For all the times when you’re in a daze. When you’ve been up for hours and running on fumes, on the verge of collapse and not knowing if you’ll make it another step.
Sometimes the best therapy is a cold beer, some live music, and an absolutely perfect evening out in the biergarten.
Last Thursday, the Rathskeller was treated to an evening of music provided by the likes of Honor By August, The Gallery, and Mikey Wax.
I’ll admit to not knowing much of the line of work of either of these acts, but sometimes it’s more fun that way. After all, what’s better than discovering new music at a live show? It’s a comfortably warm summer evening here on Mass Ave, and the modest-but-excitable crowd looks ready to go. So after making my way to the award-winning biergarten outside, taking a few minutes to chat with one of the bands for the podcast, and sipping on a Rathskeller Amber while waiting for my food (and trying not to cry after trying their mustard…), I find a table to sit at. Our host for the evening welcomes everyone here, as well as the few residents from the surrounding apartments who took to hanging out on their balconies to listen to the show. Act #1 is all set up, so let’s get started:
Mikey Wax is up first, alongside one other person taking over keyboard duties. Normally, he also has a drummer, but he couldn’t make the trip, so he “shrunk him down and put him into a MacBook.”
It’s a modest crowd and people are still filing in, but those who are here are pretty attentive for an opening act. A few people are standing around and nodding along, while the rest chew their food and sip their drinks while enjoying the music. There isn’t much singing along (minus the brief moment where they broke into “Get Lucky”), but they’re certainly enjoyable. There may only be two of them, but they fill out that intricately designed stage area just fine.
Their set wraps up, and it’s business as usual around here. Some people order more food or drinks, while the rest converse politely amongst each other. Meanwhile, I learned the hard way why you shouldn’t eat a spoonful of their mustard. There are tears, you guys, and it’s not from the music this time…
My new friends in The Gallery are setting up, and more people are starting to gather in front of the stage. We had a lovely conversation not too long ago, and while I may not have been too familiar with them before our meeting, I’m anxious to hear them on a platform that’s not called Spotify for a change. Hey, there’s no substitution for great live music.
As the band had told me, they were essentially running on fumes at this point in the day: they got into town at about 3am, made a few morning show appearances, and then had to set up and get ready for the show. Yet they showed no signs of fatigue as they went through nearly an hour of songs old and new. They’re energetic, personable, and more importantly, they’re able to make that connection with the audience (one person is literally out of his seat dancing and singing along).
As another bonus for the show, they’re joined by Honor By August frontman Michael Pearsall for a cover of “Real World” by Matchbox Twenty. Even more remarkable, they decided to do this while they were still doing sound check before the doors opened.
They admit they’re getting tired, but it’s the energy of the crowd that keeps them going, and on this perfect night in Indianapolis, it’s hard not to get swept up in it.
And now we’ve reached the final act of the night. Some people are starting to wander out here from the restaurant area of the Rathskeller, while others file in. Many are now out of their seats and have found a spot over by the stage. I think I’ll go join them soon.
Honor By August is our final performer. What did we see from them? Just straight-up rock n’ roll. No gimmicks and no distractions. Just rock. On a side note, those Gibson Explorers they’re rocking are a nice touch.
Their sound is very tight, and their stage presence is definitely making an impact on this audience as they dance along and sing to some of their favorites. At one point, they even break out a cover of “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” at one point.
It can be hard for someone who has never heard of any of these acts to make a connection, but I’ll admit, I’m having fun dancing along with these almost perfect strangers here at the Rathskeller. I have a million different things I could be doing, but there isn’t any place I’d rather be than here.
Of course, all things must come to an end, and before too long, they bid everyone farewell.
But we want more! Yes, there’s a curfew since we’re outdoors and a lot of people live around here, but there’s still time. Not too long after, they oblige and play a few more songs before finally sending us on our way. Many of us start filing out, including me. It’s back to my car to think about how I’m going to write this.
3 weeks later…
As I sit here and type out the last few words of this review (better late than never), this show still sticks with me. Maybe it was from being outside on a perfect night, maybe it’s from discovering 3 bands I’d never heard before, or maybe it’s from finally experiencing the famous biergarten. Whatever the reason is, this is still a show I look back at with fond memories.
And these were my thoughts, from one restless soul to another.