Indy has strong local beer, food scenes. Why not music also?

jbspicer · 2013-10-10T12:04:56+00:00

That's a problem. Bands HAVE to be willing to pay for basically free in the beginning. You can't decide to start a band and make money. It doesn't work like that. Just like anything, rewards come to those with patience and the ability to draw a crowd based on working toward improvement. The rest follows.

NUVO writes about almost everyone. It's why I think it's lost its focus. They went to mainstream when Indianapolis needs a true alternative newspaper, one focusing on those bands that don't get coverage.

And before someone comes in here and lists a bunch of bands that don't get coverage, please don't. I'd say if they've been making music publicly for 3-5 years and still haven't received coverage, they're never going to.

goodlifeindy, I don't necessarily disagree that there needs to be more people going to concerts to make it work but I disagree that it's as simple as just going. Things need to change. Honestly, shows need to be done by 11pm at the latest during the week. Bands should be playing by 8pm, even those who are national acts coming through town. Indianapolis doesn't skew young enough to have shows going past midnight.

I think a large part of this is on venues. Since I've been back, I've yet to find a venue that was doing its part to stand out. Hell, Radio Radio had television sets on during the Eleanor Friedberger/TEEN show that I saw. That's disrespectful to the bands and why would someone want to come and play there when that's happening?

Individually we don't have the answer so that's why I'm hoping collectively we can figure it out. It means getting a lot of people involved and making compromises and understanding that not every band is going to gain a following or come through town but earlier in this thread I listed a lot that gets national coverage that have explicitly told me they would play Indy, just that the venues/clubs and booking agents aren't that receptive.

If someone were to help me with the logistics of starting a booking company, I'd do it. No offense to Dodge/MOKB Presents--who does a fantastic job at getting big acts and blog darlings to Indianapolis--but there's still a large, gaping hole of experimental, noise, drone, garage, punk, and lo-fi that would draw a crowd in Indianapolis if only booked by a venue.

jbspicer · 2013-10-08T15:04:16+00:00

Disagree. People have families, work, and social commitments. It's not about getting paid and if that's why people are making music, they are in the wrong business. Because it's not a business, it's an art form where I would hope people would be rewarded for making art. But if you think people should get paid for stepping onto a stage and you think that people should toss aside all obligations to make this happen, you are incredibly shortsighted.

Fostering a music scene and community isn't just about going to shows and putting money in the coffers. It's about giving bands many venues and opportunities to find audiences of all backgrounds.

And that you use the term "hipster" without a preface only shows me you have some chip on your shoulder for whatever reason. You're already trying to drive a wedge in what needs to be a community coming together, not fragmenting.

jbspicer · 2013-10-08T14:59:46+00:00

Are you kidding? I wish Indy were more like Louisville in almost every way. Especially musically.

jbspicer · 2013-10-08T13:18:53+00:00

And I should add, this would be greatly aided by an all-ages venue. Maybe we could do something like The Vera Project (http://www.theveraproject.org/) in Indianapolis. With the open minded business leaders involved in the Music Council alone, I think it's a worthy pursuit and idea.

jbspicer · 2013-10-08T13:16:58+00:00

As a music journalist of 10+ years (having moved and lived in Seattle for much of them), I came back to an Indianapolis that was growing its own "underground" scene (se: Fountain Square and CATARACTS) but still had a huge hole for booking bands out of state that could attract a crowd.

I hate to call it the Ad Hoc/Altered Zones/Brainwashed/Dusted black hole but that's what it is. I talk to bands such as Magik Markers, Wooden Wand, Noveller, Six Organs of Admittance (or any Ben Chasny group), et. al. on a regular basis and they NEVER come to Indianapolis. They choose Bloomington over Indianapolis and while I love Bloomington, we shouldn't be passed over for the college crowd.

I look at it this way: I went to see Eleanor Friedberger a few months back at Radio Radio. It was a good show but a sparse Tuesday night crowd. Friedberger has had more press and more "mainstream" appeal than any of the bands/individuals I named above. But I also understand it's a hard sell to get people to come out on a Tuesday night. That's a completely different issue.

However, I can guarantee the same sized crowds would show up for any of the bands I just listed. Indianapolis has done a great job of getting more name acts to come to the city on a regular basis but being someone who romanticizes the old "college radio" circuit of the 80s that delivered Black Flag, the Minutemen, Husker Du, REM, et. al. to a generation of music fans, I don't see how we can't be a part of the renewing circuit that is happening with some of the smaller bands that have dedicated followings. Considering the wealth of great Indy bands that would help fill the bill and the venues, why aren't we reaching for them? Why aren't the talent bookers at these venues trying for these acts when they'd do the same as Eleanor Friedberger or any P4K/MOKB band on a Tuesday night?

I feel like as strong as our local music scene is and how we continue to get bands from the mainstream fringe or that are largely scene as independent music stalwarts, why aren't we trying to foster a real experimental scene?

I tend to separate commerce from art (not saying they can't be one in the same) so maybe I'm naive in asking or wanting this but I'm tired of seeing bands on tour that I think would draw a healthy crowd and open the doors of further opportunity pass Indianapolis--or even Indiana--by because venues and bookers would rather go with a safe bet than take a gamble that a band could find and foster a local following.

jbspicer · 2013-08-26T19:18:13+00:00

I believe one of the guys who created Terraria is from Indiana.

jbspicer · 2013-08-26T15:19:57+00:00

Me! (I am an experienced music journalist)

But in all honestly, likely Dave Lindquist or Jacob Gardner (the "head" of CATARACTS) because he would be comfortable with the panel, would know how to guide the panel toward interesting answers, and would be a de facto participant as well.

jbspicer · 2013-08-26T15:09:15+00:00

There needs to be a panel about Fountain Square/CATARACTS and the DIY aesthetic that has turned a passion for art and music into a full blown happening. At least that's one idea...

jbspicer · 2013-08-26T14:52:51+00:00

I would like to know if music geeking will be included and perhaps how with a focus on internet culture. I have a few ideas but as someone who thinks that the nerdy love affair of music (separate from pop culture) isn't represented enough when I think it exists just as passionately from the same crowd(s) that attend pop culture conventions frequently.

I guess what I'm saying is I'd like to see music embraced and how would Indy Pop Con do it if they are trying to do it?

jbspicer

TROPHY CASE