Broad Ripple Gazette vol 9, no 7

Indiana Artisan Marketplace
Saturday, March 31 (10:00 – 6:00), Sunday, April 1 (10:00 – 5:00)
Expo Hall, Indiana State Fairgrounds
1202 E. 38TH Street
$10, under age 15- free 

Showcasing the creations of Indiana's best artists and artisans, the Indiana Artisan Marketplace returns for a second year at one of my favorite places, the Indiana State Fairgrounds. 

More than 100 artisans from Indiana and an additional 50+ artisans from Kentucky will showcase art and food selected as being among the best in Indiana and Kentucky by food and art jury panels created by Indiana Artisan and Kentucky Crafted.

The Marketplace features one-of-a-kind artwork and foods, including some of my favorites – Geoff Davis and his delightful carved birds, Teri Barnett and her colorful paintings, Erin Jones-Edds and her delicious Hoosier Mama products (I can’t wait to try her newest offering, margarita mix), and Elizabeth Garber and her Best Chocolate in Town truffles (a little trivia: she used to sell her truffles at CATH coffeehouse). 

You get to meet and purchase directly from the artisans. You will be able to watch them create artwork, cultivate relationships with your favorite artisans and celebrate exceptional talent and creativity.

If browsing among all of the delightful art is not enough, there will be Indiana musicians, live art and craft demonstrations, and food and drink tastings. In addition to browsing the booths, visitors again will enjoy Indiana music, live art and craft demonstration and food and drink tasting.

www.indianaartisan.org

 

Pravada, Goldenboy, & Hotfox
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Melody Inn
3826 N. Illinois
8:00, 21+, free 

Butler Scion has put everyone on the guest list for this show – that means it’s free! I’ve been a fan of the delightful band, Hotfox since their high school days, and they are still making me proud. I look forward to seeing them again. 

Pravada features the very talented trio of Jesse Lee, Casey Tennis, and Hubert Glover. After a stint in Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, the band is back in town and rocking us with their original melodically driven pop-rock. 

Goldenboy is from L.A., so you know they’ll be, well, golden. 

www.melodyindy.com

Broad Ripple Gazette no 9, vol 6

Saint Patrick’s Day activities
Saturday, March 17, 2012

The parade downtown is Friday, and the celebration continues through the weekend. 

Indianapolis City Market (222 E. Market Street) has an excellent day of family-friendly fun planned. There will be lots of things for the adults, too. The Tomlison Tap will be open, U-Relish Farms is hosting Indiana Ceili. Check out www.indycm.com for more details. Nonsmoking, all-ages. 

Union Jack’s Pub, Broad Ripple (924 Broad Ripple Avenue) will have bag pipers strolling through at 6:00 p.m. The Pub has a nice selection of Irish Whiskey and has both Guinness and Smithwicks on tap. Nonsmoking, children are welcome in the family dining room. 

Locals Only (2449 E 56th Street) is hosting the Spud Puppies. The popular bluegrass band only plays occasionally, so catch them when you can. They have added some Celtic tunes for this show, and Locals Only is always a great place to enjoy a whiskey and beer.  Nonsmoking, 21+, 9:00, $5. 

Southern Indiana Tornado Relief Show
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Melody Inn
3826 N. Illinois Street
21+, doors 5:00, music 5:30, $5. donation for Salvation Army

John Barney and Junk Box Mike and the Melody Inn are hosting an evening of music to benefit the victims of the tornados in Southern Indiana. The lineup is seriously stellar, and the show is early enough to stop in on your way home from work. 

5:30 – Chris Wolf. Chris’s music is clever, fun, and heartfelt. It’s always a pleasure to hear him play.
6:00 - Mojo Gumbo. Zydeco, Funk, Blues, and Cajun music mixed into one delicious band.
7:00 – Jeff Beyer. Guitar playing singer/songwriter.
7:30 – John Barney and The Passengers.  County music at its finest.
8:30 – Luis-Miguel. I don’t know a darn thing about Luis-Miguel, but I’m looking forward to hearing him. 9:00 – Bit A Danger. Blues tinged rock, featuring the Red Key’s Jim Settle.
10:00 – John Bowyer. ­Acoustic singer/songwriter with a bit of country. 
10:30 – Mad Wails. Not sure what “soul-rock” is? The Mad Wails will show you.
11:30 – Junk Box Mike. Mike sings about live, love, and fishing. Mostly fishing, really. 

If you’ve never been to the Melody Inn, or haven’t visited in ages, this would be a good chance. The historic Melody Inn features the booths from the Teepee Restaurant and vintage video games – Ms. Packman, anyone? 

You are welcome to donate more than $5 at the door, or visit, https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/storms to donate online. 

www.melodyindy.com

 

Tim Grimm, Cara Jean Marcy, Bill Price, Evan Slusher
Friday, March 30, 2012
Locals Only
2449 E 56th Street
21+, nonsmoking, $10, 8:00 p.m.

What I great lineup! I’ve had a musical crush on Tim Grimm since the first time I heard him years ago. His shows at CATH coffeehouse were always standing room only. Tim might be the coolest guy I know. Not only has he toured and recorded with Rambin’ Jack Elliott, he’s appeared with Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger. His last five records have all reached the top of the Folk and the Americana charts. 

Don’t worry, Cara Jean Marcy is the Cara Jean Wahlers we’ve all come to know and love – except she’s a newlywed. Not only is Cara a wonderful singer and songwriter, she’s a great storyteller. I hope we get to hear tales of her recent wedding and honeymoon. 

Bill Price wanted to be a songwriter as soon as he heard the Beatles, and Bob Dylan. Bill does his influences proud – his original songs weave great stories and music together. 

Evan Slusher is a university student with songwriter abilities that belie his young age. Hearing Evan is always a treat. 

www.timgrimm.com
www.carajeanmarcy.com
www.billprice.info
www.myspace.com/evanslusher
http://localsonlyindy.com/

Punchlist for the week of March 15

Who doesn't like a good list?

I was thrilled to write this list for Punchnel's of just a handful of the folks that have slept on my sofa.

Broad Ripple Gazette no 9, no 5

 first published in the Broad Ripple Gazette

Stockwell Road, John Barney & The Passengers, Art Adams
Friday, March 2, 2012
Locals Only
2449 E. 56^th Street
21+, doors 7:00, show 8:00

Get your local here. This is a fun lineup of great local songwriters. All three bands have a country influence – except for John Barney & The Passengers – they’re a county band, through and through.

Will Stockwell leads the band Stockwell Road with a good dose of soul mixed in with country. John Barney & The Passengers are a blend of folk, blues, and country sensibility. Art Adams brings 50 years of rockabilly sensibility and fun.

Wear your dancing shoes to this show, and get there early enough to eat dinner. You’ll need the nourishment for this high-energy show.

www.localsonlyindy.com

           

Girls Rock! Fundraiser with Hero, Jr, Red Light Driver, Neon Love Life
Friday, March 2, 2012
Talbott Street
2145 N. Talbott Street
21+, 8:00, $10 suggested donation

Girls Rock! is a non-profit organization dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music. Through music education programs they provide girls with an opportunity to participate in an environment that fosters leadership, encourages social change, and cultivates a supportive community of female peers and mentors. 

They offer a rock camp each summer for girls learn between the ages of nine and sixteen. The girls receive instruction on guitar, bass, drums or vocals. Each camper becomes part of a band, learns how to write songs, and the thrill of performing in front of a live audience at the camp showcase. Campers also take part in various workshops that relate to body image, self-esteem, and empowerment. 

How awesome this that? I wish I could go! I can go to the fundraiser to help with camp costs. The evening will feature music by Hero Jr., Red Light Driver, and Neon Love Life. There will also be giving away gift certificates and a brand new Silvertone guitar courtesy of Vibes Music. 

http://girlsrockindy.org

Rodeo Ruby Love, End Times Spasm Band, Trip N Balls, Romance of Reject
Friday, March 9, 2012
Hoosier Dome
1627 Prospect Street
7:00, all-ages, $8.

Rodeo Ruby Love has been touring their little rocking hearts out and we’re happy to have them back in town. They’ll be playing their hometown show at the Hoosier Dome. You read that right – the Hoosier Dome is an all-ages venue in Fountain Square run by Stephen Zumbrun. Stephen outgrew the ES Jungle space in the basement of Trinity Church at 61^st and Central. 

The lineup includes Fort Wayne’s End Times Spasm Band. What is a spasm band you ask? In the early part of last century, a spasm band was a group of street performers who played in a hot style on whatever instruments they could wrangle. From what I’ve heard of the End Times Spasm Band, they wrangle those instruments pretty darn well. 

www.facebook.com/rodeorubylove
www.facebook.com/endtimesspasmband
www.indyhoosierdome.com

           

Colin Hay
Sunday, March 9, 2012
Vogue Theatre
6259 N. College Ave
21+, non-smoking, seated, $25 advance, door 7:00, show 8:00

Colin Hay is playing a solo acoustic show. And the Vogue will be nonsmoking. And there will be chairs. What more could you want? Seriously. This will be great. 

You might know Colin Hay from Men At Work. He also has a great solo career as a singer/songwriter and always puts on an amazing show, full of his famous tenor voice and melodic guitar playing. I love being able to see members of bands that I love play solo shows. The Vogue will turn in to an intimate venue for the evening. If you haven’t been to the Vogue for a while, now is the perfect time to check it out. 

www.thevogue.com

Davy, it's always been Davy

If you're of a certain age you had a favorite Monkee. But you probably didn't think of it as strategically as I did.

Click here for the piece I wrote about Davy Jones for Punchnel's.   

Broad Ripple Gazette vol 9, no 3

 first published in the Broad Ripple Gazette

Welcome Super Bowl visitors – we’re happy to have you visiting our fine Village. You’ll find plenty of music, shopping, and restaurants for all tastes. 

Grab an official Broad Ripple Celebration Site program to get the scoop on the concerts and festivities.

And for those of you that will still be around after February 5^th, there are some great shows on the horizon.

Five Year Mission CD release, The Shake Weights, The Innocent Boys
Friday, February 10, 2012
Locals Only
2449 E. 56^th Street
21+, 8:00 pm, $5.00

Five Year Mission fascinates me. The band is more than just a nerdy gimmick: they are five established musicians, who are unabashed Star Trek nerds. They are writing a song for every episode of Star Trek. Yep, you read that right. They are celebrating the release of their second record, which covers the second sixteen episodes in the series.

Their songs are clever and catchy. You don’t have to be a fan of the series to enjoy the music, in fact I’ve even seen an episode of Star Trek (hold the calls and letters, some of my best friends are Trekkies, between not watching television as a kid and not having cable, I’m out of the SciFi loop), but really dig the band.

Speaking of slightly nerdy, The Shake Weights are Mike “Shimmercore” Contreras and Tom Breedlove, friends since their junior-high school days in the 1980s. You will recognize Mike from his other musical projects, Red Light Driver, Pop Lolita, and the United States Army band and you’ve seen Tom on the comedy circuit. They put it all together creating a punk/comedy sound.

The Innocent Boys play a mash-up of punk, bluegrass, and swing for a sound that is all their own.

This show will have something for everyone, and everyone is welcome at Locals Only. The venue offers a nice mix of table and bar area, with room for those of us that like to stand. The food is great, with healthy choices on the menu. Be sure and try Robin’s More Salsa, it is delightful. The beer selection is deep and they have a full bar. What more could you ask for?

http://fiveyearmission.net
http://localsonlyindy.com

Victor Villarreal, Meryll, Heavy Hometown
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Melody Inn
3826 North Illinois Street
21+, $5.00, doors at 8:00, show at 9:00

Legendary guitarist, Victor Villarreal (Joan of Arc) will pop in to the Melody Inn during his ambitious 23 city tour. He is celebrating his first solo proper full-length record, Invisible Cinema. 

Often credited as a pioneer of modern indie rock through his work with Cap'n Jazz, Owls, Ghosts & Vodka, and more recently, Joan of Arc, Victor’s solo venture is full of excellent, but unpretentious record. Elements of classical and Spanish guitar, as well as indie and metal are all present in this diverse batch of songs. I’m sure his concert will feature all of those songs and more. 

The Melody Inn has been around since your grandparent’s era. The Melody Inn is one of the oldest bars in Indianapolis (est. 1935). The vinyl booths are from the old Teepee Restaurant and the oak bar is the original.  It’s a great place to kick back and relax. 

www.melodyindy.com

Broad Ripple Gazette vol 9, no 2

 first published in the Broad Ripple Gazette

Joel Henderson, Danny Flanigan, Cara Jean Wahlers
Saturday, January 28, 2011
Locals Only
2449 E. 56^th Street
8:00, non-smoking, 21+

What an awesome lineup! And the three excellent songwriters will be playing in the round style – swapping songs and stories.

I’ve written plenty about how amazing Danny Flanigan and Cara Jean Wahlers are. I haven’t had the chance to write about Joel Henderson lately. Now a Louisville resident, Joel was a regular performer at CATH Coffeehouse, even recording his first album there.

Joel has a brand new professionally produced record  - I bet they were not worried about cappuccino machine noises when they were recording - and it is terrific. The official release date for Locked Doors and Pretty Fences is not until April, but I bet you’ll be able to snag a copy at the show. 

Locals Only is a great place to listen to music and the food is great. Bring some extra cash to purchase the CDs of all three of the performers, you’ll be glad you did. 

www.dannyflanigan.com
www.carajeanwahlers.com
www.joelhenderson.com
localsonlyindy.com

Super Bowl related activities
Friday, January 27 – February 5
Downtown and Broad Ripple 

I have embraced the Super Bowl fever. There has been a tremendous amount of planning and thought in to entertaining visitors and showing off our town. I intend to soak it all in and I hope you will take advantage of it too. 

Super Bowl Village

The Super Bowl Village will span three-blocks downtown and I assume that it is near Lucas Oil Stadium and Georgia Street. I’ve spent an hour combing the various Web sites for an exact location, but that is as near as I can pinpoint it. I was really hoping to find stage locations and such, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I am excited that there is a wonderful mix of local talent and national acts. Here is a handy-dandy full schedule of the musical activities. I intend on making good use of the Park and Ride options to get to the Village. 

Friday, January 27

The Last Good Year, 3:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Kramus (Q-95 band contest winner), 4:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Max Allen Band, 5:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Bret Michaels, 9:30 p.m., Verizon Stage

Saturday, January 28

 Orquesta Bravo, 12:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Jon McLaughlin, 1:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Cynthia Layne, 2:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Lynda Sayyah, 5:15 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Patti Labelle, 9:15 p.m., Verizon Stage

Sunday, January 29

Corey Cox, 1:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Will Hoge, 4 p.m., Verizon Stage
Railroad Earth, 6:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Dierks Bentley, 9:15 p.mm., Verizon Stage

Monday, January 30

Healing Sixes, 3:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Stereo Deluxe, 5 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Living Proof, 7:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage

Tuesday, January 31

Greta Speaks, 3:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
DJ Helicon & Special Guests, 5 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Hunter Smith Band, 7:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Fuel, 9 p.m., Verizon Stage

Wednesday, February 1

Roxie, 3:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Indy's Legends of Doo Wop, 5 p.m., Pepsi Stage
The Meatball Band, 7:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Big Head Todd & The Monsters, 9 p.m., Verizon Stage

Thursday, February 2

Hero, Jr., 11:30 a.m., Pepsi Stage
John Spencer, 12:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Corey Cox, 2 p.m., Verizon Stage
Otis Gibbs, 3:15 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Sixpence None the Richer, 4:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Red Wanting Blue, 5:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Edwin McCain, 7 p.m., Verizon Stage
Darius Rucker, 9:30 p.m., Verizon Stage

Friday, February 3

DJ Limelight, 11:30 a.m., Pepsi Stage
Blackberry Jam, 12:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Morris Day and the Time, 2 p.m., Verizon Stage
Bashiri Asad, 3:15 p.m., Pepsi Stage
En Vogue, 4:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Gentleman Alphonse, 5:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Fitz & the Tantrums, 7 p.m., Verizon Stage
LMFAO, 9:30 p.m., Verizon Stage

Saturday, February 4

DJ Kyle Long, 11:30 a.m., Pepsi Stage
Carson Diersing, 12:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
he Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, 2 p.m., Verizon Stage
Twin Cats, 3:15 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Here Come The Mummies, 4:30 p.m., Verizon Stage
Born Again Floozies, 5:45 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Umphrey's McGee, 7 p.m., Verizon Stage
North Mississippi Allstars, 8:15 p.m., Pepsi Stage
O.A.R, 9:30 p.m., Verizon Stage

Sunday, February 5

Indiana Reggae Band, 12 p.m., Pepsi Stage
Whitney Coleman, 1:30 p.m., Pepsi Stage
DJ Rusty, 3 p.m., Pepsi Stage

www.indianapolissuperbowl.com
sbxlvi.clickandpark.com/parkandride 

Broad Ripple Village Super Fest
February 2 – 5
Doors open at 6:00, show 8:00 – 11:00 each night, $25. 

We’ll be partying in the streets – at least one of them anyway, Guilford Avenue, between Broad Ripple and Westfield Avenues. 

Thursday, February 2 - George Clinton & P Funk

Friday, February 3 - Robert Randolph & The Family Band

Saturday, February 4 – Candlebox

Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 11:00 – 6:00– Tailgate Party – no details at press time, but check the Super Fest Web site for details. 

www.broadripplesuperfest.com
do317.com