The Sounds Inside Your Soul

May 25, 2021

The Sounds Inside Your Soul

I think the thing that I missed the most during the eighteen or so months that the pandemic gripped the world and put almost everything on hold was music, specifically live music. Attending concerts and live music performances has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember and the pandemic represented the longest break between attending a concert for as long as I can recall. I have literally seen well over 1,000 concerts and it was incredibly tough to not be able to have that amazing communal experience.

As tough as it was for myself and other music fans, it was ten times more daunting for the musicians themselves, the venues, the promoters, crew and staff who depend on live gigs for their income and very survival. That is why I was so excited to make my first return to live shows while in Indianapolis at the Hi-Fi Annex with a pair of shows featuring not only fantastic live music but personal friends.

To help facilitate a return to in-person shows, the Hi-Fi in Fountain Square created an outdoor space in their back parking lot that they call the annex. They built a stage, a couple of bars and had plenty of space for social distancing and voila, a safe outdoor concert venue was born out of necessity. It is actually a fantastic space.

The first show that I attended was a double bill featuring my friend Vess Ruhtenberg as the headliner celebrating the release of his new album “We Control The Weather”. Opening the show was my life- long friend Rusty Redenbacher with Mr. Kinetic.  I joined my friends Ted and Shannon and their daughter Savannah for dinner then to the show which was like old home week as there were so many friends in attendance.

It is hard to describe the good feelings and fantastic vibe that everyone seemed to share. I think people were like myself just so happy to be out among friends watching live music that the entire crowd was just elated. The feeling extended to the performers as well as after being cooped up for months on end they were all just thrilled to be back playing for real live people. It was just an awesome, fun, enjoyable and magical evening….and it was just the first of two consecutive nights of music.

I was back at the Hi -Fi annex the following night with my friend Megan to catch a show by my friends Reverend Peyton and His Big Damn Band. I know I could possibly be biased as they are my close friends but I honestly believe that they are one of the best live acts that is currently touring, one that I would travel a distance to see and one that if you have the chance you need to check out. Their music defies categorization which is a good thing as they display a diversity of styles that ranges from traditional blues, country and even heavy metal. 

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The pandemic was especially tough on them as they are one of the hardest working bands in America, generally playing over 250 shows a year, all of which were canceled during the pandemic. They have tried to exist by doing virtual shows, but it does not compare with the intimacy and excitement of their live show, which is spectacular. It is truly amazing; the sound that emanates from their three-piece band and Rev is simply one of the best guitarists I have ever seen. The fact that they are as nice and as good people as you could ever meet is an added bonus.

It was so awesome to be out experiencing concerts again and I am thrilled to see that the music industry is taking small steps toward returning to some sort of normal. But it still has a long was to go as venues and musicians continue to struggle. In addition to not being able to replace lost income, many venues still cannot afford to pay bands what they should be receiving, so they are basically working just as hard for less pay. By all means get out and see live shows, but if you are able and really want to support bands, buy their music and merchandise, hopefully from the band’s own website where they make the most profit margin. You can start here:

https://www.bigdamnband.com/

https://www.vessruhtenberg.com/

https://www.mixcloud.com/rustymk2/?fbclid=IwAR0HjjkygDwd0B1oVKlxxekbhr1s3Ax7KplqnWAlkwIaOdt0SGj9n_2X8Xg

Also Kathy and I would like to congratulate of close friends Dakota and Andy and their daughter Sloane on the new addition to their family. Welcome to the world Norah Skye.