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Top 10 Live: The week's best concerts
Posted: Jul 30, 2008 in Things to do, Music
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The Top 10 Live is a collaborative effort between Indy.com and Indianapolismusic.net
1. Radiohead w/ Grizzly Bear
7:30 p.m. Aug. 3, $30-$53, Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12800 E. 146th St., Noblesville, (317) 776-8181.
Larger concert tours often pass over Indiana, but the city bucked that trend this year when it became one of three Midwest dates on Radiohead's 2008 tour. The British group has earned a rep as one of the most artistically daring bands of its generation. Radiohead made waves when it offered its latest record as a "name your own price" download.
2. Wilco
7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, $29.50-$36.50, WhiteLies.tv Lawn, White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., www.in.gov/whiteriver/lawn
Indy gets a double dose of progressive big-name bands this week. Wilco, labeled by some critics as "America's Radiohead," stops by on Aug. 4. The Chicago group's sound evolved from alt-country to Beach Boys-styled production and more avant-garde noise rock. The frequent Indy visitors released their latest album, "Sky Blue Sky," in 2007.
3. Dr. Dog
9 p.m. July 31, $12, Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect. St. (317) 955-0995.
Philadelphia's Dr. Dog was a little-known regional band until taking the opening slot on My Morning Jacket's 2003 tour, which vaulted it into the indie spotlight. The group's sound blends low-fi production with psychedelic and earthy roots rock. Dr. Dog's latest album, "Fate," just came out.
4. Vans Warped Tour
11 a.m. July 31, $24.50, Verizon Wireless Music Center, 12800 E. 146th St., Noblesville, (317) 776-8181.
If you're looking for bang for your concert buck, you're not going to beat the annual Vans Warped Tour. More than 60 acts are scheduled on six stages for about $25. Among the artists scheduled to perform are Katy Perry, whose single "I Kissed a Girl" is No. 1 on the pop charts, Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is ..... (left), and Reel Big Fish. Find the full band listing at warpedtour.com
5. The Whigs with The Last Good Year and American Bang
8 p.m. Aug. 5, $12, Birdy's, 2131 E. 71st St., (317) 254-8971.
They call Athens, Ga., home, but The Whigs should be familiar with Indianapolis by now. The city has been a regular stop for the band since 2006, when it made its name as an indie buzz act. The group's energetic power pop sound has been compared to such indie luminaries as My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon and The Raconteurs.
6. Best of Barfly
9 p.m. Aug. 2, $6, Birdy's, 2131 E. 71st St., (317) 254-8971.
Comic artist Wayne "Barfly" Bertsch chronicles the events and contributors to Indy's music scene every week in Nuvo. This week he brings together his favorite local acts for his yearly "Best of Barfly" show. This multigenre bill includes metal, punk, indie, dance rock and many points in between. Xero Sum, Prizzy Prizzy Please, Up! Scumbag, Lockstep, Beta Male and Hey Hey Melodica share the bill.
7. Melissa Etheridge
8 p.m. July 31, $35-$100, Clowes Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave., (317) 940-6444.
Melissa Etheridge is one of the rare female solo artists who's made an impact on mainstream rock. She's also a gay-rights and environment activist and a breast cancer survivor. Early reviews say this tour's three-hour show includes a retrospective of her hits.
8. G. Love & Special Sauce, John Butler Trio, Tristan Prettyman
7 p.m. Aug. 6, $30, Murat Egyptian Room, 502 N. New Jersey St., (317) 615-1500.
G. Love & Special Sauce served as something of a harbinger for much of the acoustic rock that has achieved recent popularity. The group's bluesy acoustic hip-hop, built around lazy beats, hit the airwaves in 1994 and inspired current acts, such as Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Like-minded artists the John Butler Trio and Tristan Prettyman share the bill with the long-running favorite.
9. Soulove Universe with Blackberry Jam & DJ Scotty Metallic
10 p.m. Aug. 1, $5, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., (317) 259-7029.
The recipe for gaining success on Indy's music scene: Combine good musicians with a familiar, yet unique sound, and don't wear out your welcome by playing every night. Soulove Universe mixed those ingredients and got this Friday night headlining slot at the Vogue. The group features an all-star lineup of local talent fronted by Kelsey Smith (Real Eyes) performing soul, funk, R&B, and party hits that you can't easily find on the radio dial.
10. Ten Out Of Tenn
8 p.m. Aug. 1, $8/advance or $10/door, Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect. St. (317) 955-0995.
Fittingly coming in at No. 10, the "Ten Out Of Tenn" show features 10 pop/rock singer-songwriters based in Nashville. The tour is an extension of a compilation disc that highlights non-country parts of the Music City scene. Each artist will perform two songs and back their tour mates throughout the show. More info is at myspace.com/tenoutoftenn
Too many good shows this week! Also worth an honorable mention: We Are Scientists and Oxford Collapse at the Music Mill on 8/5. It's a special ALL AGES show.
Tough choice between that and The Whigs at Birdy's.
Yeah Wilco!!! Definitely worth checking out. You can't beat the setting of the WhiteLies Lawn at White River State Park. Your pictures will have a backdrop of downtown Indianapolis and even the new Lucas Oil Stadium. The summer is fill with music at White River State Park!
See you at the show!!!!
Too many good shows this week! Also worth an honorable mention: We Are Scientists and ...
Yep - this summer's been good musically to Indy. Still lots to come.
The Whigs have had to cancel their Indianapolis appearance tonight because of a death in the family of one of the band members
Everybody make sure they check out We Are Scientists and Oxford Collapse. Oxford Collapse is signed to Sub Pop, so that automatically makes it worth checking out. In addition, it is all-ages.