Indianapolis concerts: The week's best live music

Yo La Tengo (Credit: Matador Records )

Each week, the following local music experts pick the top shows coming to Indy.

David Lindquist, pop music writer, Metromix.com; Steve Hayes and Ryan Williams, IndianapolisMusic.net editors; Nora Spitznogle, Broad Ripple Gazette/Queen Bee Music; Dan McNeal, Indy’s Music Channel; Jeff Napier, freelance music journalist; Dodge, My Old Kentucky Blog; Tim D., the Free Zone, WICR-FM; Mina Keohane, IMN jazz writer; Rob G., IMN contributor; Wayne Bertsch, "Barfly" Cartoonist

Here's what they chose this week:

1. Yo La Tengo w/ William Tyler
   Yo La Tengo is a band that one reviewer called “the quintessential critics’ band.” Like most “critics’ bands,” the group has had limited commercial success and almost no chart success, but has built a cult following among music junkies. The New Jersey-based trio has released a dozen albums filled with deliberate and thoughtful indie pop. Their catalog has earned comparison to another quintessential critics’ band, The Velvet Underground.
   Details: 8 p.m., Feb. 3, $17, The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave., (317) 259-7029.
   
2. Cotton Jones w/ Slothpop
   Cotton Jones got started in Cumberland, MD, one the last bastions of rural living you encounter before you encounter the urban sprawl of the East Coast. Their reverb drenched indie pop definitely is more rural than urban. At times the duo’s recordings sound like forgotten country duets from the 60’s. The make Indy one of the first stops on their tour. Buzz band of the moment Slothpop, our local purveyors of vocally appealing indie pop, open the show.
   Details: 8 p.m., Feb. 4, $8, White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect St, (317) 686-9550.
   
3. Joan of Arc LP release w/ Racebannon, Jookabox, Out Like Lambs, Memory Map
   Chicago’s Joan of Arc made a niche in that city’s experimental music scene. The group’s output to date ranges from acoustic tracks peppered with sparse electronics to dense studio productions. The band found a new home on Indy’s Joyful Noise Recordings label last year. The label quickly sold out of their first release with the band, a boxed set of Joan of Arc’s full catalog. This week they unveil Oh Brother, a double LP featuring one track per side.
   Details: 9:45 p.m., Feb. 4, $8, Melody Inn, 3826 N Illinois St., (317) 923-4707.
   
4. 23rd Annual Gospel Fest
   Butler University’s annual Gospel Fest has a 23 year history of bringing together top names in the modern and traditional gospel music along with area gospel choirs for a one-day celebration of music. This year’s edition offers performances by Pastor Shirley Caesar, David and Tamala Mann, James Fortune, Butler’s Voices of Deliverance Gospel Choir, and a number of other regional and university choirs.
   Details: 7 p.m., Feb. 5, $30, Clowes Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave., (317) 940-6444.
5. Maravich w/ Giraffes Eating Lions, Household Guns, Large Bee
   The Dojo started life as an all-ages show space near the Emerson Theater. When problems forced them out of their original home, they found a new space on College Ave. near downtown. The volunteer-run, non-profit venue has since maintained a regular schedule of hardcore and progressive punk shows in the space. This week they welcome Indy bands Maravich, Giraffes Eating Lions, Household Guns, and Large Bee for a Friday night show.
   Details: 7 p.m., Feb. 4, $5, The Dojo, 4675 E. 10th St.
6. Belligerent Bendajos CD release w/ The Enders, The Vibrating Velvet-Tones
   Old punk rock bands never die; they just get old and deny they’ll ever reunite until they actually reunite. This week’s installment of Punk Rock Night offers a couple recently reunited bands with roots stretching back to the grunge era. Belligerent Bendajos started in 1991 and are using the night to release a CD. The Vibrating Velvet-Tones formed in 1994 and got back together recently. The Enders, with just over a year together under their belts, are the rookies.
   Details: 10:30 p.m., Feb. 5, $5, The Melody Inn, 3826 N Illinois St., (317) 923-4707.
7. The Putz w/ The Founders, Gay Black Republican
   Indianapolis’ weekly music calendar never seems to lack for punk rock. Whether it the Melody Inn’s weekly showcase, all ages shows, or even basement shows, punk rock makes its presence felt. This week that presence takes over the Vollrath Tavern for a show featuring a trio of local punk acts. Gay Black Republican shares the bill with The Putz and The Founders.
   Details: 9 p.m., Feb. 4, $5, Vollrath Tavern, 118 E. Palmer St., (317) 632-5199.
8. Bulletboys w/ Pressed in Black, The New Finland Radicals, Ravens Keep, Stoned on the Nile
   Several bands paying tribute to 80’s glam metal have visited Indy in recent weeks. You can check out such tribute acts to relive the era of big hair and pointy guitars, or you can go see the real deal. The Rock House Café has become a stopping point for 80’s metal vets out on reunion tours. This week the Bulletboys, the band that gave the world “Smooth Up In Ya,” visit the club.
   Details: 8 p.m., Feb. 4, $10, Rock House Café, 3940 S. Keystone Ave., (317) 780-8890.
9. Cari Ray & the Loaners
   Cari Ray is striking her claim on Indy’s music scene as an alt-country/roots singer and songwriter who’s equally comfortable working on her own or with her backing band, the Loaners. Ray points to alt-country luminaries like Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin, and Shelby Lynn as the primary influences for her music. She and her band take over Local’s Only on Saturday with the promise of special guests joining them throughout their sets.
   Details: 8 p.m., Feb. 5, Locals Only, 2449 E. 56th St., (317) 255-4013.
10. Bigger Than Elvis w/ Blue Collar Bluegrass
    As we fight through this long winter that’s offered an unbroken stretch of cold and snowy weather, sometimes it takes something reliable and familiar to lure us out of the house solely for the sake of finding entertainment. That reliability and familiarity is exactly what Bigger Than Elvis offers. The trio of Indy scene vets holds court at Radio Radio on the first Saturday of each month, offering rockabilly interpretations of classic rock tunes.
    Details: 9 p.m., Feb. 5, $5, Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect. St. (317) 955-0995.