INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Johnny23, Scourge of the Sea, Hey Hey Melodica!, Svetlana
Saturday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m., $5, all-ages
In this post-O.C. world that we live in, indie rock bands are literally a dime a dozen. Indie rock was once a genre that was regulated to “sophisticated” college kids. Now, with the likes of MySpace and Grey’s Anatomy hocking so-called indie bands left and right, it has suddenly become the quickest way to make a buck in the music industry.
The trick, for music fans, is knowing how to navigate the over-saturated sea of bands and find the gems.
A few regional gems will perform Saturday at the Irving Theater. The venue is about to undergo some renovations, but before they shut down, the Irving will go out with a smooth, catchy bang.
Hey Hey Melodica!, for those unaware, have been riding the local music circuit for a while now. With a sound similar to Hot Chip and The Postal Service, Hey Hey Melodica! is sure to win over fans of the electro indie-pop genre. Also from the local scene is Svetlana, incorporating post-punk and shoe-gazer rock from indie rock’s illustrious past into their sound. Stopping off on their regional tour, The Scourge of the Sea from Lexington, Ky., (definitely indie-pop) has a heavy dose of folk in their dreamy, melancholy tunes. Also making a tour stop is Cincinnati, Ohio-based rock group Johnny23. Johnny23 incorporates ambient noise over driving beats, not unlike The Secret Machines. So if you’re looking to test the waters of regional indie rock, this is the best way to do it.