Middle America Rocks: Indianapolis Music Clubs
People really don't think of Indianapolis, a Middle-American city, as a place where you can plug into a live music scene that crackles with great talent. Isn't this white bread Hoosierland - the birthplace of Jim Jones - the place where the KKK once had a heavy presence - the center of the Bible belt?
|
How times have changed! Hoosierland also claims rock' n' roll icons John Mellencamp and John Hiatt, offbeat author Kurt Vonegutt, and its own version of Cheers (more on that later).
Indianapolis has a simmering nightlife. While many cities are replacing live music with a DJ spinning tunes, Indianapolis offers a variety of nightspots, where people can listen to great local musicians and visiting artists demonstrate their monster chops. Only if you lived in this underrated Central Indiana city would you know Indy had a long affair with jazz and the blues. When clubs would close down early in the city's more conservative days, music lovers, usually in the black community, would meet at "after hours" clubs to drink, dance and listen to music until everyone collapsed with exhaustion. Today, there is a fairly diverse musical scene to be sampled in Indianapolis. During your trip, try to include a tour of the beautiful State Capitol, with its ornate Rotunda, and catch the imaginative, state-of-the-art exhibits at the Children's Museum. I would gladly revisit Indy's clubs because I have great memories of listening to music late into the night in places that had atmosphere to match the great music.
|
Slippery Noodle Inn
Photo courtesy of Slippery Noodle
I live in Chicago, so I know a good blues club. This industrial-strength, downtown blues joint simply oozes atmosphere. The high ceilings and brick walls and the elevated stage make it a
perfect place to bask in the blues, with a remarkably eclectic cross section of friendly music fans.
The best blues musicians from Indianapolis and other parts of the country often converge on the Noodle and this results in some of the more passionate musical collaborations. There is a real sense of exuberance spilling from the Noodle's stage as performers travel the map of the blues, from the slow and burning down-and-out ballads to the ferociously happy, uptempo tracks.
While the traffic is elbow-to-elbow on Saturday, the weekdays offer a pleasant time to load up on the Noodle's hearty appetizers and get down-and-dirty with the blues.
Alley Cat
Located in an alley in the Bohemian Broad Ripple neighborhood, this neighborhood bar is what you might call a cozy dive. The patrons keep returning to the neighborhood hole-in-the-wall to just
relax with friends and to occasionally meet exotic strangers. The pool tables and dark rooms in this bar are often full of interesting characters. Forget about the live music. This is more of a place to come
and "people watch" and play pool than listen to memorable music. But the jukebox in the Alley Cat boasts a play list for people who appreciate straight-ahead rock 'n' roll.
Chatterbox
| This place is Cheers with jazz coursing through it. Occasionally Dave, the owner, changes the schedule, but most of the time the same jazz ensembles perform on the tiny stage. Often, you see older and younger musicians performing the hypnotic be-bop tracks that dominate at the Chatterbox. The music is so good, when Mick Jagger was in town to do a concert, he stopped in, just to groove on the jazz. |  |
 |
| Customers love adding their thoughts Photo by Deanne Roth |
Chatterbox Photo by Deanne Roth |
Club Zambezi
Not many people are expecting a club this exotic in the Heartland. This international nightspot serves African food that is spicy and music that spans the globe. This club switches on any given night from reggae, rumba and merengue to salsa, soca and zouk rhythms. A headquarters for world music, Zambezi was the first club in Indianapolis to expose eager fans to kwaito, a fiery African dance hall music that pulses with reggae, rap, gospel and blues rhythms. This is a great place for people who wish to stretch their musical horizons to also mingle with other nationalities.
The Vogue
Imagine a cozy bar with a rowdy concert vibe. The Vogue has a reputation for catching bands on their way to being famous. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Zydeco legend Queen Ida have graced the Vogue's stage. Before John Mellencamp hit the charts, he performed at the Vogue for $5.
This friendly club attracts true music lovers with its irresistible hybrid of pop and rock music.
While visiting the trendy Broad Ripple neighborhood, check out the offbeat treasures at Artsy Phartsy, a store as whimsical as its name, and the French delicacies (try the crusty bread!) at Renee's, one of my favorite casual French cafes.
Terry Loncaric is a Chicago freelance writer. Her stories have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, Girlfriends and other publications. You can email her at: Artsimmersion@aol.com
Graphic of jazz musician based on photo by Deanne Roth
OffbeatTravel