The great thing about Indianapolis is that if a band you like isn’t necessarily knocking on your back door, you can always find them playing in a nearby city. Go Go, Midwest. Last week, there were TWO such happenings — Ra Ra Riot in Louisville and Delta Spirit in Bloomington.
I talked to my wallet about it, and looking up from the echoing canyon of my checking account, I said onto Katie: “I can probably only afford one. Let’s go to Bloomington, because that’s our college town, and we can go balls out.”
Good logic, Jenn. Oh, and:
…and Delta Spirit are like the Beatles and the Kinks and everything I love about 60s music. I’d go into more detail but instead will lazily point to descriptives provided by allmusic.com: earthy. swaggering. ramshackle.
Yes.
Upon arriving in Bloomington, we picked up Katie’s friend Tom, although since I slept in his bed, I think I can call him my friend Tom, too. (No worries, he doesn’t like the ladies.) We headed straight to the Trojan Horse for gyros and half-price cosmos (like the Greeks intended!). Then, it was off to the Bluebird for the show.
It was a Toys for Tots benefit put on by WTTS (hey! remember when I worked there? that will come in later.) that included the Gabe Dixon Band, Delta Spirit, and Amos Lee, but it was very clear who my fifteen bucks were for. As expected, Delta Spirit was nothing short of awesome, even though Katie and I were the only people there freaking out about it. The great thing about having a friend in Katie is that we will absolutely shit ourselves over on-stage minutiae. Like the lead singer pulled out that Dylan harmonica holder and you would have thought it was a vision of the Virgin Mary up there. Or, how after a few drinks I become OBSESSED with handheld percussion and may have gasped, “He’s hitting the tambourine WITH the maraca!” and she will totally get it. And to anyone that night who was talking loudly or pacing the aisles to get drinks — we judged you. Oh, we judged you.
[Not the show I was at, but awesome nonetheless.]
No, everyone there was there to see Amos Lee, and while he’s fine and all, I really just wanted to hear, “Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight.” (I’m sure that’s insulting to any fan of his, but let’s be honest, in a fight between me and an Amos Lee fan, I think I’ve got it sewn up.) Would you believe that’s the FIRST SONG HE PLAYED OUT OF THE GATE?! Seriously. I happily listened while Tom ordered us red-headed sluts, and the bartender asked if it offended me, being a redhead and all. [It doesn't. Especially if you're paying.]
While we gabbed up in the front room of the ‘bird, I ran into my friend Todd, one of the DJs at ‘TTS. I hadn’t seen him in a couple years, and while I can’t really remember what we talked about, I’m sure it was the Dire Straits or Joni Mitchell or something. As he was walking away, I shouted, “HEY TODD! Did you meet Delta Spirit? You know, the guys?” He did.
“SEND ‘EM OVER! WE WANT TO MEET THEM!”
[Send. Em. Over. That's what I said. God.]
Matt, the lead singer, introduced himself, and was very kind. He babbled on about guitars and Woody Guthrie (actually, he went on about Woodie Guthrie’s life story for a solid ten minutes, I think.). Katie and I silent-squealed when he mentioned hanging out with Port O’Brien, as we, too, have hung out with Port O’Brien, but we tried to play it cool, like of course we hang out with Port O’Brien.
We wanted to take him to the Vid but a couple of annoying girls ushered him elsewhere. I’m assuming they promised him a blowjob because we were ten times cooler than they were. [No, Jenn, you are not editing that last sentence, BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE.] Instead we headed to Upstairs for a nightcap before heading back to Tom’s, where I drunkenly witnessed him doing SCARILY ACCURATE choreography to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” (I may have gotten up to join him. May.)
The next morning, I found that I had lost my keys.
God, there is nothing that makes you feel more like a irresponsible buffoon. More than that, the riggamaroll involved to get a key cut is postively obscene, but alas I’ve babbled on enough here for one night.
So to conclude I will share some music from the bands mentioned herein. [Kind of like how they did at the end of Reading Rainbow.]
Delta Spirit - People, Turn Around
Port O\’Brien - I Woke Up Today
December 18th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
i am also a fan of playing instruments by hitting them with other instruments.and this:
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December 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
damnit, this: no one wants to play sega with harrison ford
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December 18th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Would it not let you put in the image? I would figure out how to fix that, but it would take me like seven hours.
But yeah. Instruments. Port O’Brien had a CHEST OF POTS AND PANS that they put at the base of the stage. So at the final song they invited everyone to start banging them. Best idea ever.
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December 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
“So at the final song they invited everyone to start banging them. “lolz.
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December 19th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
new blog! I likey! p.s. does you website automatically play harmonica music or am I hearing things?
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December 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Damn groupies.And P.S. next time any choreography is done to “Single Ladies” is done?I HAD BETTER BE THERE.
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December 21st, 2008 at 12:26 am
You went to the Trojan Horse with your gay friend Tom? Props to Katie. . .
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December 21st, 2008 at 12:27 am
Isn’t that nice? That is ALL I got from the story? Props to me, I feel.
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December 21st, 2008 at 12:29 am
And, I’m sorry you lost your keys. AAANNND scene.
LOVE,
Kallie
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January 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I can assure you that no offers of blow jobs were made, maybe you should just accept that you came on a bit too strong. But glad to hear you enjoyed their concert none the less . . .
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January 5th, 2009 at 8:28 am
True, I should just accept a lot of things.
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January 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am
But only on my own terms.
Edited to add: Bitch, please.
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January 5th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Well if asking someone “so who have you been listening to the most this year? who are your favorite artists at the moment?” is coming on too strong, then… guilty. But i think dragging a guy out of the bar by his hand and taking him home isn’t exactly subtle. Just me though.
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January 5th, 2009 at 9:30 am
SNAP!
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January 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Well, after seeing all of these posts I might as well respond. I am grateful for my friend’s posting earlier and have thoroughly enjoyed the hilarity that has ensued. However, in the end, there are only two people who actually know exactly what events transpired and what comments were made that night. So, with that being said, let’s end all of the claims and accusations of what my intentions were that evening. Needless to say, most of what has been posted is far from the truth. It was a great evening of music and friends, and I would like to continue to look back on it fondly. Thank you.
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January 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
There you are Megan! I’ve been looking all over for you and that chick that kept saying she “wasn’t a groupie.” That was the best blowjob I’ve had on this tour. And what you did with our bus driver… that was legendary. Not to mention illegal in 42 states. Anyway, thanks.
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February 15th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
[...] get a chuckle out of America and instead America was like, “Yer a racist a-hole.” Like that one entry in which I dissed that girl at the Delta Spirit show and I took some creative liberties to be humorous and then the girl found my blog and was PISSED. [...]