Rock
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Rock Heartbeat: Hero Jr. on Indy nightlife
Posted by Katherine Coplen on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Indianapolis rock band Hero Jr consists of brothers Evan and Matthew Haughey and bassist Dave DuBrava. Together, they aspire to be the hardest working band in Indiana, and possibly the country, by touring hundreds of dates a year and constantly recording.
They'll have one of those dates in Indianapolis this Thursday at Deluxe at Old National Centre to support Gentlemen Hall at the NUVO Nightlife Party.
In their spare time (of which they have relatively little), the brothers Haughey flip houses and lifeguard at the Natatorium. The band, which is signed to Paul Mahern's Desa Records, will release a new album this summer, in between a three-leg tour.
NUVO: What's your favorite place to see a show in Indy?
Evan Haughey: My favorite place to see a show is definitely Radio Radio.
NUVO: If you were going to take someone out for a night in Indy, where would you take them? (Consider music, food, drinks, crowd, etc.)
EH: I would take them to the Red Lion for dinner, Radio Radio for a show and the Brass Ring for drinks after. Can you tell I have lived in Fountain Square for five years and love it?
NUVO: Who's your favorite band making the bar/club rounds right now? Favorite DJ?
EH: I really love Goliathon! Those boys are super hard working and really know how to put on a show.
NUVO: You're about to leave on a tour across the US. How do you react to people who still know Indy as "Naptown?"
EH: I react like this: "Ummm, do you live under a rock? There are so many wonderful things to do here in Indy indoors and out. If you think that there is nothing to do than you just don't want to have fun and you should move!
NUVO: What's your favorite drink in town?
EH: I love an old fashioned root beer float. (Editor's note: Perhaps at Mug n Bun!)
NUVO: Are you acquainted with any of the burlesque troupes around? We've got them in spades in Indy. Are you a Creme de la Femmes fan? Angel Burlesque?
EH: I love any and all Burlesque events. (Who doesn't?) White Rabbit Cabaret is my favorite place to check out a show.
NUVO: Favorite late night spot to work in town?
EH: Murphy Building, because it is never really closed. I spend a lot of 3 a.m. nights writing and recording music in that space
NUVO: What is your weirdest Indy nightlife experience?
EH: Not sure I can really even type anything here that would make the paper. Sorry — lame, I know!
NUVO: Tell me about your solo work.
EH: I lived in Bloomington for a few years, working with my mentor Paul Mahern and recording constantly. It was a great place to be working creatively. Right now, I'm focused on Hero Jr.'s tour.
NUVO: If you were going to open a club/bar/venue in Indy, what would it be like?
EH: Again, not to sound like a broken record, but I just love the feel of Radio Radio. It's not too big, not too small and they have some of the best nationally touring bands in there every night
See Hero Jr. this Thursday with Gentlemen Hall at the NUVO Nightlife Guide party at Deluxe.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Rock Heartbeat Review: Sharon Van Etten at Rhino's
Posted by Katherine Coplen on Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Sharon Van Etten, The War on Drugs
Rhino's Youth Club
Sunday, April 1
This show was terrible. April Fools - this show was awesome (and also on April Fool's Day, during which I didn't make any jokes so I figured I'd make up for it now).
Sharon Van Etten and The War on Drugs stopped at SXSW during the Secretly Canadian showcase at Mohawks,. The War on Drugs, from what I can remember from my festival haze, played an energetic and engrossing set. A significant part of the culture of SXSW is about missing the bands' actual performances. There are so many people coming and going throughout each set that it seems almost an anomaly to stay for an entire set. The War on Drugs demanded to be seen during SXSW, and at this set at Rhino's, performed the same kind of (black?) magic. They are un-look-away-able.
I didn't see Van Etten down there, though. I've been spinning her track "Serpents" regularly since its release a few months ago. It's a wistful track full of atonal harmonies that keep you on the edge of your metaphorical (or real) seat while listening. At first, I didn't know why I was so attracted to the track. Then, I looked at the collaborators. Her latest album, Tramp, was produced and recorded by Aaron Dressner of The National, one of my favorite bands. Guest artists include Beirut's Zach Condon, Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner, Julianna Barwick, Walkmen's Matt Barrick, Aaron and Bryce Dressner and Doveman (Thomas Bartlett) - a veritable super crew of emotionally bare, literate rockers who dissect their relationships through song. Van Etten sings, "Serpents in my mind/I'm searching for your crimes." Besides reminding me of a particularly nasty episodes of Grey's Anatomy involving worms in the brain (you are all welcome for that link), Van Etten's track is equal parts delicate and passionate
I wasn't sure exactly how this moody soundscape would translate onstage, but Van Etten didn't disappoint. Although she engaged in some mildly odd crowd banter ("How many people got to sit in the grass today? One of you? Two of you?") that the crowd of mostly young guys absolutely ate up, Her voice shone against the backing of her band, and, although her lyrics and tracks are gloomy, she was endearingly grounded onstage.
"I don't like to go past 3 on my amp. Four seems aggressive," she remarked at one point, while adjusting her volume.
The War on Drugs seems like the kind of band that can be at once be compared to U2 and simultaneously really be upset about being compared to U2. Also, during one song, I closed my eyes and had the most intense Tom Petty vibe I've had since...actually listening to Tom Petty. But seriously, they are a really great band that seems to be gathering a huge momentum right now. I look forward to seeing what their third record will bring.
Sharon Van Etten - "Serpents"
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Rock Heartbeat: Jump the Shark
Posted by Katherine Coplen on Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 3:52 PM
I'm blogging new music that crosses my desk daily. Today, Jump the Shark promised me their music doesn't suck. They were right! It totally doesn't suck.
They've got a brand new, self-titled five-song EP. It's reverb-heavy and slightly jammy, with hints of The White Stripes and Arcade Fire-worthy gang vocals. I'm digging Track 1, "Under the Gun." You can stream it below.
Are you an Indy musician looking to get your music out there? Follow me @tremendouskat, email me at kcoplen@nuvo.net and catch me out at the shows. Let's talk.
Jump the Shark
Friday, March 16, 2012
Rock / Hip-Hop Heartbeat: NUVO at SXSW, Day two
Posted by Katherine Coplen on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Austin is weird, that's for sure. I've seen a walking Fleshlight (holding the hand of a pornstar, nonetheless), green lasers shooting out of the sky for hours, a presidential candidate with a boot for a hat and the weirdest thing of all - a guy in a full suit walking with Jansport backpack, right through the madness. I'm digging it down here, though. It's 70 degrees, slightly overcast and packed to the brim with music makers, music lovers, money makers, show promoters, talent scouters, venue operators, food truck creators and many, many more.
I hoofed it down Red River to the SXSW hive mind (also known as the Convention Center) to make Bruce Springsteen's keynote address. The Boss didn't disappoint. His speech took listeners through his musical influences decade by decade, starting with Elvis and doo-wop artists ("The most sensual music on Earth, the sound of silk stockings rustling on backseat upholstery, of snaps of bras popping across the USA, of wonderful lies being whispered into perfumed ears, runny mascara, smeared lipstick, the high school bleachers...") through Roy Orbinson ("He sang about the tragic unknowability of women. Tortured by soft skin, angora sweaters, beauty and death, just like you."), through The Animals (singing "We've Got to Get Out of This Place," and declaring it every song he's ever written, including "Born to Run," "Born in the USA," "everything I've done in the past forty years."), all the way up to Woody Guthrie (who would be 100 this year).
Hearing the detailed musical influences of one of my favorite musicians (including a variety of short performances of his work, his musical influences' work and a crowd singalong to "This Land Is Our Land") was such a great start to the day, I couldn't really conceptualize it getting much better. Luckily, I was wrong.
I toured the rock poster convention, reminding myself of the (small) amount of money in my wallet, the pain of carrying something relatively fragile around all day and the realization that I could order something online later if I really loved it and still was not able to stop myself from purchasing something. I bought a beautiful screenprint featuring Austinites and Jagjaguwar-signed Okkervil River and headed back to the madness of 6th Street.
I wandered into Death Metal Pizza, where Meek Is Murder was laying waste to a crowd of...approximately seven people. That's the danger of the SXSW juggernaut, I've found. The impossibility of seeing all of the bands you want leaves the bands you want to see without the fans who want them. If you peer through that convoluted statement, you'll find some piece of festival truth.
Under the Radar's three-day showcase at the Flamingo Cantina had carpeted bleachers, which was a relief (they became less of a relief and more of a social anxiety escalator when I accidentally kicked over two drinks in less than a minute, however). Taken by Trees was taking the stage as I arrived. As much as I hate to dismiss any band, especially one attached to a local label, I was completely bored by the performance. It allowed me time to piece together my schedule for the rest of the night with mellow background music, so there's that. My interest in the performance was decidedly piqued by a cover of "In the Air Tonight" (I've obviously revealed myself as a die-hard Phil Collins and Bruce Springsteen fan in the course of one post)
Following the mostly boring but for the Phil Collins-related-blip set was Brooklyn's Bear in Heaven, who played only new tracks. There was a definite Depeche Mode feel to their set, which increases the likelihood I'll buy their new album by 500x.
After a brief stop at Pop Montreal Festival showcase, where we caught the similarly Depeche Mode-inspired band Trust, we decided to navigate to the rapidly (and rabidly) growing line for Fiona Apple. This was the first moment when I realized how prized the badge I'm currently wearing around my neck is.
I was able to get through the line to see Apple during her much-publicized SXSW "comeback" tour. I'll address that performance in a separate post. Suffice to say, she was amazing. Watch a clip of her performance (including the many bobbing heads of my fellow crowd members) below.
I finally hooked up with some Hoosiers at the MOKB-affiliated show at Uncorked. Oreo Jones and DMA sufficiently weirded out the seated crowd on the patio. They closed with their newest release, "The John Wayne," which has a hook that can't be beat. It was perhaps not the best venue for the artists, but they gave it their all regardless.
The members of Hotfox (our delightful guest SXSW bloggers) were in attendance, right in the middle of their scheduled slew of performances. They'll play today at the MOKB show at Peckerhead's on Friday.
I made it over to the Secretly Canadian showcase in time to see The War on Drugs. This show felt to me like the band has reached another level. I was able to peer down from the elevated patio at Mohawk, but at that point the exhaustion hit me like a wave of...I'm so exhausted I can't come up with a comparison. My writerly wiles have left me completely. I'm disappointed that I didn't hang out through Sharon Van Etten's performance, but I'll catch her in Bloomington on April 1.
By my count, I saw...well, actually, I have no idea how many bands I saw today. During the day I wandered in and out of so many clubs and caught snippets of so many bands that I wouldn't be able to include them all. I've also been watching shows with these artists. Artists receive wristbands that allow them access to shows throughout the festival, and I've resisted the impulse many times (and given in to it about as many times) to ask people who they're with. I'll be back with more posts from the Live Music Capital of the World in a bit, but sleep beckons.
Fiona Apple performs at the Central Presbyterian Church during SXSW:
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Rock Do good on First Friday
Posted by Katherine Coplen on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Yes, that's me up there with the plunger, rushing out of Eagle Creek after completing the Polar Plunge this weekend. Even though it took quite a while for the NUVO team to warm up, the event was completely worthwhile, as it supported over 11,000 Special Olympics athletes in the state.
There's a few places to be this weekend where you can do good and hear good music at the same time. First, the Beta Cell Bash kicks off on First Friday in Fountain Square. Start the night at the Blue Wren Studio for an arts exhibition and auction. After, move down to Radio Radio, wehre you can see Goliathon, Bigger Than Elvis, Henle and the Loops, Sweet FA, SkyHunter, 19Clark25, 5 Day Trip and Don Elbreg perform. The $10 ticket supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
A bit later in the evening, the Girls Rock! Annual Fundraiser kicks off at the Talbott St. Nightclub. You'll be serenaded by Hero Jr., Neon Love Life and Red Light Driver at the 3rd annual event of this kind, which benefits the rock n' roll nonprofit. Girls Rock! Indianapolis is a organization dedicated to building positive self-esteem in girls and encouraging creative expression through music. There's a suggested donation of $10 at the door, but feel free to contribute more to support rock n' roll ladies.
Do good this weekend, and as an added bonus, neither of these events require you to carry a plunger or dose yourself in freezing water.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Rock Van Halen rocks Bankers Life
Posted by Christian Doellner on Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Slideshow
When Van Halen last toured in 2007, there was no official concert DVD, Rolling Stone cover or comprehensive reunion interview with any major media source to promote the reunion tour. The low-key, stealth approach was remarkable, since the Van Halen/Roth tour was one of the most anticipated rock reunions of all time. With all the tight-lipped restraint surrounding the Van Halen camp, diehard fans couldn’t be blamed for feeling as though the rug might be pulled out from under them. Even though the reunion has appeared to “take," actually already resulting in a new album, it’s surreal seeing Diamond David Lee Roth (coming home to Indiana) and Eddie Van Halen sharing a stage together and...hugging.
David Lee Roth just might be the happiest man in show biz and the gratitude was practically dripping off of him Wednesday night at the Fieldhouse. There weren’t any splits off the drum riser like in days of yore, but what’s been lost aerodynamically has been replaced with a down-to-Earth, funky swerve. It’s a long way from taunting the Clash on stage with a bottle of Jack Daniels to DLR opening “Ice Cream Man” with a poignant narration about his sheepdogs. Roth’s shuck and jive mannerisms were jettisoned during a steely, self-aware rendition of “I’ll Wait” while audience members—who, in an unheard-of move, were allowed to bring cameras into the venue—rushed the aisles, phone cams held high in the air.
It would be the night’s running gag: Roth commenting, coyly, "This isn’t going to be on the Internet is it?” Eddie scissor-kicked and shredded his way throughout the night, at times joining Wolfgang at the mic. Alex played a tropically flavored drum solo that started off Copacabana-style, with horn stabs that morphed into a big band riff. The evening ending with a confetti explosion set to "Jump" with Roth dressed in a Moose Lodge fur hat waving an enormous checkered flag.
Van Halen performs "You Really Got Me" Thursday, February 23 in Indianapolis.
Set List
1. You Really Got Me
2. Runnin' With The Devil
3. She's The Woman
4. Romeo Delight
5. Tattoo
6. Everybody Wants Some!!
7. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
8. China Town
9. Hear About It Later
10. (Oh!) Pretty Woman
11. Alex's Drum Solo
12. Unchained
13. The Trouble With Never
14. Dance The Night Away
15. I'll Wait
16. Hot For Teacher
17. Women In Love
18. Girl Gone Bad
19. Beautiful Girls
20. Ice Cream Man
21. Panama
22. Eddie's Guitar Solo
23. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
24. Jump
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Rock / Roots Twenty years of WTTS
Posted by Rob Nichols on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 12:43 PM
This year marks 20 years for WTTS radio to be playing its mix of rock music. We’ve been pretty lucky to have a station around for that many years that can be comfortable mixing stuff from John Hiatt and John Mellencamp with newer music like the Black Keys and Arcade Fire. We caught up with longtime WTTS Program Director Brad Holtz to see what he liked about music in 2011, what he sees for 2012, and what are some of favorite things about the station.
NUVO: First, let's look back at 2011. Tell me a couple of your favorites, and why.
Brad Holtz: I think Adele has to be on everyone's list. That an artist so genuine and heartfelt in their approach can translate into a mass-appeal performer in the face of some rather "manufactured" competition is pretty inspiring. Aside from that, in 2011 we continued to see the rise of indie artists. The Head & The Heart, Blitzen Trapper, Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes were a few. Arcade Fire winning the album of the year at the 2011 Grammys has to be a high point too.
Holtz: As far as American rock and roll, The Black Keys are the real deal. Although they're new to a lot of people, the guys have been around for seven albums. WTTS was playing them five years ago. It's nice to see them getting the wider attention they deserve.
NUVO: As a radio station that has continued to embrace the music of John Mellencamp, I've heard rumors (and talked to Larry Crane a while back) of the old band (Crane, Aronoff, Toby) getting back together. What do you think?
Holtz: I can't speak to these rumors, but everyone loves a comeback, right? I think such a reunion would mean a lot to the many fans touched by their music over the past 35 years.
NUVO: Lots of great music from women played on WTTS. Some favorites?
Holtz: I already mentioned Adele for all the obvious reasons. I think Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine) is a tremendous talent who translates beautifully live. Speaking of live, I just caught a new singer-songwriter named Katie Herzig at a recent WTTS Emerging Artist show at Creation Cafe. A very gifted writer, musician and performer who sounds great on the radio AND on stage.
NUVO: Has WTTS changed over the years?
Holtz: I really don't believe we've changed our approach. It has always been our goal to expose a variety of great rock music from different eras encompassing different styles. And as an independently owned radio station, we've also felt that part of our mission was to expose new artists not played elsewhere, and to give newcomers a chance. So basically, play a lot of great music and play some new stuff nobody would dare touch. That's what WTTS did 20 years ago, that's what we're doing today and that's what we're going to be doing for years to come.
NUVO: Love the Sun King Studios live music stuff you guys do. How has that helped WTTS?
Holtz: We love it too. Studio 92 opened seven years ago, if you can believe it. Our downtown performance studio houses 40 listeners and we've had well over 100 performers come by. And the range has been awesome - from newcomers like Amos Lee and Ray Lamontagne, back when they were newcomers - to legends like The Doobie Brothers, Joan Armatrading, Suzanne Vega, Ziggy Marley and John Hiatt. This year, Sun King became our official partner in the studio. It's a relationship we value tremendously. Listeners watch these performances, meet the artists, get their CDs or posters signed, have a Sun King. I mean, how cool is that? I sit there watching these performers while sipping on a Sun King and I think to myself, "this is really my job?”
NUVO: Any bands that we need to keep an eye and ear on in 2012? Who's going to break out and be heard?
Holtz: I wish I had a crystal ball but all I can say - we're always listening to new music, especially our incredible Music Director, Laura Duncan. New Music Monday, Indy Underground and OverEasy are all great WTTS programs where we love to expose the next things.
WTTS is currently in the midst of their annual music celebration, World Class Rock from A-Z. Listen at 92.3 FM or online.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Rock Review: Victor Villarreal's 'Invisible Cinema'
Posted by Justin Spicer on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Invisible Cinema is a tale of two distinct sides, so buying it digitally (which is likely the only method of getting your hands on the music with the limited vinyl edition sold out) may remove some impact from the music, as the dividing lines become blurry. However, by the end of Invisible Cinema — no matter how you’re listening—you’re going to need to hear it again.
Victor Villarreal steps out from behind veteran indie outfits such as Cap’n Jazz and Joan of Arc to produce two sets of different yet complimentary songs. Side A is technical and contemplative; Villarreal demonstrates his steady hands through three songs of uptempo melancholy. Opener "Enters" is an elegantly constructed suite of guitars ans strings, harkening to the days before indie was a stylized genre, but an artistic choice.
But it's on Side B where Villarreal begins to eschew traditional indie sounds for more compositional impact. “The Guess” kicks off a wave of alternative nostalgia, recalling the sprawling three minute radio hook that laid larva in your brain and refused to yield control until your taped down repeat button fell apart. Follow up “Sway” showcases Jim O’Rourke circa his Insignificance era, layering catchy melodies with drones and wails that are seemingly out of place in pop.
Invisible Cinema is a rich experience listen after listen. Villarreal daftly implants experimental sounds across the accessibility spectrum. Pop music craves deviation and Villarreal produces it in seven versatile songs.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Rock Review: Goliathon at Sun King
Posted by Wade Coggeshall on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Obviously, there have been plenty of entertainment options around the city over the last couple weeks. If you didn’t feel like standing shoulder to shoulder and paying too much for watered-down beer in the Super Bowl Village, Friday night at Sun King was a great alternative.
The popular brewery hosted a tent party for the duration of the festivities leading up to the game. Friday featured live music by local band Goliathon.
Their name fits them well. The quintet, which has been playing together since 2008, has a molten brand of Southern stomp down cold. The rhythm section is impeccably solid, the singing a bluesy howl, the guitars equal parts woozily melodic and hard as nails.
But that’s not all. In between fitful stops and starts and capricious passages, Goliathon throws in psychedelic keyboards and late-night saxophone blows. The result is something engagingly familiar and not easily classifiable.
Covers of the convulsive blues of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” and the churchy folk of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” fit right into the evening’s repertoire, however, and demonstrated Goliathon’s versatility. It doesn’t really matter what you call their music as long as it rocks. And it does.
Goliathon have one album under their belts, 2010’s Without Further Ado, and have stated on their various online platforms that they’re working on a followup to be released this year. Upcoming shows include March 3 at Radio Radio and March 17 at the Melody Inn. Go see them around town before they leave and potentially never return.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Rock / Roots Big Head Todd plays Super Bowl Village
Posted by Rob Nichols on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM
As Big Head Todd and the Monsters were getting ready to start a four day East Coast run of shows last week, I talked via phone to Todd Park Mohr as he was hanging out before a show in Connecticut. He and the band (all the original members, and together since 1986) come to Indianapolis on February 1, playing the Verizon Stage in the Super Bowl Village. We talked with the Colorado native - now living in Chicago - about his recent Robert Johnson “songbook” album, what teams he follows in the NFL, and what he means when he says “a song belongs to everybody.”
Todd Park Mohr: Obviously it’s all Robert Johnson material and are songs from a really special time period. That is a fascinating and wonderful part for me. I loved the group nature of recording it, with a lot of musicians involved. They were very spontaneous and fast sessions; it took just three days and was fun to do something that was very uninhibited and about making the moment right. We were in Memphis, which as fabulous place to be, especially for blues music.
(Editor's note: Todd will be a part of a concert to honor blues guitar legend Hubert Sumlin, which will be held February 24 at the Apollo Theatre in New York City, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Levon Helm and dozens more are on the bill, honoring the life of the influential guitarist from Howlin’ Wolf’s band. Sumlin died in December, 2011, and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards paid for Sumlin’s funeral.)
NUVO: What are you listening to these days?
Mohr: I listen to a lot of blues before 1945, like Charlie Patton, Son House, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. I am kind of obsessed with that era right now. I listen on my iPod; I like my shuffle. I also like having access to lots of individual songs, and to be able to listen to stuff immediately.
NUVO: Any new music in the pipeline?
Mohr: I have been performing some new material both solo and with the band; we are going to be in the studio in the fall for a release for early next year.
NUVO: You must have some things you like about Indiana, since you come back here all the time.
Mohr: We have some friends in Indiana who like to drink a lot of tequila. (laughs) It’s a party town. We have been coming there [for] 20 years now. It’s always a lot of fun for us.
NUVO: In the next two months, you are on the road a lot. Is that what you do, or is that busier than normal?
Mohr: We do tours in moderate doses these days, but still play 80 or 90 shows a year. Most of those are on weekends, so I am at home a lot during the week. [I] have a pretty decent family, so I can’t complain. The upcoming three months are going to be a little bit busy.
NUVO: Tell me about the quote I read from you, describing a song as something that “belongs to everybody.”
Mohr: Nobody really owns songs. When an artist does a song, you add a verse here or there, but you are rendering the tradition and hopefully adding something of your own in there, which is totally different idea from the pop hit song mentality — I guess it is more of a communal idea. The music and the language is a traditional thing rather than something that you pretend is original. Just a different way of looking at it.
NUVO: Do you have a favorite NFL team?
Mohr: I am a fair-weather Broncos and Bears fan. For the last six years, I have been living in Chicago, so the Bears have become the only team I can watch on TV, so I thought I better root for them.
