Broad Ripple Gazette vol 8 no 13

First published in the Broad Ripple Gazette: 

Cara Jean Wahlers, Stasia Demos, Danny Flanigan
Friday, June 24, 2010
Indy Hostel
4903 Winthrop Ave
8:00, all-ages, non-smoking, $10

I think the outdoor stage at Indy Hostel is the best in the city. It’s tucked right off of the Monon Trail at 49^th Street in Meridian-Kessler. It’s the perfect spot for a summer’s evening songwriter-in-the-round show.

Cara Jean Wahlers, Stasia Demos and Danny Flanigan will trade songs and stories. If you’ve never been to an in-the-round event you’ll love the intimacy of the show. I’ve also heard these events called “guitar pulls,” from the spontaneous front porch concerts that would break out and one guitar would be pulled from one musician to another. 

The three musicians will trade songs and stories and I’ll bet the farm on fact that there will be plenty of giggles. Danny has a brand-spankin’ new CD and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

There will be some chairs available, but feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket. You can also bring your own snacks and drinks. If it is raining the show will move indoors. The Hostel is in a red four-square house at the corner of 49^th Street and Winthrop Ave, with plenty of parking on 49^th Street, just on the other side of the Hostel.

www.indyhostel.us
www.dannyflanigan.com
www.carajeanwahlers.com

Middletown Reunion Show
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Flat12Beirwerks tasting room
414 N. Dorman Street
7:00 pm, $5, 21+

I feel like all of my musical roads lead to Middletown – the band, not the Vigo County burg. I was lucky enough to hear their first rehearsals over a decade ago and am now fortunate enough play in a jug band with the lovely Stasia Demos.  Tad Armstrong remains one of my favorite singer-songwriters and Aaron Stroup is one kick-ass guitar player. They reunite every year or so when Aaron takes a break from his rock-star life in Austin, TX to visit our town. What could make this any better? The addition of Dean Metcalf! Just writing this makes me giddy!

If you’ve never had the chance to see Middletown, don’t miss this one. The band features beautiful harmonies, great musicians, excellent songwriting, a smidge of twang and a dose of quirkiness.

Flat12Beirwerks is a brewery nestled in the Cottage Home neighborhood, a quick jaunt from Broad Ripple. There is plenty of parking at the brewery or if you’re planning on being home before the sun sets, it’s an easy bike ride from the Monon Trail. The show will be in the tasting room, food will be available, and of course, the tasty made-on-the-premises beer. I’m always torn between the Tangerine Porter and the Pogue’s Run Porter.  I usually just ask Flat12 Sales Manager, Mark Kocher what I’m drinking and he hasn’t steered me wrong.

I’ll see you there – I’ll be the one giggling and requesting that the band play, “Welcome to the Family.”

www.flat12.me  

Review:

Steve Poltz with Chris Wolf

June 5, 2011
Locals Only

One of the best things about a Steve Poltz concert is that they are wildly different each time, and always amazing. This show was no exception.

I was so inspired during the show that I took more detailed notes than usual so I could quote the song titles properly and recount some of the stories. Clearly you’re not reading a well-researched and finely crafted review, because the dog ate my homework, sort of.

This story is starting to be particularly Poltzesque – meandering and slightly silly, but will eventually get to a point. Anyway, I was in a car accident a few days after the show. I’m fine, but my HHR had to be hauled away. When the tow truck driver asked if I wanted to grab anything from the car I panicked. Between the bowling ball and typewriter and typing table and dry cleaning and galoshes I froze and said no. Off my notebook went to a tow yard.

I can tell you this from memory. Indianapolis’s Chris Wolf’s songs were fun and delivered with his usual charm. Steve Poltz songwriting is smart and touches your heart. His delivery is quirky and charming and you can’t help but walk away wanting a little more Poltz.

www.localsonlyindy.com

www.myspace.com/chriswolfmusic

http://poltz.com/

Dow Jones and the Industrials

 I had great fun writing this piece about the band I was lucky enough to hang out with in my younger days.
Click here for the NUVO feature on Dow Jones and the Industrials.

Broad Ripple Gazette vol 8 no 12

first published in the Broad Ripple Gazette

The Independent Music and Art Festival is one of the things about our city that makes my little heart sing. This is the 10^th year for the just-the-right-size festival.

Independent Music + Art Festival
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Harrison Center
1505 N. Delaware Street
all ages, free, noon – 8:00

The Independent Music + Art Festival is a grand day-long outdoor festival featuring original live music and visual artists and their work. There are two stages of music in the Harrison Center courtyard and the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange – a contemporary craft fair featuring gorgeous handmade goods will be tucked throughout the Harrison Center – in the gymnasium and galleries.

Food vendors include the equally delicious Duos and Judge’s BBQ and Sun King Brewery will have beer available. I wonder if they’ll bring the popcorn beer – two of my favorite food groups in a glass.

And music, lots of music. As always, the lineup is eclectic and fun. I was looking over the list to pick a few bands to highlight, but it was hard to choose. I say take a blanket and some sunscreen and stake your spot for the day.

Here’s the lineup:

12:00-12:35 Hotfox
12:40 - 1:15 It’s All Happening
1:20 - 1:55 Liz Janes
2:00 - 2:35 Slothpop
2:40 - 3:15 T.J. Reynolds
3:20 - 3:55 Lord of the Yum Yum
4:00 - 4:35 Red Birds
4:40 - 5:15 Rob Dixon and Triology
5:20 - 5:55 Wolfy
6:00 - 6:35 Jascha
6:40 - 7:15 The New Empires
7:20 - 7:55 Company of Thieves

I’ll see you there!

www.indieanahandicraftexchange.com
http://www.harrisoncenter.org

danny flanigan
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Monon Food Company
6420 Cornell Ave
9:00 – 11:00, all-ages, non-smoking
Yay! danny flanigan is coming to town and he has a brand spanking new CD, hope is a word…, is first in years. I can’t wait to get my hands on copy. If it was possible to wear out a compact disc, I would have played the grooves off of his previous records.
danny’s is a great guitar player and even better songwriter. His music is poignant, smart, witty and you’ll find them floating through your head for days and years later. Just typing his name made me start humming, “beautiful day.”
Monon Food Company, across from the Monon Trail at the corner of Cornell and 64^th Street, just celebrated their first anniversary and I’m not quite sure where I ate before they opened. Excellent food, darn good service and a top-notch beer list.
www.dannyflanigan.com
www.mononfoodcompany.com

Hillbilly Happy Hour
Punkin Holler Boys with Matt Woods
The Historic Melody Inn
3826 N. Illinois Street
Friday, June 17, 2011
7:30 – 9:30, $5, 21 +


I can’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend than with the Punkin Holler Boys. Swing in to the Melody Inn for some boot stompin’ fun. I’ve been listening to the Punkin Holler Boys new record, Tin Ears, in my car. If you see me grinning and tapping my hands on the wheel, you know what I’m listening too.

http://www.punkinhollerboys.com
http://www.melodyindy.com  


CABIN, God Made Robots, The StereoFidelics
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Historic Melody Inn
doors 9:00, show 10:00, $5, 21+


Full Blown Possession Productions always puts on a good show and this promises to be another one. The night includes CABIN from Louisville, The StereoFidelics from Ashville, North Carolina and Indianapolis’s darlings, God Made Robots. The evening promises to be big high-energy groovy fun.

http://godmaderobots.com
http://www.myspace.com/cabin
http://thestereofidelics.com

Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Festival
June 11 – 18, 2011
Bean Blossom, Indiana

all-ages, various ticket packages, children 12 and younger free

The Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Festival is the oldest continuous running bluegrass festival – 45 years now. The festival features eight days of music, over 50 performing musicians, youth activities and tons of workshops including lessons on banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bass; mountain and bluegrass vocals, group harmony, songwriting, band promotion, Bean Blossom history and more – although I can’t imagine what more there could be.

I haven’t had a chance to attend the festival yet, but I understand it’s wonderful and chockfull of history.

www.beanblossom.us