Ever since the announcement of the IndianapolisMusic.Net 10-year “anniversary/reunion” show, I’ve been on a trip down memory lane. Of course, the local music scene in Indianapolis had a wealth of bands and shows long before IndianapolisMusic.net, but there was something special about the years 2001-2004 in this city for bands and followers. There was a sense of unity, a sense that folks here in Indy could be as proud of their scene as people had been in Seattle in the late ‘80’s (just one example that people would occasionally vocalize)… things like IMN showcases, the Midwest Music Summit, or the original Battle of the Bands at The Patio (RIP) actually added fuel to the talk fire that we could have some break-out acts and major-label signings. IMN was the sounding board, and a gathering place for musicians and fans to not just support each other, but explore their own creativity, as well. There were many times when people not associated with bands or music would collect and share poetry, photos, or random thoughts, things that tied them into the overall movement. The message board of IMN was the local internet watering hole, so to speak, and every day you were presented with various show postings, reviews, rants and arguments. The scene was flourishing; not just at local clubs, but on our home computers, as well.
I came to Indy back in 2001, after trying out for a lead singer/guitarist position for a band called Chuck Marten. I was soon introduced not only to IndianapolisMusic.net, but Matt Fetcher. He was a magnet for show promotion, and I will never forget when I walked up to him at Birdy’s one night, looking to promote. One of the “rules”, if you’d call it that, was that he would put your band on the next IMN showcase if you came out and supported. I walked up to him, told him my name and band, and slyly asked if we could be in the next showcase… he said “of course”, but I went a step further, and told him that we wanted a prime slot. Not opening, not mop-up, but a sweet set around 11:30ish… and he gave me his word. Matt worked hard in making sure that everyone got their chance in the local spotlight, and, from that very moment, I knew that there was a community brewing. That showcase is the highlight for me, above almost all other shows. He understood that if you give bands and fans a chance, they’ll take to the message, and reciprocate. We would buy into his formula without a second thought.
At one point, our band was set to play at The Melody Inn. Being new to the area, I had heard of the venue from when I lived previously in Muncie, but had never heard of Punk Rock Night. A man with long hair walked into the bar, before we took the stage, and set up recording equipment. I introduced myself, and he told me his name was Greg. We talked for a bit about local punk rock acts, and I briefly mentioned my only tie to a “certified” local punk rock band that I knew about (The Retreads, guys I had gone to school with up in Muncie, and a kick-ass band BTW). That conversation was the only thing we had in common… until I joined up with three very cool musicians and came into my first punk rock outfit, NowhereGoodFast. Greg Brenner was very supportive of us, and I look back fondly on those early shows- the ties between PRN’s early days and IMN are absolute, in my book. Brenner became a rock star without even being in a band- all of us on the IMN message boards knew it.
There are so many stories I could share, I don’t even know where to start. I can remember vividly (was it 2002?) “kidnapping” Steve Hammer, who was the local music writer at the time for Nuvo. We had decided to put together something with members of NowhereGoodFast, Man-E-Taboada, and the Punk Rock Prof (Jill) for a set at The Patio Battle of the Bands, called The Danny Rollings Band. It was a one-off, horror-flick scene based on the true story of a murderer in Florida, and Hammer had agreed to do a write-up for the show. But, in order for him to do the story, we would pick him up at the McDonalds in Broad Ripple, blind-folded, and transport him to Scott H8’s basement (lovingly named Super Trashed Headquarters, or STHQ to local music historians). This is where the tables were turned, and we interrogated him. We finished 3rd that night, not advancing in The Battle, but we enjoyed our own theater by throwing fake blood and body parts into the crowd (hitting Indy Star music writer Dave Linquist), and destroying equipment (ok, so that was me that smashed my Dean guitar into The Patio floor, much to the horror of the crowd).
So many things changed in a heartbeat- an almost run-down old school Butler hang out at 38th and Illinois became one of the best dive bars in the nation overnight. Greg Brenner and his Punk Rock Night following started the annual PRN music awards, and even had their own limo to escort the faithful to shows. During the days of the Midwest Music Summit, Broad Ripple was hotter than hot, and bar-hopping to see the best local and regional acts became mandatory. So many playing at one time, you couldn’t see them all at once, and you’d have to map out your schedule just so you could fit all of the set times in. The Patio always reigned supreme, but another outfit on the north side of town, Birdy’s, became the hot spot for touring bands. There were also amazing shows at all-ages clubs… I’ll never forget Smedley, and The Festivilla. Even after all of his past venues, he was resolute that bands and the under-21 scene would always have a gathering place, no matter where or when. Smedley probably encapsulates the vision of “the scene” at the time better than most… the “underground” would always be important to him, and eventually graduate into something larger. Maybe he understood something in encouraging young bands that the rest of us would take for granted.
Something else happened around that time… someone had declared that the local music scene was dead… when, in fact, it was far from it. I had railed against the accusation on the IMN message boards, and declared that an upcoming show at The Mel would prove otherwise. During our show, someone had set a copy of that week’s Nuvo on fire, and handed it to me while I was on the mic. What else could I do except stand on stage and hold the flaming paper… denounce it? No. The scene was far from dead back then, and it has continued to prosper ten years on. It might not be as fashionable or glittery like it was a decade ago, but it has held its own. Things on the IMN message board have slowed to a crawl, and Facebook has taken over in the promotion department. But kudos to Steve Hayes and Ryan Williams, who have kept IMN up in a different manner: offering the top ten shows of the week, an awesome podcast, and weekly spotlights on local up-and-coming acts.
I am so proud to not only have been involved with IMN’s glory days, but to see other musicians that were involved at the time go on to keep making music and tour… folks like Otis Gibbs and the Reverend Peytons Big Damn Band make their living entirely on the road; Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s and We Are Hex have created their own national buzz, and there are countless other musicians from here in Indy who have done very well outside our comfortable confines. The local music scene shifts and changes… I will admit to being an outsider now, barely playing and going to local shows less than I should. But I will always (and have been) keep my eye on what’s happening, simply because of IndianapolisMusic.Net, and the experiences I’ve had with some amazing people. People that continue to invest in this “scene”, enriching it with fuel for the future. The scene is not dead, long live the scene!
Happy 10th anniversary, IMN! And thank you, because it was an incredible ride I’ll never forget.
-Gwen
