|
Micah Chandler gets around a lot for someone who doesn't own a car. Although he lives on 43rd street in the West End, Chandler and his ever-present violin are fixtures all over town. He performs regularly downtown at Bearno's by the Bridge and at Clifton's Pizza. During the monthly trolley hops along East Market Street and Frankfort Avenue, on the first and last Fridays of each month respectively, Micah is usually in a gallery serenading patrons. Sometimes he just sets up on a corner along Bardstown Road. Chandler said his income depends on being flexible and going where the people are.
“On the day I'm doing anything, technically it is not official, it is not set,” he explained. “This is a side job so I can make some extra money. When I play at Clifton's Pizza or Bearno's by the Bridge they give me some money and free food, but most of what I make comes from tips. My goal is to bring in the people.”
Because he can carry his violin anywhere he wants, the only constraint on Chandler is the bus schedule because it is his main form of transportation. But the hassle of TARC is worth it to make money doing what he loves. Music has always been a bright spot in Chandler's life. As a child he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a loss of nerve function due to brain injury. Chandler, 40, often makes jerky movement when he talks and his speech is occasionally slurred. But the disease has never hindered his development as a musician.
“I kind of taught myself to play the violin,” Chandler said. “I think god gave it to me. I picked it up in 7th grade at Noe Middle School. I took a few lessons. After I played for a while, I got really good. When I went out for YPAS (the Youth Performing Arts School affiliated with DuPont Manual High School) I had to play viola. My teacher at Noe, William Sloane, he tutored me in violin and viola. He was retired but he became my private tutor.”
In high school, Chandler played with the All State Orchestra. He's also played with the Jefferson Community College Orchestra and the Indiana University Southeast Orchestra. In 1996, Chandler received a music degree from the University of Louisville. Because of his background Chandler's repertoire tends to lean towards the classical, but he also plays contemporary r&b, gospel, jazz, and even alternative rock.
“I'll basically play anything that comes out of my head, anything I hear on the radio,” Chandler said. “I am partial to songs from the '80s. No hard rock or rap, none of that. The hard stuff hurts my ears. I don't like heavy metal, I'm a churchgoer. I like the Rolling Stones, but I don't listen to them loud.”
Chandler still lives at home with his parents and they attend Christ Temple Apostolic Church, a Pentecostal congregation on 45th street. He accepted Christ in 2005 after a bout with cancer, which has since gone into remission. Chandler said the experience made him appreciate his life more.
“I feel blessed to be able to play my music for people,” he said.
Chandler works three days a week at Veteran's Hospital on Zorn Avenue, which is why he spends so much time in the Clifton Area. On Friday he'll be at Clifton's Pizza, 2230 Frankfort Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday he will play at Bearno's by the Bridge, 131 W. Main Street, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both shows are free.
Other shows going on this weekend:
The Bobby Falk Group, Nov. 5th
Stevie Ray's Blues Bar, 201 Main St., $5.
Great contemporary jazz and soul music that will have you dancing like crazy.
The Fervor with the Smug Brothers, Nov. 6th
Zanzabar, 2100 Preston St., $6.
This is the Fervor's 7-inch release party.
The Sirens, Troubadours of Divine Bliss, Nov. 6th
Lisa's Oak Street Lounge, 1004 E. Oak St., TBA.
The Troubadours are an awesome folk duo.
The Mandelbrots, Sandpaper Dolls, and Ryder McQueen Band, Nov. 6th
The Rudyard Kipling, 422 W. Oak St., $5.
The Sandpaper Dolls are a vocal trio featuring the amazing Suki Anderson formerly of AM Sunday.
Heather Bond, Brooks Ritter, Jonathan's Machete, Nov. 7th
Vernon Club, 1575 Story Ave., $7
Powerman 5000, Downtrend, Left With Scars, The Dead Hours, Factory Damage, Birth of A Zealot, Nov. 8th
Headliners, 1486 Lexington Rd., $12
The Black Dahlia Murder, Skeletonwitch, Toxic Holocaust, Trap Them, Nov. 8th
Uncle Pleasant's, 2126 Preston St., $15
|
|
2
Michael L. Jones