This weekend in Indianapolis music, two of the country’s most talented metal bands will be hitting the Indianapolis stage (and not at the Emerson!), a 90’s ska/funk band plans a comeback at the Old National Centre, and all sorts of other Indianapolis bands will be making appearances all over the Circle City. Temperatures are going to be mild, the sun is going to be out, and Indianapolis music fans should be swarming Indianapolis bars in droves.

Two of the United States‘ best progressive metal bands will be melting faces at The Vogue this weekend. Mastodon joins forces with Baroness, Between the Buried and Me, and Valient Thorr at the historic Indianapolis music venue on Friday, a ear-bursting treat for any fan of heavy music. Mastodon is known for their frenetic drumming, turn on a dime signature shifts, and that wall of heavy, down-tuned guitars that’s played as loud as possible. Mastodon’s latest, Crack the Skye, brought a slightly more melodic and operatic feel to the band’s sound, but live they’ll likely play fan favorites from earlier releases, Blood Mountain and Leviathan.

Baroness, whose Blue Record was one of the most critically acclaimed releases of 2009, will be sharing the stage with Mastodon. The band’s trademark sound draws influences from Queen, Slayer, Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, and, surprisingly enough, a little Brahms thrown in for good measure. Some of the harmonic-laced guitar solos in Blue Record wouldn’t sound out of place in a Renaissance-era heavy metal drawing room. Both bands should draw hundreds of fans out to Indy from Central Indiana and beyond.

Remember that song they used to play on WRZX 103.3 all the time in the 90’s, “What I Got?” Well, if you’re so inclined, you can hear it live on Thursday. Sublime will be playing at the Old National Centre in downtown Indianapolis. Yes, the band broke up in 1997, shortly after “What I Got” blew up, but they made a brief comeback in 2009 and will be playing a few dates in 2010. This Indianapolis event could be fun if you’d like to make a trip fifteen years into the past, or even if you just love a good ska tune.

For more shows going on in Indianapolis cultural districts this week, check out our handy show calendar below:

Indianapolis Music Venues

8 Seconds Saloon | Big Car Gallery | Birdy’s Bar & Grill | Chatterbox Jazz Club | Emerson Theater | Jazz Kitchen | Old National Centre | Radio Radio | The Vogue | More Indianapolis Music Venues

Indianapolis Bands

Amanda Overmyer | Cathy Morris | Flynnville Train | Gwen Stacy | The Elms | Haste the Day | Jennie DeVoe | Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s | Mudkids | Murder by Death | Sloppy Seconds | Straight No Chaser | More Indianapolis Bands

Indianapolis Musical Organizations

Arts Council of Indianapolis | Capital City Chorus | Ensemble Music Society | Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra | More Indianapolis Musical Organizations

Indianapolis Musicians

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds | Freddy Hubbard | Wes Montgomery | Cole Porter | James Spaulding | More Indianapolis Musicians

Indiana Music by City

Avon Music | Brownsburg Music | Carmel Music | Danville Music | Fishers Music | Greenfield Music | Greenwood Music | Martinsville Music | Mooresville Music | Noblesville Music | Plainfield Music | Westfield Music | Zionsville Music | More Indiana Music