Sad but true. There are great musicians in Indy. You have to know where to look. Jazz Kitchen, and Slippery Noodle host amazing musicians. Don't forget house concerts. They are intimate and magical snippets of excellent live music.
Below is what I wrote the first time this great story was shared - and you STILL tell the stories of our shared awe at what one can see in the Big Apple (AS WELL AS the cool pre-death shows that can once in a while be seen in Indy) better than ALL THE REST. (just a little quote from Tina Turner - seen in Indy, long before she died).
So Bob - this one has SO many shared experiences in it, partly because we grew up in Indy at roughly the same time, and partly because New York City gave me some similar stories, but nothing as MAGNIFICENT as 3 strads by the 3 greatest violinists of all time. Wow. I DID see Hendrix give everyone the finger and storm offstage after 3 songs. I did sit in my back yard on Fall Creek Blvd and listen to the Beatles in the Fairgrounds where my sister was listening in person. I did see Baryshnikov NUMEROUS times in New York City and I did hear Diana Ross sing in Central Park. You tell.the stories ten million times better than I can though. Bravo!
Damn you're good! This is one of my favorite reads ever on Substack. I was a professional musician for decades (also from the midwest - Michigan) and can relate to all of this. You've got such a fun writing style. Now I'm going to read everything. Thank you! Fav quote:
"A starving man will grab at anything that resembles food." LOL!
Nope, the cicadas can't cross over from Illinois. We're good here. Yes, there are a couple of very good venues, but they don't hold as many people, and promoters get greedy...
If the Lincoln Center had used the moving company that transferred the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis one cold March night, the orchestra’s instruments would have arrived on time....
Wow, just wow! You're making me envious, out here as far as you can get from NYC, in the sticks of San Diego! Fortunately, I have a daughter in NYC, otherwise I would be doubly envious! Great column. Beatles close to my heart: came to the US the spring semester of my senior year of high school. Go, Class of '64! Sixty years ago.
It’s truly so entertaining and comforting to enjoy these weekly bouts of reflection, facts and extraordinary experiences you share as a journalist, Bob. Thank you. To my everlasting regret I have still to reflect in such detail my own life reporting, interviewing and writing accounts of what I had seen. Each time, virtually every day, I was barreling through or moving on to another, completely different experience and context. It’s a pleasure to read your accounts of what I believe HL Mencken described as the journalist’s trade to ride and deride the world.
A quick grammar question: Does one say eaten WITH jealousy, or eaten BY jealousy?
Sad but true. There are great musicians in Indy. You have to know where to look. Jazz Kitchen, and Slippery Noodle host amazing musicians. Don't forget house concerts. They are intimate and magical snippets of excellent live music.
I agree, although my policy is only to go to house concerts if they're a couple of houses from here. So far, it's worked really well.
That's one
Below is what I wrote the first time this great story was shared - and you STILL tell the stories of our shared awe at what one can see in the Big Apple (AS WELL AS the cool pre-death shows that can once in a while be seen in Indy) better than ALL THE REST. (just a little quote from Tina Turner - seen in Indy, long before she died).
So Bob - this one has SO many shared experiences in it, partly because we grew up in Indy at roughly the same time, and partly because New York City gave me some similar stories, but nothing as MAGNIFICENT as 3 strads by the 3 greatest violinists of all time. Wow. I DID see Hendrix give everyone the finger and storm offstage after 3 songs. I did sit in my back yard on Fall Creek Blvd and listen to the Beatles in the Fairgrounds where my sister was listening in person. I did see Baryshnikov NUMEROUS times in New York City and I did hear Diana Ross sing in Central Park. You tell.the stories ten million times better than I can though. Bravo!
I can't believe we were at the same concert!
Damn you're good! This is one of my favorite reads ever on Substack. I was a professional musician for decades (also from the midwest - Michigan) and can relate to all of this. You've got such a fun writing style. Now I'm going to read everything. Thank you! Fav quote:
"A starving man will grab at anything that resembles food." LOL!
Thank you, Chris. Blushing....
Yet another deftly-spun vignette, Mr. Bob. Giddy and eloquent.
thank you, dear sir....
Nope, the cicadas can't cross over from Illinois. We're good here. Yes, there are a couple of very good venues, but they don't hold as many people, and promoters get greedy...
I presume Indianapolis has a couple of great concert venues now. Are the cicadas in concert yet?
Evidently, that ship has sailed. Besides, we already have a baseball team….
If the Lincoln Center had used the moving company that transferred the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis one cold March night, the orchestra’s instruments would have arrived on time....
I don't get it, Mitch. Shouldn't the Baltimore Colts be playing in Baltimore?
Excellent piece. However, I would lock the front door with Daisy on sentry duty in the Juliet window against any 'ticked off' Hoosiers.
Wow, just wow! You're making me envious, out here as far as you can get from NYC, in the sticks of San Diego! Fortunately, I have a daughter in NYC, otherwise I would be doubly envious! Great column. Beatles close to my heart: came to the US the spring semester of my senior year of high school. Go, Class of '64! Sixty years ago.
yep, that was the tour....
It’s truly so entertaining and comforting to enjoy these weekly bouts of reflection, facts and extraordinary experiences you share as a journalist, Bob. Thank you. To my everlasting regret I have still to reflect in such detail my own life reporting, interviewing and writing accounts of what I had seen. Each time, virtually every day, I was barreling through or moving on to another, completely different experience and context. It’s a pleasure to read your accounts of what I believe HL Mencken described as the journalist’s trade to ride and deride the world.
Thank you, Paul. I'm having the time of my life. You should try it....