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. 

Indy 500 Qualifying

May 24

Indy 500 Qualifying

Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 remains one of my favorite things to witness, in spite of the myriad of changes that have taken place over the years. Down to a single weekend now rather than the four-day two weekend extravaganza that it once was. The more com pact schedule does not decrease the intensity or drama that comes from attempting to make the most important auto race in the world.

This year 35 drivers would be competing for the traditional 33 car field, meaning that two drivers and teams would be sent home and would not be starting the race, which is a huge letdown and can absolutely gut those involved. The weather was beautiful over the two days of qualifying and I was on hand for every minute of the action on both days.

There are really two competitions in qualifying one for the front of the field (the top nine) and the other at the back just to make it into the race. On Saturday, each team can make as many attempts as they want to make a four-lap average at the fastest speed possible. At the end of the day, positions 10-30 are locked in based on the fastest speed averages of the drivers. The fastest nine drivers on Saturday return on Sunday for the fast-nine pole shootout, where just those nine drivers each get a single run with the fastest getting the pole and the others starting based on their speeds.

Also on Sunday is bump day, for the last three positions in row 11 as positions 31-35 from Saturday compete to be the fastest three of that bunch and make the race. It makes for duel drama as the fastest compete to start first and the slowest compete just to make the field.

Chip Ganassi Racing flexed its muscle Saturday during qualifying for the 105th Indianapolis 500, as Scott Dixon led all four of the team’s cars into the Firestone Fast Nine Shootout with the fastest qualifying run on the first attempt overall of the day. There also was drama at the opposite end of the field, as 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was relegated to Last Chance Qualifying on Sunday after his two runs were too slow to make the top 30.

Six-time and reigning Indy Car champion Dixon was the first driver on track when qualifying started at noon after his team earned the first spot in the qualifying draw Friday night, and he delivered in the best track and air conditions of the five-hour, 50-minute session. Dixon produced a four-lap average speed of 231.828 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda, and his car number stayed atop the iconic Scoring Pylon for the rest of the day despite 58 attempts to topple it Colton Herrta had the second fastest run followed by Tony Kanaan, Ed Carpenter and Rinus VeeKay.

On the other end of the spectrum, there was drama for the powerful Penske team as their driver Will Power struggled and was forced to have to return Sunday as one of the slowest five just to try and make the field. RC Enerson, Charlie Kimball, Simona DeSivestro and Sage Karam all had to come back and try to bump their way in.

On Sunday, I was joined at the track by my nephew Jerome and his fiancée Francesca as well as my buddies Kevin and Ted as we hung out in the suite watching the drama unfold as Scott Dixon edged out Colton Herta for the pole and unfortunately Charlie Kimball and RC Enerson were bumped from the field.