Music news in briefin brief

Indianapolis’ own ambassador of music goodwill, Niswander, is at it again. He’ll soon be launching his own podcast, featuring comedy bits, interviews, his own and other local musicians’ songs and more. Check out niswander.net for details.

Reggae band John Brown's Body, one of the innovators in the genre, will play the Patio on Saturday.

Reggae lovers will absolutely adore John Brown’s Body, arguably the best American reggae band, when they play the Patio on Saturday, May 14. They’re one of the few groups pushing the envelope to bring innovations into a genre that too often is rooted in its past. Their most recent album, also well worth investigating, is called Pressure Points on the Easy Star label.

One of the biggest shows of the summer was announced last week. Legendary Willie Nelson will play the Vogue on Aug. 22. Tickets are $50 and will go on sale May 20. You may want to get them quickly; the man tends to sell out shows fast. Also coming to the Vogue: Theory of a Deadman and ubmersed on June 21.

Local favorites Haste the Day will release its next album this June on Solidstate Records. They sold more than 26,000 copies of their debut disc, an astonishing amount for a local band. But then, they’re more than a local band, with shows all over the place. The CD release show locally will be June 28 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Holla at a player when you see him on the street!

Racing fans will be treated to many musical events during the month of May. The great Rev. Peyton will play at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25. A selection of Christian bands will rock on May 21. The big event will be Friday, May 27, when the Black Crowes will perform at the Miller Lite Carb Day concert. Two guarantees: Beer and shirtless dudes will be present. That’s not a dis.

This writer spoke with 2001 NUVO Artist of the Year OriginAl the other day. He’s living large on the East Coast and has been in talks for a very high-profile record deal with people whose names you’ve heard before. Can’t say any more than that. More on this developing story as events warrant.

You’ll have to work quickly if you want to submit your band for the Midwest Music Summit this year. The deadline is May 13, this Friday. Now in its fifth year, the summit has featured more than 1,100 local and regional artists, along with the stray national artist or two. I bet hundreds and hundreds of bands have gotten big contracts out of the summit, too. It will be held July 21-23 at various locations.

You’ll have to go out of town to see both Oasis and Modest Mouse this summer. With their full itineraries released, neither band is coming to Indy, although Oasis will play Chicago and MM will perform in Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville. Also bypassing Indy this summer: The Gang of Four and Bruce Springsteen. Luckily, we will probably get the Molly Hatchet reunion tour, if that’s any consolation.

And there are some great shows at Verizon for which tickets will go on sale this Saturday. The Kenny Chesney/Gretchen Wilson show (Aug. 26) goes on sale at 10 a.m. The July 9 Journey show goes on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday, while the July 17 Zooma Tour featuring Trey Anastasio and Ben Harper will go on sale at noon. Get those tickets now or don’t complain when you don’t have them.

Local bar The Mousetrap has been booking some great bands as of late. Check it out: Transient Frank on May 14, JEB on May 20 and Dark House Sweet on May 21. It’s nice to see another venue booking good shows.

And while the corporate, fueled-by-slave-labor weekly paper will have you believe that all the good Indianapolis shows actually take place in Bloomington, they do have a point to make this week. On Thursday, it’ll be Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos and Brando at Second Story. That’s a good show by anyone’s standards. On Saturday, they’re having an “Arts of Eros Spring Ball.” I like the sounds of that. Also: The Vegetables on May 17.

As previously announced, Green Day will perform at Conseco Fieldhouse on Sept. 12. Their American Idiot CD, which I personally thought sucked donkey, has spawned a third hit single. Shows what I know.

New albums received and loved: the debut of Juliette Lewis’ band, Juliette & The Licks; the hardcore gangsta shit from Mike Jones, Screwed & Chopped; and the new joint from DevilDriver. Three very different discs, three very interesting albums. Still on my iPod “most-played” list: The Cleptoz, Alicia Keys, Cannibal Corpse, In The Jungle Groove by James Brown and the NiN single.