Music in the Park

The Louisville Crashers to take stage

The band will perform Sept. 12
at the Broadway Fountain

By Alice Jane Smith
Contributing Writer

(September 2014) – The Louisville Crashers band will perform Friday, Sept. 12, for the popular Music in the Park series at Broadway Fountain in downtown Madison, Ind. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Local musician Chris Jesse will perform the opening act at 5:30 p.m.

Photo provided The Louisville Crashers band includes (from left) Geoff Gittli, keyboards, sax, flute, vocals; Max Maxwell, drummer, vocals; Shane Isenberg, lead guitarist, ukulele, vocals; Mark Maxwell, lead vocalist’ Jesse Vest, bass guitar; and Howard Gittli, rhythm guitar, trumpet, vocals.

This Louisville band is “extremely popular in Louisville,” according to Whitney Wyatt, director of the Madison Main Street Program, which sponsors the music series. The band is known for its diverse collection of classic to modern hits, she said. “They can do Elvis, ’80s, ’90s, everything.” Performing all over the nation, they were the official pre-game band for NBC as Super Bowl XLVI.
The summer music festival has drawn from 800 to 1,200 people at previous concerts, Wyatt said. As always, the summer event will offer an evening of music, food, dancing and fun. It has been a Madison tradition since the mid-1990s, but the series has been expanded in the past two years.
The Rumors, a band based in southern Indiana, performed at the June 13 concert. Local musicians Kris Luckett and Greg Ziesemer were the opening act. On July 11, The Doctors Band, of Madison, performed with Ryan Nix as the opener.
Admission is free. People are encouraged to take a lawn chair.
When the Louisville Crashers performed recently in Louisville, Wyatt said, their concert attracted 10,000 people. Originally, they were scheduled as the finale for Madison’s summer music series, Wyatt said.

In August, however, a performance by the Slick River Rockets (and opener The Barefoot Best Friends) had to be cancelled. It will be rescheduled in early October.
The Louisville Crashers have been together as a band for six years, according to Max Maxwell of the Crashers. They often travel and perform at outdoor festivals, and they draw “a real diverse crowd and mixed age groups.” 
“We do a real diverse blend of music,” he said. Their outdoor performances often draw people who are retired, so they like Motown and old Rolling Stones and other music from the 1970s. “We also draw a bunch of kids who want current hits. And we draw people our age, in our 40s, and they like music from the 1980s,” he said.
The Louisville Crashers recently released an album, “Louisville Crashers,” Maxwell said. It will be available for sale at the concert for $10.
Mark Maxwell, lead vocalist, is prominent in the Louisville music scene. Biographical information from the band notes his talent as an energetic and engaging front man and vocalist. A writer, producer and manager for a number of artists, he has worked behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer. When he performed for the band, Spanky Lee, he made a name for himself as leader singer and guitarist. He owns Mom’s Music in Jeffersonville, Ind.
His brother, Max Maxwell, is a 30-year veteran of the music scene in Louisville. He plays drums and sings background vocal. He has performed with many local, regional and national music groups, including Trace Atkins, Kidd Rock, Chaka Kahn, Michael McDonald and Days of the New. In addition, he has performed on the nationally televised show, “The Grand Ole Opry.”
Shane Isenberg began playing guitar at age 12. He attended the Musicians Institute, where he studied with top musicians in Los Angeles. A graduate of the institute, he scores music for independent films and creates commercial jingles for radio. He provides jazz music for iTunes and is musical director for the production, “Nobody Lonesome for Me.” While in Los Angeles, he studied with many noted musicians.
Bass player Jesse Vest also had an early start to his musical career. The son of a guitarist and avid bluegrass fan, he began his music career as a banjo player. When he discovered rock and roll, he soon became a bass player. He has played and worked with various musicians. With two classmates, he became part of a group, “Days of the New.” Right after graduating from high school, he went on successful tour to support the band’s first album. Vest has appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He opened shows for Metallica and Aerosmith.
When the band split up in 1998, he co-founded another band, Tantric. Its first album was released in 2001. This group performed on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” It also shared stage with bands like 3 Doors Down and Creed.
Howard Gittli, guitar and trumpet, has played in the Louisville area for 25 years with bands such as Shannon Lawson, Caribou, V-Groove, and VooDoo Lounge. He has shared the stage with Nazareth, the Tonight Show and Foghat.
Geoff Gittli, saxophone, flute, and keyboard, has played professionally for 28 years. He has played in numerous bands opening for such performers as Foghat, Nazareth and Delbert McClinton. Currently audio director for Northeast Christian Church, he has played in bands with Shannon Lawson, Greg Foresman (with Martina McBride) and the Pink Floyd Experience.

Back to September 2014 Articles.