The Valpo live music scene: Cool Car… No Boundaries

I think you’ll agree with me when I say Valparaiso’s tough to beat when it comes to culture, live music and events.  When it comes to cool things to do…Valpo has become a destination.  Well known for its events, el fresco dining, and extraordinary live music, the Valpo live music scene is becoming a hotbed for talent and people that love music.

These musicians were asked to perform the impossible…no one could have ever expected what happened next!

What happens when three musicians that have never performed together, are asked to learn an insanely complex music piece in just 25 minutes.  Any musician will tell you, it’s impossible!

But this is not just any 3 musicians…and this is not just any town. 

Just watch the impossible!

Today, you’ll get a close look at Valpo’s live music scene with this month’s “Cool Car…No Boundaries” celebrity guests Marco Villarreal, Steve Ball, and Chad Clifford. These three musicians perform different genres with very different career paths.

Marco Villarreal is the cool jazz guitar virtuoso. He performs mostly in large city venues. Steve Ball splits his time with Chicago based band, Mr. Blotto, while also developing his unique solo act for his home town fans in Valparaiso.  Chad is the Valpo guy that has his fingerprints on everything related to music in his hometown of Valpo.

 

In this month’s “Cool Car…No Boundaries”, you’ll meet all three musicians. You’ll learn why Valpo is becoming a destination for musicians and people that love live music. We let our musicians test the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Harmon Kardon 19 speaker sound system. According to Griegers,  the Jeep’s sound system will make you feel like your in the front seat of a concert. Today,  you’ll see what our musicians say. 

 

Asking 3 musicians that have never performed together to pull off a complex music piece such as Wilco’s “Impossible Germany” would be considered insane by even the finest musicians. 

 

Fluid Coffee Bar.

 Today, you’ll see them coordinate and orchestrate while at Fluid, a cool downtown coffee shop.  But the real magic happens when they perform while driving around Valpo in a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Now, let’s meet the players!

Steve Ball… Respected Chicago Musician that calls Valpo home

I first met Steve Ball while shooting a scene for the Valpo Film, Making Paradise.  We were in Valpo’s downtown.  It was 6:00 am on a Sunday morning–an ideal time for a film shoot in the Vale.  The lighting was perfect for a shoot, and everyone in town was still sleeping…. everyone but our film crew and Steve Ball.  Steve was just arriving from a gig in Chicago.  He was grabbing something to eat before heading to his Valpo home.

As a member of Mr. Blotto, a popular Chicago band, Steve was just ending his day. As I directed the scene, Steve introduced himself and asked me what we were doing.  I offered him my elevator speech, “we’re making a film…about making a film…about Valparaiso. It’s called Making Paradise”. 

 

Just check out this original music score by Steve Ball. 

Steve got it.  He mentioned he loved that we were using Valpo’s culture and an innovative music score as a centerpiece to the film.  He mentioned he was from Valpo and was fascinated by the film’s premise.  He offered to help us with the film’s music. Steve would later compose Making Paradises music score.

After Ball left, our film’s lead camera and associate producer, Jason Monroe, asked me if I knew who I was talking too.  As a music lover, Monroe was shocked I had not heard of Steve Ball and mentioned he was perhaps Valpo’s most accomplished musician and member of Chicago’s popular band, Mr. Blotto.

While collaborating with Steve Ball on Making Paradise’s score, I mentioned to him Monroe’s comment, that he was Valpo’s most accomplished musician.  Steve was very uncomfortable accepting such praise and argued that Valparaiso has a long list of great musicians.  He said his modus operandi was his diversity.  Steve Ball can play virtually every instrument, and more significantly, play them well.

Steve Ball is perhaps Valpo’s most musically diverse musician… but who is the best?

Ball named numerous great musicians that have come from or performed in Valparaiso, including Chris Funk from The Decemberists.  The Decemberists are a chart-topping Indie band with such hits as Down By the Water and O Valencia!  Funk is an old friend of Ball and Clifford’s and grew up in the Vale of Paradise.

Ball also had high praise for Valpo Downtown’s favorites Chad Clifford and Angelo Cicco. When I organized the Jano Concerts on the Square, Angelo’s band, the Unit, would play every year. Angelo is good!

Chad Clifford has performed over 6,000 shows as a solo act, with the Crawpuppies, and the MegaBeatles. Clifford is a cornerstone of Valpo music, but with his band, he has also opened for some big-time acts, including the Gin Blossoms, Counting Crowe’s, Cracker, Blues Traveler, Sublime, Bush.  His music can be found on  Spotify and iTunes.

Clifford operates Front Porch Music and is legendary for developing many of Valpo’s future talent.

OK Steve, with the long list of talented musicians that have passed through Valparaiso, it’s time to plug-in and tell us, who is the best? 

According to Steve Ball, “Marco Villarreal is not just Valpo’s most accomplished guitarist, he is a world-class guitar virtuoso.”

Marco Villarreal.  Guitar virtuoso

“Within music circles, this guy is one of those guys that comes around once in a great while.” Marco, according to Ball, could easily be talked about years from now.  Someday, Marco Villarreal will have us all saying, I saw that cat when he was playing in downtown Valpo.”

I saw Marco perform shortly thereafter. I was mesmerized by his guitar solo.  Steve was right.  Marco has talent. Valpo has talent….and today, you’ll see what happens when these musicians are brought together to perform the impossible.

Ethereal.

Griegers Motors Valparaiso’s “unsung heroes.”

Of course, every “Cool Car…No Boundaries” blog ends with a celebrity interview in the seat of a cool car from sponsored Griegers Motors.  Today’s blog seems more appropriate than ever to give Valpo’s Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram dealership a little love.  Griegers always support local culture and charities.

If anyone ever asks why you should support local businesses like Griegers … take them downtown to an event.

When I held my Jano Festivals downtown, Griegers was always there to give us the support we needed.  Griegers is also a significant partner and supporter of Valpo Events -who brings to Valpo’s Central Park the Summer Concert Series and the Valpo Popcorn Fest. Music, community events and Griegers Motors seem to be a recipe that serves Valpo well.

A front-row seat to the concert?  You’ll find it at Griegers.

For our music video, Marco & Steve chose the Jeep Grand Cherokee for its HarmanKardon premium sound system.  The Logic7 multichannel surround-sound technology with 19 high-performance GreenEdge speakers provided the authenticity to impress these musicians.

Of course, a musician expects to pump it up! The 900 watts equivalent DSP amplifier produces a powerful sound experience that reminds you of a live performance at Valpo’s Central Park.  To learn more about this remarkable sound system and the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most awarded SUV ever, visit Griegers Motors Jeep site or the official Jeep site.…  or better yet, stop by Griegers in Valparaiso (on US 30) for your own acoustic test drive.  You’ll want to sample Marco’s album, Ethereal on the Jeep’s spotify app.

Scroll down for a review of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Next Month on Grieger’s Cool Car…No Boundaries:

• Watch Marco, Steve Ball & Chad Clifford perform live music and discuss Valpo’s live music scene while driving around Valpo in a Griegers 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
• 21 Valpo bands and musicians you won’t want to miss in 2019
• 7 young musicians and bands, you’ll want to watch for!
• Top 10 Automotive Sound Systems for 2019 

Just check out what Car & Driver had to say about the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee!

Tags: chad clifford, Chrysler, Cool Car...No Boundaries, Downtown valpo, Grieger's, Jeep, live music, marco villarreal, music, Northwest Indiana, porter county, steve ball, Valparaiso, Valpo, venues
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