It's truly a sad, sad week in Indianapolis music when Hannah Montana even makes a blip on the radar, let alone Indy.com's "Best Bets". I'd sooner put my money on some no-name kids banging out songs in their basement.

I'm with you. I think some of the voters gravitate toward concerts they think will appeal to a wider audience, even if it doesn't appeal to them personally. I tend to vote for what I would rather attend -- which means nobody can blame me for Ms. Montana's presence on this list.

How about some input from Dodge. He's always got some good insights. http://www.indy.com/people/Dodge You out there? Something better going on Dec. 9 besides a (gulp) sold out Hannah Montana show?

There are better shows going on with guys who jam in their basements and put their hearts and souls into making good live original music. I'm talking about a band called THRIVE at the Battle of the Bands at Birdy's (71st & Keystone). Come watch 6 all original live bands battle it out for a $10,000 Grand Prize. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Oh, and remember VOTE THRIVE!!!

That would be this Saturday, December 8th at Birdy's Bar & Grill. You should come check it out...these guys rock!

Having written this list for nearly four years now, I can attest that the big arena shows are pretty much a damned if you do/damned if you don't proposition. You put 'em on, some folks gripe because these shows get plenty of publicity and probably don't need any additional attention. You leave 'em off, a whole different people grouse and call us music snobs for overlooking shows that attract a lot of attention.

As far as Hannah Montana goes, I didn't mind seeing it make the list simply because the tour has been such a source of controversy and media scrutiny, I'd have felt like the list was kind of incomplete without noting the Indy stop for the tour. But, I'm just one voter of 11 - the majority of our panel who submitted lists this week actually included it.

Actually, I rather liked this list. Lots of variety. Oldies act. Controversial kids act. Multi-discipline art gallery event. Big battle of the bands final. Superstar arena show. 2-3 good old fashioned club shows. Eight venues. Three all-ages events. Local acts. Not bad for the holidays. So if the mere presence of Miley Cyrus in our fair city drives you up a wall, there are 9 other shows that are 100% Hannah Montana free. Go to IndianapolisMusic.net and listen to our weekly podcast to hear the listing of shows that got votes but not enough to make Top 10.

How about a Top 10 Live for local bands/artists, and one for national acts? Twice as much work, twice as much fun!

@ IMN_Steve...I'm not dogging the panel's choices so much as mourning the lack of selection that Indianapolis brings in for the panel to choose from. I just wish there were more good shows that would compel you to bump Hannah Montana off the list. I'm also mourning the fact that so many parents are supporting and perpetuating the next generation of sheeple who look to commercial radio to tell them what good music is.

The other reason I took issue with it making the list lies in the title of the list itself. "Best Concerts" to me implies that you're getting the best bang for your buck. With tickets going for $150 to $1,500 (I realize that's the scalper price...but still), this is clearly not the case. $1,500 to watch Billy Ray Cyrus' kid lip sync? Seriously!? It also implies that the concert is relevant to InTake and Indy.com's reader demographic (which I would imagine bottom's out at 18+). Is anyone 18+ REALLY going to be interested in Hannah Montana? I'd be willing to wager that most of the parents who got roped in to taking their kids are actually dreading it. I guess I've always thought of Indy's alternative papers as leaning away from mainstream (InTake slightly less than NUVO), so I guess I expect and appreciate a little music snobbery. But with the appearance of more mainstream/popular acts on the list, perhaps a title like "Hot Ticket" would be more applicable. But this is just a personal opinion/rant, so feel free to take it with a grain of salt.

hell is a perpetual hannah montana/jonas brothers concert! Thrive! Thrive! Thrive!

on a side note, parents, keep ur 14 and under daughters locked up on dec 8th, r kelly is coming to town! wow that could b a song. he's makin a list, he's checkin it twice, gonna find out if your preteen is tight, r kelly is coming to town. um i apologize in advance for the questionable humor.

Like I said, I've been writing this thing for several years, so it's kind of nice to have a forum to explain (commiserate) the madness behind this thing. So no worries. FWIW:

We've never given the voters any guidelines. As Matt said, some lean toward big events, some focus on smaller events. I think that typically leads to a good mix.

We're not writing for any demographic. Indianapolismusic.net contributes the content every week with no particular concern about the target audience of INtake/indy.com. So you get some kid-friendly and older artist shows mixed in with more hipsteresque fare.

Pickings get slim in the winter in general. I know from Thanksgiving 'til Spring there are weeks we ask ourselves "are there 10 shows even worth talking about?" sometimes.

I'd rather see this list get people up in arms and second guessing us than have no reply. If having Hannah Montana on the list means a few more people read about Big Car's First Friday show or the Battle of Birdy's final, then that's a good thing. These silver linings keep me out of therapy. : )