Latest news with #Meier
Chicago Tribune
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Caamp frontman Taylor Meier says he's ‘C-list folk singer famous,' but he sold out the Salt Shed
Caamp frontman Taylor Meier isn't fazed by writer's block. 'I'm never like, 'Oh, I wonder if I have the songs,'' he admits over the phone from home in Columbus, Ohio, during that liminal space between intense rehearsals and the kickoff of a 32-date tour that brings the banjo-infused folk rockers to the Salt Shed Fairgrounds for two sold-out shows on Thursday and Friday to promote this week's release of a long-awaited fifth album, 'Copper Changes Color.' 'They're coming to me at such a rate right now and such a sincerity,' he says. And, yes, he understands how infuriating that sounds. 'I'm friends with enough musicians and enough creatives at this point to be super aware of what the inverse looks like, and to see people struggle and go dry and doubt themselves,' he says. 'I'm sure that a slower era is on my horizon at some point.' The deceptively simple secret to this prolific output that keeps Caamp (in addition to Sumbuck, his solo side project) awash in deeply personal, bittersweet vignettes? 'I don't shy away from writing. If it comes, I write the song,' he says bluntly. He fears probing deeper into the mystery of his craft. 'If I knew, I don't think I'd really be able to do what I do,' he attests. 'Yes, it's from me in a way, but it's also very much for me. I do this stuff because it truly makes my soul happy. What I do makes me smile. I'm lucky to still be in love with it all.' That rose-colored sheen dipped in 2023 after eight years of grinding it out on the road and in the studio, first as a duo with Caamp co-founder and childhood friend Evan Westfall (banjo) and then with an expanded, permanent lineup including Matt Vinson (bass), Joseph Kavalec (keyboards) and Nicholas Falk (drums). Despite incremental successes (late-night TV appearances, conquering Colorado's iconic Red Rocks, major festival slots, a spot on former president Barack Obama's summer playlist and strong chart showings culminating with 2022's 'Lavender Days' reaching the No. 5 spot on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart), Meier abruptly pulled the plug on all the band's remaining appearances for the year citing 'untimely knocks to my health' in an Instagram post and offered refunds to bewildered ticket holders. Speculation percolated online, some of it wild and a lot of it invasive, like most internet chatter is, which didn't upset Meier as much as it stunned him. 'I'm not even famous!' he exclaims. 'I am C-list folk singer famous. I can't even imagine what the actual tops of my industry go through.' Apart from scattered one-off dates, Caamp flew under the radar until the 'Somewhere' EP broke through the winter doldrums in February with Meier tenderly pointing out in his sandy squall of a voice on the first single 'Let Things Go' that maintaining a death grip on the entanglements and duties battling for our attention is a recipe for disaster. He doesn't mince words in the lyrics: 'You can let it roar / You can let it out / You can let things go / And anything your heart needs to make you feel better.' 'That song is the anecdote. It's not an answer by any means, but it's just kind of me trying to sing a lesson to myself,' he reveals. 'I chose to keep the details of my struggle private and will continue to do so, but that's the sentiment that got me through it and that's what I want to sing to my fans every night.' Gearing up to leave the comforts of home behind takes some grit, especially for a bunch of self-described 'homebodies.' 'We love our houses, routine, community,' Vinson admits in a separate phone call, stressing that he's not complaining about the road, it's just 'you caught us at the exact perfect time when we're leaving in one week and it kind of seems like the world is ending.' Pre-tour jitters aside, Vinson says the band is 'fully, fully rested' and 'morale is good.' Meier emphasizes the interpersonal work everyone put in during the break to come back together stronger. 'Heal the heart and fix the head,' he intones like a mantra. And just like Dorothy and her ruby slippers, the path to this place of ease always lurked inside him. 'You have all the tools the whole time, but it's just what you choose to pay attention to. Maybe I was paying attention to the wrong things — whatever it was. But I feel as if I'm dialed into the right things now,' he explains. In between the expected campfire harmonies and a left turn into Strokes-era nostalgia, the gorgeous 'Copper Changes Color' lays bare Meier's evolving mental state. In the jostling 'Mistakes,' he sings, 'Feels like I'm just trying to keep my plants alive / And trying to drink water,' while in the plaintive, piano-driven 'Living & Dying & In Between,' he reveals 'I wanna live/I don't want to die/They can feel so much alike.' Madi Diaz guests on the gauzy 'One True Way,' which contemplates if we're really meant for one thing. And 'Drive' cinematically rides off into the sunset, unsure of the destination, but certain of how to get there. The album's 11 tracks don't strive to be confessional, just open. 'It's kind of been this crazy process of, as I've gotten older, of getting a little bit more transparent,' Meier explains. 'Before, it could have been maybe construed on life stuff that I was wanting to feel. But there's bits of me in there now and I don't really hide from it or hide behind it.' Recorded in bursts between Oregon, Texas and New York, the sessions for 'Copper Changes Color' adhered to the same process in place since the band's self-titled debut in 2016. Meier brings in almost fully-fleshed out songs, which the band learns on the spot and then it's go-time. 'It's not as do or die as it sounds,' Vinson reassures. Minor things can be added or edited out months later, but importantly, 'there's an element of something live in everything Caamp has truly ever done.' That ability of the five members to lock-in on stage or in the studio without going 'through the grinder' to achieve it keeps the band from straying too far. 'Our chemistry playing is something that will never not amaze me. Just being in a room together and the telepathy of our musicianship, which is fueled by our friendship — that will never get old,' Vinson says. Meier shares the sentiment. 'There's always gonna be other music and other projects and other collaborators in my life,' he admits. But, 'I always come back home.'
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Boston Globe
Grand jury investigating State Police recruit death
But Attorney General Andrea Campbell's Advertisement 'Mr. Meier has Advertisement The Globe has confirmed that those who have been called to testify in the grand jury proceedings include State Police troopers related to the academy and investigation, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation. They, and a third person who confirmed the existence of the grand jury, spoke only on the condition of anonymity because grand jury proceedings are inherently secret. State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Delgado-Garcia has said the family wants closure in the case, answers about what happened, and assurances others will not meet the same fate. The use of a grand jury with subpoena powers to obtain State Police documents and sworn testimony could arm Meier with a voluminous record of evidence to examine as he determines whether any criminal charges are warranted, or whether he would make any policy recommendations to the attorney general or State Police, said Daniel Conley, a former Suffolk district attorney who led the office when Meier was its homicide chief in the 2000s. The call of the grand jury, Conley added, also shows Meier's willingness to use subpoena powers through the grand jury and seek sworn testimony from the State Police to gather the evidence he needs in his investigation. Conley said he hasn't discussed this investigation with Meier, but he expects Meier's use of the grand jury follows some of the strategies they had their homicide prosecutors take in building cases in gangland killings. In those cases, witnesses often were most helpful shortly after a homicide but would sometimes back out or change their story as the case dragged on. Advertisement 'One of the strategies that we developed was to get people in front of the grand jury relatively quickly, to put them under oath, and to lock in their testimony,' he said. 'You can't say no to the grand jury.' State grand juries consist of 23 people who hear evidence presented by a prosecutor. They're conducted behind closed doors, and various rules forbid disclosing grand jury testimony or speaking publicly about one while it is ongoing. The grand jury can vote on whether there's enough evidence to find probable cause that a crime occurred and to indict someone. The threshold for an indictment is lower than a criminal conviction, which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. If a person is indicted, charges are filed in Superior Court, and proceedings are then generally public. At least 14 grand jurors need to vote in the affirmative to bring charges forward, according to state Trial Court procedures. Joshua Levy, a former US attorney who is now in private practice, said grand jury investigations typically are used to build up and accumulate evidence against their intended targets, whatever that target may be. Anyone called before a grand jury can assert their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, but prosecutors routinely offer people immunity if they are brought before a grand jury, he said. And if you're offered immunity, you must testify or face the possibility of being criminally charged with contempt of court. Throughout the proceedings, the grand jurors are able to ask questions of witnesses, often through the prosecutor. That's a good way, Levy said, of figuring out how a non-lawyer is viewing the evidence. Advertisement 'They take their role very seriously,' Levy said. 'They ask really good questions.' At the time, Several weeks ago, Noble announced he had replaced the head of the State Police training academy in New Braintree and commissioned the International Association of Chiefs of Police to conduct an independent review of training practices. The assessment will focus on 'the relevance, efficacy, and safety of the The announcement came amid wide-scale questioning by policing analysts and state lawmakers over the paramilitary-style structure of the academy following Delgado-Garcia's death. The academy's curriculum promotes a hierarchal structure, and it involves a rigid, stress-resilience training program that has led to numerous injuries in recent years. In the past, the State Police has maintained that the rigid curriculum prepares troopers for the physical and emotional demands of the job, particularly in high-stress environments. But the Advertisement The academy has a much The problems at the academy stretch back decades. In 1985, 22-year-old State Police recruit James Whitehouse collapsed and died during a run. Three years later, a municipal police recruit, Timothy M. Shepard, 25, Authorities But the attorney general said the judge had reached the wrong conclusions and refused to bring charges. An appeals court later upheld the attorney general's decision. In 2005, the agency shook up its academy leadership after recruits alleged they were forced to put their heads in a dirty toilet bowl. In 2022, trainees suffered blistered hands while doing bear crawls on hot concrete. Advertisement After the death of Delgado-Garcia, similar questions were raised about the nature of the current curriculum of the academy. After his death, State Police suspended the boxing program. Delgado-Garcia was a former victim witness advocate for the Worcester district attorney's office Delgado-Garcia died just weeks before the end of the six-month training academy. He was sworn in as a trooper in the hours before his death. Sean Cotter can be reached at
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
As expected, Bayern Munich closes deal with new striker
On Tuesday, word broke that Bayern Munich was on the verge of signing Sandhausen striker Richard Meier and by Wednesday the deal was made official. 'When I received the request, I didn't have to think twice. I've been a Bayern fan since childhood; my first jersey was from Thomas Müller, and my bed linen was from Luca Toni . It was always my big dream to one day play for my favorite club. I can hardly wait to get started on Säbener Straße in the coming weeks,' Meier told 'I've been a Bayern fan since childhood. My first jersey was from Thomas Müller, and my bed linens were from Luca Toni. It was always my big dream to one day play for my favorite club. Advertisement As far as to who he might be comparable to, Meier identified a familiar face. 'Maybe with Niclas Füllkrug: I like to control the ball, I'm strong in the air, a classic box player, you could say. I don't waste time in the box and I'm quick to score. I'm also very ambitious. I want to take responsibility and subordinate everything to the team's success,' said Meier. 'I want to help the team with my qualities, score many goals, and thus contribute to the best possible sporting success. But my initial goal is to settle into the team as quickly as possible and get to know everyone.' The move will be an adjustment, though, as Meier is not familiar with any of his new teammates. 'No, not yet. Of course, that's a bit challenging, since I don't have a traditional support person yet. But I'm a very open and communicative person, so I'm not worried about that. I'm sure the team and the coaching staff will make it very easy for me,' Meier remarked. Looking for some final thoughts on the Florian Wirtz saga? What about a conversation with one of our BPW staffers who actually spoke to Wirtz? We have all of that, plus some thoughts on if — or maybe when — Bayern Munich should make a move for VfB Stuttgart attacker Nick Woltemade on the Bavarian Podcast Works Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below: Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @enadmo1135, @TommyAdams71 and more. Advertisement More from
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Memorial Forest' honoring soldiers, first responders and law enforcement grows across the state
Since 2020, an Omaha-based group has planted nearly 2,000 trees in small plots across the state as memorials to those who died due to military service or service as a first responder or as a law enforcement officer. (Courtesy of Honor and Remember Nebraska) OMAHA — It was a cold January day when an idea popped into Jim Meier's head — why not plant a tree for every fallen soldier from Nebraska? 'It was just me talking to me,' said Meier, a Vietnam War veteran and tree lover, who jotted down the thought. It's a thought that has grown over three years into the planting of nearly 2,000 trees across the state as part of a 'Nebraska Memorial Forest,' with small groves in Omaha, Lincoln, South Sioux City and Papillion. For more information about the Nebraska Memorial Forest, to donate, or to make sure a loved one is honored, visit the website: 'It seems only worthy and appropriate to provide support and comfort for those who have fallen,' Meier said. 'It's such a small action we Nebraskans can take to pay tribute.' The Omaha-based sports psychologist and development consultant has some experience in that realm already as director of Honor and Remember Nebraska, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. That group, founded in 2012, provides 'honor and remember' flags for Gold Star families — those who have lost a loved one in active-duty military service — and 'honor and sacrifice' flags for families who have lost a first responder or law enforcement officer. Meier, 79, said the Memorial Forest trees are intended to be a 'living memorial' to fallen heroes. So far, 1,785 trees have been planted for the 7,500 soldiers, first responders and law enforcement officers 'known' to have fallen. On Memorial Day, Meier's group will dedicate groves of 50 trees in Valentine and 70 in Bassett after dedicating 92 trees on May 17 that were planted last fall at Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah. The first 60 Memorial Forest trees were planted in 2020 at Omaha's Levi-Carter Park, and similar sized forests are now located in 15 other communities, from the Horning State Farm Demonstration Forest near Plattsmouth to along old Highway 2 that through south Lincoln. Conversations, Meier said, are underway to plant new forests of at least 50 trees each in communities from Falls City to Scottsbluff and Beatrice to Aurora. The group hopes to plant 1,500 new trees this year, and complete the project by 2030. Meier said there's a lot of analogies between military service and a grove of trees. Trees were chosen and assigned to a plot of land — as are soldiers — he said, and while each tree is unique, there are many species and types that become stronger when working together as a grove or military unit. Because there is no official data base of 'fallen heroes,' he said the Memorial Forest group is always learning about someone new. They are added to the list, Meier said. Each tree, typically six-feet-tall and of several, native varieties, costs about $300 each, money raised through donations or sponsorships. For instance, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission donated and planted the trees at Summit Lake, with the help of contributions by Tekamah native Ron Carson and his wife Jeanie. The Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District planted and will care for the trees at Valentine and Bassett. Each tree is named for a military member, first responder or law enforcement officer who died while serving or from causes directly related from having served. Thus soldiers who died from exposure to Agent Orange or burn pits in Iraq are eligible. Signage near the groves of trees features a QR code so that people can access a website that lists the location of each tree and the person associated with it, along with stories based on available information about them. Eligibility extends back to the Spanish-American War of 1898. Meier said he hopes the groves prove educational for those who visit the trees, as well as providing comfort for families and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sea ice data does not disprove warming in Antarctica
"We are constantly being lied too (sic)," says a May 6, 2025 post on Threads. The post shares an image juxtaposing two charts measuring sea ice extent. One is from December 24, 1979, while the other from December 24, 2024. "Antarctic sea ice extent is 17% higher today than it was in 1979," text under the charts reads. Similar claims also appeared on other platforms, including Instagram and X. Narratives seeking to deny the impact of climate change on the Arctic and Antarctic -- the polar regions surrounding the North and South poles -- often rely on sea ice data to make misleading claims. In this case, the charts shared online come from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). AFP retrieved exact matches for them from the NSIDC online archives (here and here). But their side-by-side comparison amounts to "a classic case of cherry picking," said Walt Meier, senior research scientist at the NSIDC. "Looking at single days from two years does not give useful information about trends or the response of sea ice to warming," Meier said May 14. The NSIDC says on its website that sea ice data has been repeatedly misused to spread myths about global warming (archived here). Generally, scientists look at decade-long trends for "sea ice extent," a term referring to the total area of the ocean where at least 15 percent of the surface is frozen. The measurements taken on December 24, 1979 and December 24, 2024 do show a difference in sea ice cover, the agency said, but it is about a 12 percent increase -- not 17 percent. Comparing most other dates would have left a different impression. "From 1 January through 13 December, the 2024 extent was below 1979 levels, by over 1 million square kilometers at times," Meier said, noting that this equates to an area roughly the size of Egypt. "Only during 14-31 December were 2024 extents higher than 1979," he added. Antarctica's summer months, from December to February, naturally show greater shifts of sea ice extent because of warmer temperatures and longer hours of sunlight. That means a small change in the timing of the retreat of ice -- and when exactly melt season starts -- can quickly and greatly shift its extent in one December relative to another, Meier explained. Across the whole of 2024, warming was observed and sea ice extent measured lower than the 1979 annual average by about 11 percent, according to NSIDC data. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Antarctic sea ice extent hit its second lowest annual minimum in 2024 since monitoring started in 1979, with the year 2025 likely to tie such a record (archived here and here). Dramatic shifts in climate have already occurred in the Antarctic Peninsula, the part of Antarctica farthest from the South Pole. The peninsula is warming at a rate five times faster than the global average -- and faster than anywhere else within the Southern Hemisphere (archived here). Yet continent-wide patterns of temperature change remain uncertain, scientists say. Unlike the Arctic, where sea ice extent has been consistently decreasing across all areas and seasons since records started, Antarctica's sea ice lacks a defined long-term decline (archived here). "The Antarctic sea ice is thin and open to the ocean, so it has much more variability and thus the global warming signal is not as evident," Meier said. The last decade has shown more extreme fluctuations, which scientists say could indicate a "regime shift" into a new low-extent state, possibly due to warmer oceans (archived here and here). Both polar oceans are warming, with the "Southern Ocean being disproportionately and increasingly important in global ocean heat increase," according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the leading international consortium of climate scientists (archived here). Samantha Burgess of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which runs the Copernicus climate monitor, added in a February 2025 report: "One of the consequences of a warmer world is melting sea ice, and the record or near-record low sea ice cover at both poles has pushed global sea ice cover to an all-time minimum." When highly reflective snow and ice give way to dark blue ocean, the sun radiation that once used to bounce back into space is instead absorbed by water, accelerating the pace of global warming in a feedback loop. Decreased ice cover also has serious and rapid impacts on ecosystems, such as the survival of penguins and their habitats (archived here). AFP has debunked other claims about the effects of global warming at the Poles, including here.
