris Pullen had a large hand in organizing the phenomenal event working with not just musicians, but also local business owners like Dan Washington to go that extra mile. Washington, owner of Lafayette’s Dog n Suds, donated root beer floats that were enjoyed by all throughout the evening, and the beautiful staff at the Lafayette Theater provided a full bar for those big kids 21 and up.
The music for the evening began with a magical set by SpaceWords including entrancing originals and many magical renditions of some of the best the 90s has to offer. The band became a reality in November of 2013 in Lafayette, Indiana. They are a mixture of musical genius from William John Pinnick on guitar & vocals, Aaron Ade on guitar, Kelly Greene on bass, Jeff Lageveen on drums, and Kevin Hull on guitar & vocals. These wonderful men bring their all to every show they perform together creating countless evenings of enchantment for fans. Playing the evening à la mode this time, though, turned run of the mill twitterpation into pure rapture for many as they danced the night away with floats in hand.
Immediately SpaceWords’ incendiary melodies melted the faces off of the fans faster than ice cream in an oven. They executed “Blanch” and “Right as Rain” flawlessly, and then broke into a cover of “Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins. Next was “Bore“, a new song that the band had yet to play live in their hometown. Pinnick and Ade’s guitars break the silence and create perfection as their notes bounce back and forth across the stage as if an epic duel were about to begin. Greene’s bass breaks into their harmonies grounding them and binding them together like super glue on duct tape. Jeff uses his sticks as if he were Jack the Ripper wielding his knife, and his drums the next victim. He slices through the air passionately yet methodically in a manner with even more skill than the most schooled of surgeons. Suddenly Hull’s vocals begin, and they are an institution unto themselves. Every utterance that passes his lips is an escaped soliloquized symphony. The melodies created by his fellow space dudes wrap around his vocals, and thrust forward towards the crowd like a DeLorean hitting 1.21 gigawatts.
Next up was another cover and some very special guests. Brittany Rees with her extraordinary talent and upright bass came up to the stage as well as the amazingly talented Marty Clendenen with his guitar and fantastic vocals to help out on “Bound for the Floor” by Local H. The beautiful Claire and Courtney Tchoula of Sheeza brought their exceptionally remarkable vocals to the guys on “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains. Fifteen year old prodigy Gibson Wells broke out his guitar and vocals to show the guys how it’s done in a phenomenal rendition of “Hero” by Foo Fighters assisted again by the lovely Brittany Rees. The entire theater was absolutely awe stricken at the talent of one so young, and even Pinnick tried to sign up for lessons from Wells after the show. Gibson left the stage, but one more treat still remained as Claire and Courtney Tchoula rejoined SpaceWords on stage for Collective Soul’s “December” with the brilliant Brady Joseph on bongos and Aakash Ravakrishnan masterfully on keys. 800 lb. Gorilla and Earphorik both supported SpaceWords finishing off the night like giant cherries on top of a sundae. Both bands traveled from afar to bless Lafayette with their melodies, and they were beyond triumphant. The crowd enjoyed their high-energy sets, and the funkaliscious appetite of every fan in the house was victoriously satiated.
Every note played by SpaceWords and their talented guests throughout the night was indeed a rarely found musical perfection, but somehow it was made even better by the exceptional sound and light quality supplied by the supremely skilled staff at the Lafayette Theater. The master of the theater’s audio universe is none other than the wondrous Noah Freeman. Any band playing the theater without his talents are just playing Russian Roulette with their shows. Freeman, the Lafayette Theater, and SpaceWords go hand and hand and hand like ice cream and pie with a dollop of whipped cream and lack nothing for want of some sprinkles on top. Those sprinkles are the dancing illuminations created by the extraordinary Robbie Alford. Anyone can light a show any old night, but Robbie weaves a web of radiance that is truly mesmerizing.
The entire night was a rousing success created by not just business men and bands, but by beautiful big hearted human beings that truly care for their own stomping ground. It’s this true commitment to hometown that the people can feel, and this is why fans keep returning for more and more. The Lafayette Theater and the men behind the evening have a love for what they do that runs deep in their souls, and it can be felt inside and out. Whether it’s to party, pull together for charity, or it’s just a good time for ice cream they can bring together a community, and this is why people will continue to travel far and wide. The SpaceWords Ice Cream Social will be remembered for a long time to come, and not just for the music à la mode. It will be remembered in the hearts of everyone that attended, kids and grownups alike, for the people that made the miracle happen and began a community movement to change the world one root beer float at a time.
Beautiful article, Melodie!!!
Kev,
Excellent song. I’m proud of you and your group. If you guys can keep doing positive music like this and stay together, who knows.
Dad