Bloomington, IN, according to the popular standard "(Back Home Again In) Indiana," smells like "New mown hay."

I moved to Bloomington to pursue a PhD in folklore and ethnomusicology from Indiana University, with an emphasis on archives and audio preservation and a minor in Central Eurasian Studies. While at IU, I also got to develop and teach several courses of my own design, including courses on Socially Conscious Songwriting, International Country Music, and Guitar Cultures Around the World. In addition to my studies and teaching, I enjoyed making music with my ethnomusicology colleagues as well as several Bloomington bands including the Hoagy Rollers, the Double Digits, Leon Chance & the Longshots, Grant Street Scandal, the 9Dz, Jeb Brester, the Brown County Birth of Rock'n'Roll shows, Davy Jay Sparrow, the 123s, the First United Methodist Church Open Door Service Band, Kid Kazooey, and of course, reuniting with the great Jerry Miller to administer a healthy dose of honky-tonk and rockabilly to the Hoosier masses. (see: www.nategibson.bandcamp.com). I remained a Sox fan, but really enjoyed watching Kyle Schwarber and the IU baseball team tear it up at all those free baseball games on campus.