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Where in the World is Indy Rock Live? — July

July 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

After a nice little break in the schedule, the concert calendar kicks back into gear beginning this week. Below are the shows Indy Rock Live has on the radar:

Friday, July 6: Stop #1, the First Friday Food Truck Fest. Lots of food trucks, live music, good times. After the grub is downed, we’ll be heading over to the Do317 Lounge to catch KO, formerly of Slothpop, for FREE.

Saturday, July 7: We haven’t been to Earth House in a while, but Jukebox the Ghost is reason enough to change that. Savior Adore opens the MOKB Presents show.

Sunday, July 8: Indy Rock Live is making its semi-regular Sunday night stop at the Mel to catch a pair of Nashville artists. Paper Lantern and Nick Flora, along with some local talent, are going to bring some summer pop bliss.

Tuesday, July 10: We’re heading down to Deluxe for Americana courtesy of the Futurebirds and Henry Clay People.

Wednesday, July 11: Fiona Apple in the Old National Theatre. No additional info necessary.

Saturday, July 14: Back to Earth House for Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s. Will be a fun, sexy time.

Sunday, July 15: Another Sunday at the Mel. Black Taxi back for more. Nice.

Tuesday, July 17: Beach House at Vogue. More than worth the trip to the Rip.

Thursday, July 19: Hootenanny time. Old Crow Medicine Show at Old National Centre.

Saturday, July 21: Langhorne Slim is back, and he’s got a new album. Good show last year; this one promises to be even better. Another great MOKB Presents production.

July 27-29: Oh, how we wish we weren’t indisposed, cuz this is a three-night stretch we’d like to hit. Can’t make them all. But you should. Bear Hands, John Fulbright, Florence + the Machine w/ Walkmen. Info here.

Monday, July 30: Can’t stay down for long. Blitzen Trapper! This one at Deluxe.

Tuesday, July 31: Shakes is sold out, but we’re okay with that because we’re heading over to see Temper Trap at the Egyptian Room. So should you!

Busy month of shows in Indy. No excuses! Get moving. We’ll see you out there.

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Get Yer Live Music On – Indy in March

March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Indianapolis live music scene in March comes in like a lion . . . and goes out like one. Yup, it’s that packed, so you have no excuses not to venture out for at least a few of these wicked nights. A few great shows are already in the books — it would be a shame to miss many more. Here are some suggestions:

March 8 – Elliot Brood at White Rabbit Cabaret: Like the Avett Bros? You’ll like this Canadian trio. Check out the preview at Do317.com.

March 9 – The Wood Brothers at Earth House: Head and the Heart has been sold out for months, so try out these seasoned purveyors of classic Americana.

March 11 – Hoots & Hellmouth at White Rabbit Cabaret: More solid new folk/Americana. And it’s an early show so you’ll get home fairly early.

March 14 – Dr Dog w/ Givers at Deluxe: Dr Dog has been a road warrior for years, building their live reputation. Givers is riding a huge wave of buzz. Should be a great one.

March 15 – The Winter Sounds at Melody Inn: An unheralded indie pop band that’s on the cusp. And a month isn’t complete without at least one trip to the Mel.

March 16 – Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys at Bankers Life Fieldhouse: If you’re not already locked in to this one . . .just go.

March 17 – Dave Barnes at Earth House: Solid singer/songwriter showcase.

March 20 – Hank 3 at the Vogue: Rockabilly roll. Get ready.

March 21 – Said the Whale at White Rabbit Cabaret: Up-and-coming indie pop band. Catch them now.

March 22 – Rachel Yamagata at Radio Radio: Another nice singer/songwriter show.

March 24 – Delta Spirit w/ Waters at Radio Radio: Excellent double-bill. This one’s almost sold out so you better make your move soon.

Not enough? I didn’t even mention all the great shows down in Bloomington. Get off the couch.

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Upcoming: February 15-18

February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Great weekend of shows in Indy kicks off tomorrow. Some recommendations:

Wednesday, Febraury 15 – Victor Villarreal(Joan Of Arc) w/ The Bonesetters, Meryll and Heavy Hometown at Melody Inn

Great mix of artists at the Mel for a Wednesday night outing.

Thursday, February 16 – Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears at Earth House

This one’s going to be a great time. Some James Brown. Some Ike Turner. A little something extra. Go.

Friday, February 17 – Slothpop w/ Union Tree Review and Grandkids at Radio Radio

Local faves Slothpop say so long to their violinist. Union Tree Review hasn’t played for some time. Nice show.

Friday, February 17 – Melismatics CD Release Show at Melody Inn

Power poppers kick off tour for newest record, Mania, produced by Posies legend Jon Auer.

Saturday, February 18 – Heartless Bastards at Radio Radio

Dirty rock to knock your socks off. Awesome Saturday option from MOKB Presents.

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Upcoming: January

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

January’s live music calendar gets off to a typical slow start for this time of year. But the concert-going options pick up as the third week rolls around. Below are some notable shows:

Friday, January 6 — Clemency w/ Neon Love Life and the Bonesetters at Radio Radio

Nashville’s Clemency is set to release its debut EP — check out the really promising video below. Supporting are Neon Love Life, still rolling with it’s 2011 release, Tuesday Night, and the Bonesetters, whose fantastic album Savages has finally seen the light of day. Great way to spend a Friday night.

Thursday, January 19 — Awolnation at The Vogue

Return visit by Awolnation, who played here a few months back.

Friday, January 20 — The Lemonheads at The Vogue

MOKB Presents Evan Dando and his current band playing classic It’s A Shame About Ray in its entirety. Ray’s only about 30 minutes long, so expect some other great Lemonheads tunes. Really looking forward to this one.

Saturday, January 21 – A Lot Like Birds at Earth House

West coast instrumental post-hardcore band makes its way to the cozy confines of the Earth House. The neighbors might not like this one.

Sunday, January 22 – Communist Daughter at Melody Inn

Minnesota alterna-folk band comes to town. Nice show at the Mel.

Thursday, January 26 – Los Campesinos! at the Bluebird (Bloomington)

Good band down in B-town if you’re up for the drive.

Friday, January 27 – Anthrax w/ Testament at the Egyptian Room

Get your metal fix for the month

Saturday, January 28 – Jack’s Mannequin w/ Jukebox the Ghost at the Egyptian Room

Jack’s Mannequin returns, this time with Jukebox the Ghost in tow. I’m not as big of a JM fan, but I really like Jukebox. Fun night.

Tuesday, January 31 – The Cab at the Emerson

I can’t recommend the Emerson as a venue — the place feels like a disaster waiting to happen — but if you like harmony-laden pop, The Cab has it figured out.

What shows are on your radar for January?

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Indy Rock Live Top 8 Concerts of 2011

December 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

It goes without saying — but I’ll say it anyway — that I attend a lot of shows. Aside from being with my family — yes, I have one, so consider that, too — live music is my favorite way to spend time. It sustains me. A great performance can lift you up and get you buzzing unlike anything else. I’m amazed when people tell me they haven’t been to a concert in years. I can’t imagine not having live music in my life.

So what moved me this year? What shows reached, if even for a moment, those transcendent peaks? My top 8, in alphabetical order with links to my original posts, are below. A minor caveat: One show that some may notice conspicuously absent from the list is Bon Iver. I was told by countless people that it was amazing; unfortunately, it was the one time all year that life’s little conflicts interfered.

Alabama Shakes at Radio Radio, December 14

I realize this show was just last week, so I’ll admit it’s still fresh in my mind. But even if had happened in March, it would still make the list. Alabama Shakes is a band that is just beginning to make waves, and already the live show is a revelation. I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

David Bazan at White Rabbit Cabaret, November 10

A tremendous singer/songwriter at the peak of his power. The venue was perfect and the set list was an inspired blend of new solo stuff and old Pedro the Lion tunes. A deeply satisfying show.

Blue Skies for Black hearts at Melody Inn, October 23

Few shows give you the opportunity to really get to know the band playing. Portland’s Blue Skies for Black Hearts stopped at the Mel in October, in support of newest album Embracing the Modern Age, for what turned out to be an almost private concert. Not only was it fun to watch them play — including an acoustic encore in the middle of the club — but it was great getting to know the band. One of my favorite nights of the year.

The Civil Wars at Old National Centre, November 4

John Paul White and Joy Williams, aka The Civil Wars, made two stops in Indy this year. Though both performances were outstanding, the show in November at Old National was the better of the two, possibly because JPW wasn’t so sick. The energy in the Egyptian Room was tremendous.

Fitz and the Tantrums at the Vogue, June 21

One big party. A perfect example of a band taking enjoyable album tracks and elevating them in a live setting.

Head and the Heart at Earth House, August 5

A last minute show that didn’t just sell out, but cemented the band as an Indy live staple for years to come. The room was hot but the band was hotter.

My Morning Jacket at White River State Park, August 7

The best “big band in a big setting” show I saw this year. Jim James and his cohorts are one of the premiere live bands in the world. The show at WRSP was a perfect reminder.

Wilco at Old National Centre, September 13

Wilco has always put on good shows, but they had settled into a more adult contemporary groove of late. This show gave notice that it was time to crank up the dial again.

What were your favorite shows of the year?

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Blind Pilot – Earth House 11/12/2011

November 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Portland’s Blind Pilot brought their brand of folk pop to the Earth House Saturday night. The 80-minute set showcased the six-piece’s hushed, delicately constructed songs as well as the fuller sounding tracks featured on the new album, We Are the Tide. But to begin, I have to start at the end — that was when the performance reached its pinnacle.

The encore commenced with The Bitter End, from first album 3 Rounds and a Sound, followed by a nice cover of the The Band’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. I expected the show to end then, but the band unplugged their instruments and assembled at the foot of the stage. They closed the concert by performing 3 Round’s title track with the majority of the audience seated around them, voices merging like a campfire singalong. It was a transcendent moment.

To be honest, the show needed that ending. The band’s main set was a solid affair — they sounded great — but at times came off a bit sleepy. They kicked off with Keep You Right and Two Towns from the new record before sliding in to Oviedo from 3 Rounds. Nice songs all, but mellow. It wasn’t until fifth song, the more percussive Half Moon, that the show got lively. The band maintained the energy with The Story I Heard, but then the show settled down again, staying in that gear until the main set closer, We Are The Tide.

I found myself thinking back to the Head and the Heart show this summer, also at Earth House. Both bands share a similar style of music, but HatH had that something extra. In summary: Good band, decent show, but killer encore.

Were you there? What did you think?

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Upcoming: November 10-14

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Good shows every night beginning on Thursday. Highlights below:

Thursday, November 10 – David Bazan at White Rabbit Cabaret – Great songwriter in a great venue. The former Pedro the Lion is touring in support of newest album, Strange Negotiations. Another terrific MOKB Presents show.

Friday, November 11 – “Secret Indian” Show at Earth House – A bunch of bands on the agenda, including HOOPS! and the always awesome Bonesetters.

Saturday, November 12 – Blind Pilot at Earth House – The second killer MOKB show of the weekend. Blind Pilot recently released new album, We Are The Tide.

Sunday, November 13 – Sick/Sea at Melody Inn – Winsome indie pop band from Texas. Will be a nice show. Mark it on the calendar.

Monday, November 14 – The Loom at Melody Inn – Check them out now and say you saw them when. Brooklyn band is this week’s NPR World Cafe: Next pick. New album, Teeth, is out now.

Monday, November 14 – Shonen Knife at Radio Radio – MOKB Presents the trio as they tour in support of their Ramones covers album. Very loud and very fast. Should be fun.

What shows are you going to see?

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The Civil Wars – Old National Centre 11/4/2011

November 5, 2011 By 1 Comment

The Civil Wars played to a sold out Earth House crowd this past summer. Six months later, the audience had swelled to nearly five times the size of that venue. As John Paul White, guitarist and vocalist of the duo flatly stated, the turnout at Old National Centre Friday night was the band’s crowd of the year.

White and Joy Williams, the other half of Civil Wars, were having a great time on stage, and that love of performing overflowed to the audience. The give and take with the crowd had an electricity that the best live shows achieve. It was especially nice to see JPW having such a blast — the last time they were in town White was so sick, it was almost a miracle he could perform.

As with their last appearance, the set focused on the songs from Barton Hollow with a handful of fun covers tossed in. Particularly great were a winsome I’ve Got This Friend and the punchy title track. Once again, the duo’s cover of Smashing Pumpkins’ Disarm was jaw-dropping. They completely reconstruct the song, and it’s amazing.

The Civil Wars were fantastic the last time they played Indy. This time they were even better.

Were you at the show? What did you think?

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Upcoming: November 1-5

October 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Slow start to November, but things kick into gear this weekend. Below are some notable options.

Tuesday, November 1 – Will Hoge at Radio Radio

Singer-songwriter making one of his occasional trips to Indy. Always a good show.

Wednesday, November 2 – Cold War Kids at the Bluebird (Bloomington)

One-time buzz band touring in support of new, return-to-form album, Mine Is Yours.

Friday, November 4 – Civil Wars at Old National Centre
Friday, November 4 – Secrets Between Sailors and Everything, Now! at the Melody Inn

After selling out the Earth House this summer, the Civil Wars are back in a larger venue. Another great MOKB show. Take note, the duo are also doing an in-store at Luna Music that afternoon. Details at the site.

Civil Wars not your thing? Local act Secrets Between Sailors is at the Melody Inn for their CD release show, with support from Everything, Now! Another solid option.

Saturday, November 5 – Ray Davies w/ The 88 at the Vogue
Saturday, November 5 – The Devil Makes Three at Radio Radio

Amazing opportunity to see the legendary Kinks front man. Backing band The 88 are an excellent choice for support. Really looking forward to this show.

If Americana and Bluegrass are more your preference, MOKB has up-and-coming band The Devil Makes Three at Radio Radio. The band is building a lot of support through their live show.

What’s on your schedule?

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Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Earth House 10/5/2011

October 6, 2011 By 2 Comments

Stephen Malkmus could never write another song and his legacy would be complete. The indie legend, best known for his incomparable work with Pavement, is responsible for countless classic tunes.

Since Pavement’s dissolution in 2000, Malkmus and his band the Jicks have turned out several stellar albums, including the recent, Beck-produced opus Mirror Traffic. The band made its way to the Earth House Wednesday night as part of that album’s current tour.

The show focused heavily on the new record. Malkmus and the Jicks opened the set with Mirror Traffic’s Stick Figures in Love, which features a great opening riff that repeats as the hook. That song led into Brain Gallop, also off the album. Five of the first six songs were new, but the sold out crowd was more than happy to listen. Check out Share the Red below.

Part of Malkmus’ appeal has been his refusal to pigeonhole his songwriting into any particular style. Whether he’s writing a pop song like Gardenia or a drawn out jam like Real Emotional Trash, he’s always kept it interesting. And live, he seems focused on keeping himself invested, too. He obviously enjoys playing the fresher songs, but also pulling out Church on White from his 2001 self-titled album.

Although no moments during the 85 minute set hit the level of catharsis that the best live music provides, Malkmus and the Jicks delivered an entertaining and professional show. For someone with his stature in indie rock lore, he can do whatever he wants.

Were you there? What did you think?

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