EXCLUSIVE TICKET GIVEAWAY: Helmet
Photos by Roger Kiplinger, from Helmet’s website -

August 30th @ The Vogue

Helmet has returned. This is good news. We want you to share in the good news by being one of the four people who will win tickets to see the band on August 30th (THIS THURSDAY) at the Vogue.E-mail your name to MOD at INDIANAPOLISMUSIC.NET for your chance to win. Winners will be drawn at random and e-mailed. Their names will be posted by the end of the day Wednesday, so you’ll have plenty of time to suck up to any friends who might be luckier than you.One entry per person, please. Thanks, and good luck!

Related Link: http://thevogue.ws

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IMN OnTrack: The Twin Cats
Story by Ryan Williams - Photos by Submitted Photo -

Friday, Aug. 23rd @ The Mousetrap

Listen: http://tinyurl.com/37dxzd

IMN OnTrack takes a closer look at one track a local artist has put on the web for your perusal, and give you a little history behind the music as well. We’re timing this look to coincide with that artist’s performance in the coming week, but our real goal is to get local music on your computer or portable media player. Think of this like the musical equivalent of a food court sample.

The Twin Cats are equally at home in venues like the Mousetrap or huge outdoor festivals. The band filters funk through their jam-band framework to keep the audience moving at all times, whether the experience is enhanced by substances or not. The Twin Cats also demonstrate their versatility with projects like their recent collaboration with the Mudkids for that group’s 10th anniversary show.

Like most band of their ilk, the real experience is in the live show. Take a listen to “Jan Jan,” and feel free to peruse more if you wish. The band has three complete shows posted online.

– Ryan Williams —

Related Link: http://thetwincats.net

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IMN OnTrack: Marmoset
Story by Ryan Williams -

August 17th @ Radio Radio

Listen: http://www.scjag.com/mp3/sc/missingman.mp3

IMN OnTrack takes a closer look at one track a local artist has put on the web for your perusal, and give you a little history behind the music as well. We’re timing this look to coincide with that artist’s performance in the coming week, but our real goal is to get local music on your computer or portable media player. Think of this like the musical equivalent of a food court sample.

Marmoset was one of the first bands on Bloomington’s venerable Secretly Canadian label, but it’s been five years since the band has released a recording. The trio has finally managed to add to their catalog with the release of “Florist Fired,” and they’ll celebrate the release of that album Friday night at Radio Radio. Expect the quirky, off-beat pop Marmoset is know for, even after a multi-year hiatus.

You can get a free sample at the Secretly Canadian website, so clicky the linky above for “Missing Man.”

– Ryan Williams

– Related Link: http://secretlycanadian.com/artist.php?name=marmoset

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IMN OnTrack: Red Queen Hypothesis

Story by Ryan Williams -

August 10th @ The Melody Inn

Listen: http://tinyurl.com/yvrnaa 

IMN OnTrack takes a closer look at one track a local artist has put on the web for your perusal, and give you a little history behind the music as well. We’re timing this look to coincide with that artist’s performance in the coming week, but our real goal is to get local music on your computer or portable media player. Think of this like the musical equivalent of a food court sample.

It’s best if you just click on the link above to find more information on the band - Googling “Red Queen Hypothesis” will lead you down a rabbit hole of scientific inquiry you might not be ready for. The band (not the scientific stuff) recently followed up an EP in February with the full-length “Contorted In Deep Space,” which will be released this Friday at the Melody Inn. While that may seem overly productive to some, it’s par for the course for RQH.

The indie rock trio has been averaging at least one release a year since 2001. This small conglomeration of musicians is part of a much larger collective grouped under the Rowntree Records name - click here for more information on that. Again, no Google - you’ll probably just get confused. Sample “Oh, Rachel” from their last EP with the link up top, or visit MFT to sample the whole thing.

– Ryan Williams –

Related Link: http://www.myspace.com/redqueenhypothesis

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EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: Girl Talk
Story by Drewski - Photos by Julie Boyle -

August 9th @ Talbot St.

A new crowd packed the old walls of the Talbott Street bar last Thursday. There were no drag queens tonight, only people yearning for a good show on a Thursday night. And that’s exactly what they got. Those Young Lions, We Are Hex, The Peggy Sues, and Girl Talk fed the masses a healthy portion of rock with a great dance kick.

Due to various circumstances (employment obligations and exploding tires), I was unable to make it to the bar in time to see Those Young Lions and We Are Hex, and from what I have heard, I should be ashamed. Rest assured: I am.

Nonetheless, when I got there I immediately sensed people enjoying themselves. Indianapolis natives The Peggy Sues had just begun rocking the crowd, and their excessive energy really spiffed up the unpretentious music style and kept the crowd’s attention from drifting to what drink they should order next. Singer Theresa “Sue” belted out the songs with a big smile during the entire show, and her voice had hints of Karen O. (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Yasuko O. (Melt Banana), and possibly Jackie O. (former first lady of the United States), although I cannot say I have ever heard a presidents’ wife sing. All things considered, I would be happy to bump into these friendly girls again in the future.

The night’s finale came in unassumingly wearing a hooded sweatshirt, armed with his laptop band. Gregg Gillis is Girl Talk, and Girl Talk brought me back to great nights in Bloomington basements. Though Girl Talk calls Pennsylvania home, he had no trouble making friends in Naptown. Seconds after inviting fans on stage, he was surrounded by a hundred or so people who could not help but jump, dance, or just move to the beats. Mixing everything from Mims to Styx to the Jackson Five to Avril Lavigne, Girl Talk was sure to be a crowd pleaser. To keep the atmosphere fun and exciting, Girl Talk became part of the crowd, running around on the dance floor and releasing a few handfuls of confetti into the air from the stage. Though he spent little time talking (probably due to very few actual breaks in the songs) nobody seemed to mind. They were all there to have a good time and dance and see how many songs they could sing along to. For the encore, he brought out some new tricks to show off. Overall, he seemed to enjoy the crowd very much, and the crowd sure seemed to love him. It is no surprise he has 26,734 MySpace friends. Two thumbs up for Girl Talk.

Talbott Street was a great venue for this show, and I know I will definitely be looking out for more to come. Boasting plenty of room, reasonable drink prices, good sound, and a downtown Indianapolis location, Talbott Street has a lot to offer the central Indiana music scene. Let’s hope they agree.

– Drewski —

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EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Incubus
Photos by Joey Foley -

July 28th @ The Lawn

Incubus

Simon Dawes

The Bravery

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IMN OnTrack: Stringtown Pickers

Story by Ryan Williams - Photos by Submitted Photo -

August 4th @ The Mousetrap

Listen: http://www.stringtownpickers.com/music/Nightfall.mp3 

IMN OnTrack takes a closer look at one track a local artist has put on the web for your perusal, and give you a little history behind the music as well. We’re timing this look to coincide with that artist’s performance in the coming week, but our real goal is to get local music on your computer or portable media player. Think of this like the musical equivalent of a food court sample.

The promo photo for this article shows four well-attired gentleman, suitably dressed for a wonderful evening in the presence of skilled bluegrass musicians. Make no mistake, though. The band can easily shift their image to one more tailored for the jam-oriented crowds that frequent week-long festivals and love music (if not always hygiene). The Stringtown Picker’s constant is their music, so good that it appeals to all fans of bluegrass, no matter what era they draw their clothing from. Check out “Nightfall” from their website, and take in their show at the Mousetrap, August 4th. Cover is free, so there’s no excuse.

– Ryan Williams –

Related Link: http://stringtownpickers.com

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EXCLUSIVE REVIEW AND PICS:
Queens Of The Stone Age

Story by David Searle - Photos by Joel Faurote -

August 3rd @ Murat

At one point during the Queens of the Stone Age set at the Murat last Saturday, Josh Homme made a plea to the audience. A sexy, sexy plea.

“I wanna go out to the parking lot after the show and see the cars going [makes creaking noise while moving hands up and down] wee-ee wee-ee wee-ee.”That’s the way he introduced “Make It Wit Chu”, one of many cuts the Queens played off of their new record, Era Vulgaris. It was good to see a band have enough confidence in their fourth record (five if you include their self-titled, independently released debut) to make new material the focus of the night.Playing under gigantic elevated lamp shades meant to invoke a street corner, QOTSA produced a mostly tight set. They had a bit of trouble with the more rhythmically challenging passages of their new material (mostly caused by their drummer rushing the faster parts), but they were spot on elsewhere.

“Little Sister” elicited the biggest response from the crowd, while extended encore closer “No One Knows” highlighted Homme’s solo guitar work.

But the highlight of the night was “Misfit Love.” Starting slow, they layered in each sound piece by piece as the light show flashed in time with the beat. When the drums finally came in, they hit their sweetest groove of the night. By the way each band member exaggerated their movements, it was apparent that they were feeling it, too.

Their new material represents a slight change of course for the Queens. The songs have a more lo-fi appeal hinted at by Homme’s work in Eagles of Death Metal. The guitars are dirty rather than heavy, and the drums are more driving than pounding. The means have changed, but the ends are the same - you can’t decide whether to bang your head or shake your ass.

I would suggest choosing the latter if Josh Homme’s words prove correct.

“You know what they say: You dance like you fuck.”

– David Searle

– Related Link: http://jtfdzn.zenfolio.com/

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Jason Webley, Vermillion Lies, and the Leisure Kings

EXCLUSIVE REVIEW AND PICS: 
Story by Patrick - Photos by Patrick -

 

August 2nd @ The Melody Inn

Last Thursday’s show at the Melody Inn was another great example of why the bar is often considered Indy’s best; lots of people packed in with a good buzz going and unique bands playing. The three acts, Indy’s own Leisure Kings, Vermillion Lies from Oakland and Jason Webley were all stylistically quite different but complemented each other well.

The Leisure Kings, certainly no strangers to Indy live music fans, started the night out strong with their hilarious retro-styled covers. Part of the fun watching the band was listening to the first chorus trying to figure out exactly what song they were playing. Being so warped from their original versions, it often wasn’t until the chorus that looks of recognition came across audience members’ faces. The most impressive songs to me were multilingual versions of AC/DC’s “You shook me all night long” (done Bavarian oompah style) and Lionel Richie’s “Hello” in German and Spanish, respectively. A Leisure Kings show is never just about the songs being played, though; it’s much more of a spectacle than that. Crowd prizes, reminiscent of singer Michael Wiltrout’s days in Johnny Socko, were 8-track cassettes. Several rounds of Bible trivia were played in between songs, with the answers being provided by a separate set of mid-90’s WWF trivia questions. I know I personally would be a much more religious if the book of King Kong Bundy were canon. My only complaint was that the fog machine worked a little too well in the small room.

The next band up was the sister duo Vermillion Lies. This group was not received all that well by some crowd members but they did have their fans, including myself. On their website they call themselves “twisted folk”, using an often bizarre combination of instruments ranging from the traditional (piano, guitar, accordion) to childish (toy piano, slide whistle) to Home Depot (BBQ grill, toolbox, gas can). The sisters were obviously in tune with each other as they played and did a good job of mixing the avant-garde with catchy harmonies, crowd participation and sexy burlesque dancing. I suggest you check them out if you’re a fan of the Ditty Bops, Tom Waits, Mirah or the Velvet Underground.

The night ended with a bang with the man everybody came out to see, Jason Webley. Although he hails from Seattle, Webley almost feels like a local given his strong connection and fanbase here. In the liner notes of his fantastic new EP with the Reverend Peyton, he points out his love of playing the Melody, and it showed. Switching between acoustic guitar and accordion, the folk/gypsy/punk singer had the crowd dancing and singing. The front of the stage was lined with die-hard fans singing along, but new fans were not left out either during “Two Bottles of Wine” from the previously mentioned EP. Though lacking the Big Damn Band, the song was the highlight with the crowd divided into thirds singing replacements of the National guitar, washboard and drums.

If you still have not seen Jason Webley live you owe it to yourself to come out to the Melody Inn next time he comes. You will soon understand why he has a faithful following and why he loves to come back again and again.

– Patrick —

 

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