It has been almost 2 years since I have last attended a show at The Vogue, one of the “most popular and storied music venues of the Midwest”, and the vibes several years after lockdowns ended are very different. I found out a few weeks ago that the show actually sold out, which translated into being packed in literally like sardines with my fellow concert-goers. I did end up moving to the balcony before Silversun Pickups went on, and that was the move (a touch more room to breathe and no 6 ft+ tall dads blocking my field of vision). Shoutout to it being $5 Michelob Ultra night as well—I’m almost never able to get a beer that inexpensive at a concert!
Heart Breaking Too Loud
Since this was sold out and general admission, the entire house was already packed by the time opening band Hello Mary kicked off the show. The all-female indie rock trio from New York City really gave it their all; bassist Mikaela Oppenheimer in particular had great charisma and stage presence (much like SSPU’s own Nikki Monninger). I was not able to parse out who the lead singer was, as guitarist Helena Straight and drummer Stella Wave appeared to trade off. Both of their vocals gave me major Dolores-O’Riordon-of-The-Cranberries vibes. I was not able to locate a definitive set list for this performance, but I did really enjoy everything I heard from these women! The band was only founded in 2019, so I expect to see great things to come.
Everyone’s so Focused, Clearly, With Such Shine
Just before the band went on, the stage (and subsequently the whole venue) slowly filled with a hazy fog. Silversun Pickups has been around since 2000, and has been coming to Indianapolis/The Vogue for nearly 20 years. This tour heavily featured music from the earlier years of their catalogue, with only a few songs being featured from their newest album, 2022’s Physical Thrills. The set featured many fan favorites, including “Panic Switch” and “Little Lover’s so Polite”, with the final song of the night being “Lazy Eye” from 2006’s Carnavas.
Nikki Monninger absolutely stole the show, which I love to see from any bassists! She bounced around and emoted and interacted with her bandmates for the entire show.
I have always enjoyed the back and forth vocals from both Monninger and frontman and guitarist Brian Aubert. Their voices blend together so effortlessly, and they both have the same slightly angsty feel to them. Drummer Chris Guanlao has one of the coolest kits I’ve ever seen! The drums themselves were made of a purple acrylic looking material, (with the bass drum featuring an airbrushed dog) and his crash cymbal is telescoped out comically high, so he has to stretch to use it.
There truly were not any lulls or weak spots to me during the set; the band maintained a high energy throughout and seemed to earnestly be happy and excited to be here. The crowd primarily consisted of an older crowd, but they were all high energy as well. I also noticed that there were not a lot of people with their phones out taking photos or recording, which is really not typical at shows nowadays. It was honestly pretty refreshing to see so many people actively engaged with the musicians onstage, instead of watching them through their screens.
The Good
- The band sounds just as good live as they do recorded
- Consistent energy throughout
- Great opening band, Hello Mary is definitely a band to watch!
- The crowd focused on the live show, and not taking photo/video the whole time
The Not-As-Good
- The venue was pretty warm and movement was tight (but I am still glad that they sold out the theater)!
Band Lineups
Silversun Pickups: Brian Aubert, Christopher Guanlao, Joe Lester, Nikki Monninger
Hello Mary: Helena Straight, Stella Wave, Mikaela Oppenheimer