Concert Review: A Music Show All For You

There is a place nestled in the bustling neighborhood of Broad Ripple called The Vogue, and past the vibrant, flashing neon sign and the old theater marquee there plays a platinum-certified band with more than 20 years of experience underneath their belts, and up-and-coming artist looking to make waves of her own, and a rock n’ roll band from a resurgent local music scene.

December 10, The Vogue in Broad Ripple welcomed Sister Hazel, Shayna Leigh, and Borrow Tomorrow to their famous stage.

For some, it’s just another show. For me, it’s an early Christmas gift. Though I may not know much about any of these artists by the time I walk through the door, I have to admit, I’m kind of excited about this (and this is before I even arrive at the venue for a chat with Shayna for the podcast). With that in mind, let’s not waste anymore time.

I went to Sister Hazel, Shayna Leigh, and Borrow Tomorrow at The Vogue. This is what I saw:

I’m a little late getting back to the venue after grabbing dinner, but I still got to catch a little bit of our opener, a local Indianapolis band known as Borrow Tomorrow. I may have been slacking on how many local shows I’ve gone to lately, but these guys are always on my radar. This time around, they’ve traded in their “extra-medium rock” for acoustic instruments, bringing a much more intimate feel to a place that typically hosts loud rock n’ roll shows and DJs over the weekends. There may not be many people in the venue that this time (enough I got in without having to wait in line for the first time in ages). There’s maybe a scattered handful by the stage at this time, but honestly, the warm acoustic sounds kind of fit the environment this time. Those who did show up early seem to be enjoying their drinks and politely giving their attention to the band, and the 3 people on stage (no drummer this time) are enjoying every second of it. Think of this performance as an appetizer. A warm and satisfying appetizer that goes down easy and gets you ready for what’s to come.

While Borrow Tomorrow clears out and crews work to get ready for our next performer, life goes on around the famous nightclub. More people are starting to file in, the beer and liquor is flowing from the bar, and I’ve now found a nice place next to the stage. Looking at the clock, I’m wondering if they’ll actually go on at their advertised time of 8:14 pm. Surprisingly, they did, and almost right to the second.

Shayna Leigh is up next. I may not have known much about her before tonight, but based on the lovely conversation we had in the hours prior, I’m kind of excited to see what she can do. As I’ve said many times, the best part of this gig is finding something new, so let’s do this.

Shayna and her band greet the crowd that has grown since our last act – nothing to the extent of a sardine can, but still more people. For the next 30 minutes, it’s a nice mixture of songs off her latest EP, her Christmas song, and even a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in my Pocket.”

As for the performance itself, there was nothing too extravagant over-the-top, but it was definitely an enjoyable rock/pop show with a lot of heart and sincerity from someone who clearly loves what she does. There may have been a few slip-ups along the way – took a few songs for her to get going and one incident where she forgot what day it was – but once she got going, it was all good.

The crowd may not have been overly receptive – keep in mind, most people always come for the headliner – but there are sections that look like they’ve been won over, dancing and nodding along. Audience issues aside, Shayna gave a very solid performance for what was basically her first time in this city. Keep an eye on her in the future. I know I will be.

Now it’s time for our headliner, and with that, many people in the audience are starting to perk up. While they finish setting up, I take a few minutes to walk around and even see some people coming up to talk to Shayna for a few moments. Hey, you’d be surprised at the impact a little interaction can have, from both sides.

I’m back from the merch table, new music in hand, and now it’s time to hurry up and wait for our headliner. I’m surprised at how fast the show is actually moving, and I’m hoping it’s not another instance where I’m waiting around for an hour before they go on (not an exaggeration, this happened last spring…).

To my delight, this is not the case. The legendary alternative band that hit it big in the 90s greets the crowd and immediately dives into their set.

Admittedly, I’m not a huge Sister Hazel fan (“Hazelnut”), and outside of their famous song that helped them go platinum, I don’t know any other songs, and it’s for this reason I thought I’d go see them live and review their performance. So here it is:

They may not be as young as they once were, and they may not be selling millions of records anymore (then again, no one really is), but this is still the same band you fell in love with over 20 years ago. Their personalities are warm and inviting, their sound is tight, and they’re still very much in-tune with their audience, no matter how big or small they may be.

And if I feel this way, imagine how the Hazelnuts feel. They dance, they sing, they go crazy when one person in the band even looks their way. Is this the craziest fan base I’ve seen? Well no, (I’ve been downtown when Taylor Swift was in town, mind you), but it’s always great seeing people so into their music.

It’s a mixture of favorites old and new. Generally, it stays pretty upbeat, save for two softer, solo performances towards the end of the set. Then of course, they play their famous hit “All For You.” There aren’t many instances where the crowd is louder than the band, but this was one of them.

As much as we all want the good times to continue, it’s time to stop. Abruptly, the band bids farewell and exits the stage, leaving the eager fans clamoring for more. Not surprisingly, they’re more than happy to oblige with two more songs before ending the song for good and sending everyone on their way. The fun times have ended, and it’s back outside into the cold, not-so-cruel streets of Broad Ripple (emphasis on “cold”). Some people hang around the stage trying to snag setlists or discarded guitar picks and drumsticks, others hang around the bar for one last drink. Me? I’m heading back to the garage so I can make it back home. After all, this is a Wednesday night and I need to wake up tomorrow morning.

Final verdict?

One week later, this show is still sticking with me, as evidenced by how much Sister Hazel and Shayna Leigh I’ve digested over the past 8 days. It wasn’t the biggest or the flashiest (even if the marquee outside the venue was), but its simplicity made it more enjoyable. It felt like a music show for music lovers. One that focuses on the artists and the medium they’re so passionate about.

And in the end, that’s all I can ask for.

The Good:

A local act, and up-and-comer, and an established act known all over the world. What’s not to love about this? Each had their own style and personality, and were showcased nicely throughout the night. No gimmicks and no theatrics, just heart, soul, and yes, music.

The Bad:

My fingers are still frozen from that evening from when I had to go outside…just kidding. Actually, there weren’t too many gripes with this show, save for waiting times in between bands, but there’s nothing I can do about that.