a new spot...

It would seem that The Dojo is saved. It will be relocated to 2207 N. College Avenue Indianapolis, IN. This is a very good thing for Indy's DIY scene. It is good to see people take initiative and keep an affordable, all ages, community based space open and viable. Spaces like this are often not permanent fixtures within a given community, but an ongoing outlet for an idea or belief in DIY ethics. Hopefully, this new location will not have similar problems that plagued the original Dojo. For a space like this to succeed there needs to be a collective effort of support. Whether that comes from donations of money or time, or just supporting shows, this new incarnation of The Dojo is yet to be up and running. There is a benefit show on 8-3-2010 with all the proceeds going towards the new space. This show features Religious Police, Indianapolis Forever, and Will Power at Clubhaus Z (4810 E New York Street) at 6:30 with a minimum dollar at the door donation. When new information becomes available on the new space, then you'll see it here. Let's hope this space has a healthy and productive lifespan.

New Dojo contact info:
www.diydojo.com
dojoindiana@gmail.com

show review: Deadmen 7" release show--7-25-2010

To begin it must be known that mother nature's dirty rag has been draped over the entire state of Indiana in terms of sweltering heat and almost impenetrable humidity this summer. But this did not stop the faithful from coming out to support and bask in the raucous uptempo thrashing that the Cocaine Wolves, Chaotic Neutral, Sweet Cobra, and Deadmen provided the Melody Inn's patrons on an easy going Sunday night. This was a grown folk affair between bands and followers. It was a cathartic occasion to celebrate the Deadmen's 7 inch release, Possession Of the Void, as well as to see them off as band for their second to last show as a band. The Man can wait one more day. This was a time to raise beer cans high, work up a sweat, enjoy some drunken antics, pump fists, and revel in the energy being transmitted from bands to audience back to the bands. A break in the heat and humidity saw a positive atmosphere grow from the pre-show cookout and metal dj sets until the Cocaine Wolves took the stage. The Cocaine Wolves played a lively set of hard rock, Thin Lizzy style, easily warming up the crowd. Next up was Chaotic Neutral. A newer band from Indy, Chaotic Neutral did not disappoint with their brand of hardcore bluster. Their on stage energy was dynamic as the musicians pulsed and churned with each ringing note and percussive hit. The music relented only at the end of each song. By the end of their set, Chaotic Neutral had worked themselves into a frenzy of sweat and swagger, and primed the audience for one of Indy's favorites: Chicago's Sweet Cobra. As always, Sweet Cobra stepped up and did what they do best. They laid down a raw blend of hardcore and metal with the intent to stack riff upon riff as they tried to peel the audience's collective face off. Playing without their recently deceased and missed guitarist, Matt Arluck, Sweet Cobra ran through a set of new material and few older favorites. The crowd was more than happy to pay homage to the band as only they could by singing along, ebbing and flowing with the music, and finally demanding more songs from the band as they finished their set. Happy to oblige, Sweet Cobra played a one song encore to cheers and drumming applause. Finally, the Deadmen took the stage with the audience ready to explode, and made a fast start by ripping into a set filled with their complete catalog of songs. With the Grave Opener in hand (a customized pick ax with web detailing and bottle opener at one end), vocalist, Nate Olp preceded to shred his vocal chords and hurl himself into the crowd as his band mates focused all their efforts into pummeling the audience with their brand of hardcore infused metal. Their set was a towering riff fest of raging pleasure only outdone by each subsequent song. With the band thoroughly feeling all the energy in the room, the crowd writhed and begged for more. At the end of their set and convinced by the audience, the Deadmen ushered in an encore of the entire 7" release in the order that the songs appear on the vinyl. This was an encore of songs that neither band nor audience had not grown tired of. The Deadmen could have played their set over in its entirety without one complaint as onlookers groaned for more music. At the completion of the four song encore the crowd was spent and pleased. After all, this was a night for grown folks to indulge and see a band off as only a hyper-charged group of mutual friends and fans alike can. The Deadmen will be missed. The Melody Inn was left standing, but all in attendance witnessed the Deadmen at the top of their game capping the night's festivities in a rowdy and rompingly intense way.

something unfortunate...

It would seem that the still fairly new DIY all ages space, The Dojo, is doomed. Disgruntled, insidious, and flat out bitchy neighbors have likely pressured and complained enough to the owners of the space to shut it down. This means if, as of now, that all shows booked there will need to be moved, or run the risk of being canceled. If anyone out there can help with moving or rescheduling shows, then that would be a great asset to save some all ages shows in Indy. Also, this may be a good time for a younger generation of DIY musicians and artists to step up and open another space to keep an all ages DIY space open in Indianapolis. With so many spaces dying off in 2010, The Cracked Skull truly hopes the situation at The Dojo can be resolved or the shows find slots at other venues. Ultimately, if The Dojo goes, then it would be a great thing for this city to see another all ages DIY space open and continue in the tradition of The Dojo. When news about The Dojo's future is known then it will be posted.

The Dojo is officially dead. RIP.

www.myspace.com/diydojo

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diydojo?ref=ts

july shows of interest...

*7-3-2010, the tip top tavern (1341 n. captial ave), sleepbringer (indy/bloomington), the gates of slumber (indy), and place of skulls, 9 p.m., $10.

*7-4-2010, the dojo--collective benefit show, world eater (indy), livermortis (indy), rat storm (bloomington), and chaotic neutral, 4 p.m.--food, 6 p.m.--bands, $5.

*7-7-2010, the dojo, kata sarka (indy), just die, and religious police, 7 p.m., $5.

*7-9-2010, the melody inn, stand and deliver (indy), maravich (indy), no enemy (chicago), 9 p.m., $5.

*7-9-2010 and 7-10-2010, dudefest, http://festdude.com.

*7-14-2010, the casa, medusa (bloomington), the dockers (indy), bezoar (ny), and wizardy (ny), 8 p.m., $5.

*7-14-2010, the melody inn, christ beheaded (indy), maxx (muncie), hod (tx), gravehill (ca), and cardiac arrest (il), 7 p.m., $8.

*7-23-2010, the hoosier dome (1627 Prospect, indianapolis, in 46203), black arrows of filth & impurity (indy), kata sarka (indy), rat storm (bloomington), graves of valor (sc), and phobia (ca), 7 p.m., $10.

*7-25-2010, the melody inn, deadmen (indy--7" release show/cookout), sweet cobra (chicago), the cocaine wolves (muncie), and chaotic neutral, 5:30 p.m., $5.

*7-30-2010, the melody inn, apostle of solitude (indy), earthride (maryland), bible of the devil, and valkyrie, 9 p.m.

*7-30-2010, the vollrath, red shadows (indy), beings, and torche, 9 p.m., $10.

*7-31-2010, the casa, deadmen (indy--last show), the dockers (indy), and slam dunk (bloomington), 7 p.m., $3.