Josh Rouse at the HiFi (9/16) & Pugwash at the Warehouse (9/19)
Two outstanding shows this past week that renewed my desire to make live music a priority after two scattershot months. I can’t recall the last time Josh Rouse made it to Indy. Debate during the show...
View ArticleSometimes Life Gets in the Way – Shows for the End of September
Yeah, still here. Anyone who says summer is a time to catch up is either lying or not that busy to begin with, because I’ve been swamped. Two shows in the past 6 weeks, which is way, way below average....
View ArticleJuly Round-Up
Summer vacation and all semblance of a writing calendar gets tossed. Though not posting, I haven’t abandoned my need to hit shows and hear/buy new music. A few highlights from July: Concerts — I made...
View ArticleUpcoming: June 13-21 (New Pornographers, Jesse Malin, Desaparecidos, More)
Hope you’re catching your breath this week, because the show calendar revs up again early next. Some suggestions: Monday, July 13 – Melt Banana and Torche at the HiFi — You want to hear it loud? Hit...
View ArticleFresh Droppings: John Howard & the Night Mail
Rarely does an album fascinate me like the upcoming self-titled release from John Howard & the Night Mail. The story, in brief, goes something like this: John Howard put out a sparkling...
View ArticleUpcoming: June 12-24 (Pixies, War on Drugs, Paul Weller, Hiss Golden...
Another couple of weeks of stacked shows on deck in Indy. You may lose some sleep, but you’re going to be happy. My recommendations: Friday, June 12 – The War on Drugs at The Vogue: Lost in the Dream...
View ArticleMarshall Crenshaw & The Bottle Rockets – The HiFi 3/14/2015
It’s always a pleasure when musical legacy acts are appreciated. The sold out crowd at The HiFi Saturday night was testament. Alt-country old schoolers The Bottle Rockets still bring out the loyal fans...
View ArticleWe’re Still Here. The Winter of Renewal is Almost Over.
We love our live music here at Indy Rock Live, but occasionally we need a recharge. That’s what we’ve been doing this winter — conserving energy so we can be fully immersed as the concert calendar...
View ArticleFresh Droppings: Late Cambrian – Golden Time
The live show calendar falls on the meager side in February, which makes it the perfect time for me to seek out exciting bands previously not on my radar. Enter Brooklyn, New York’s Late Cambrian and...
View ArticleJukebox the Ghost w/ Twin Forks and Secret Someones – Deluxe 1/15/2015
I love a great pop song. New York-based Jukebox the Ghost, over the course of four albums, has proven to be exceptional at writing them. The band’s piano-based sugar highs are goosebump-inducing,...
View ArticleWhere the Hell Have You Been?
Well, hey there. A busy work schedule, vacation, and the assorted other jobs a typical husband and dad to three has to juggle led to some negligence on my part with regard to IRL. And, to be honest, I...
View ArticleFresh Droppings: Martin Carr – The Breaks
During a stretch of the 90s — basically my college years — I was obsessed with the Boo Radleys. The band had figured out the unique blend of power pop and shoegaze, the two classifications of music...
View ArticleUpcoming: August 9-14 (RAA, Frank Black, S Carey, Paul Collins, & More)
Big string of shows here in Indy over the next several days. Some recommendations: Thursday, October 9: Wampire w/ Tops at The HiFi – Wampire were impressive opening for Foxygen and UMO about 18 months...
View ArticleUpcoming: August 8-16 (Future Islands, Hooray for Earth, Amanda Shires,...
Saturday kicks off a busy live music week here in Indy. Some suggestions: Saturday, August 9 – Future Islands at the Vogue — Show of the week. Might be sold out by the time you read this. Read this...
View ArticleMatthew Sweet w/ Tommy Keene – Radio Radio 7/24/2014
Matthew Sweet‘s song Winona, from the classic Girlfriend, may not be about Winona Ryder, but it’s forever linked in my mind with the actress, who in the late 80s and early 90s was the coolest girl on...
View ArticleFresh Droppings – Blue Skies for Black Hearts (s/t)
The new self-titled release from Portland’s Blue Skies for Black Hearts is, technically, their sixth album. But lead Blue Sky-er Pat Kearns and his rotating band of musicians have never delivered a...
View ArticleFresh Droppings: Army Navy – The Mistakes
Outstanding indie pop band Army Navy are back with their newest, The Wilderness Inside, on July 15. Stream the first track, The Mistakes, below. Great harmonies, winsome lyrics, a killer hook, and hand...
View ArticleI See Vinyl: Harvey Danger – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
New feature here on IRL highlighting some noteworthy vinyl releases/re-releases. Harvey Danger was one of the most underrated indie-pop bands of the 90s. Most people know the song Flagpole Sitta, but...
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Indy Rock Live Top 10 Albums of 2013
Another year, another top 10 list. As always, these were my favorite records of the year — the ones that kept me hitting play over and over again, and listening through. Several albums I loved...
View ArticleFresh Droppings: Vertical Scratchers – These Plains
Vertical Scratchers is set to release their debut on Merge in February. You can check out the first track, These Plains, below. The release is dead-on: “Think the Kinks with a Buzzcocks brevity.” Sold.
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