The BoDeans’ Friday show at the Vogue will be their one-millionth appearance in Indianapolis, as they are in town to play tunes from their ninth studio album, Mr. Sad Clown, released back in April.
OK. Not really. Yes, they are at the Vogue Friday, but have only played in our city 905,383 times since 1987. Every damn one of them a good show. Really. I’ve seen them so many times in the past 20 years – at the Vogue, or in Cincy at the Blue Note, or on a cold Monument Circle during Final Four weekend – and can’t remember walking away thinking that the band hadn’t worked hard at making a connection. The sound they make is unique. The new album is thoroughly BoDeans, and that’s why they survive.
We should be thankful there is a BoDeans; a band that rolls on despite just one (“Closer to Free”) song that could be considered a real hit. They have stayed true to their roots-rock and roll soul. Every show rocks, the audience sings, and guitars and drums are played loudly. Tell me what’s wrong with any of that?
roots rock twang news
Remembering the Elms before their farewell show
For their final show before the group disbands, The Elms have sold out Radio Radio this Friday night (July 30). The group that broke out of Seymour as a Christian band and went on to make vibrant, heartfelt and truly midwestern rock and roll is calling it quits for reasons a bit ambiguous, and finish their run with this final Indianapolis show.
According to their Facebook page, the show will be filmed in HD, using multiple cameras. Singer Owen Thomas writes on his blog that “we’re kicking around several ideas for the footage, which range from a complete concert film to a documentary about the cumulative 10-year experience of The Elms.”
There is a terrific blog by Dan Ficker at inreview.net where Thomas addresses questions surrounding the group breaking up. In the interview, The Elms’ lead singer said it was just a feeling that things should stop.
Hullabalou webcast this weekend; Cara Jean Wahlers releases Indiana music, Squidbillies welcome Americana
→ A couple hours south of Indianapolis, at the historic Churchill Downs, this weekend’s HullabaLOU Music Festival three-day concert begins Friday, and runs through Sunday. Since I’m not going, it affords the opportunity to watch a little of their live webcast. For me, a live music webcast is very nearly as good as finding treasure chest full of Coors Light and beef jerky. I like to geek-out and see how they handle the technical parts (audio, camerawork, etc…) of the webcast. Most of the time, I end up entranced at the coolness of watching it live, paired with being pissed because I would have done it differently. But that’s a “me” problem, right?
Old 97's in Bloomington, plus Q&A w/ Blackberry Smoke and Billy Joe Shaver recovers from heart surgery
The Avett Brothers, out on the road for more than a year promoting the gorgeous I and Love and You album, have announced Live, Volume 3 is coming out on CD/DVD on October 5. The show is from August 8, 2009 and was recorded in Charlotte, N.C.
The Old 97’s rocked a show at Bloomington’s Bluebird on Wednesday night (July 21). In honor of that, head to their Facebook page – they’ve added a free digital three-song EP. I saw them when they came through Indy last summer, playing a gig at the Vogue – read the award-winning review here.
Have you heard the Georgia Satellites/Black Crowes/Cross Canadian Ragweed-influenced country rockers Blackberry Smoke? You should. The website That Nashville Twang has posted a Q&A with the band’s Charlie Starr. Worth a read for gems like Starr saying some of the best advice he’s received was from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, telling him to “get some good lookin’ boots”.
Outlaw country legend Billy Joe Shaver is recovering from heart surgery and is expected to resume performing in August. The Texas music hero cancelled three July shows due to chest pain and had minor heart surgery on July last Tuesday. Shaver, 71, also suffered a heart attack on stage at Gruene Hall in 2001.
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Folk Soul Revival, Rusty Bladen hit Indy; Zac Brown Band announces album release date
Virginia roots band Folk Soul Revival hits Spencer’s Stadium Tavern on Saturday, July 31. The band is making their Indiana debut. Fans of the rowdy, Old Crow Medicine Show vibe will like these guys.
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With their take on modern hard country, the Zac Brown Band sold more than 2 million units of its debut, The Foundation. Look for a Sept. 21 release date for a new album, You Get What You Give. They are touring through the summer and hook up with the Dave Matthews Band in July in New York, and Washington, DC. In some info that relates to the album release, an interesting blog post about (or lack of) sales for some critically-acclaimed alt-country artists. Good online discussion about music business and what success really means. What do you think?
Rusty Bladen journeys from his Ohio River town of Madison for an all-ages show Thursday night (July 22) at the Greenwood Park Mall, as part of their 2010 Summer concert series- showtime is 7:00pm. Bladen, who is out promoting his new Homegrown Treasures album with a solo tour, has a show the next night at Whiskey Business on Pendleton Pike (9:30pm).
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The Hold Steady Headed to Indianapolis in September
Indianapolis gets The Hold Steady at the Vogue. How about that? September 30th, with tix $18 advance/$20 day of show, on sale Friday, July 16.
They are making a trek across our part of the Midwest, in Lexington, KY the night before the show in Indy, and part of an exhausting one-night stand tour that makes the rock superstars who play a couple nights each week seem lazy. The band begins this particular run of shows on September 20 in Richmond, VA and works their way through both the South and Midwest, before winding their way back to Boston October 6 and New York City on October 7. It’s a run of 16 shows in 18 days. Indy falls right in the middle of the itinerary.
Heaven is Whenever is the album they are promoting, and healthy guitar rock and roll is what they push each night on tour. Along with kindred spirits The Gaslight Anthem, they are inspired by the Springsteen Way. Live shows are often sweaty, loud and legendary. Let’s see if that’s what they bring to Indianapolis. If I had to bet, I’d say this show sells out.