This year the Broad Ripple Brewpub will be celebrating 20 years of serving great food, quality ales, and being the hub of an ever-growing community! The Brew Pub has a special place in our hearts; and, to a fault, we usually drag our friends and bands from out of town to the Pub when they come to Indy. Highly recommended if you haven't been there yet!
To begin the big year the right way, they are kicking it off with $3.00 pints on Mondays, as well as booking a limited-return engagement of their favorite magician Trinity every Wednesday in March. Those of you in the internets might remember Trinity, long ago he was a weekly staple at the Brew Pub, performing tableside magic tricks for the kids (and the whole fan-damnily).
The Brew Pub's actual birth date is in November, but they plan to keep rolling towards the big birthday party on 11.14.2010 with more specials and other surprises (like a commemorative series of brews from years past).
Big thanks to Rusty Redenbacher and Metromix for the kind words in last week's Indianapolis Metromix issue! It is always nice to be recognized for our hard work, and Russ did it so eloquently. Props.
The great blizzard of 2010 didn't keep people from descending on The Vogue Theatre on Friday February 5th for an incredible night of locally-grown music on the big stage in Broad Ripple. While we definitley would have filled the place in better weather, 300 strong braved the worst road conditions possible for six hours worth of some of the best hip-hop, rap, trip-hop, dance, electro and indie-experimental music this fair city has to offer. Metromix definitely had it right when it declared that this show was the #1 event to attend this week: Metromix 2.4.2010
Right from the start patrons knew the night was for real: hip-hop act TWIN MONSTER devoured any negativity brought by the eight inches of fluffy snow piling outside with an incredibly tight, polished act featuring three rappers, keys and a DJ. The live set was remarkable for its expertly performed multi-vocal selections, not an easy task considering the lightning-quick timing the group has perfected. Hours of practice must have gone into creating their set, because not one hiccup was heard in a blistering 35-minute rap extravaganza. TWIN MONSTER definitely set the mood and left the bar high for the next acts. Check out the group online at http://www.myspace.com/twinmonster
Up next was Indianapolis' newest breakout act JOOKABOX (formely known as Grampall Jookabox), the brainchild of David "Moose" Adamson who over the years has taken a one-man programming/performance art/multi-instrumental/strange-yet-uncontrollably-dancy freak show and molded it into a four-piece indie-dance juggernaut. Three full-length albums deep into a career that has taken him around the world, this Vogue event was put together to hail the release of a remix EP put together by the cats at Audio Recon and released by globally-reached but locally-based Asthmatic Kitty Records. This release (which is available for download on the AK website) was the centerpiece of the evening, as it pointed out just how incestuous Indiapolis' music community truly is, even across different genres (hell, just look at the Jookabox lineup - it would be four pages of a tree map and flow charts to show how many bands are connected through these four musicians). Specifically, JOOKABOX's EP was remixed by musicians aligned with Audio Recon, headed up by the drummer of the headlining band MAB LAB, and contains tracks played out at DJ events by yours truly, A SQUARED INDUSTRIES, and the openers TWIN MONSTER helped with the record and is staffed by artists repped by Audio Recon. Confused? Us too. Anyway, check out JOOKABOX online at http://www.myspace.com/jookabox and check out some video from the show:
Headlining the live portion of the show (not that the DJs weren't "live," but, well, you know...) was MAB LAB, pretty much Indy's only trip-hop act for the past 10 or 11 years. A powerhouse of incredible (and famous) musicians in their own right, together as MAB LAB the band is the consummate headlining act with mature, well-written, incredibly performed, and stylistically unique songs that have always made this group ahead of its time here in Naptown. We remember when they used to sell out The Patio (sigh) on Friday nights back in the day, and we couldn't have been more excited to be a part of putting on a big show for them and what they have each done for the music scene here in Indy. MAB LAB formed in early 1999 by vocalist/organist Kate Lamont and drummer Eric Brown, and were soon joined by MC/DJ/producer/artist Mike Graves. Brown was introduced to Graves through a mutal friend and top indianapolis drummer Devon Ashley. In 2000 they self-released their first album “Features and Controls” and followed that up with 2001’s "The Fadeback EP." Both of these homemade releases earned critical praise and were enough to garner them recognition from some serious industry folks, as they went on to work with producer Chris DeBenideto and bassist Jimmy “Jazz” Prescott (G Love and Special Sauce) as well as engineer/ producer Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle/Lucinda Williams) and producer Peter Collins (Rush/Indigo Girls/Queensryche). The ML crew has done notable work both musically and culturally in and around Indianpolis. Vocalist Kate Lamont released two albums with her progressive folk group Blueprintmusic and toured extensively. She has also been working on a new solo album with noted producer and musician Vess Ruthenberg (Queen Size Studio/The Pieces/Lemonheads) as well as serving as the director of operations of The Earth House. Mike Graves has been busy in the art and music worlds: in addition to creating new albums by Twilight Sentinels and People vs Radio he has had many successful showings of his art work from Indianapolis to Seattle. Eric Brown started Audio Recon in 2005, formed the glitch clique Post-Lab and released "Manifesto," then went on to release solo digital albums "Mind Film Vols. 1 and 2" in Dec 2007. He is currently working on a new glitch clique album as well as a host of other projects for Audio Recon. Ande Shaul was a integral part of the post-MAB LAB project New Year Revolution w/ Graves and Lamont, as well as playing bass for People vs Radio. He is currently writing material for an upcoming solo project as well as lending his many talents to various sessions around Indianapolis. These are important people who do important things - keep up with what they are doing folks and you will see just how we do it here in the Nap. Check out some video of their performance at The Vogue:
And lastly, A SQUARED INDUSTRIES had the honor of DJing an incredible party after the bands with our buddy DJ ACTION JACKSON. If you aren't familiar with him, his parties in Indy and Bloomington have a reputation for being OUT OF CONTROL! Personally, we like him so much for being a good dude and good friend, and business-wise for showing how a motivated deejay can make a living through concentrating serious hustle. ACTION JACKSON keeps it real making a living by DJing locally most nights of every week. Kids, watch and learn. Here's some video of ACTION JACKSON for that night at The Vogue:
All in all, it was quite a night (blizzard and everything!) Many thanks to NUVO for sponsoring the event, and to Transpanther, Asthmatic Kitty Records, Audio Recon, Musical Family Tree and The Vogue for making it happen.
A Squared is now fully behind local efforts of four ladies in town who run the Indianapolis Chapter of GIRLS ROCK, and we hope you find this as exciting as we do! GIRLS ROCK is a great charity that focuses on running summer camps for young women to find identity and self esteem in rock 'n roll music.
The mission statement of Girls Rock is "a Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls, a 501(c)3 non-profit, builds girls self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, we create leadership opportunities, cultivate a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourage social change and the development of life skills."
A Squared is helping out with a few fundraising shows to get the ball rolling on the local chapter having enough funds to operate an Indianapolis camp this summer! Here is the first one, next week (it's FREE!):
Thursday February 11th, 2010 9PM
Locals Only Art + Music Pub (21+)
2449 E. 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Click here for a map.
Butler Scion Free Thursdays presents a charity event for GIRLS ROCK Music Camp for Girls
featuring live music from SMALL ARMS FIREMySpace APPLECOREMySpace
NO COVER! 21+ with valid ID only please. Come pre-party before the Lucero or The Hood Internet shows for a good cause!!!
Our friends Amanda and Neal Taflinger, the brains and brawn behind the bi-annual INDIEana Handicraft Exchange (where we at A Squared sponsor and deejay each time) are up for a grant to help make their handicraft store, Homespun, a reality.
It's a project they've been working on for a while, and they are planning to open by July 2010 in Irvington. The store will showcase the work of local, regional and national artists, provide a classroom for low-cost arts workshops for youth and adults, and offer a small gallery space for up-and-coming artists in the Midwest. This grant would get them a little closer to their goal and relieve some of the personal financial burden. However, the grants are awarded based solely on votes acquired, so they need YOUR help.
It won't be difficult or painful, we promise.... all we'd like you to do is click on the link below and vote for the Homespun project. Each voter is able to vote for the project once a day, every day from now through February 28. You can even set a simple notice on your iCal, or similar application, on your phone or computer to remind you to place your vote daily! They are currently ranked #4 in their category, and as long as we remain in the top 10 through the rest of the month, they'll get the money!
While you're voting for Homespun, check out some of the other ideas. There are some fantastic proposals up right now, all ideas on how to "refresh" our world - how to change things or make things better across the USA. 32 projects will win each month. Heck, if you've got a great idea, get your own proposal ready to submit next month! Pepsi has $1.3 million to give away each month for the next year. It's a pretty amazing opportunity, and we know we have motivated friends and family whose brains are brimming with productive, creative ideas! Individuals, non-profits, for-profit businesses and organizations are all eligible to apply. The categories for projects range from Arts & Culture to Health & Nutrition, from The Planet to Neighborhoods and more.
Click on the link below to vote for Homespun today. Save the link in your browser, and vote again tomorrow...and the next day....and the next!
P.S.) A helpful hint: you can vote once a day from a single email address...so you may actually be able to vote twice a day, or more, if you have multiple email addresses! Just sayin'!
P.P.S.) If you have a group of fans or friends you think might be interested in voting for us, please, by all means, repost, repost, repost! Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, your personal blog, whatever. They'll take all the attention we can get! Thanks again!
P.P.P.S) Unfortunately, yes, you will have to "sign up" on Pepsi's website, which will probably put you on a mailing list. But, after you've done this good deed for the month of February, you can certainly unsubscribe! (Or you could just create a new junk mail account for occasions just like this.) Please don't let that stop you.Thanks again!
Check out our friends Rusty, Elp-Mass and Seanie Mic with their video for the MUDKIDS' 2010 version of their Super Bowl Colts anthem! This is no fly-by-night business here, the 'KIDS have been holding it down on the hip-hop scene in Indy for YEARS! You might rekkinize some of the people and places in the video (*ahem* Annie, Ryan from Thunders, Greg The Mayor, etc)
This video even got picked up by MSNBC and the Rachel Maddow show...
Dude. Like holy wow dude. LET GO! at The Lockerbie (our monthly freak out dance party) has grown beyond our wildest dreams into an animal all its own...
Tuesday February 2nd 2010 10:00PM The Lockerbie Pub (21+) 631 East Michigan Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 Click here for a map.
NUVO & A Squared Industries present LET GO!
Every first Tuesday of the month is LET GO! at The Lockerbie featuring: A SQUARED INDUSTRIES DJS DJ SCOTT MATELIC plus special guest on 2/2/2010 CRAIG "DODGE" LILE from My Old Kentucky Blog
We have been setting sales records at the bar, we've had to start moving tables and chairs out of the place beforehand so there is room for all the people, we ruin Wednesday mornings every damn month - it's just getting to be too much fun. There, we said it: TOO MUCH FUN!
Seriously. In order to spread the fun around like margarine on hot toast, we have begun inviting guest DeeJays each month to spin with us (professional or not) and it has been great! The most rewarding events have been with guest DJs who, well, don't know how to DJ...yet. Picking "tastemakers" and spending a month teaching them how to use the Tech 12's (then stealing their tracks, ha!) and watching them KILL IT in front of their friends has been awesome, to say the least.
Back on Saturday, January 23rd the nice fellers from My Old Kentucky Blog put together a pretty amazing day of local music with help from Butler Scion, Nuvo, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and LaundroMatinee — along with the special efforts of the local music community including A Squared, Indy CD and Vinyl, Luna, Transpanther, Joyful Noise, IndyMojo, Musical Family Tree, Vibes, and more — appropriately titled the Local Music Git Down at Locals Only.
What will hopefully become a re-occurrence in the city, The Local Music Git Down was a celebration of the local scene with many bands and DJs featured.
Now, it could easily be assumed that when you get this many local bands and DJs together on one day for one big shimmy and shake show it might end up as a clusterfuck...the weeble may wobble but it won't fall down, right? Especially when our buddy Eric from Butler Scion loaned MOKB a Toyota Tundra in order to transport fifty 30-packs of free PBR for the bands to drink all day whut whuuuuuut?
We have the pleasure of telling you that the weeble didn't fall - on the contrary this Git Down might have been one of the best examples of how Indianapolis musicians, artists, promoters and fans continue to coalesce around the vibrant and ever-growing scene we have here in Naptown...and a big fat thank you is in order for Dodge and JB of MOKB for pointing this out once again, in an extremely macro manner.
In addition, a portion of the sponsor money and ticket sales was be donated to Rock For Riley. What a great group of people, right?
All the artists showed up as well, both literally and figuratively, almost like they were in a giant one-upper competition. We Are Hex, Burnt Ones, Pravada, Thunders, Slothpop, America Owns The Moon - not only are all these bands deserving of international acclaim in their own right but they all SLAYED on stage, each putting in performances of the year.
MOKB doubled their pleasure and doubled their fun, renting out the building next door to serve as a giant green room/play pen for the bands and setting up a mobile recording studio so that each band could record their own session for the MOKB-run Laundromatinee.com holy wow, looking forward to seeing those.
Conclusion: for one day this fair city was overflowing with live musical talent and extremely short on crabs in a barrel.
What is A Squared Industries?
We are Andy & Annie Skinner.
-We are concert promoters
-We are DJs
-We are a record label
-We are radio show hosts on WITT 91.9FM
-We are designers
-We are having serious fun in Indianapolis!
