Broad Ripple Gazette vol 4, number 20

Originally published in the Broad Ripple Gazette, buzzing around town.


Otto’s Funhouse featuring Doug Stanhope
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Melody Inn

Otto hosts his Funhouse every third Monday of every month at the Melody Inn. This Monday was a little different. Showtime’s Doug Stanhope is on the road promoting his new DVD, “Doug Stanhope, No Refunds,” and Otto gave him the microphone for the whole evening.
I tuned in to the Bob and Tom Show that morning to hear Doug’s guest spot. It was funny and he certainly made me giggle. The description of his new haircut alone made me look forward to the show. The Melody Inn was packed full of laughing guys, with a liberal dose of women thrown in when I arrived.
I can’t quote any of the show, because the sentences would be heavily censored. Doug talked a lot about relationships and the awkwardness involved. Ironically one of his stories was about the first girl that he, ahem, “liked” and her name was Nora. I was standing in the short hallway at the front door. I was very close to the stage, when he went on his Nora riff, several guys were pointing at me. I’m sure Doug was wondering what that was all about. As for the haircut – think reverse Mohawk.
But back to Otto, please. Otto has been entertaining us for years. I first met him in 1982-ish when was playing guitar with his wildly popular band the Slammies. Otto (or Ricky as we called him in those days) worked at Gritzby’s (I maybe spelling that wrong) in the Bazaar at the Keystone at the Crossing and I worked at Benihana right across the parking lot. Ah, those were some fun days.
Otto Funhouse is a variety show; an open stage geared to musicians, poets and acoustic musicians. Each performer gets a 10-minute slot to do their thing. Check out Otto’s MySpace page for details on signing up to perform.
The next Otto’s Funhouse at the Melody Inn is October 15. The variety show can also be found at the Tip Top Tavern on the first Tuesday of the each month.

http://www.myspace.com/ottothecomic
www.dougstanhope.com
www.melodyindy.com
www.myspace.com/tiptoptavern


Matt the Electrician
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Indy Hostel

Matt the Electrician was a nice antidote to the raunchiness of the night before. Austin based Matt the Electrician is touring with singer-songwriter Seela, who has an amazing voice. The living room intimacy of the Hostel was perfect for this show. I really enjoyed seeing Matt with his well loved Gibson, finger picking the tunes and keeping time with his Chuck Taylor-ed feet.

His latest CD, one thing right, has found a home in my work CD player. It features amazingly poignant songs and harmonies.

www.matttheelectrician.com
www.indyhostel.us

The Vibrators
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Local’s Only

Any punk rocker worth their Doc Martens is a fan of the Vibrators. The band formed in 1976 -- which was lifetime ago. I think that band years are like dog years. One actual year equals seven in the music world.
It was great to finally see the band—or what is left of it. Knox, the main songwriter and guitar player is the only original member.
I loved every second of the evening. I got to chat with Knox before the show started—meeting a punk rock idol with a charming British accent was almost too much for me. I did not help that when I tried to buy a button from their merch table; he gave me the button and tried to convince me to purchase a pair of thong panties with the Vibrator logo instead.
The crowd consisted of gracefully aging punk rockers and young skateboarders. I loved getting to chat with everyone. There are some great stories out there; I just need to get them on paper.
The Vibrators have a lengthy catalogue to draw from. They played some of my favorites; including the crowd sing-along Baby, Baby.
The totally adorable Gito Gito Hustlers from Japan opened the show.


Kevin Fitzpatrick
Travel and Transportation show
Friday, September 28, 2007
Indy Hostel


Mom and I walked to the Hostel for Kevin Fitzpatrick’s gallery opening. I love having a gallery in my corner of the neighborhood. We ran in to Tammy Lieber, of page 12 when we got there. Quite appropriately for the Hostel the show featured his intricate drawings of ways to get from here to there.

You can check out Kevin’s work at the Hostel through the end of the month.

www.indyhostel.us
www.kevinfitz.com

Broad Ripple Music Fest
Saturday, October 13, 2007
All over the greater-Broad Ripple area


I’m talking the night off for this event (thanks Lana!). This is the first year for the Broad Ripple Music Festival. The goal is to highlight local venues, local bands and area not-for-profit agencies. Each venue is matched up with an agency, and a portion of the profits go to the charity. If there is no cover charge at the venue their will be a chance to drop money in a hat. For instance, if you go to Luna and would like to donate to the featured agency there you may.

Each venue is operating independently, so no need for a wristband. Have fun and I’m sure I’ll see you out and about!.


Alley Cat Lounge

(Outside)
5 pm Prizzy Prizzy Please
6 pm Eisenhower Field Day
7 pm Everything Now
8 pm Devil To Pay
(Inside)
9 pm Sump Pumps
10 pm Small Arms Fire
11 pm Red Light Driver
12 am Loretta
1 am Those Young Lions
2 am Everthus the Deadbeats

Birdy's

8:15 pm Mars or the Moon
9 pm Sweet Dilemma
9:45 pm The Last
10:30 pm The Last Good Year
11:30 pm Zelazowa
12:30 pm Wheelhouse

Boulevard Cafe Fest
4155 Boulevard Place
2 pm Jason Hathaway
2:45 pm Dean Phelps
3:30 pm Marcy Hook
4:15 pm Brooke McKinney
5:00 pm Chad Mills

Casba
9:30 pm Dezzy Dezz
10:30 pm Organic Soul
11:45 pm Blackberry Jam
1 pm The Philosophy
1:45 pm DJ Metrognome

Chateau Gato
6 pm Sex Before Marriage
7 pm Bolth
8 pm Illithed
9 pm Order of the Black Hand

Connor's Pub
9 pm Deacon Sean and the Snakehandlers
10 pm Pravada
11 pm Mardelay
12 pm Abner Trio
1 pm Thin Fevers

Hot Box Pizza

6 pm PJ and Steve Christie
7 pm Tony and Russell
8 pm The Old Flames

Indy CD and Vinyl

2 pm Taylor Norris
3 pm Bryan Luellen
4 pm DJ Fate
5 pm Jackola
6 pm Mark Tester
7 pm James B
8 pm Seth Nichols & John Mack

Indy Hostel
7:30 pm Lindsay Bloom
8:25 pm Emily Wood
9:20 pm Robert Bruce Scott - Celtic Harp
10:15 pm Mandy Miller

Jazz Kitchen
10:30pm - 2 am DJ Rasul
DJ Stephan

Local’s Only
7 pm Joe Welch
8 pm Vulgar Boatmen
9 pm Jethro Easyfields and the Arrowheads
10 pm Rich Hynes Band
11 pm Naptown Jug Stompers

Luna Records
3 pm Serebro
4 pm Rodeo Ruby Love
5 pm BlackSoil Project
6 pm Chasing Elvis
7 pm Wolfy
8 pm The Last Domino

Monkey’s Tale
(Outside)
11:30 pm Red Moon
1:30 pm Sonic Gypsys
3:30 pm OH MAMA!
5:30 pm Indianapolis Chaos Womens Football Team Meet & Greet
7:30 pm The Language
9:30 pm Reed Black
11:30 pm Austin Bridges
(Inside)
2 pm Clint Crowe
4 pm Gill
5 pm Jovian Mons
7 pm The Language
9 pm Reed Black

Monon Coffee
2 pm Luke Austin Daugherty
3 pm Joseph Kilbourn
4 pm Sarah Grain
5 pm Jacob Winters
6 pm Tiny Folk
7 pm Tea and Sympathy
8 pm Andrew Brown
9 pm Chocolate George and Tom Kiefaber of Little Sky Giant

Spin Nightclub
8 pm Arrah and the Ferns
9 pm Beta Male
10 pm We Are Hex
11 pm Action Strasse
12 pm Creepin Charley
1 pm Mudkids

Mug Shots
3 pm Mojo Bentley
4 pm Healing Sixes
5 pm The weeds of Eden
6 pm The Hardies
7 pm Jeff Byrd and the wingmen
9 pm The Smiles
10 pm Davey and the Chorus Caravan
11 pm New Moon Grove
12 pm One Side Later

Melody Inn
Acid Green
Atomic Bombay
The Dream is Dead
Peggy Sues

Upper Room
Chad Mills
David Moore

1015 (E. 54th Street – Vibes)
5:15 pm The Endies
6 pm Amo Joy!
6:45 pm This Story
7:30 pm Grampall Jookabox
8:15 pm Little Voice
9 pm Hey Hey Melodica
9:45 pm A Caesar Holiday
10:30 pm Highway Magic