The Ishmaelites
“Comin’ Home to Indiana”
Weirdo Records
(Cambridge, Mass.)
Rating: 1 (of 4)
What hath Sufjan Stevens wrought? The success of his pop histories of Michigan and Illinois has apparently encouraged a history buff in New England to write an annoying, though accurate, study of the nomadic Ishmaelites. Why would Hoosiers care? Because an early 1800s band of the ill-regarded gypsy-like storytellers and town entertainers located near the triangle of Morocco, Mecca (in Indiana) and Mahomet (Illinois). Over sparse bluegrass, country and folk, lead singer Ishi Ishmael (Fake name= commitment questioned) rolls his deep, trailboss-at-the-campfire vocal rapidly through a history of the tribe and its impact on Indiana and the nation, including influences on Booth Tarkington, Eugene Debs and Mary Alice Smith. Ishi, though, is as dull as the song titles: “James Whitcomb Riley,” “Herman Melville” and “The Sterilization Law of Indiana.” (He lacks Stevens’ whimsy). But “Comin’ Home” is not without its bite; in fact, the lyrics are almost too hip: “The Ishmaelite Triangle pointed north to Michael Jackson’s Gary, Indiana/Born atop Harmony Mountain, North Star got the transmits/and it doesn’t matter if he’s black, white or red/Before his trial, he got Mahomet/and Fruit of Islam security; no more being a witness of Jehovah.” I sense we’re listening to a Cambridge college kid singing his way through a history essay for finals. He’ll graduate but the class is asleep. I wish Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter would don their “Bill and Ted” roles one more time and show how history can be an excellent adventure.
— Reviewed by staff writer Scott L. Miley, The Herald
Bulletin
Community
Related Photos
Discussion
Ear Shot: Ishmaelites "Comin' Home to Indiana"
- Community
-
-
Bar offers taste of the Bayou
A Lapel eatery and bar celebrates Mardi Gras year-round with beads, New Orleans-style drinks and even a Bourbon Street mural stretching the length of the bar.
-
Amish Cook: When child is sick, motherly nurturing instinct kicks in
The sun is always welcome at this time of the year. The ground is covered with snow again, and the temperatures are colder. It finally feels like winter.
-
Community Briefs: Feb. 16
A compilation of community news as published in the Thursday edition of the Herald Bulletin.
-
In Review: Clown prince spreads God's message of hope
God’s faith in humanity is sometimes demonstrated in ways we humans think are foolish.
-
Jim Bailey: Winter of our discontent depends on our agenda
There’s nothing like a mild winter to bring out the members of our society whose agenda includes the propagation of the fear of global warming.
-
Community Briefs: Feb. 15
A compilation of community news as published in the Wednesday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Love remains after all these years
In a culture where a $10 million wedding results in a 10-week marriage, the idea of a lifelong commitment may seem like a storybook fantasy. Until you meet Bob and Imogene James.
-
Community Briefs: Feb. 14
A compilation of community news as published in the Tuesday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Retirement party Feb. 18 for Dr. William Anderson
A retirement party for William Stafford Anderson, M.D., will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Community Hospital, Anderson, Conference Rooms 6 and 7.
-
Local Facebook user organizes online rummage sale group
Accustomed to participating in a neighborhood rummage sale, Lori Baker Penticuff stockpiled all her gently used items that were no longer needed.
- More Community Headlines
-
