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Indy Rock Live Top 8 Concerts of 2012

December 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I attended 79 concerts in 2012. That’s a lot of time in places like Radio Radio, White Rabbit Cabaret, Old National Centre, and Melody Inn. But there’s little I would trade the lost sleep or ringing ears for. Live music restores me. It grants me a unique euphoria that, as I get closer to 40, becomes too infrequent.

Can I keep up that pace in 2013? Probably not, especially as my business expands. (Indy Rock Live is still, simply, a hobby.) I do, however, plan to book 10-12 shows in the new year — the first is the legendary Ken Stringfellow at the Do317 Lounge on February 11 — and rely on more contributors. I like to think what this site provides is a window into all the great music that passes through Indianapolis. If I can encourage even just a handful of you to get up off the sofa a few more times, then I’ve been successful. For the thousands of readers that stop by each month, thank you. Keep on going to rock shows.

Below are my Top 8 of the year in alphabetical order with links to my original write-ups.

Band of Skulls w/ Boom Chick – The Vogue, August 6, 2012: Fuzzed out, sweaty rock didn’t come much more pure and muscular than this show. Band of Skulls were hot and Boom Chick — since renamed Crushed Out — were a whirlwind of rockabilly punk electricity.

Delta Spirit w/ Waters — Radio Radio, March 24, 2012: Delta Spirit was great, but Waters was revelatory. Formed from the ashes of Port O’Brien, Waters delivered the single-best opening set of the year. And their passion and fire channeled directly into Delta Spirit’s raucous set.

Drive-By Truckers — The Bluebird (Bloomington), October 21, 2012: I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen the Truckers live now. Though they’ve never let me down, this one was spectacular. An unbelievable set list, a packed club, and, what would turn out to be one of John Neff’s final shows, equaled perfection.

Elliot BROOD w/ Pack AD — White Rabbit Cabaret, March 8, 2012: The surprise of the year. A pair of Canadian bands with no track record in Indianapolis left it all on stage. The result? A hot, foot-stomping, hootenanny. Fantastic show that resulted in many new fans.

Kishi Bashi — Joyful Noise, May 23, 2012: The show of the year. Touring in support of full-length solo debut 151a, Kishi Bashi in the cozy confines of the Joyful Noise space in the Murphy Building was intimate, engrossing, and unforgettable. A perfect concert experience.

Nada Surf w/ Waters — Deluxe, June 23, 2012: One of my favorite bands. And with the addition of Doug Gillard on guitar, a live juggernaut. Waters, for the second time in 3 months, was incredible. But the moment of the evening came after the lights went up. As 20 or so people huddled around the merch table, band leader Matthew Caws came out with an acoustic guitar and played Blizzard of ’77 to the crowd. A moment I’ll never forget.

Okkervil River — Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington), August 31, 2012: A great band delivering on all fronts. Add the outdoor beer garden environment that didn’t hold back on intimacy and it equaled a terrific night in Bloomington.

Stars — Deluxe, October 4, 2012: The most party-like concert atmosphere of the year. The band performed with passion and the audience returned the love. That euphoria I mentioned earlier? Stars was a perfect example.

What were your favorite shows of the year?

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Nada Surf w/ Waters – Deluxe 6/23/2012

June 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’ll admit up front that Nada Surf is one of my all-time favorite bands. Their catalog, especially since 2002′s Let Go, is stellar. Each album is better than the last, and their new one, The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, is already one of my top 10 of 2012. To say I was pumped to see them play at Deluxe Saturday night would be an understatement.

The band has always been a core trio — I’ve seen them a few other times with added musicians like Gavin Guss on keyboard — but the addition of former Guided by Voices guitarist Doug Gillard added a new level of muscularity to their sound. New songs like opener Clear Eye Clouded Mind and Teenage Dreams, as well as older gems like Weightless, had a new element of crunchy bliss that was even more rewarding. (Additional note: Need convincing of Gillard’s impact? Listen to Skills Like This from GBV’s Isolation Drills.)

The set list was spectacular and drew from their entire history, including Treehouse from High/Low and Amateur from The Proximity Effect, two songs I’d never heard live before. Another surprise was the haunting Your Legs Grow from The Weight is a Gift, a song I last heard lead singer/songwriter Matthew Caws play solo acoustic at an in-store at SXSW about 8 years ago with the Long Winters John Roderick providing back-up vocals from the back of the store.

Nada Surf standards like Hi-Speed Soul, Always Love, and Happy Kid still sounded as electric and fresh as the first time I heard them. New songs like the powerful When I Was Young and the jaw-dropping Jules and Jim fit in perfectly with the flow. Paper Boats is still epic; See These Bones still builds beautifully and explodes.

Further proof of the night’s magic: After the show was over and fans were hanging around the merch table, Caws showed up with an acoustic guitar and sang Blizzard of ’77, unexpectedly fulfilling a crowd request. It’s those moments that take a great show and make them legendary.

Opening band Waters delivered an incredible set in Indy two months ago playing with Delta Spirit at Radio Radio. The room was different this time but the outcome was the same — further proof that they’re one of the best new bands out there. Waters has that perfect dynamic blend of melody and rugged noise. Abridge My Love and For the One are perfect bursts of pop energy; Mickey Mantle, which lead singer Van Pierszalowski delivered acoustically from the foot of the stage, is a dramatic quiet/loud gem. Seriously, people need to lock in to Waters now or risk getting swept away later. They’re fantastic.

The whole show was amazing and has an easy slot in my top shows of the year. Were you there? What did you think?

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Get Off Your Ass and Go! – Nada Surf & Waters at Deluxe 6/23

June 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Deluxe is host to one of the great double-bills of the summer Saturday night. Indie pop legends Nada Surf, touring in support of their incredible new album, The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, headline the show. The band has been putting out one outstanding album after another for around 20 years. Let Go, The Weight is a Gift, and Lucky are all records that, years later, stay in heavy rotation in my library.

Opening the show is Waters, led by former Port O’Brien front man Van Pierszalowski. Out in the Light, the band’s first album, is a powerhouse amalgam of hooks and fuzz. Nearly a year after it’s release, it still gets heavy play. Just try to forget songs like For the One, Abridge My Love, and Mickey Mantle after they’ve burrowed into your brain.

Tickets are available for the MOKB Presents show here. Gonna be a memorable one Indy, so Get Off Your Ass and Go!

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Delta Spirit w/ Waters – Radio Radio 3/24/2012

March 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Fans can be fickle. Just ask Delta Spirit.

After two solid albums of Americana-esque folk/pop, the band grew its’ sound on the new, self-titled record to highlight more mainstream rock and pop influences. As a result, some have cried foul claiming the band is catering to a larger audience. And the problem with that is what, exactly?

The new album does have a fuller sound. Yes, the hooks are more plentiful. And the crowd at Radio Radio Saturday night was a raucous sell-out. Seems like things are working out.

Waters, born after the demise of the beloved Port O’Brien, opened the show with a 45-minute set showcasing the band’s first album, Out in the Light. I’ll keep it simple: They killed it. The songs were catchy as hell and hit the bulls eye for my taste in distortion. Lead singer/guitarist Van Pierszalowski has one of those unique voices that forces you to pay attention. The band closed their set in the center of Radio Radio, surrounded by the audience, voices raised high in a classic sing-a-long. Absolutely incredible. Buy the record.

Delta Spirit kept the momentum going, leaning heavily on the aforementioned new album. New songs like Tear It Up had the audience shouting and stomping along. Older favorites like White Table drew the expected fan fervor.

The set didn’t contain any real surprises, but the energy in the room was intense. By the time they closed the main set with California, everyone was riding high.

Tremendous show. Great audience. Can’t ask for more.

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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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