INDY TOP 10 LIVE: NOV 29-Dec 5, 2007

Weekly best bets for the Indianapolis music lover. The Indy Top 10 Live is compiled by a selection panel of local print, radio, and internet journalists and is new every Thursday online and in print in INtake Weekly.

Text by Steve Hayes

1. Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds

8 PM, Saturday December 1, Madame Walker Theatre, $55-80

Indianapolis born and raised Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds is one of our city’s top exports to the musical world. The triple-threat artist is known as a producer, songwriter, and performer with dozens of hits to his credit. His latest solo album, “Playlist,” hit stores in September and includes a number of covers along with two Babyface originals. This homecoming show is part of a promotional tour for that record.

2. John Fogerty

8 PM, Saturday December 1, Murat Theatre, $39.50 – 59.50

From his beginnings leading Creedence Clearwater Revival to his solo career, John Fogerty has established himself as one of the most beloved performers in rock history. Fogerty released his first new album in three years, “Revival,” in October. Fans of all eras of Fogerty’s career should find something to enjoy from this show. Reviews of earlier shows on the tour report his sets are a mix of new songs, Fogerty solo classics, and CCR hits.

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Pittsburgh Slim

EPISODE 119: The Indianapolismusic.net Podcast

At the time, Steve and Ryan were trying to get through the podcast quickly in order to watch Monday Night Football. Had they known the score would be 3-0, this might be a longer podcast. As it is, you still get pithy wit and tracks from Pittsburgh Slim, The August, Dead Rock West, Devil Doll, Phyllis, Llange, and Cliff Snyder. You also get guest commentary from Rob G., and that rules.

By the way, we’re listed now on iTunes and Podcast Alley, Odeo, and Podcast Pickle, so tell your friends. It’s easier than ever to subscribe to our little slice of audio heaven.A) Subscribe using this link and a podcast aggregator..OR..B) Download directly by right-clicking and saving ..OR…C) Listen to the PODcast in the IMN mediaplayer (Located in the upper-right corner of the page)! 

Once again, all music on this podcast came from authorized downloads from artist or record company sites or from the Indy MP3 Collection.Theme provided by Background Trash. For all of your background trash needs, go to Background Trash. – Steve Hayes and Ryan Williams -

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Cliff Snyder, photo by Scott Wheeler

IMN OnTrack: Cliff Snyder

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.

Cliff Snyder traces his musical roots to great American songwriters like Dylan and Springsteen. The term “roots” also fits aptly with his musical style - his compositions hearken to country and Americana sounds. He’s recently recorded his debut album “Fool’s Highway,” and he’ll celebrate the release Saturday, December 1st at the Indy Hostel. The small, intimate venue suits his musical style perfectly.

Snyder has thrown together a demo sampler for those interested in giving him a listen - you can download it at his MySpace site.

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Review by Mike Schull

Do you remember back in 1989 when Ian Astbury was a gothic cowboy witch? My first exposure to The Cult, as far as I can recall, was the “Fire Woman” video which was all over MTV that year. The band rocked balls, the dude playing drums started playing with G’n'R shortly thereafter, and hard rock was still healthy and chart-worthy.

Fast forward to Friday, the 16th of this month, at the Murat’s Egyptian Room. The Cult was in town on the Jagermeister Music Tour, notable if only for the hypocrisy of the headliner’s comments on stage throughout the night. After walking in most of the way through the opening opener (I believe it may have been “The Cliks,” but cannot guarantee this as fact), a band described to my friend Sam as “the new Depeche Mode” played. Dubbed “Action Action,” this band contained nearly every component guaranteed to make your friendly reviewer hate a band - emotastic vocals, three keyboards (situated in front of the three dudes playing guitars and a bass), a silly name, and songs that misinformed, 17-year-old white kids with bad haircuts and acne might describe as “danceable.” That’s all I’m gonna say about Action Action, other than “they played” and “thankfully the set was short.”

So anyway, the inner 10-year-old Mike was so stoked to finally see The Cult. In recent years I’ve dug out “Love,” “Electric,” and “Sonic Temple” and realized they were actually quite good albums in that Zep-meets-AC/DC way. Given the opportunity to see them for free, it couldn’t have gotten better.Well, lemme tell ya . . . it coulda been better. Way, way better. Pretension oozed like the feces in the “two girls, one cup” video. Vocal melodies for the biggest hits were reinvented - was it to make me feel like a jerk for singing along? Or to feel duped for still believing in hard rock?

“Has anyone here read Herman Hesse…Siddhartha? … Does anyone here still read books?” These are a couple of sentences a good frontman resists the urge to say, no matter how much he and his band wish they were somewhere else, like, say, back in the year 1989 in a pool in California, stocked with groupies and hi-fi system with some Doors albums. In fact, Mr. Astbury (whose fashion now looks more like “gas station attendant with fox pelt in pocket”), some members of the audience not only read books, they are librarians. Dick.

Even as he noted they had a “new album we really believe in,” they phoned in a few tracks and plowed through the classics. I was excited by the fact they played “Wild Flower” and “Electric Ocean,” and would have loved for Ian to at least pretend he cared about the songs and the fans that showed up to see them play. Sure, the Egyptian Room was about 25% full, and sure, the buxom young girls of the ’80s may now be slightly older and less, uh, buxom? But in the words of the MC5 heckling Cream, “Kick out the jams or get the fuck off the stage!”

The most puzzling part of the evening was the interlude between the set ending and the encore, where a montage of photos culled from various revolutions of the past flashed on a screen as a Cult song played in the background. So, like, The Cult was playing even when they weren’t playing. And Astbury’s whole spiel of, “Put down the remote, turn off the TV, pick up a book and start a revolution,” was supposed to seem poignant instead of trite and insulting? I dunno, man. It truly ended for me when dude took all the more liberties with his pacing of the melody in closer “Love Removal Machine.” Yes, Billy Duffy and his big Gretsch White Falcon still rule, but I’m afraid the revolution spearheaded by Jagermeister’s corporate bank roll and Ian Astbury’s snide pretensions is in no danger of being televised, broadcast, podcast, or otherwise Internetted. Hard rock isn’t dead - there are still some good bands soldiering on and carrying the flag - but The Cult should stop phoning it in and hang it up instead.

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Peter, Bjorn, and John

INDY TOP 10 LIVE: NOV 22-28, 2007

Weekly best bets for the Indianapolis music lover. The Indy Top 10 Live is compiled by a selection panel of local print, radio, and internet journalists and is new every Thursday online and in print in INtake Weekly.

Text by Steve Hayes

1. Deborah Harry w/ Kristoffer Rangnstam

7:30 PM, Saturday November 24, The Vogue, $30

Deborah Harry is best known as the lead singer of Blondie, the group that bridged the gap between the punk, new wave, hip hop, and disco sounds that defined New York’s music scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Along with her work with that Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group, she’s also released five solo records. The most recent, “Necessary Evil,” came out in October and is her first in 14 years.

2. Terence Blanchard Quintet

7 & 9 PM, Wednesday November 28, Jazz Kitchen, $25

New Orleans born-and-trained trumpeter Terence Blanchard is one of the most prolific film score creators currently working. Blanchard’s work has appeared in over 50 films as well as the Spike Lee documentary “When the Levee’s Broke.” That work featured not only Blanchard’s musical work, but his comments on the disaster that destroyed his family’s homes. His musical response to Katrina, “A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina),” came out earlier this year.

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Tags: Born Again Floozies, Nellie McKay, Peter Bjorn and John, Souloveuniverse, Terence Blanchard Quintet
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Deborah Harry, photo by Joe Gaffney

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DEBORAH HARRY
Interview by Brian Mc Kenna

I was thrilled to get the assignment to speak with rock, rap and video pioneer, and also a Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Debbie Harry about her new album Necessary Evil and her supporting tour. The tour will include a stop in Indy at the Vogue on Saturday, November 24th. When the call came through Ms. Harry was on her tour bus somewhere between Ledyard, CT and Johnson City, NY where she would be playing the 4th of 21 shows in 31 days. Her voice carries a slight morning rasp but she is in very good spirits.

Brian: Good morning.

Debbie: Good morning. How are you?

Brian: Honestly, I’m a little tired and trying to wake up.

Debbie: (laughs) Me too.

Brian: How has the first week of the tour been going?

Debbie: Good.

Brian: Your website says you have 21 shows in 31 days. That’s a lot of shows in a short period of time. How do you prepare yourself for a schedule like that?

Debbie: I don’t know. You have to ease into it I guess. I’m a morning person, always have been. So I’m starting to get my nighttime hours and stuff. (laughs)

Brian: What is the biggest difference between touring in the 70’s and touring in the 2000’s?

Debbie: Better equipment makes it a lot easier. I think the early days were kind of like the wild west in that you were blazing a trail and people didn’t treat you as good as they do now. I mean it’s an established business now, so people treat you better now.

Brian: Do you miss playing the small dirty clubs?

Debbie: Not especially. Sometimes it is fun, but it’s more difficult to get a good sound because of the proclivity to play loud even in a small club to get that sound. It’s just not as acoustically good because of the volume and club size.

Brian: Do you remember the venues beforehand when the management is telling you what is booked?

Debbie: Not really. Usually I will remember them when I walk in and see the club.

Brian: Did you know your backing musicians or was this band put together for you exclusively for this tour?

Debbie: I had done a previous tour with 2 of them. The keyboard player and one other. They have all played together before though and groove well. They are all young and into it.

Brian: Is your current show a retrospective of both your solo career and the Blondie-era stuff?

Debbie: Mostly solo stuff and a few Blondie songs.

Brian: You have a great new album out. Am I right in saying this is your most DIY album project of your career?

Debbie: Yeah.

Brian: Would you do it this way again?

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Tags: Deborah Harry
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Sweet F.A.

EPISODE 118: The Indianapolismusic.net Podcast
We gather together to listen to podcasts that feature some tracks from some great musicians. Like Free Smut and King Deuce and The Philosophy and KS Rhoads, Rivetshack and yes, Sarah Grain. Happy Thanksgiving!

By the way, we’re listed now on iTunes and Podcast Alley, Odeo, and Podcast Pickle, so tell your friends. It’s easier than ever to subscribe to our little slice of audio heaven.A) Subscribe using this link and a podcast aggregator..OR..B) Download directly by right-clicking and saving ..OR…C) Listen to the PODcast in the IMN mediaplayer (Located in the upper-right corner of the page)!

Once again, all music on this podcast came from authorized downloads from artist or record company sites or from the Indy MP3 Collection.Theme provided by Background Trash. For all of your background trash needs, go to Background Trash.

– Steve Hayes and Ryan Williams -

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IMN OnTrack: Sarah Grain

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. 

Sarah Grain’s music may feature just her and her guitar, but it contains a drive and insistence that sounds a great deal bigger. She’s not afraid to transcend her genre, either - her performance Saturday, November 24th at Radio Radio pairs her with hip-hop artists The Philosophy and Atarilogic and Alaska Westwind, as well as another unique singer/songwriter in the Innate. Whether she’s performing her own folk songs or joining others in a variety of other projects, it’s her voice that stands out.

Check out “Tapestry,” from Sarah Grain’s MySpace page - there are two other downloadable tracks as well.

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The music of The Clash will be performed at this year’s Tonic Ball

 INDY TOP 10 LIVE: NOV 15-21, 2007 

Weekly best bets for the Indianapolis music lover. The Indy Top 10 Live is compiled by a selection panel of local print, radio, and internet journalists and is new every Thursday online and in print in INtake Weekly.

Text by Steve Hayes

1. Tonic Ball VI

8 PM, Friday November 16, Radio Radio & Fountain Square Theatre, $20

Tonic Ball VI arrives this week with the most disparate set of tribute artists the event has gathered to date. Over 30 acts representing a full spectrum of musical styles will pay tribute to The Clash at Radio Radio and Madonna for an all-ages crowd at the Fountain Theatre. Each act’s two-song set means you get to hear a classic tune from a tribute artist along with an original work by the bands. Proceeds benefit Second Helpings.

2. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

8 PM, Sunday November 18, The Vogue, $15

Whether you know it or not, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the music of the Dap Kings. The New York-based soul/R&B revivalists backed Amy Winehouse on much of her latest album, including her 2007 hit “Rehab.” The group made their name with their commitment to recreating the sound of 60’s and 70’s soul, funk, and R&B. The group brings their own diva, Georgia-born Sharon Jones, to front them for this show.

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Tags: Bands of America, Elizabeth Cook, Fountain Square, Indianapolis, Otis Gibbs, Patie LaBelle, Sharon Jones, The Clash, The Cult, Tonic Ball
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Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

EPISODE 117: The Indianapolismusic.net Podcast

This podcast brings the metal, soothes the soul, makes the rock clumsily sexy, reveals dark musical secrets, and gets you the hell out of town. That, my friends, is a hell of a podcasts. Tracks from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Demiricous, The New Duncan Imperials, The Born Again Floozies, Otis Gibbs, Jane Jensen, and Triptych Cabin. For this, you are more than welcome. 

By the way, we’re listed now on iTunes and Podcast Alley, Odeo, and Podcast Pickle, so tell your friends. It’s easier than ever to subscribe to our little slice of audio heaven.A) Subscribe using this link and a podcast aggregator..OR..B) Download directly by right-clicking and saving ..OR…C) Listen to the PODcast in the IMN mediaplayer (Located in the upper-right corner of the page)! 

Once again, all music on this podcast came from authorized downloads from artist or record company sites or from the Indy MP3 Collection.
Theme provided by Background Trash. For all of your background trash needs, go to Background Trash.
– Steve Hayes and Ryan Williams -

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