Written by Laura Hamlett Saturday, 19 August 2006 17:00
The Silversun Pickups and Margot & the Nuclear So and So's opening night at the Patio? Check; where else could you possibly want to be?
Midwest Music Summit Executive Director Josh Baker must have been a good boy last year, because man, did Santa reward him. Now in its fifth year, this year's MMS—held each summer in Indianapolis—was the MMS to beat all others. And from all indications, next year's already on target to outdo its predecessor.
Admittedly, with the 2005 MMS, Baker perhaps bit off a little more than he could chew, moving the festival up a month to coincide with the annual NAMM Summer Session. With showcases downtown (NAMM headquarters) and in midtown's Broad Ripple (regular MMS haunts), the '05 event seemed stretched, even by Baker's lofty standards. But never fear: a couple of deep breaths and a winter's worth of planning, and MMS was back in '06, better than ever.
Despite a rocky—er, rainy—start as Mother Nature made the VIP kickoff party a bit soggy yet again, the festival went off with very few hitches and very few complaints. Oh sure, there were the usual festival problems—panel speakers stuck in faraway airports, a bit of stolen gear at one of the venues—but they were kept largely behind the scenes. What the public got at MMS was talent, and lots of it.
Without any further introduction, here is what kicked it this year in Indianapolis.
Bands
The Silversun Pickups and Margot & the Nuclear So and So's opening night at the Patio? Check; where else could
you possibly want to be? Other opening-night highlights were Lorenzo Goetz at the Rouge (making us wistful for the days when it was called the Patio and hosted rock every night of the week) and Cameron McGill at the Upstairs Lounge (which really is just that: a room upstairs a steak restaurant. Not very well marked, in other words, and don't even get me started about the sound system. Or the bleed-through from the outdoor stage next door at the Monkey's Tale. Let's just say the Upstairs Lounge is a great idea for laid-back acoustic acts, but probably not during MMS). Of course, we couldn't be everywhere, but we sure wore out the sidewalks in Broad Ripple Thursday night trying our best.
Friday night we caught our hometown boys One Lone Car at the Stone Mug, a biker's bar but still welcoming and oddly charming. (Ask Jim about the paraplegic vets in the parking lot comparing pinup girly cards. I shit you not.) We also enjoyed Chicago's Brighton MA, who put on a rousing set in the alley outside Alley Cat. (Inside the venue, I lost my cell phone in an unfortunate toilet accident, putting a damper on an otherwise upbeat and inspiring festival. And no, sadly, there was no alcohol involved.)
Saturday night, what needs to be said beyond Extra Blue Kind? Yes, I work with them now. Yes, I'm extremely biased. But holy fuck people, this band is extremely talented. Tight instrumentation, amazing vocals, killer live show. Their Saturday night set at Connor's Pub nearly blew the roof off the tent. We also enjoyed the Comfies and Headlights, also at Connor's. Closing out the night back at the Alley Cat, Glossary was good, but quieter, smaller; a bit of a letdown after an EBK set (but then, what isn't?).
Showcases
Yes, it's true: PLAYBACK:stl had its very first MMS showcase this year, an event we co-hosted with our friends from BMI and Pump Audio. And our bands rocked. We spent all of Friday afternoon at the Stone Mug with two stages, indoor (full band) and out (acoustic/solo). Extra Blue Kind, Lorenzo Goetz, Geoff Koch, the Hot IQs, Jon Yeager, Miles of
Wire, Jason Michael Thomas...the whole lineup was amazing, but these acts still managed to stand out. Thanks to everyone who joined us for our first showcase; you can bet we'll be back next year (if Josh'll have us).
Panels
It's amazing; some of the larger festivals have panels that aren't worth space in a program. Here in the Midwest, MMS has panels that are consistently informative and varied (to say nothing of the free food in the back of the Jazz Kitchen all day...hooray!). The blog panel was probably the best and most informative I caught this weekend—and, truth be told, the final notch in our decision to make PLAYBACK:stl Web-only. It's true: People aren't picking up magazines for the latest music news and recommendations, they're turning to the Web. And the bloggers are leading the way. I also participated on a press and publicity panel, which was without a doubt the most fun I've had on a panel (and I think it was quite informative, too!. (Thanks to Abby, Seth, Rick, and Jeffrey for taking the "no MySpace" vow with me.)
I'm already looking forward to MMS 2007; hope to see you there!