Okay, here's the deal: I've only lived in Indiana for about eight years now. That includes a couple years in Muncie, and the last six (or so) in Indianapolis. In that time, I've seen some damn good bands. That makes me super lucky, because you'd never know who's good, and who's shit by reading Metromix, or Nuvo. Hey, Indianapolis: Can't we get a music rag that actually reviews local music...?! By "local music", I don't mean nationally-recognized bands that are playing "locally". I mean: Actual, local-band reviews! Yeesh, already...
Anyway, here's the point: Here's a short-list of the very best-of-the-best "local" bands that I've seen in my time here. Some of them are no more... which is too damn bad, if you ask me, because some of those "no mores" kicked some pretty substantial ass. Others are from towns and cities "within a few hours' drive" from Indy. I say: Close enough, dammit.
Check one of these out, if you can. Even better: Go MySpace-Touring, and hear them all from the luxury of your laptop...! Which is why we searched out everyone's MySpace pages for you. See how hard we work, to help you be a lazy-ass...?
But, seriously: Support your local music scene. If you don't, you may wake up one day to find that it's either vanished, or that it suddenly sucks. Here's the list, folks. Go see a band today:
The Shake-Ups:
First saw them at: The Melody, a few weeks back.
Hailing from: Indianapolis, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/theshakeups
Other websites: www.theshakeups.net
Sounds like: The Rentals is probably the closest. Which was Matt Sharp's band after he left Weezer.
The Skinny:
The Shake-Ups have gotten a lot of press here as of late, and for good reason: They're really, really good. Great sound, great musicianship, excellent songwriting, and awesome vibes. If you don't like smiling and having fun, then don't go see this band. You've been suitably warned.
Playing next at: The Melody Inn, on June 24th.
Pessoa:
First saw them at: TOC's 3rd annual Skate Jam, two weeks ago.
Hailing from: Avon/Greenwood/Bloomington, Indiana.
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/pessoasongs
Sounds like: Gawd, I don't know? I'm gonna say: Angry Pixies.
Sound: Highly "experimental". Wild mood swings, even in one song. Tight, punchy, and arty.
The Skinny:
This band truly stands out from the rest, mostly because they're so hard to pigeonhole into any one category. It's very rare for me to see a band that I've truly never heard anything like, before. This band, you'll almost have to MySpace, just to see what I mean.
What I do know is that, they sound great, and they're obviously extremely creative and talented people. I wish I could say the same thing about Nickelback.
Playing next at: The Earth House, 7:00 May 29th.
Down On Hayley:
First saw them at: I forget. An Indiana Skate Co show, maybe?
Hailing from: Fishers, Indiana.
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/downonhayley
Sounds like: A lot of modern-day pop/punk bands. But: Better. I'm gonna say: Early Saves The Day.
Sound: "Pop-Punk"...? Clearly, I suck at music-criticism. That's why I'm not writing for Spin, or Alternative Press over here.
The Skinny:
There's a lot of bands doing this sort of gig out there. But, very few of them sound this good. Or, write such good songs. I have one of their CD's, and it's one of my prized possessions. I don't say that often enough these days... unfortunately, this band didn't have the "staying power" to stay around for very long. Which really is too damn bad, because they were really, really good.
If you can find it, by all means: Get it...!
Why do good bands break up, anyway...? Maybe we'll never know the answer to that...
Revel In The Morning:
This photo of Justin goes a long way to illustrating the intrinsic, brute power of a "typical" Revel In The Morning show...
First saw them at: The Speakeasy, in Muncie
Hailing from: Muncie, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/revelinthemorning
Sounds like: At The Drive In, but with more energy. If you can believe it.
Sound: Very angry protest-punk, but with songwriting skills and a live show to die for.
The Skinny:
This is one of the "once-was" bands I was referring to. Strangely, their entire "career" as a band only spanned about 11 months or so. They only played a handful of shows... but, those shows were riotous ensembles that had to be experienced, to be believed. This band was truly "dangerous", on many, many levels. From their extremist left-wing ideology, to their brutal live performances, to the intrinsic energy that was barely contained within this four-piece... they simply kicked ass. I wish they'd reunite. Please...!
Thankfully, a few of their choicest songs are still on their MySpace.
I was smart enough to buy the EP when I had the chance, and boy, was I lucky to get it...!
Playing next at: Pray hard, and maybe it'll happen..
The Spitshine:
First saw them at: I think, The Speakeasy again.
Hailing from: Muncie, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/thespitshine
Sounds like: I'm gonna have to with a heavier, MC5-infused version of The Kinks.
The Skinny:
Probably, the best band that you've never seen. Ryan Ramsey and the crew have always kicked ass. I first saw them years ago, when it was just Ryan, plus one drummer... sort of like a pre-White Stripes White Stripes, but with a dude pounding the skins. Their sound was way, waaay out of whack with what two dudes should legeally be allowed to produce in any given band. Nowadays, they are a four-piece... which means a bass, more guitars, and even more noisy hecticness. Rock 'n roll, man... it's a beautiful thing. Praise the Lord.
Playing next at: Couldn't find the info, anywhere. If anyone knows, fill us in...!
Devil To Pay:
The band. Photo by Greg Andrews.
First saw them at: It was probably so loud, that it short-circuited the memory banks. Because, I can't remember for the life of me. I do know this: I've seen them several times, now. My eardrums won't let me forget them, either.
Hailing from: Indianapolis, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/deviltopay
Sounds like: Motorhead, but heavier. If you can believe such a thing.
The Skinny:
Let's talk "heavy" here for a sec. Let's say that nowadays-Metallica is, one pound. That means that, early Metallica was maybe, ten pounds. In that equation, Deep Purple might be like, a hundred pounds, and Black Sabbath maybe, a thousand. In those cases are true, than Devil To Pay is like: A 100,000 lb. freight train. No shit: These dudes don't screw around. They're massive, overpowering, pummeling purveyors of metal. They call it "southern rock". No: Lynard Skynard was "southern rock". These guys make Skynard look like The Village People.
Playing next at: The Melody Inn, June 11th, 9:00; Locals Only, July 16th, 9:00
Blue Sky Goodbye:
First saw them at: The Speakeasy again, and several times since.
Hailing from: Indianapolis, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/blueskygoodbye
Other websites: www.purevolume.com/blueskygoodbye
Sounds like: Oh, God, this is a hard one... I'm gonna say, Blink 182, but a bit more "serious". If that makes any sense at all.
The Skinny:
Definitely, one of the best of the best, as far as Indianapolis bands go. They do it all, and they do it well: Great songs, great performances, great energy, and great recordings. The Identity EP is a favorite of mine: I actually own several copies, because I keep on buying 'em up for whatever reason. I guess this band just moves me to give them my money over and over and over again... maybe they should try playing Wall Street, instead of central midwest corn towns all the time. Then, they'd be rich...!
Playing next at: These guys seem to be having a really hard time keeping their web-stuff current... I hope they're still around...?
The Lipstick Vogue:
First saw them at: The Speakeasy again, and several times since.
Hailing from: Muncie, Indiana
MySpace at: Nada...?
Other websites: Try their label, Wooden Man Records (www.woodenmanrecords.com), home of equally-awesome The Everydays, and Killjoy Confetti.
Sounds like: The Smiths meets Lou Reed meets something really, really loud.
The Skinny:
Muncie is a rather downtrodden ex-manufacturing, current-college town that either spawns intelligent outward rebellion (see Revel In The Morning), or inward reflection and questioning, which is what we have here. The Smiths are an obvious influence, as is the early New York art/punk scene (think less Ramones, more Television)... both, genius bands in their own right... but mixed, embellished, and re-interpreted by this uber-talented four-piece, it's "classic" in a way that's too far ahead of it's time to describe fully, today. I own the self-titled CD, and it's aging extremely well. I predict that this band is gonna be huge in ten years. But they would've been huge already, if only they lived on the Eastern Seaboard somewhere. Fuckin' Indana...
Playing next at: Wish I knew...
The Slurs:
First saw them at: Only the Lord knows... for several years, they were everywhere.
Hailing from: Indianapolis, Indiana
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/theslurs
Sounds like: The Sex Pistols meets something really raw and dirty, like... The Heartbreakers!
The Skinny:
Maybe the most influential "local" band, The Slurs were everyone's darlings, best hopes, and shining stars. They played so many gigs, they were virtually omnipresent. They were, quite literally, The Sound of Underground Indianapolis... the only "debatable" part of that being the "underground" part, because this band was immensely popular with anyone and everyone that had a clue. Problem is, as far as Indianapolis goes... only a very tiny percentage of the overall populous actually "has a clue". And, that might almost explain why the various members have moved on to other projects.
Playing next at: Sadly, no more.
A Suburban Blood Drive:
First saw them at: Indy Skates in Greenwood.
Hailing from: Louisville, Kentucky
MySpace at: www.myspace.com/asuburbanblooddrive
Sounds like: Fugazi, on PCP.
The Skinny:
I saved the best for last, here. Short-lived, from a city two hours away, A Suburban Blood Drive was the best band that I've ever seen play Indianapolis, by far and away. Their show was truly scary: From the first chord they struck, shit was flying everywhere. It was a little less "performance", and a little more "band rioting"... a SWAT team might have been advisable, at this one. Rock music has oftentimes been figuratively referred to as "dangerous". A Suburban Blood Drive made the danger, palatable. They damn near wrecked the venue; many pieces of their own equipment were manhandled beyond recognition. It was truly, fucking awe-inspiring. I had their CD... but, I think one of my exes has it now. A sad loss, to be sure. Thank Gawd for MySpace!
Playing next at: Pray harder, and maybe it shall come to pass...
