This weekend in Indianapolis music, three guitar masters converge on Clowes Memorial Hall, High Violet meets high fantasy at the Old National Centre (formerly the Murat Centre), and Punk Rock Night adds a few grey hairs with their tenth anniversary. As usual in Indianapolis, there are plenty of shades on the musical kaleidoscope this weekend, from shock rock (GWAR is playing on Monday) to light jazz (Femmes Blu Festival). There’s a stellar lineup of bands and artists coming to the Circle City this weekend; the only problem will be figuring out with ones to go see.
On Saturday, Eric Johnson, Andy McKee, and Peppino D’Agostino will bring their virtuoso guitar talents to Clowes Memorial Hall. Eric Johnson is a Grammy winning guitarist who is perhaps best known for his hit single, “Cliffs of Dover,” off of his massively acclaimed 1990 album, Ah Via Musicom. Where Johnson plays with a showy blues swagger, his bill mates on Saturday would rather take the understated approach with acoustic finger picking. Andy McKee is a phenomenon of our modern times; he shot to stardom after one of his YouTube videos, “Drifting,” went viral. Nowadays “Drifting” has over 32 million views and McKee is in high demand in venues around the United States. Peppino D’Agostino is a self made, self taught Italian guitarist who has earned countless awards, including “Best Acoustic Guitarist” by Guitar Player magazine. Their show in Indianapolis this weekend should be a phenomenal set of guitar chops and showmanship.
Moving away from the virtuoso front, The National and Owen Pallett will be performing at the Old National Centre, also on Saturday. The National are still riding high off of their critically acclaimed 2008 release, High Violet, an album with countless spine tingling moments, usually involving the deep baritone of lead singer Matt Berninger and the guitar arrangements of the classically trained Bryce Dessner. Owen Pallett is also a classically trained musician; his two best albums, He Poos Clouds and Heartland, combine polyphonic loops, samples, Pallett’s emotive violin and piano arrangements, and plenty of video game references. The two together should be a dynamic and incredibly well attended Indianapolis event; be sure to buy your tickets early.
For an often overlooked piece of Indianapolis history, head to the Melody Inn for a night to remember. If you’re not that into the underground music scene in Indianapolis, The Melody Inn’s weekly Punk Rock Night might have escaped your attention. Now entering its tenth year of existence, an incredible feat for a local music showcase, Punk Rock Night is still in full swagger, and the organizers plan to show off a little bit this weekend. The Indianapolis music venue will be celebrating the event’s tenth anniversary over three nights, starting on Thursday. Punk Rock Night favorites, new and old, will be playing the celebration of anti-bourgeois, D.I.Y., get drunk and get bloody Indianapolis bands, including Gay Black Republican, The Vibrators, Dan Glenzig, The Dockers, Luxury Pushers, and many more. Regulars at Indy punk venues like The Dojo, E.S. Jungle, and The Emerson Theater should check out the 10th anniversary celebration of Punk Rock Night at the Melody Inn from Thursday through Saturday.
There are plenty more shows going on in Indianapolis this weekend aside from the highlights above, so check out the Indianapolis show calendar below to plan your weekend:
Thursday, Sept 30 |
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Like Bats, Stymie, Bent Life, Deceiver @ The Dojo
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The Hold Steady, Wintersleep @ The Vogue Theater
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Trampled by Turtles, These United States @ Birdy’s Bar & Grill
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Punk Rock Night 10th Anniversary w/ The Vibrators, Dan Glenzig, The Punch-Ups @ The Melody Inn | |||
Yeasayer @ The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana
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Ribs N’ Bone @ Apres Jack’s Lounge
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Trevor Reynolds Band @ The Slippery Noodle Inn
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Emily Ann Thompson @ The Indianapolis Artsgarden
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Butler Scion Free Thursdays w/ Jascha @ Locals Only Art and Music Pub
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Mike Posner @ Old National Centre
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Friday, Oct 1 |
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Friday Nite Classic Cabaret w/ George Clinton @ Indiana Convention Center
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David Dondero, Darren Hanlon, Adam Kuhn @ White Rabbit Cabaret
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Louis Hayes Trio @ The Jazz Kitchen
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Punk Rock Night 10th Anniversary Night 2 w/ roast of Greg Brenner, Gay Black Republican, The Give-Ups, The Dockers @ Melody Inn
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Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors @ Indianapolis Artsgarden
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Femmes Blu Festival w/ Nancy Moore, Monika Herzig, Carolyn Dutton, Heather Ramsey, Jennifer Kirk, and more @ The Athenaeum Theatre | |||
Gene Deer @ The Rathskeller Restaurant
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Battle of Birdy’s Round 1, Week 9 w/ Bearfoote Jackson, DeVault, A Bad Idea, StepSon, Periphonic, Divine Soul, Forsaken Sights @ Birdy’s Bar | |||
Taking Rosa @ Champps Americana Bar & Grill
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Toy Factory @ Ale Emporium
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Zanna-Doo @ McQ’s Pub and Eatery Meeting Place
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Blonde Sonja @ The Britton Tavern in Fishers, Indiana | |||
The Flying Toasters @ The Lakehouse
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Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band @ The Vogue | |||
Through Being Cool @ Mo’s Irish Pub
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Saturday, Oct 2 |
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Eric Johnson, Andy McKee, Peppino D’Agostino @ Clowes Memorial Hall
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The National, Owen Pallett @ Old National Centre‘s Murat Egyptian Room
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Punk Rock Night 10th Anniversary Night 3 w/ The Queers, The Slurs, Luxury Pushers, Down-Fi @ Melody Inn
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40% Steve, The Elect @ The Rathskeller
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Jason Reeves, Joe Brooks @ Radio Radio Music Lounge
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The Last Good Year @ Britton Tavern
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Sunday, Oct 3 |
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Drive-By Truckers, The Henry Clay People @ The Vogue
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Thirty Seconds to Mars, Neon Trees, New Politics @ The Old National Centre
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Matt Pond PA, Calumet Reel @ The Bishop in Bloomington, Indiana
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The Stanton Moore Trio @ Bluebird
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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
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
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds | Freddy Hubbard | Wes Montgomery | Cole Porter | James Spaulding | More Indianapolis Musicians
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