Ladle Fight in Concert

What: Second Thursday Music Series

Who:  Ladle Fight, an acoustic quartet, comprising  Ben Miller on vocals and bass, Zeke Wapner on guitar, Ian Askew on vocals and drums, and Michael Untereiner on guitar.  When: Thursday, April 14,  7 p.m.

Where: Capital City Cheesecake, 7071 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Md.

Not many rock groups can say they’ve been together for five years. Ladle Fight, a Takoma Park-based Indie Rock group, has been playing together since they were eight years old. Now they’re going on 13, and they’ll be appearing as part of the Takoma Park Folk Festival’s new community series at Capital City Cheesecake on Thursday, April 14.

 Ladle Fight is an acoustic quartet comprising  Ben Miller on vocals and bass, Zeke Wapner on guitar, Ian Askew on vocals and drums, and Michael Untereiner on guitar. With a professionally produced CD under their belts and international acclaim to boot, they are taking over the world one small stage at a time. According to their website (www.ladlefight.com), Rolling Stone Magazine’s German edition has already extolled their virtues, calling their music “impeccably nonconformist.” Can there be higher praise for a teen rock band?

 The boys of Ladle Fight began cooking up basement riffs back when they were in the third grade. Now they’ve honed their instrumental skills and songwriting chops to produce their first album, called (not surprisingly) Ladle Fight, which includes eight original songs ranging from the light “Take it Easy” to the harsher “Dictators in Command.”

 Hearing about our world, couched in the words and images of contemporary teen-agers, is as motivating as it is revealing. Their lyrics are not-so subtle reminders that as marvelous and wonderful as our lives may be, we’re also shadowed by environmental and political uncertainties that could unravel our very existence. 

 Not surprisingly, Ladle Fight’s music continues to evolve as its members add new instruments to their collective sound. Front man Ben Miller has recently added ukulele to the mix, while drummer Ian Askew has picked up the blues harp.

 Ladle Fight will be performing on Thursday, April 14 at Capital City Cheesecake (7071 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Md.) The Second Thursday series is presented by the Takoma Park Folk Festival and Capital City Cheesecake in order to showcase local talent in a non-alcohol, smoke-free setting. Coffee, food and dessert are available for purchase. Music begins promptly at 7 p.m. Admission is free; donations go directly to the artists.

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