Risa Binder Feature Howard County Times

Risa Binder is having a moment. Not only did the singer-songwriter deliver a recent buzzworthy performance on the popular TV show "CBS This Morning," but the Columbia native is currently recording a CD with Nashville super-producer Luke Wooten and just found out she's been nominated for an Emmy Award.

Things are happening so fast, it's easy to understand her reaction to the news that her song "Just Like That," will compete for Outstanding Original Song in a Drama at the Daytime Emmy Awards next month. "I was like, is this real? Are you kidding me?" Binder says with a laugh. "I was just beside myself."

The musician, who plays Columbia's annual Wine in the Woods Festival at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, must feel as though her recent hot streak is validation after many years spent performing at open mic nights, in coffeehouses and auditioning for Broadway shows.

The Howard High School graduate has certainly paid her dues. After receiving a degree in Theater Arts from the University of Maryland, Binder worked a series of odd jobs in order to pay the bills while she pursued her performing career. "I was a waitress; a nanny; I walked dogs; I even taught cooking classes to kids," she says.

It wasn't always easy to hang in there, but Binder stayed clear to her vision.

"I really believe that what you put in your mind to do you can do," says the Brooklyn based musician. "I would tell anyone that has a goal, to just break it down into smaller goals so you can get something done each day. It will get you that much closer to your dream. It may take a while, but it will be worth it."

Binder's homecoming will cap off a year and a half of touring behind her debut album, "Paper Heart."
"I've been on the road for a while now, so it's going to be wonderful to come home and go to my parent's house for dinner after the show."

The musician, who grew up in Columbia's Thunder Hill neighborhood, says entertaining is a family affair.

"My mom and dad, and my sister all did Howard County Summer Theatre for years when I was a kid. Looking back on it now, I feel so lucky that I grew up in Columbia where there's such respect for the arts."

Binder also starred in her share of school musicals at Howard High and was a frequent performer at Toby's Dinner Theatre.

She still hopes to sing on Broadway one day, but for now, Binder is wholly dedicated to her own music.

"I've written songs for as long as I can remember," she says. "Even when I was a kid, I was making up songs about my friends and neighbors."

Eventually, the musician's subject matter evolved.

"Of course when I became a teenager my songs were mostly about boys that I had crushes on."
As an adult, Binder simply keeps her ears open for inspiration.

"I once wrote a song after I overheard a conversation when I was a waitress at a fish and chips shop in Brooklyn. This woman was visibly upset, and I heard her friend ask her what she was going to do next and the woman said 'I guess I'll just go where the wind takes me.' When I heard that, I said thank-you in my head, that's such a good title. I started writing the song as soon as I got off work."

Binder has a penchant for penning tunes about following your heart, unrequited love and kisses in the rain, so it's fitting that her debut CD "Paper Heart," was released on Valentine's Day 2011. The disc's infectious blend of pop rock and country soul was quickly noticed by industry tastemakers. Several tracks off the disc got national radio airplay, and others were featured on TV shows like the long running soap opera "General Hospital," which garnered Binder her Daytime Emmy nomination.
The singer-songwriter's profile has quickly risen ever since her performance in March on "CBS This Morning's" popular music segment, "Second Cup Café."

"It was incredible, just as I imagined it would be," says Binder of her TV appearance.

"I have a vision board with of all the things I want to achieve, and playing on that show was one of them. I looked at that board every day for a year before it happened. When I finally got an email with the invitation, I leapt out of my chair."

The musician performed two songs on the show and managed her preshow jitters by convincing herself that playing for millions of TV viewers wasn't really a big deal.

 

"I had to tell myself that I was just having a morning sing along with friends. That's how I made myself calm down because I was super nervous."
The internal pep talk apparently did the trick.

"At the very end of my second song, the whole crew took off their headsets and started clapping."
In the week following her appearance, "Paper Heart" shot up on the iTunes "What's Hot" chart and remained there for three weeks.

"It was me, and Justin Timberlake and David Bowie," says Binder. "It was insane."
Now, the musician hopes to keep momentum rolling by teaming up with some Music City heavyweights.

"I've just started recording my second album in Nashville," she says.

So far the musician has cut several tracks with Wooten, whose credits include crafting hits for Brad Paisley and Kellie Pickler. The session musician who plays guitar on the record is Dan Dugmore, a member of James Taylor's band for over a decade.

"We were just talking one day, and I mentioned to Dan how much I love the song 'Strawberry Wine' by Deana Carter, and he proceeds to tell me that he's the guy that played pedal steel on the track. That's the song that made me fall in love with country music in the first place. Working on this record makes me feel like a kid in a candy store."

After her gig at Wine in the Woods, Binder will head back to Nashville to continue fine tuning some of her material. She isn't sure of the release date quite yet and says she wants to take the time to create music that resonates.

"For me, a good song tells a really good story. There has to be something about the melody and lyrics that stick. In my writing process, if I'm working on a chorus and an hour later I find myself humming it, then I know it's good. I love songs that you can't get out of your head."

 

Gary Sinise Profile-Virginian-Pilot Newspaper

It's hard to think of Gary Sinise and not recall the actor's Oscar-nominated role as Lt. Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump."

In the 1994 film, the character wrestled with life and disabilities after losing his legs in combat. Taylor's journey from despair to hope stayed with Sinise well after cameras stopped rolling. It compelled him to spend time with real U.S. soldiers, and to form the Lt. Dan Band, a 12-piece rock 'n' roll act that supports his military-based charity work.

"The band is one part of an overall mission to draw attention to our military and to make sure they know they are appreciated," Sinise said during a recent phone conversation. "When our troops and what they're doing for our country isn't always on the front page, people tend to forget and just go about their business. We have people deployed overseas and service members back home with all kinds of residual effects from a dozen years of war. I think it's important to acknowledge the sacrifices they make."

Sinise, who plays bass guitar in the group, is a longtime supporter of the military.

In 2003, the actor volunteered for his first USO tour, traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan to shake hands, sign autographs and take pictures with the troops. The following year, he wanted to do more to entertain the troops and asked the USO if he could bring along some of his musician friends on the next tour. Since then the Lt. Dan Band has played an average of 40 shows a year, performing free concerts for members of the military.

Saturday night, the feel-good cover band, which plays everything from The Beatles to Beyoncé, will perform at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth. The concert is limited to military personnel and their guests.

"I've wanted to come to Hampton Roads for a long time," Sinise said. "We feel privileged to be able to play a small part in boosting morale and keeping military families strong."

The actor's level of commitment goes well beyond the band. Two years ago, he launched the Gary Sinise Foundation, which builds custom homes equipped for the needs of severely wounded veterans.
For his efforts, Sinise has been awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal and last year was declared an honorary Navy chief petty officer.

"I feel privileged to have been invited into the military community and feel very welcome there," he said.

Although he's never served himself, Sinise grew up in a military family. He has leveraged his fame to keep veterans' issues in the public eye but is quick to point out that he thinks the average person can also make a difference.

"Not everyone can go visit military bases and military hospitals like I've been blessed to do on a regular basis over the years, but anyone can take the opportunity to say 'thank you' to a veteran or a member of our active military," he said. "You never know what somebody in uniform might be going through on any given day. Maybe they're going through a really difficult period or something particularly tragic happened recently that has made them feel pretty bad. Just by patting 'em on the back, you could turn somebody's day around and make it a little better."

Virginia Beer Festival-Virginian Pilot

For a couple of years now, bellying up to the bar hasn't been easy at the Virginia Beer Festival.

Whether standing in line to try a bold blueberry ale from Belgium or a chocolate-infused stout crafted in Virginia Beach, you probably had plenty of company while waiting for a taste.

"We've been just about at capacity for the last few seasons," said Rob Cross, director of the Virginia Arts Festival, which co-sponsors the annual affair with Norfolk Festevents. "Last year we actually sold out and had to turn people away."

Imagine what the turnout will be for this year's event, now that it's been named one of the country's best beer festivals by USA Today.

Luckily, organizers had a plan in effect well before being recognized in the national press.

"The Beer Festival has been such a success for us that we've added a second day," Cross said. "Hopefully that will make it less crowded and more comfortable for people to enjoy."

Now in its 12th year, the Virginia Beer Festival, at Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk this Saturday and Sunday, has grown in popularity in tandem with the burgeoning craft-beer movement.

"Microbreweries are popping up all over the country," Cross said. "Hampton Roads has at least five now. Ten years ago, there weren't any local breweries."

Craft brewers generally use traditional ingredients such as malt and barley to produce beer in smaller batches, and often with unique tastes that mass-produced beers lack.

This weekend, festivalgoers can sample craft beers from around the region and across the world.
"We have brewers coming from as far away as Germany to as close as Norfolk," Cross said.

A tasting ticket will serve as your passport to visit the 65 breweries on site offering more than 100 different beers. Spring for a premium ticket and get the VIP treatment with seating, special brews designated for that area only and "beer pairings" that match foods with brews that complement specific flavors.

But you don't need to be a high roller to soak up the suds. There will be plenty of food vendors on site for those with general admission tickets, live music will play each day, and participants can get schooled in the art of brewing with a variety of brewmaster seminars scheduled throughout the weekend.

Despite the celebratory air of the event, Cross emphasized the importance of responsible drinking and shared a few tips.

"Pace yourself and eat some food," he said. "Bring plenty of sunscreen, and remember to drink water between tastings."

But by all means, raise your souvenir 6-ounce glass and experience new flavors.

"Get a group of friends and make it a point to share and taste a bunch of different beers," said Cross. "There's going to be a lot of stuff that you just can't get at your local bar."