Columbus, Ohio USA
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North Market Rock Stars
By Mary Martineau
email mmartineau@northmarket.com
December 2006
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©Photos by Mary Martineau
Sarah Asher When she’s not wailing on her ukulele, chanteuse Sarah Asher can be found behind the counter at Pam’s Market Popcorn. She has been working at the Market for a year and a half and inherited her first job at the Joy of Soy when a friend moved to Washington. When Joy of Soy closed and Pam’s Market Popcorn shifted into the stall, Sarah “came with the space.” Sarah sought to escape a little town called Carlisle, Ohio, without getting too far from home. A friend lived in Columbus, and she decided to move here to “figure it all out,” while making occasional trips home to visit Mom and do laundry. The Market struck her as “extremely fancy” when she arrived in town, but now it’s like a second home.
Sarah and her “baritone ukulele” can be found playing at such hip haunts as the Carabar, St. James Tavern, Bourbon Street and Little Brothers performing with her band, “The Magic Carousel.” The eclectic group fuses Sarah’s distorted ukulele with Alana Odenweller’s accordion acoustics, Aaron Hibb’s (also found at NMPG) styling on the singing saw, and Scott manning the drums. The result is a passionate wailing of voices and instruments spawning an unparalleled harmony. Aside from her cheerful crooning Sarah pledges to be Pam’s personal assistant, smiling and scooping at the popcorn stand until she’s called to go on tour!
Dan Bandman The appropriately named Dan Bandman is a member of multiple musical endeavors. He’s a guitar-man for The Handshakes, a dynamic, melodic, post-punk ensemble. He makes the versatile switch to drums for The Kyle Sowashes, so named for their lead singer who pens quirky, clever, indie-pop songs. And he reverts back to guitar with Paper Airplane, a John Lennon tribute band. Dan migrated to North Market Poultry & Game a year ago from a similar position at Wild Oats. While out on a two-wheeled adventure one day (the bicycle variety) he stopped in at the Market and realized that he belonged in the urban market more than Upper Arlington. He dropped off a resume, and the rest is history. He enjoys working for an independent business and purveying a superior product to the Market’s friendly, informed clientele.
Dan hails from Mansfield and credits his hometown with his musical flexibility. Apparently everybody in Mansfield plays guitar, so in order to get more face-time he and a friend would alternate stints on guitar and drums. While he’s been playing both instruments for the same length of time, he’s put “more time into guitar as it’s more intellectual whereas drumming is rather instinctual.” (Hear the groupies swoon). Dan made the trek to Columbus because he had friends who were here for school and “couch-surfed” until he found a place of his own. He’s currently a history major at OSU and plans to teach elementary school upon graduation. In the meantime you can catch him playing at the Carabar, Bourbon Street or Andy-man’s Treehouse. Or if you see the gold ‘73 Honda CB350 motorcycle parked on the patio at the Market, swing by the shop and talk chicks (poultry, of course).
Adam Scoppa At the drop of this issue of the Gazette, Adam Scoppa will have been gainfully employed at Grapes of Mirth for one year, six months, one week and a day or two. He can matter-of-factly relate his number of days in service to the wine shop since his unrelenting pestering of proprietor David Bihn paid off in a job. “I kept bugging him for a job, and after asking for the fourth time he finally hired me.” David concurs, “I was desperate and he was persistent.” Adam came to Columbus from Rochester, New York, by way of CCAD. After graduation he wanted experience in the beer and wine industry and liked the market for its ambiance, small businesses and communal aspects. Adam has played drums for eleven years and is currently with the Main Street Gospel, an alt-country psychedelic ensemble. They can be found at Skully’s, Carabar and Little Brothers. His employer has not yet witnessed his true skills. “He’s always drumming on the counter, but I haven’t heard him behind a kit yet!” When not drumming or working, Adam might be found creating art, riding his bike, or karaoke-ing at the Ravari Room!
Lara Yazvac Lara Yazvac’s family relocated to Columbus from New Orleans when she was 10. She grew up in Worthington which pretty much qualifies her as a “local.” This hometown lass is both a songwriter and the voice behind The Tough and Lovely. The five member outfit generates “well-crafted original rock and roll with dynamite vocals, melodies, hooks and beats.” So says their MySpace page where you can learn more about the band and listen to their tunes at www.myspace.com/thetoughandlovely. The group plays more out of town than in, touring to such metropolises as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and Memphis. When home they play Skully’s and Bourbon Street.
Lara works part-time at the Market and is a full-time student at CCAD studying graduate design. She came to the North Market in search of employment, but not sure where she’d end up. She liked the vibe of the place and became a part of its “cool community” when she was hired this spring at North Market Produce. She can more recently be found at North Market Poultry & Game where she “makes a mean Cuban breakfast.” Fans of the songstress have a quizzical reaction when they encounter her at her day job. She regularly hears, “I know you from somewhere!” and they walk away perplexed only to sheepishly return when they put it all together. (The author can attest to experiencing this phenomena after catching the band at Skully’s). Lara declares that “Love is proclaimed through the giving of foodstuffs!” and encourages all readers to patronize the Market for the holidays!
2006 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.
