Staff

Innocent Words – Staff & Writers

Publisher and Editor: Troy Michael

Assistant Editor: Dawn Anderson

Assistant Editor: Dawn Madore

Graphic Design: Brittany Bindrim

Webmaster: Shannon Hourigan

Director of Special Projects – Photo, Video, Social Media: Brian Paris

Hosted by: Drexelbox

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Current Staff of Contributing Writers

Dawn Anderson(Assistant Editor, Writer) – Coming to Innocent Words with a bit of a legacy behind her, after all she was the very first person to interview Nirvana, Dawn Anderson was an important asset to the Seattle music scene. Dawn is the former editor of the Seattle rock ‘zines Backlash (1989 to 1991) and Backfire (1999 to 2004.) You may have also seen Dawn in the popular music documentary “Hype.” Now at Innocent Words, Dawn is the copy editor and does the occasional review.

Paul Barrel (Writer) - Some remember me as the “Grim Reaper” of Champaign-Urbana area rock bands, others as life support for groups reaching the end. If an established band needed a new member and they looked in my direction you could bet dollars to donuts there would be a break up shortly thereafter. My favorite movies are anything featuring Chris Green . . . or Bing Crosby. In terms of favorite music I’m open to anything but Country and have a penchant for stuff best described as “dancey” . . . and Icicle Works (Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) blows me away – surely it’s not possible for one guy to do all that drumming). In terms of reading, I prefer short biographies with lots of pictures. I spend my days petitioning the E Channel to serialize their True Hollywood Stories and chasing kids out of my yard.

Tommy Bellweather III (Writer) - There has been much mystery and conjecture about Tommy Bellwether III. Photos are limited and usually from a distance. But here is what we do know: Tommy, for the cause of rock’n'roll, forsook the Bellwether family fortune and turned his back on the family’s august Mayflower roots to get all rough & tumble in the world of sex, drugs and rock’n'roll. He plays it, he scribes it, he hates it and he loves it. We do know for certain that if you wish to get close to him, it better involve rock’n'roll music and it better be the cool variant and none of this REO Speedboat type stuff. He counts, Ray Davies, Paul Westerberg, Joni Mitchell & Ian Hunter as Gods walking amongst mortals.

Brittany Bindrim (Graphic Design) - Since 2004, Brittany Bindrim has worked as Innocent Words’ designated pixel pusher. With compelling vision, innovative design sense and experience as a songwriter and touring musician, Brittany creates bold, memorable covers and images for IW. She graduated from The University of Illinois with a BFA in Graphic Design on a full tuition scholarship. Brittany’s design talent, detailed illustration, fastidious attention to typography, and endless passion for music and art allow her to create unique and beautiful work in both print and web-based media. Brittany also is the songwriter and vocalist for the band I:Scintilla and owns her own graphic design shop Black Dove Design Company. Her inspirations include: dreams and nightmares, coffee, Charles Bukowski, nature, David Lynch, french prose novels, anxiety, her little black cat Villian, Motörhead, tea lights, tour life, conspiracy theories, funky cheese, merlot, surrealism, stefan sagmeister, renaissance fairs, Albrecht Dürer, the French Quarter of New Orleans, the movie Boogie Nights, and thunderstorms.

Rick J Bowen (Writer) -Rick grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan playing in school band, choir and show bands. While earning a BA at Western Michigan University in History and Social Science, he was able to spend two years in the rhythm section of Gold Company, a top college jazz vocal ensemble and was a member of the Bronco marching band. He was also active in Community Theater, performing on stage and in the orchestra. Moving to the Northwest in 1994, Rick soon landed gigs and sessions with many diverse local artists and is currently a member of the award winning Stacy Jones Band. He is also an associate producer and session musician for Critical Sun Recordings and a contributing writer at Innocent Words, Seattle Examiner, No Depression Seattle Music Insider and the Washington Blues Society.

Brian Campbell (Writer) - Music is my life – literally. I’m not sure how good of a thing that is, but still. I have dedicated a good portion of my life to the cruel sonic mistress. I have been writing, reviewing and reporting on music for nearly a decade and a half now, and have spent a sizeable part of that writing for Innocent Words. I also own and operate Getexposedmusic.com and in the past I have contributed to Alternative Press, Maxim Blender, Alter the Press, Starpulse and the AtHome Networks.

Dawn Madore (Assistant Editor) – A proud hippie, Dawn Madore is the newest member to the IW family. She calls Seattle home, but is a New Englander at heart (just ask this former Maine resident about the New England Patriots). True to her free love persona, Dawn adds a lot of positive energy to IW, not to mention her mad editing skills. In a perfect world, this music junkie could go see a live show every night and knock back a few cold ones while chatting you up about music, horror movies or a good book. Well rounded and whip smart, this pixie has brought a breath of fresh air to Innocent Words.

John B. Moore (Writer) –A blue-collar punk rocker at heart, John B. Moore keeps true to his rock &roll roots by freelance writing. By day, John works at a major PR firm and travels a lot. The traveling allows him to listen to a lot of music, watch a lot of movies and read a lot of books. John has written or is currently writing for Blurt, New Noise Magazine, InSite Atlanta and Examiner.com/Philadelphia and added Innocent Words to that list in 2005 when he wrote his first review. As he worships at his Bruce Springsteen shrine, John continues to look for that next great band.

Judy Nelson (Writer) - Judy Nelson has been part of the Innocent Words staff for several years, and is happy to be part of such a close, music-loving community. Judy is a Park Slope, Brooklyn resident, where she has the luxury of walking to work and enjoying the best bagels known to humankind. Formerly a music industry publicist, Judy discovered the design PR world and hasn’t looked back in almost 5 years. Judy enjoys traveling, record shopping, finding the best vegetarian food around, and playing with her two fat & lazy cats.

Brian Paris (Director of Special Projects – Photo, Video, Social Media) - Brian Paris got his start at WILL-TV, the PBS affiliate at the University of Illinois. There he produced the local music series, Studio X and was Co-Producer of Video Diner. During that time he was also the Audio Engineer for WILL FM’s Second City Concerts. After leaving WILL, Brian has worked in production, support and training for freelance clients and at Northwestern University. He is looking forward to helping Innocent Words expand their Photography, Video and Social Media content. His previous work can be seen at www.BrianParis.com.

Jake Scott (Writer) - My name is Jake Scott and I currently major in journalism at the University of Cincinnati. I spend my days in Cincinnati enjoying the freezing cold weather and armed robberies.

Cincinnati was actually my inspiration to write reviews for and interview bands. I remember being 14 and skipping school to see Anberlin at Bogart’s concert hall right in the heart of the Clifton area. After seeing the legless homeless man parked in his wheel chair out front of the concert hall, holding a sign that read, “Give me money or I will kick you in the face.” I knew there were always good times to be had when good music was involved.

I try to listen to all kinds of music, but have a strict no Kiss or country music policy on road trips. Social media sucks, but I’m on Twitter. Feel free to follow me @Jake____Scott – that’s four underscores because it wasn’t until I joined Twitter that I realized I have the most popular name in the world.

I often find myself pondering what it would be like to be good at something so I’m just hoping to build a career based on bad opinions and even worse jokes.

Greg Williams (Writer) - Remember Cory Matthews’ older brother Eric on Boy Meets World, the one who tormented his teacher and next door neighbor with the Feeny Call (“Fee-hee-hee-hee-heeny”)? Imagine if Eric grew up to become Mr. Feeny’s publisher. That pretty much sums up the irony of Greg Williams working for Boss Troy. Greg began writing reviews as the theatre critic for The Daily Illini in the 1980s. Now Troy tosses him the old guy stuff. Admittedly, Greg’s musical tastes reflect his age; the first concert he attended was the Doobie Brothers at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the summer of 1980. Surprisingly, he has two tattoos, the one on his calf regularly described by complete strangers as “badass.” To paraphrase Whitman, Greg is large, he contains many multitudes. An English teacher by day, Greg is also co-founder of Reagan’s Rescue, an award-winning 501(c)(3) public charity and child advocacy organization, created in memory of his granddaughter, which spreads awareness of child abuse and, specifically, Shaken Baby Syndrome. He and his wife Marsha have five children, all gifted performers.

Jeremy Wood (Writer) - My name is Jeremy Wood. I was born in 1980 and spent most of my life in asmall farming community in south central Michigan. I went to Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI and got a BA in Professional Writing. I and have a soft spot for the Simpsons and making fun of people that do and don’t deserve it; public settings are fair game for me. I like Asian buffets that serve fresh sushi and have a cat named Zoey and a Betta fish named Seymour. I like to read and hardly ever take the time to match up my socks. My music tastes vary. I think Gold Dust Woman is the best song ever by Fleetwood Mac and have the best memories of the music that was released from 1994 to 2003 because it supplements the wonderful memories of my high school and college educations. So everything from Tool to Incubus to Sarah McLachlan to Breaking Benjamin to, dare I say, Ace of Base rings my bell. I am big on environmentalism and when I am not razzing music, I write trivia questions for a gaming company near Chicago and do freelance editing work.

Lisa Zyga (Writer) - Besides Troy Michael, Lisa Zyga is the longest running member of the IW family. She began as an intern doing reviews while attending the University of Illinois and became the unsung hero of IW. Lisa did it all from reviews to interviews, to distribution to promotion. Though Lisa has a “real job” now she still finds the time to occasional contribute reviews. No matter if she contributes or not, Lisa will always be part of the Innocent Words family.