"Why is Lenny Kravitz vilified for retracing the sounds of the past, while Spoon is held up as a champion of the cutting edge for doing the same thing?"

to answer this question easily would be the word fashion. more complexly would be the stylistic breakdown of albums, more fashion, and timing. im kinda glad i didnt go to the show only to get home by 10:15.

isn't it kind of sad that national band after national band make fun of The Vogue in regards to the Saturday night dance party while they're on stage and yet nothing is done about it!? believe it or not, this type of thing has a direct effect on whether a band will come back to Indianapolis. you only get so many chances. you don't think when a band goes back to their booking agents and complains about this stuff. amateur hour in Broad Ripple. i'd be surprised if Spoon plays The Vogue, let alone Indianapolis.

I'm pretty sure that Mr. Kravitz has gotten positive review after positive review from mainstream critics and has sold millions and millions of albums. If that's getting "vilified", then I know a lot of people who would like to be vilified.

I think part of the difference in the perception of a band like Spoon and a thing like Kravitz is the subtlety with which the ripping off is done, as well as the choice of things being ripped off.

Hang the DJ indeed. Throw in the club owner/manager/event organizer along with him. I should have known better than to go to see a show at the Vogue, but I figured I wouldn't have many more chances to see Spoon in Indianapolis. It's pretty disrespectful to a band who works hard to perform as well as Spoon that you're relegated a backseat to a bunch of drunken fratboys. A couple of which showed up early for the dance party only to find a rock show going on. They sure weren't there to watch the show because their conversations and cell phones seemed much more important to them than the band on stage. Am I the only one, or is this the last chance the Vogue got? I'll never spend my money there again.

It takes a band like Spoon to get me to the Vogue. It doesn't happen very often. As for the frat boys, I wondered who the idiot in the floral shirt banging into everyone was. Now I suspect I know. Combine that with the ban on cigarettes and the attendant nicotine fit and . . . well, I'm glad Spoon were as good as they were. I hope it doesn't take another 7 years for them to come back.

Spoon put on a great show at the Vogue...although nothing will beat seeing them at the Bluebird in Bloomington for FREE last year.

Prizzy Prizzy Please wasn't bad either. I think they were the ones with the identity crisis, sounded like two different bands (regular voice band...and falsetto voice band). I think I liked regular voice band better. I'd be curious how their sound comes across on disc.

Hopefully both bands will be back again soon (just not at the Dance Party...I mean Vogue)!

Photos from the show : http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/04/photo-recap-spoon-prizzy-prizzy-please.html

That free Bluebird show in Bloomington last year was pretty awesome.

You know, ignorance is bliss. Each booking agent knows the deal about Saturday nights, the curfew as it's also put. If there was such a problem with it, Spoon would have the choice of another night, or another venue. Some acts have decided to play until 10pm and some have played right up until 11-11:30pm on a Saturday before club night.For those of you who are quicker to place bad comments of others so quickly, (obeythedoberman), it's funny how you complain about a double-header on a Saturday, yet you join the rat race for tickets to make sure you don't miss the show. Need I remind you, it was sold out, so was Blind Melon (which was also on a Saturday). The Vogue been in business for over 30 years so obviously it must be doing something right. How about thanking The Vogue for bringing Spoon to Indianapolis instead of complaining. Spoon played for over 90 minutes, which is more than you get out of 99% of national acts. The Vogue has many different events that cater to all types of people, just because one event overlaps another, does not warrant these crappy opinions. Everyone works hard at the Vogue to make sure that we have something for everyone. If we could have Spoon every saturday and sell it out, then we wouldn't have a club night. I don't see that happening.

dude, while I can appreciate you bringing some quality acts to Indianapolis it is my opinion that your Saturday dance night, which forces national acts to play early shows, is sad. does everyone realize how infrequently Indianapolis gets a big name act on a weekend!? it's a huge thing. every city wants concerts on Friday and Saturday nights and to book a Saturday night show with a terrific band only to have that band finish by ten so terrible dj's can spin terrible music sucks! again, it's MY opinion and one that is shared by many in the industry. but you're right, it's your call. i actually really like the venue but things like this just turn me off. it's just upsetting that Indianapolis doesn't have that premier venue that focuses solely on concerts like other big cities have and i think it's a reason we miss out on a lot of great shows. and i'm not sure you get it. of course the shows sell out. they're great bands! the thing about it is whether or not the bands will come back and if Britt Daniels talks to his agent and complains about playing an early show because of dance night there's a good chance they won't be coming back. there's a lot of other cities in the midwest for them to play. but then again, what the F do i know. all i do is complain anyway.

i dont think these are crappy opinions at all. yea it sucks that a band that can easily play two hours gets bumped for something thats happening at every odd number bar in broad ripple. if the vogue is so cool it wouldnt be bothered by really a HANDFUL of paying customers talking some smack about the venue but not the band.

99% of national acts DO play for over an hour, its called the set and the encore. not to mention that shows in most other markets this size (and smaller) include a local opener (30-40 minutes), a touring opener (traveling with the headliner, 40-50 minutes), and a headliner that will play an hour and a half including encore. thats a lot of beer and liquor sales not to mention bloggers, music journalists, and FANS saying what a good time they had at the venue.

how long has the vogue been in money trouble that they need to have a dance night every saturday anyway?

I love earlier shows...I love being able to see a show and then having the option of continuing the party at the Alley Cat, an afterparty or anywhere really where I can then hang out and talk with friends or cashing out for decent night's sleep too. Love it. Just glad the band is there and so am I. The Vogue is right, Spoon played for 90 minutes to a sold out crowd. You think they aren't gonna come back with those results?! Listen, bands play where they make money. They'll be back.

i apologize for offending the vogue staff and i'll even let it slide that i was personally called out even though i've been a PAYING customer as long as i've lived here. Dodge, i know you of all people on here know the music industry and while i agree with your comment about an early show i disagree with some others. my point is/was that if the lead singers of 2 national bands that i've now seen play on Saturday nights at the vogue have both publicly made fun of the venue due to the dance party then you'd be out of your mind if you don't think that will get back to their agents and make their agents think long and hard about where they play next time through if they come back at all. it's a fact.

additionally, others on here complained about dance party crashers trickling in and being disruptive which lessened their (paying customers) enjoyment. are you going to dispute this? scroll up and read. some people were turned off by it.

I'm completely a 50-year-old 29-year-old, so I have to agree: I'm not mad about early shows.

That said, I think that obeythedoberman is right on about privileging the frat-dance-party crowd's needs over those of the live-music people. As someone who is definitely in the latter group and who wishes that Indianapolis attracted more quality bands/artists with mid-size markets, this practice really alienates me as a customer.

I can't speak to the disruptive dance-party crowd, I didn't experience that...but it is a good point. The Vogue could keep that crowd out until the show is over. I thought they did actually. People have to wait in line for shows before doors open, should probably be the same for Dance Party night.

Bands are always gonna say snarky things...the band I'm bringing to Locals Only tonight, their last time in Indy, said something about not liking The Music Mill (at that show while on stage)...but they came back to Indy. Bands play where crowds will come.

The Vogue has to make money too...that's why they can bring in great shows like Spoon. They have the money to do so. They brought in a great up-and-coming hip-hop act (The Cool Kids) the following night and only a couple hundred people showed up...I'm sure they lost money on that show even after the bar totalled. Its dance club night that allows them to risk a show like that (or say the DeVotchKa show that is coming up - which will be awesome btw). It's a show Indianapolis should have a chance to see...The Vogue lost money on The Cool Kids, but I'm glad for DCN because it probably makes up for the losses on a show like that.

...and good discussion everyone...way to keep it for-the-most-part civil. it is the kind of discussion that is good for show promoters/show goers/venues. good to hear the voices vs. the mindless rants.

youre all old people that would rather see a matinee and not miss out on Prairie Home Companion. you all fail.

when i was under 21 i always wanted to have these great late nights at the vogue, where national artists would play and play and it was cool in my mind. maybe a special guest would jam out with the headliner and the show would be big news and every week it would be something everyone wanted to go to....

the vogue is an awesome venue that could use a little more street cred and a little less tanning lotion. it sounds good, it looks good, and if you flirt with the bartender you get a good drink. but is it consistently cool? hell no. the premier small/midsized venue in the city should start living up to its rep.

excellently said. seriously. couldn't agree more.

FWIW - the show early/club late thing isn't unique to The Vogue & Indy. First time I experienced it was about 8 years ago in Boston. Was in town, saw the Brian Setzer 68 Comeback (post Orchestra, pre just saying screw it and calling the other two Stray Cats guys) was playing a club on Landsdowne behind Fenway Park called Axis so I grabbed a ticket. Nice venue (imagine a really big Music Mill), early start. Didn't think much of it at the time 'til the show was over and I noticed it was only about 10 PM. Then I noticed the club employees were really hustling the show patrons out. When I got outside, I noticed the dance club crowd waiting to get in. I kind of wondered when it was going to come to Indy.

I can see both sides of the argument here. I guess the local booster in me recommends if you have an early national show and don't get your fill, go to Spin or the Melody Inn or Locals Only or Birdys or another club serving up music 'til the wee hours. I also have to credit the Vogue for really ramping up their live music over the last year or so. Wasn't that long ago that live music was the rarity. Now it seems they have bands in 3-4 nights a week, even when they split time with the dancers.

but bn, some of us need to get up early for WORK. But, you're right to call me old, it's true, but you knew that.

You're right about the "premier" spot and the fact that they seem to have way too malleable standards.