Indy Band Review: Devereaux - Southport Bar & Grill 7/25/15

 

Genre: Top 40, Rock, Pop, Country...& more

Hometown: Louisville, KY

 

It's always good to have a visual...and what I'm continuing to see as I blog the local rock scene is a tremendous amount of talent circulating in Indy...even when it comes from out-of-state. Devereaux not only has a female vocalist, but one that plays electric violin...that's rare in rock...I tend to think of the Charlie Daniels Band when it comes to that instrument...so it truly adds a 'kick' to the show. And Ms. Christine to me is a mix reminiscent of Janis Joplin and Bette Midler.  And yup....there was some country tunes! *grin*

 

And talk about a well-rounded genre-spanning song list with a sound that embraces rock 'n roll...you got it! So many atypical tunes... 'Squeeze Box' (The Who), 'Pride and Joy' (Stevie Ray Vaughan), 'Give Me One Reason' (Tracy Chapman), 'Stand By Me' (Ben E. King), 'Folsom Prison Blues' (Johnny Cash), 'Honky Tonk Women' (Rolling Stones), 'Lonely Boy' (The Black Keys), 'Ain't No Sunshine' (Bill Withers), 'Hotel California' (The Eagles), 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' (Pat Benatar), 'Teenage Wasteland' (The Who), 'Billie Jean' (Michael Jackson)....and oh so many more!

 

Definitely a band to see, hear, feel and taste...Devereaux will send your senses reeling with their high energy show. Oh no....you say you missed them this time?!  No worries....they will return in December...plan for it now and stay tuned so you don't miss out! Devereaux....a little bit country, blues, folk, soul, jazz....and of course...a little bit rock n' roll!

 

Devereaux (full band) is...

 

Christine Devereaux - lead vocals/electric violin

David Miles - bass guitar

Jimmy Carwile - lead guitar/vocals

Wyndell Williams - guitar/vocals

Ringo Bonham - drums

 

Devereaux trio is...

 

Christine Devereaux - lead vocals/electric violin

David Miles - bass guitar

Dan Weigleb - acoustic guitar/vocals

 

Devereaux duo is...

 

Christine Devereaux - lead vocals/electric violin

Kevin McCreery - acoustic guitar/vocals

 

Be sure to 'like' and check out their Facebook page for more information:

 

https://www.facebook.com/devereauxRocks?fref=ts

 

 



Indy Band Review: The Girls - Drifty's Live - 7/18/15

Last night was probably the warmest one yet here in Indy...and the south side was heatin' up to a packed house rockin' with 'The Girls'...and all girl rock band...*grin*...yeah!  I always like to see the ladies front and center, so a whole band of 'em is pretty cool! This was my first time seeing them, and I understand they were minus their keyboardist this night...well pooh, I'm partial to those!

 

So, the steamy night's agenda included some Guns N' Roses 'Sweet Child O' Mine', Heart's 'Straight On'...definitely rockin' that! Fleetwood Mac 'Go Your Own Way', REO Speedwagon 'Roll With The Changes', a tune you don't typically hear on the local scene...some AC/DC 'Dirty Deeds'....y'all know that's my favorite band...can't say I ever heard a gal sing it...hmmmm....ok, I like it...and many others during my short visit.

 

I understand these ladies don't play a lot, so definitely catch them when they are out and about.  I am including the dates you can see them on the 'Hot Spot Calendar'. 'Like' their Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/thegirls2013?fref=ts   'The Girls' can rock....'let a woman rock you'....nothing wrong with that! Carry on ladies!

 

 

'The Girls' are...

 

Bea Isaacs

Julie Gerard

Pam Lee

Beau Brinkley

Kelly Oliver

Rhonda Collins

Nita @ Large In Indy Blog Update

It seems hard to believe I've had this blog for 8 months now! I felt it was time for an update on it.  Technology is a wonderful thing, we can get our news instantly...and this blog is no different.  When I see a band on Saturday night, I can have the review published most times in less than 24 hours! When I wrote for a local entertainment paper back in the mid 80's...it was very different...there was a deadline, and if you missed that, then you had to wait for the review in the next paper. So the timing of when I saw a band vs. when that review was published could be as long as a month or more.

 

There are several reasons I started this blog.  One, I love to write.  Two, I love rock 'n roll...especially 80's hair/glam metal.  Three, I like to support local musicians and what better way than to highlight them in a music blog? I know it takes awhile for something 'new' to catch on...I think the blog has done quite well for the short time it has been in existence.  It's reached 40 countries (including the U.S.), and it is averaging almost 600 hits a month.  I have come to realize, there isn't anybody else I know of here locally doing what I'm doing.  That said, I truly believe there is a need for it, and so I will continue.  I enjoy it very much.

 

Indy has a lot of local talent...not all states have all these rock musicians playing like this around their town. I truly admire this form of art, although I would stop short of saying I'm a music lover...as that is a broad scope, and I have my limitations of appreciation, as I do not care for 'all' genres.  Last night, I had opportunity to see a country band, (I was out blogging on a rock band....blog coming up next) so I decided to check it out. OMR! (that means, 'oh my rockness'!), this would really be stretching the 'At Large' in my blog name! Yipes! Have I finally lost my mind? Really? Anita seeing a country band? Do I know this genre? Heck no! However, I do have a musically 'trained' ear as a one-time piano tuner.

 

So, throughout the one hour or so that I listened, I struggled with the thought, 'to blog or not to blog' this. Every brand of music has a following, this is no different and I respect that. Can I be unbiased attempting to blog a music style that's not 'up my alley'? The harmonies and beat are nice.  The crowd is obviously different, but they too like to dance. *smile* I jotted down several notes, 'just in case'.  My personal experience with country is what I was exposed to as a child with 'The Lawrence Welk Show', 'Hee Haw' and a lot of bluegrass from the likes of 'The Beverly Hillbillies'.  That is probably as close as I'll get.  No offense to the country lovin' folk. Do they have talent? Absolutely!

 

I do not get paid for doing this blog, it is a labor of love.  It is not unusual for me to spend two or more hours putting one together, depending on how many bands I have seen in one show. Sometimes a little research is required, and I like to include links to the band's websites and Facebook pages in the 'Local Web Links' area of the blog.  I want to be as thorough as possible.  I would like to get more bands and clubs on board for the 'The Hot Spot Band/Club Calendar' I added just a few months ago. This fall and winter I intend to branch out into some other areas of the music business and highlight photography and sound on the local level.  Also, doing some 'memory lane' blogs and other interesting stuff that is music related. I would love to hear from all y'all out there, please leave comments and don't hesitate to contact me...either thru my 'Nita @ Large in Indy' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nitaatlargeinindy or via email: NitaAtLargeInIndy@aol.com. I know my main readership is based on rock 'n roll, and this girl loves her AC/DC, therefore I will stick to what I know...blogging rock and the likes....so....rock on!

Chek-n' In: The Big 80's - Update - Southport Bar & Grill - 7/11/15

Oh, I am SO addicted! I just can't get enough! Enough of 80's music, that is! Yes, I'm partial to it...especially the hair/glam stuff...it's my favorite...but all y'all know that by now.  So last night, I was lovin' me some 'Big 80's', the Indy 80's tribute band.  What a great era of music.  Many of us who are now back in the club scene 21st Century...this was what we listened to 'back in the day'...the 20th Century....ha!  It was 'our' time...and what good times those were.  So, like a boomerang, we need a repeat!  I think this was the best time for music....nationally and especially on the local level...rock was so alive! Perhaps my mind is captured, reminiscing those M-TV days, which launched in the late summer of '81.  Ahh, yes...those were the days....before so much technology and social media.

 

'The Big 80's' expresses this so well with a trip down 80's memory lane...a musical line-up, backed with coordinating video clips behind the stage on a large tv screen. 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' (Def Leppard - '88), 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' (Joan Jett - '82), 'Footloose' (Kenny Loggins - '84), 'Push It' (Salt-n-Pepa - '87), 'Angel In The Centerfold' (J. Geils Band - '83) 'Your Love' (The Outfield - '85), 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' (Cyndi Lauper - '85), 'Material Girl' (Madonna - '84), 'Wild Wild West' (The Escape Club - '88), 'Hungry Like The Wolf' (Duran Duran - '82), 'Bust A Move' (Young MC - '89), 'Love Shack' (B-52's - '89), 'Jesse's Girl' (Rick Springfield - '81), 'Faith' (George Michael - '87), 'Crazy Train' (Ozzy Osbourne '80), 'Whip It' (Devo - '80), lots of Prince, more Prince and yet some more ('1999' - '82, 'Let's Go Crazy' - '84,  'When Doves Cry' - '84)...and other tunes by Pat Benatar, Eurythmics, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Journey and many, many more.

 

Yipes....they even stepped outside of my '80's comfort zone' with 'Superstition' (Stevie Wonder - '72), 'Highway To Hell' (AC/DC - '79), (Gonna Make You Sweat) Everybody Dance Now (C&C Music Factory - '90) and 'Uptown Funk' (Bruno Mars)...hey, that's definitely not 80's...ok, funked me up!  So, drummer Nate takes front stage to belt out a couple of tunes, and guitarist Joe switches to drums....did I know you played drums, Joe? *smile* By the way, was that Bugs Bunny and Yosimite Sam I saw on the big screen? Love them! <3 Even Elvis was in the house...and he was 'all shook up' or somethin'....lordy be....thank you very much! And of course, 'yours truly' got some stage action with my fave AC/DC tune, 'You Shook Me All Night Long' (1980)...so much fun! These guys bring it all together and do the 80's up right! I cannot express enough kudos to female vocalist Gina Dowling....this gal rocks! They all do!

 

Cool shades, headbands, spandex, net gloves, hair and Aquanet...Rubik's Cube and all big smiles, big fun...'The Big 80's'.....let party like it's 1985! Chek-n' In and definitely 'celebrating good times'...Rock on!

 

 

The Big 80's is...

 

Gina Dowling - vocals/keyboards

Joe Fortin - vocals/guitar

Scott Maxwell - lead guitar/keyboards

Nate Wiencken - vocals/drums

Eric Hammes - bass guitar 

Joel Dowling - background vocals/sound/lights

 

'Like' them on Facebook:

 

https://www.facebook.com/thebig80sindianapolis 

 

 

Check out their website:

 

http://big80stributeband.com