“The grass is always greener on the other side,” the old adage goes. Tonight, I tested that theory, and what I found on the other side was a calm, intimate setting where the mood was positive and the atmosphere was warmer than anything we’ve experienced within the past few months.
Last Friday, Milo Greene and Wardell hit up Deluxe at Old National Centre on the latest stop on their tour. To be honest, I have no idea who these bands are. I had never even heard of them until the other day when this show was offered. So because of this, I thought I’d be adventurous for the first show I’ve gone to since Sister Hazel and Shayna Leigh in December. Plus, aren’t shows all about discovery?
That being said, let’s get started:
Outside it feels cold, barren, and empty. In other words, it’s just another night during this endless, almost glacial season we like to call “winter” in these parts, Inside is a different story. It’s warm, everyone is cheery and doesn’t look miserable, and the vibes are as warm (and as positive) as the temperatures. It might not be a large crowd here tonight in the Deluxe Room, but it’s an intimate one, and one where even someone like me who had never even heard of these bands until a few hours ago can feel welcome.
I had a cold walk from my car to the venue, but now it’s time to warm my soul with our first band. A brother/sister outfit from Los Angeles called Wardell.
Though generally it’s the opposite this time of year (Midwesterners flocking to LA instead of the other way around), Wardell sounds very happy to be here. It’s the first time they’ve ever been to this city, and they definitely made the most of it, dropping a history tidbit (Indianapolis is the closest capital city to the center of the state), telling everyone about an in-band raffle they have with a beer shirt they found at a Goodwill, and even dedicating a song to Larry in the front row.
As for their performance, it’s a very soothing, fairly upbeat set. What impressed me most about this band – consisting of the brother/sister duo and 3 backing musicians – is how authentic their set felt. They’re not a rowdy rock n’ roll band, and they’re not super ultra famous, and they don’t pretend to be. They’re a band that knows their strengths and plays up to them. Frontwoman Sasha Spielberg dances to each song, and the rest of the band nods along, and it’s not forced or awkward. It’s real human emotion coming from a band that loves what they do and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, even if the current place is about 60 degrees colder than their hometown currently.
Their set has ended, and crews are now setting up for our headliner. As alluded to earlier, the crowd here small, but they definitely want to be here. Many converse amongst each other or head to the bar towards the back of the room for another drink. Actually, had you not been paying attention, you might think this was a bar show with how intimate it is in here. Outside the world moves on, inside it’s nothing but you, the band, and maybe a few drinks.
And of course, there’s a long wait in between bands. Maybe it’s because there were only two acts on this bill, or maybe because I’m that impatient, but this feels like a ridiculously long wait time. Are they trying to pad it out? Is there a technical issue on stage? Do I need to cut back on the coffee and tea so I don’t feel so anxious all the time? One of those may be true, but that won’t make the music come back any sooner. Guess it’s back to playing the waiting game.
The lights go out, but there’s a hesitance to cheer. After a few seconds, we see people walk towards the stage and then the cheering starts. As soon as Marlana Sheetz takes the stage, the show begins.
For about the next hour or so, Milo Greene (no relation to Moe or Rachel as one of my Twitter followers was joking), talking was kept to a minimum as the band let their music do the talking. In keeping up with the theme of tonight’s show, they brought a very chill and relaxed vibe to the Deluxe room that had people singing and swaying along. Some more enthusiastic than others.
Actually, when I look back at this show (when I’m not writing about it), two things will come to mind: those four-part harmonies, and three people who decided to turn this into their own personal Woodstock, running around the room and dancing like no one is watching. From afar, it looks strange, but you have to admire the enthusiasm. It’s one of many reasons I love going to shows.
What impressed me most about them is how they operated on stage. Not one person sticks out more than the other during the performance. They perform as one, they operate on the same wavelength, and have I mentioned those four-part harmonies? When a band can operate that way, it’s a thing of beauty.
Sadly, the fun can’t last forever (although they were asking if there were any cool parties going on because this was the earliest show they’ve had on the tour thus far). They announce their final two songs before bidding the crowd farewell and literally leaving us in the dark. The cheers never stop for more than a second. We want more. I don’t even know any of their songs and I want more. Eventually, they make their way back to the stage for a two-song encore and finally ending it.
Afterwards, they make their way back to their merch table in the hallway. Some line up for pictures or to purchase an album or a t-shirt. The rest make their way to the doors, back outside to where it’s cold and not nearly as pleasant.
Final verdict?
Like I always say, going to shows is about discovery. You don’t always have to stick with what’s familiar to have a good time. I went into this having only heard of the two bands hours before the show started (amid some confusion when exactly it was). So what did we learn?
That a band from the warmest place can offer the warmest experience, that a crowd doesn’t have to be big for it to be considered a hit, and that just maybe, the grass really is “Greener” on the other side.
The Good:
Where do we begin? This show had a lot of things going for it: how personable and likable Wardell was, Milo Greene’s performance clinic they put on, the overall vibe of the evening. While not a sizable crowd by any stretch, it was a dedicated one, and one that added to the intimacy of the evening.
The Bad:
My parking space was too far away and all I had was a hoodie. Seriously though, this is less of a complaint and more of an observation. I felt like the room might have been too large for this show, and had it been in one of the neighboring bars, it could’ve had the same impact. This is just a nitpick as I’m wandering the hall of the Murat Centre.