rickyleepotts…an opinionated realist

Broad Ripple is quite possibly one of the most well known parts of the city of Indianapolis. There is so much history here including the Vogue Theater, the Monon Trail, and the Broad Ripple Canal. There are tons of bars and restaurants and even little shops and boutiques. Some of my favorites include Indy CD & Vinyl, Red Mango, and Future Shock. (I have never bought anything at Future Shock but I love just browsing around in there.)

One thing I really enjoy about Broad Ripple is the selection of restaurants. There are tons of places to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and most of them have numerous beers on tap for the beer drinkers out there. I usually find myself in Broad Ripple at night, either hitting a nightclub or grabbing a beer at Union Jack. (Sheryl and I are both members of the Passport Beer Club.) But there are times where I just want a change of pace from the north side and I don’t want to drive all the way downtown.

One night, while Sheryl and I were sitting at Union Jack having a beer with some friends, our server asked if we had been to the new place on the water. The water, being the Broad Ripple Canal, and the new place being Flatwater Restaurant on the Canal. I had never heard of it, and the rest of our party was clueless as well. So we finished our beers and made our way across the street to Flatwater. We figured we would give this place a shot and see what we were missing.

We ended up getting a seat outside, had a couple of beers each, and eventually ran into our server from Union Jack. She was there having a beer after her shift and introduced us to her mother, one of the employees at Flatwater. Long story short, the owner came over, introduced himself, and I ended up scheduling a restaurant experience review before the night was over. Sheryl and I would return a week or so later and get the chance to try more than just their beers, but also their entire menu, from their appetizers to their entrees, salads and more.

Getting to Flatwater

Flatwater Restaurant on the Canal is located in the heart of Broad Ripple and sits on the canal. I guess that makes sense, since the canal is actually in the name of the restaurant! Anyone that knows the Broad Ripple area will know that parking is a nightmare, but there is a small parking lot right next to the restaurant if you can snag a spot there. If not, just find a normal parking spot somewhere in the village and walk to the restaurant.

When you first get to Flatwater, you will see a few tables out front and then more tables along the left side of the building. You can actually walk back there and find quite a few more tables with a great view of the canal. There is another bar out there as well that allows guests libation for those hot summer nights and cool fall evenings. As with any other bar in the state of Indiana, note that you must be twenty-one years old to be in the bar area.

A Warm Welcome

When we first arrived to Flatwater, we were about twenty minutes early. It was still early in the evening, and the weather was just perfect, so they had moved the host stand outside. I walked up and was greeted by the hostess. I proceeded to tell her that I had a reservation at 7:00 PM. She looked confused, so I proceeded to give her my name. She informed me that they don’t do reservations and continued to have a perplexed look on her face. She asked me to wait for a moment and she went inside to investigate. A couple of minutes later she came back informed of the situation. We were seated out back on the patio.

A couple of things that set this place apart from other restaurants on and near the canal are the candles and Tiki torches that surround the patio. Every table has a large citronella candle in the center and when the sun starts to go down all of the Tiki torches are lit to help aid in bug control even further. And they work. Being that close to the canal and doing something so small means so much to the guests. Nothing bothers me more than eating outside and being eaten alive by bugs while trying to enjoy a meal. It truly is the little things that matter most and this was duly noted.

Starting Things Off with Some Appetizers

After we got comfy in our seat, our server greeted us with waters and proceeded to explain to us the process for the evening’s meal. She stated that we would be starting with appetizers, moving on to a couple of their specialty salads, then trying a couple entrees, and then ending the evening with dessert. It sounded perfect to me, and I was excited to try this menu.

The first appetizer that came to the table was the Best of the Wurst platter. This dish is loaded with meats, cheeses, and fruit and is something I highly suggest you share. The dish runs $13 but has three different types of meat, three cheeses, two types of grapes, and some apple slices all arranged beautifully on one plate. The meats are all local as well, coming from Claus’ German Sausage & Meats.

The first meat you will try is the Cajun sausage. This would later prove to be the best of the three as there is a certain sweetness to the sausage, but then you are hit with the heat. It is not unbearable, but a nice, soft heat that proves this is a true Cajun sausage. The next item is the Italian sausage and tastes just like any other Italian sausage you have ever had. You end with the Kielbasa, which has a smooth flavor to it and tastes fresh. Granted, these meats are all local so it makes sense they all taste so fresh.

The dish is also served with a side of course ground mustard and sweet mustard. I tried one piece of each meat before dipping into the selection of sauces, as I wanted to get a full sense of what these meats tasted like. But when I dipped a bite of Italian sausage into the course ground mustard, I almost fell out of my chair. I wanted to take a bath in that stuff it was so good. But it was a bit spicy. Not so hot I couldn’t stand another bite, but when you breathe in after taking your first bite of this stuff, you notice it is there.

I then dipped a bite of the Kielbasa into the sweet mustard and had a similar reaction. It was not as flavorful as the ground variety, but it was delicious nonetheless. I almost wanted there to be a German BBQ sauce or something served with this, but there is not a ton of meat here so two dipping sauces is just fine.

On the plate there is also an array of grapes, both red and white, and a handful of nuts that provide a wide range of flavors for your enjoyment. This platter runs just shy of $14 but if shared, it is a great way to start your night off.

Next came the pulled pork nachos. I am a huge fan of nachos too. Not to mention when they pile them so high it takes two people to carry them to the table. (Not really, but this plate was huge and stacked high with chips and pork.) The dish itself did not have a ton of toppings, and was not served drenched in salsa. That’s because the pork does all the talking with this dish.

The pork on these nachos is piled high and is the reason that this dish is so popular. The pork itself is cooked in a smoker out back for three and a half hours. They then take the meat and cook it for another five and half hours inside the main kitchen area. All of the preparation for this stuff is done in-house.

Another thing that is done in-house is their pico de gallo. Just because there was no salad dripping off these chips doesn’t mean there was not a hearty and chunky pico sitting on top. The pico has chopped onion and tomato and a certain freshness to it in every bite.

The chips were even fresh and had an intense crunch to them with every chomp. They were not soggy like some chips I have had before, and they stood the test of time, staying crisp for the entire time they sat on the table. But the dryness of the chips matched with the dryness in the pulled pork made me want more. I needed something else. I needed barbecue sauce to push this dish over the top.

Before the BBQ was delivered to my table, Mike and I had a talk about why he doesn’t serve them with BBQ right off the bat. He claims that true pork enthusiasts would rather taste the flavor in the meat and not the sweetness in a sauce. Sheryl agreed with him, as she really liked the flavor of the pork.  And I have to agree, the pork did have great flavor, but I needed something to take away the dryness I was experiencing with each bite. He grabbed the BBQ sauce and we both finished off the plate of nachos.

(One thing that our server did do was to offer us Tabasco and Sriracha hot sauces. She claimed that nearly everyone who orders this dish on a regular basis asks for one or the other. I tried a bite with each of these sauces, but the BBQ was what did it for me.)

With Nachos Come Beer

With our nachos came a couple of glasses of beer. You know how much Sheryl and I like beer. The first beer that hit the table was a Helios from Upland Brewery down in Bloomington, Indiana. I am a big fan of this brewery thanks to their Upland Wheat. They make a handful of other beers like the Winter Warmer, the Bad Elmer’s Porter and the Dragonfly IPA. But tonight we were in for something a little different. We were served a glass of the Helios Pale Ale. I have had this beer before, but pairing it with the pork nachos gave it a whole new taste. It was a perfect way to wash down those delicious nachos.

But these are just a couple of the appetizers you can choose from. Also listed on the menu are things like tuna tartar, fried calamari, and sweet and spicy Asian shrimp sauté. We did not get the chance to try any of the other dishes, but that was just fine, more food was already on its way to our table. Next up were the salads.

Bring On the Leafy Greens

It took me a long time to enjoy salad, but now its no surprise to see me order one on purpose when we go out to dinner. I love the taste of a fresh iceberg lettuce house salad or the coolness from a hand-tossed Caesar salad. Lucky for me two salads were on their way to the table. Sheryl, on the other hand, isn’t the biggest fan of salad out there, but mentioned that depending on the type of salad, it is starting to grow on her.  Lucky for her, they delivered just the type of salad she likes.

The first salad that I tried was the wedge salad. This is a classic salad that literally involves a big chunk of iceberg lettuce, some bacon (dried bacon of course), bleu cheese dressing, and tomatoes. I was served a half size of this salad due to the amount of food I was going to consume, but that was plenty for me to get a sense of what this dish is all about. A half order is only $4.50 while a full order is $7.

The second salad that we tried (the one that Sheryl much preferred) was a mixed greens salad that had a collection of ingredients in it. First off was the array of lettuce that was there. On top of that came bleu cheese crumbles (you can never have too much bleu cheese), some applewood smoked bacon, walnuts, dried cranberries, and Dijon balsamic vinaigrette. There were just so many flavors floating around on this plate it was hard to keep my head still. And any time you combine dried cranberries and bleu cheese you are in for a great dish.

Serving Some More Brews

With our salads we were served two new beers. The idea behind this was if we were going to enjoy two new salads, we needed to try two new beers. The first beer served was the Sun King Wee Mac Scottish Ale from Sun King Brewery. I am not a fan of anything that comes from Sun King, and I had had this beer before. Nothing different this night either. The beer just lacks in flavor all across the board. I do give Flatwater credit, though, for wanting to work with all these local establishments. That goes a long way.

The other beer that we were served might be one of the best beers I have had all month. It was the Osiris Pale Ale and it might as well have been considered an IPA, as much flavor and aroma as this beer puts off. Perhaps it was just my dislike for the Sun King beer that drove me to this pale, but it was a great choice matched with the mass amounts of bleu cheese on our plates. If nothing else, it just shows that Flatwater has a ton of great beers on draft.

Now It’s Time to Eat

All right, enough with the salads and the appetizers. I am ready for some real food. Before I even showed up for the restaurant experience review I was told to check out the fish tacos. Now, if you know my habits when it comes to ordering my dinner, I thrive over fish tacos. I love fish tacos. Whoever thought it was a good idea to mix Mexican and seafood is okay in my book.

Nearly every restaurant nowadays serves fish tacos. Some serve them with codfish, some with tilapia, and some with salmon. But here at Flatwater, you can choose from three different fish tacos. (Let me say that not all three of these are fish tacos, just two of them. But if you don’t like fish, you can still order tacos so you fit in with those around you digging into the fish!)

Rather than getting an order of all three, we were served a sampler platter. We were served one of each taco so we could try all of them first hand. Note that when you order these on the menu, you can only pick two, not three, tacos for your meal. I think if you offer only three choices, allow a person to select all three at once. And while it is still allowed, mixing and matching these is also discouraged. Of course, if you ask nicely, I am sure they will fill your desires for your meal.

The first taco we had was a shrimp taco. The thing that I disliked about these tacos was the number of shells. They were soft shells, but there were two of them for each taco. I had to get halfway through before I asked our server why there were two shells. She informed us there was actually cheese melted between them and they use two tacos to help keep all the stuffing inside the taco rather than on your lap. It made sense, the logic was sound, but every bite had more shell flavor than I wanted. I wanted to taste the meat inside.

The shrimp tacos were just okay. I wanted some sort of sauce or perhaps a sweet lime glaze or something to help with the dryness in the shrimp. They were just your standard shrimp tacos. Sheryl, on the other hand, thought the shrimp tacos were the best of the three. She does love her shrimp.

The second taco we tried was the “world famous” Mahi Mahi tacos. I love Mahi Mahi, and the place that makes my all time favorite fish tacos uses Mahi Mahi in their fish tacos. However, I wanted more with these as well. The shells are small, what you would expect, but there was just something missing here. The pico de gallo, which is made in-house, adds a little hint of freshness to each bite. But like how I wanted BBQ sauce with the nachos, I wanted something to throw on top of this dish as well.

The last taco, and my least favorite, was the pulled pork taco. This is the same pulled pork that is smoked out back and cooked for nearly six hours before being tossed on your plate. But this taco was boring and needed not only a sauce to hide the dryness (I do love the taste of this pork, but perhaps on a sandwich maybe), but get rid of the soft shells too. I think a hard shell taco option might make this better, or perhaps served on a taco salad maybe. I don’t want to be the guy that hates their most popular dish, but the tacos were nothing short of ordinary.

Now, before I go on, let me say that I spoke with the manager before we left. I gave him my advice on the tacos. I said that if you were going to use two shells, make the cheese on it more prominent. Perhaps throw a thin layer of refried beans in there. Do something to hide the taste of these taco shells. At the same time, he explained to me that if they make them with only one shell they simply fall apart. The juice from the homemade pico de gallo just drips out everywhere and they are a pain to eat.

He did say that if you order them with only one shell, they will prepare them that way, but he suggested that I not do that. Of course, there is always a napkin on hand to clean your lap if you make a mess. My suggestion, out of the three tacos we tried, would be to order the Mahi Mahi. The fish is the best, and the aftertaste leaves you with that fish taco satisfaction.

We managed to finish the fish tacos just in time for the next dish. When this was set on the table, right in front of me of course, the aroma just about knocked me out of my chair. Sitting in front of me was a half-inch-thick pork chop topped with caramelized onions and braised with a sweet BBQ glaze. On the side were hand cut French fries. But the side took a backseat to this gorgeous piece of meat in front of me. The first thing I did was to try the onions. They were sweet, perfectly prepared, and sitting ever so nicely on top of this pork chop.

Now, the chop itself is local. These pork chops are actually hand-picked each and every week from Claus’ German Sausage & Meat down on the south side. And you can tell, as the freshness in this piece of meat is unparalleled. The BBQ glaze also gives it such a smooth finish, and mixed with the sweetness coming off the onions, all I wanted to do was get another bite. This dish was truly knife-and-fork-licking good.

When we were chomping away on the fries, our server brought a dipping sauce for us to try. When the sauce hit the table, I had to know what was in it. Although the recipe remains a secret, she did say there is a lot of ranch dressing and some Sriracha. So I grabbed a few fries and gave it a shot. Sure enough, I was hit with the coolness of the ranch and then punched in the face with the heat of the Sriracha. It was one of the best sauces I had ever had. I dipped the rest of my fries in it and even dipped a piece of the pork chop in it.

Sipping on an IPA

With our entrée, I was served a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. I have had this beer before, and actually find myself ordering it more and more the older I get. It is not a specialty beer, made not too far from here in Galesburg, Michigan at the Bell’s Brewery, and is easy to track down by just walking into any given liquor store. But the bitterness in this beer matched the sweetness from the pork chop just perfectly. It was a perfect marriage among beer and food.

Time for the Sweet Stuff

This is the worst part of the meal for me. I hate dessert. I have just never been a fan of sweets. But of course, if you throw a bowl of ice cream in front of me, chances are I am going to eat it! After we finished our entrees, and spent a few minutes making room for our last course, the desserts made their way to the table.

The first item was a slice of chocolate cake. There was more to it, but I was too busy digging into the second dish. Sitting beside it was a piece of cherry frangipane. I had not heard of this sort of dish before either, but after I asked what all goes into making this delicious piece of pie, it’s really quite simple.

First you take tort dough and add a little bit of cinnamon. Add some cherries, throw it in the oven, and out comes this gooey mess. Think of this as a cherry pie on steroids. Make sure if you order this, you like cinnamon because every bite is packed with a heavy hint of said spice.

As with everything else, Flatwater likes to keep things local. All of their desserts come from Rene’s Bakery, which is located just down the road from the restaurant. The ice cream is not local, but that is changing soon as well. They are close to reaching a deal with a local ice cream shop.

Loosening My Belt a Couple Notches

Needless to say, after all that food I was full. I couldn’t eat another bite. I even sent some of the chocolate cake back because I just couldn’t finish it. I did order another beer, but there is always room for one more beer.

As the night came to a close, Sheryl and I sat on the patio, looked out over the calm water on the canal, and sat there completely satisfied. Flatwater Restaurant on the Canal is a hidden gem of the Broad Ripple Village and is a place that I highly suggest you try out. Whether you are coming in for a quick lunch, wanting to have a nice relaxing night out for dinner, or just want to grab a beer with some buddies, Flatwater has you covered.

I want to say thank you to Mike Yount and his entire staff for being so accommodating to both Sheryl and I. You can tell just by talking with Mike how much this establishment means to him. From putting in flat screens outside for football season, to introducing himself to every table that walks in the door, Mike takes his restaurant seriously. I applaud all his hard work. So the next time you are in Broad Ripple and want to grab a bite to eat, head over to Flatwater Restaurant on the Canal, feed some ducks, and grab an order of pulled pork nachos and an ice cold beer. I hope to become a regular soon!

Have you been to Flatwater Restaurant on the Canal? What did you order? Did you like it? I look forward to hearing from all of you on your experience at Flatwater.

Who’s hungry? If you are headed to Electric Zoo this weekend make sure you check out the wide range of food that will be on hand for your enjoyment. Not only are you going to experience more than seventy artists from all over the world including names like Armin van Buuren and the Glitch Mob, but you are going to be able to eat from a collection of food tents and typical New York City food trucks. (Nothing beats the shrimp trucks in Hawaii though. The shrimp is literally born and raised in ponds right outside next to the truck you order from. Now that’s good eating.)

New York City is literally a melting pot with cultures from all over the world coming together to live in a city that never sleeps. The food this year at Electric Zoo is a collaboration as well. From Italian to pizza to vegan and more it will be easy for you to chow down this weekend. Below you will find a list of all the vendors scheduled to appear at Electric Zoo this year as well as the types of food they serve.

• Ruthy’s Bakery – (Middle Eastern/Italian/Vegetarian)
• Circles Café – (Hot Dogs/Italian Ice)
• Vegetarian Oasis – (Mexican/Caribbean/Thai/Falafel/Burritos/Jambalaya)
• Water Taxi Beach – (Cheeseburgers/Fruit including Grass Fed Beef/Hand Cut Fries)
• Strawberry Fields – (Burritos/Smoothies/Pita/Falafel)
• Masala Times – (Indian/Specialty Drinks/Mango Lassi Yogurt Drinks)
• PizzaMoto – (Wood Oven Pizza/Ice Cream/Local Products)
• Sigmund Pretzelshop – (Pretzels/Sandwiches both Handmade & Vegan)
• Thai Trio Platters – (Thai/Salads)
• Nyota’s Ting – (Vegan Health Food)
• Shaved Ice – (Flavored Shaved Ice)

The food doesn’t stop there. If you can’t find something to eat in that mess of food, then hit up one of the many food trucks that will be on the island. The list of food trucks scheduled to appear at this year’s event include:

• Green Truck – (American/Mexican/Vegetarian/Organic/Locally Produced)
• Kwik Meal – (Indian/Mediterranean/Pitas)
• La Cense Beef – (Steak Burgers from natural grass fed beef)
• Rickshaw Dumplings – (Pan-Asian/Pacific Rim)
• Street Sweets – (Coffee Drinks/Cookies /Gluten Free/Organic Dairy)
• Van Leeuwen – (Ice Cream/Hormone Free)
• Miss Softee – (Soft Serve Ice Cream/Kosher)
• Je & Jo Cookie Dough Ice Cream – (Organic Ice Cream)
• Mexicue – (Mexican/BBQ/Gluten Free Foods)

So for all of you who were wondering where your next meal was going to come from, fear not as the there will be plenty of options for you choose from. Let’s eat people! (No pun intended!)

I love dark beers. Whether a stout or a porter, the darker the better. On a recent trip to Jungle Jims, the greatest grocery store on the planet, I grabbed a bunch of different beers. They have a huge selection of beers by the bottle and picked some stouts, some porter, an IPA or two, and a handful of lagers. One of the beers I picked up was a bottle of the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. Anytime you mix beer and chocolate, you are in for a treat.

This beer comes from the Brooklyn Brewery located in, you guesses it, Brooklyn, New York. The brewery is quite new, having only opened in 1987. But their beers are good, and have made quite a bit of noise in the market.

The brewery was started by former associated press correspondent Steve Hindy. He began this venture with former Chemical Ban lending officer Tom Potter and they were off. What makes these two guys so special is their difference in beer making and their experience when it comes to the process of making a brew. Steve, working for the AP, has seen how beers are make in Saudi Arabia and Syria, as well as many other countries in the middle east. However Tom had little experience making beer learning from his neighbor how to make his first batch.

Part of the reason their beers are so high in price is their alcohol content, but also the limited quantities of these beers. They have such a small operation, and its hard to find these beers outside of the east coast. They charge more because they are forced to make more beer and end up with less than expected due to their sizeable operation. But by the time you grab one of these you don’t care what it cost.

Coming out of the Bottle

This beer pours thick. It’s a heavy, quite dense beer that offers the drinker something to get exited about. Once it hits the glass, there is literally no head what so ever. The makers of this beer put more attention into the ingredients behind their brew than the small things that most look for in a brew. This brew maker also has a long line of beers that are easy to find and cheap to buy. But this beer is sold in four packs as it packs higher alcohol content and is much thicker than your average beer.

Let the Beer Hit the Nose

When they say chocolate I am sold. The nose doesn’t lie. That is just what it smells like. Imagine taking a chocolate bar, melting it over an open flame, and addend some booze! It smells thick too and appears to be engine oil sitting in the glass. The beer becomes an almost experience before you even taste it.

Hits your Lips

The beer is not as thick as it seems coming out of the bottle or sitting stable in the glass. The first taste you get is dry and sweetness on the back of your tongue. But then you get a poppy almost soda pop flavor that sticks to the center of your palate. By the time the beer is gone you can understand where that 10% ABV comes from.

The aftertaste sticks around too. Its nice to see a beer that has such a high ABV, comes across the tongue like a stout should, but then leave that sweet molasses flavor in your mouth for what seems like days. This is not a beer you chug either. Enjoy this. It will be gone before you know it and you will want another one as soon as you suck the last drop from the glass.

Beer: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery

Location: Brooklyn, New York

ABV: 10%

A long time ago I was introduced to this band by a good friend of mine. I never had the chance to work with them directly but their name always seemed to float around my circle of friends. I had heard their work, was always impressed with their sound, but never had the chance to actually form a direct relationship. That was until Josh Corken asked if I knew who these guys were. He knew a couple of the guys in the band and the rest is history. He sent out an introduction email, we touched base, caught up, and I took some time to see what these guys were up to now days. Still playing rock music and still melting faces all over the Circle City, these guys took some time to sit with me. Get comfortable and relax as I am pleased to introduce to you PictureYes.

Where did you guys come up with that name?

(Justin) PictureYes came from a poem of sorts that one of our original guitar players wrote. It had something to do with an old man looking out a window late in life and reflecting on his past as he watched the world go by around him. I don’t recall the line exactly, but it was something like, “…and as he saw the world the picture was yes…”, or something like that. I think it has a different meaning to all of us, but meaning nonetheless.

Why no spaces?

(Justin) Picture and yes are two words used by everyone. Separately they are common. PictureYes with no spaces is our word and we’ve assigned our meaning to it. I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, but for me it stands for understanding that life is short and to not regret how I live or the choices I make. PictureYes is my (our) band and a huge part of my life. It’s a commitment and a lifestyle I have chosen and love.

When did you decide to take a run at this?

(Aaron) 1997, 2000, 2005, and finally 2009.  This time it’s personal.

Where did you guys all meet?

(Aaron) It was a Star Wars Convention.  Funny thing was we were all dressed up as Jar Jar Binks in Gene Simmons make-up.  Every single one of us.

Explain your logo to me a little bit. Who designed that?

(Justin) I’ve always been a sucker for fonts and typography, so back in the day I was trying to give creative direction to a designer and I think in a sort of Forrest Gump voice I said “…Uh, I like typography a lot…” and that’s what she came up with. We are actually going through a re-branding process right now and entertaining ideas. If anyone has any, get us on our Facebook page.

You guys are rocking Facebook. Did you drop the MySpace thing all together?

(Justin) I wouldn’t say we dropped it, but as trends and social networking go, anymore, there is a stigma attached to being one of those annoying MySpace Bands. That site is so inundated with the same type of stuff that it’s really hard to maintain a following and garner new support. To me, the secret is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to social media. Society is so finicky and people love trends so it’s about being ahead of the game. Yesterday it was MySpace, today it’s Facebook and Twitter, and tomorrow who knows?

So you are you on Twitter?

(Justin) Yep! You should follow us!

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

(Justin) We did a show in Fort Wayne with about 2,500 people in the audience.

The smallest?

(Justin) The out of town club dates in cities where no one knows who you are can be tough. When it’s the bartender and the sound guy. Ah, the good old days!

Do you guys play very often outside of Indianapolis?

(Steve) We just started planning our first tour outside the area.

Do you have a favorite venue?

(Dave) I would have to say the Music Mill is me favorite.

(Ande) My favorite venue in Indianapolis is, without question, The Vogue. It is the one place where I can focus on the performance without having to worry about the quality and evenness of sound on stage. Combine that with five hundred or more people and you have the makings of a great show.

What was it like performing on WISH TV Channel 8?

(Dave) Awesome! Especially when the weather man grabbed Ande’s guitar and ad-libbed on live TV.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations?

(Aaron) Really there’s only one.  Batman.  I would say the conviction at which he approaches his goal of ridding Gotham City from crime is second to none.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

(Ande) When not on stage, it often looks like a bottle of Captain Morgan, headphones, instruments, and Pro Tools.

What is the best concert you have ever been too?

(Steve) For me it is a toss up between the Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood tour and KISS farewell tour.

Did you watch any of the World Cup?

(Ande) I did manage to see portions of four or five of the matches.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would you go?

(Ande) I would travel to southern Spain.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

(Aaron) How do I say this without sounding like a conceited, self-centered front-man?  I do.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

(Aaron) It all comes from personal experience.  Whether it be first hand, vicariously, or otherwise.  Some times I pick up a newspaper and easily find subject matter that frustrates me into writing a tune.

Do you ever forget the words to your own songs?

(Aaron) Oh yeah, but I’ll mumble something unintelligible that sounds close enough. Or I’ll just play the wrong guitar chords.  That generally takes the focus off of the missed lyrics.

Any tattoos in the band?

(Dave) I’ve got three.  Two bass clef designs and a gangster rat.

(Justin) My wedding anniversary date and a couple stars on my foot and finger.

(Steve) I’ve got a music themed sleeve with Japanese inspiration and a back tattoo with dagger and tribal art.

(Ande) “Impermanence” on my ribcage done by Chicago artist Nexer.

What are you drinking on stage?

(Steve) A bottle of water and Jack Daniel’s on the rocks!

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

(Ande) Yes. I’m a secret shopper.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career, which one would you choose? (I hope you say Enemy Blind.)

(Dave) My Addiction.

When can I expect a full disc from you guys?

(Aaron) We’re hoping, at the latest, early next year.  The plan is to be in the studio by the end of the summer 2010.  I would prefer a Christmas time release.  The disc would make a great stocking stuffer for your little rock and roll lover.

What about some merchandise? I want to wear a PictureYes shirt. Not going to lie!

(Aaron) Soon, soon.  We have a lot of great ideas and plans for the band in the coming year.

Describe your genre in one word.

(Aaron) ROCK’N’F’N’ROLL!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Steve) I would like to be on a national tour in support of our third record.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

(Aaron) I would say we want to be remembered for making a solid rock album, putting on an entertaining show, and writing a few catchy tunes that stick in your head like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

(Aaron) PictureYes has a hard-driving, big rock and roll sound.  Check us out.  You just might like it.

Let’s grab our dancing shoes and get ready for Electric Zoo! Next weekend I will be traveling to New York City for this memorable two-day music festival featuring some of the biggest names in electronic dance music. Guys like Armin van Buuren, Pretty Lights, Axwell, Fedde Le Grand, and Benny Benassi will be there as well as sets by Moby, the Chemical Brothers, and more. There are over seventy artists scheduled to perform on various stages with sets starting as early as eleven in the morning.

This two-day music festival takes place in Randall’s Island Park just outside of Manhattan and promises to be two days of unforgettable dance music. The weather even looks perfect looking at the extended forecast.

That’s not all. When the fun stops at the zoo, it continues at Pacha for the official after party. Both nights feature some top name DJs with a surprise main stage guest DJ on Sunday night. Pacha is said to be one of the best dance clubs in the world and I will be there giving you all the inside scoop.

So this week, be on the lookout for a lot of articles regarding Electric Zoo. I will be doing show previews, show reviews, artist interviews, and more as we get closer to Labor Day weekend and as we move through most of next week. There is so much to say I don’t even know where to begin. I just wanted you all to know why the blog will be turned from a potpourri of topics to a more focused collection of EDM and dance music posts. But never fear, I will be tossing in various articles all week long for those of you out there that don’t listen to dance music.

But get excited because I leave on Friday for a weekend of some of the best dance music this planet has to offer in the city that never sleeps. I’m headed to the zoo!

Hotels are a dime a dozen here in Indianapolis. You can stay at the Holiday Inn or at Best Western, even at a nicer hotel like the Hilton or the Conrad. Not too long ago I needed a place to stay but didn’t want to break the bank. After a little bit of research, I ended up at the TownePlace Suites located at Keystone at the Crossing.

From the moment I got to the hotel, I knew I made the right decision. Having worked all the details out with Clint Sheets, the hotel’s General Manager, I was ready to take in a couple of nights and see what this entire place had to offer. From the moment I walked in the door, to the relationship I created with the hotel staff, to the complimentary chocolate chip cookies that awaited me every time I came and went, I could not have been happier.

Welcome to TownePlace Suites Care of Clint Sheets, General Manager

When I walked into the room, I was impressed to find two separate bedrooms, a full kitchen and a large living space. There was also a decent size table sitting in the center of the suite with a hard-wired Internet connection, several outlets, and a welcome letter from the General Manager, Mr. Clint Sheets. The letter read:

“Thank you for choosing to stay at the TownePlace Suites Keystone. We look forward to you having a wonderful experience with us. If at anytime there is anything you feel we could do to enhance your experience please contact one of our service team experts.”

Regards,

Clint Sheet, General Manager

What better way to make us feel welcome than a welcome note from the general manager? I have heard that the folks here at TownePlace Suites try to make you feel as close to home as possible. From the time I walked into our room I couldn’t agree more. This was a perfect way to start off our stay here at TownePlace Suites. (Not to mention there were two bottles of water sitting on the table. This came in handy because the day we checked in the temperatures outside were hitting close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Getting to know the Marriott

TownePlace Suites is just one example of the great hotels offered by Marriott International. This public company began back in 1927 and has been going strong ever since. As a matter of fact, their revenue is bouncing around $13 billion a year right now. Not bad considering the current state of our economy. They also employ over 150,000 workers all over the world to help serve their guests on a daily basis.

The company Marriott was founded by J. William Marriott and his wife. This couple actually got started with a root beer stand in Washington, D.C., before taking their concept to a bigger and more profitable level. They now have over 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and in sixty-seven different countries.

Not to scare any of the readers out there, but the Marriott name has suffered a lot of turmoil since their inception way back when. In 2001 the organization suffered a brute force attack in New York City during the bombing of the Marriott World Trade Centers, then again in 2003 with a hotel bombing and in 2008 in another hotel bombing in Islamabad. Again in 2009, they suffered yet another series of bombs in a hotel just outside of Jakarta. But they have managed to come back strong and offering full service hotels all over the world from New York to LA and beyond.

Not all Marriott hotels go by that same name. You can stay at a JW Marriott hotel or resort, a Renaissance hotel or resort, a Ritz-Carlton, BULGARI, or even the Edition hotels. You can even stay in an Autograph Collection hotel and resort or stay like I did in an extended stay hotel like the TownePlace Suites. You can take advantage of timeshare opportunities with the Marriott offering various locations for these around the world as well. No matter your lodging needs, they have been covered by this great company.

Marriott Rewards offers More Ways to Save

If you travel a lot, you might want to take advantage of the Marriott Rewards program. With Marriott Rewards, you can earn valuable discounts and even earn air miles that will help pay for your next trip. If traveling for work, this makes it even better!

There are several levels to the Marriott Rewards program, including the Elite members, Silver, Gold, and even Platinum members. Each level has a different set of guidelines and you reach these levels based on how often you use this rewards program. Besides the hotel chain, you can even use these rewards on over thirty U.S. and international airlines.

The beauty of the Marriott Rewards program is that nearly all Marriott hotels participate in this program allowing you to earn points all over the world. As a matter of fact, this program is so widely accepted that in 2009 the Marriott Rewards Program was rated as the number one hotel rewards program on the market. So if you stay at a lot of Marriott hotels, I highly suggest you enroll in this program. Nothing beats earning free stuff, right?

Pets are Always Welcome

Sheryl and I like to travel a lot. We are always going somewhere whether it is to Chicago for a weekend, or on a weeklong trip to visit some remote island. We just love to travel and it is something that we are doing more the older we get. But one challenge we have every time we travel is what to do with Sophie, Sheryl’s adorable dog. Her mother dislikes watching the dog for various reasons, and most dog kennels are way too expensive for our budget. So we usually end up begging some friend of ours to watch the dog offering a place to stay and some instructions on how to take care of her.

When I first began looking to stay at TownePlace Suites, the first thing Sheryl asked me was what we would do with Sophie. Sure enough, I would come to find out that animals are allowed here at TownePlace Suites. You can bring your dogs or cats with you, but you will have to pay a $50 fee for the animal. The reason for the fee is to help maintain the clean facility and to help cover the cost of the deep clean that the hotel gets on a regular basis.

Regardless of the price, it is a great advantage for those families traveling with pets. They have a pretty detailed list of rules, but nothing too crazy. The hotel just has to make sure they are covered with your little furry friends staying over. Sheryl and I brought Sophie’s crate with us so that when we left she could feel as if she was at home. Sure, she barked a little bit each time we left, but nothing too serious. She didn’t bark any more than she would have if we were at home!

One of the highlights of our trip was having Sophie with us to share in the beauty that is TownePlace Suites. Its something so simple but it goes a long way for guests.

Total Temperature Control

It doesn’t matter which hotel I am staying in, whether I am there for a few nights or camping out for the entire week, the first thing I do when I walk in the room is turn the AC on as cold as I can get it. I love the feeling of walking into an ice-cold hotel room after a long day in the sun. I rarely stay in hotels in the winter months, and if I do I am usually on some remote island anyway.

When I walked into our room at TownePlace Suites, I didn’t know where to begin. There was an AC under the window in the main room. There was an AC under the window in the spare bedroom. There was even an AC under the window in the master bedroom. I didn’t know where to start! I immediately turned them all to their coldest settings and waited for the cold air to fill the space around me.

One thing that I disliked about the air conditioner units is you have no control over the exact temperature. You can set the unit to be anywhere from cooler to warmer but it is truly a guessing game when you are trying to judge the exact temperature you are trying to reach. Lucky for me I want it as cold as I can get it. But for those of you who want a nice, comfortable temperature when you get home from work, you will have to adjust it to suit your need accordingly.

Grabbing a Bite to Eat

TownePlace Suites has a great location on the north side of Indianapolis. There are tons of places to get a bite to eat. If you want American, head across the street to T.G.I. Friday’s. In the mood for Asian? Right next to Friday’s you will find P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. You also have Champps Americana, the Cheesecake Factory, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, and a wide variety of other restaurants up and down 86^th Street.

If you are looking to save a few bucks just stop by the front desk. There you will find a wide range of coupons on the counter. For instance, we grabbed a pair of free appetizers at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. We also snatched up a 20% coupon for Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (located across the parking lot on the same side of 86^th Street), a free appetizer at P.F. Chang’s, and even a stack of free appetizers at T.G.I. Friday’s. Going hungry is not an option at TownePlace Suites.

If you happen to be staying on a Monday or Tuesday night, the food actually comes to you. On Monday nights, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, T.G.I. Friday’s caters in for a guest reception each week. Here you can sample many items off the Friday’s menu including their Jack Chicken Tenders, fresh grilled chicken bruchetta, chips and salsa, spinach artichoke dip, and more.

To help you enjoy your meal even more, TownePlace Suites provides plates and silverware as well as unlimited complimentary lemonade. We were afraid it wasn’t going to be enough to satisfy us for dinner, but by the time we were through three plates of food, we were stuffed. Not to mention we grabbed a couple of chocolate chip cookies on our way out the door.

On Tuesday, you are hit with a repeat of Monday night with P.F. Chang’s catering for you. Again you are hit with a wide variety of menu options and are offered the same luxury as you were on Monday night. After speaking with Clint Sheets, the hotel’s general manager, they are hoping to solidify restaurants to provide dinner for their guests every night. The goal is to have a different restaurant cater in each and every night of the week.

One thing they do need to work on, however, is their seating arrangements. Unless you want to sit in the conference room, located in the back of the building, you are going to either stand or be forced to take your food back to your room. There are no tables and chairs for you to sit at. The same goes for the free continental breakfast each morning. The selection is similar to most other hotels, but there is nowhere to sit and enjoy your breakfast. Sure, I can grab a cup of coffee or a bagel and hit the road, but if I wanted to sit and enjoy a nice breakfast before a long day at work I am out of luck.

You Shall Be Entertained

Depending on how long your stay is at TownePlace Suites, you might be tempted to see what else the city of Indianapolis has to offer. Perhaps you want to see a movie during your visit. Or perhaps you want to see a live concert while in town. There are also two shopping malls near the hotel. No matter what you want to do while you are staying at TownePlace Suites, you aren’t far.

If you want to take in a movie, you have a few options. Right across the street at the Keystone Fashion Mall you can visit the Keystone Arts Cinema. Here you will find a wide range of blockbusters as well as more independent films. There is also a bar in this theatre, which is something unique to the Circle City.

If you want a more typical movie theater experience, just head east a little bit and watch a film at the AMC Entertainment theater, located at the Castleton Square Shopping Mall. I told you there were some shopping malls close by! Here you can see all the latest releases, grab a tub of popcorn, and enjoy an evening out. If you get there early, you can even visit any one of the stores located just next to the theater.

If you are more in the mood for live music, then head down the road and see a show at Birdy’s Bar & Grill. Located on 71^st Street and Keystone Avenue, you will find a staple of the Indianapolis music scene. The stage at Birdy’s has seen the likes of national touring artists like The Fray and Daughtry, but also plays host to local singer/songwriters and regional touring artists just the same. Birdy’s has live music seven nights a week, and always has some of the best drink specials in town.

As a matter of fact, if you see a show at Birdy’s, chances are the stars on stage are staying in the same hotel as you. Birdy’s Bar & Grill actually has an exclusive relationship with TownePlace Suites. Both TownePlace Suites and Birdy’s have nothing but good things to say about the relationship. So if you are a band touring the country, check out Birdy’s and you might just get a chance to crash in the same hotel I am sitting in right now!

If movies, shopping, and live music are not your thing, then take in a comedy show at Cracker’s Comedy Club. There are two locations for this comedy joint, one located just south of Birdy’s in the heart of the Broad Ripple Village as well as one downtown located just off the circle. Regardless if you go to a rock show or see a show that makes you laugh your head off, TownePlace plays a great host to folks and allows for a comfy place to sleep not too far from these great late night entertainment spots.

Keeping Your Room Clean

Like most hotels, the cleaning crew at TownePlace Suites will come into your room every day and make sure the beds are made, all of the trash is taken out, and that you have fresh towels and toiletries in the bathroom. If you are planning an extended stay here at TownePlace you will get your bed made every few days and a deep clean once a week. A deep clean will basically mean that the cleaning crew will come in and clean everything from the showers and toilets to the carpets and kitchen.

We were only here for two nights, but after the first night when I came home from work, the hotel was nearly perfect. The kitchen had been cleaned up, the bathroom was how it was when we first got here, and the beds were all made. Minus the mint on the pillow it was like walking into the hotel room for the first time all over again. (Are there still hotels that put a mint on your pillow?)

Amenities for the Working Man (And the Working Woman)

The concept of an extended stay hotel like this one aids the businessman more than anyone. Here at the TownePlace Suites, you can take advantage of numerous amenities that will make your workday that much easier. First is the complimentary high-speed wireless Internet. If you are not interested in using the Wi-Fi there is a hard-wired connection waiting for you on the table in the living area.

Downstairs, in the lobby, you will find two desktop computers with Internet access. You will also find a stack of USA Today papers free to all guests. If you need meeting space, they have that too. Just ask about the full service conference center that features a huge white board for dry-erase presentations or a projector display, or even video conferencing on the television screen.

Staying in Shape

I am not known for working out on a regular basis. But during my stay at the TownePlace Suites, I felt obligated to check out the workout facility. So I laced up my sneakers, tossed on an old t-shirt, and headed down to the gym to workout for a couple of hours.

The gym is nothing to write home about. Inside you will find a single treadmill, one stair stepping machine, and a bike. The bike is actually quite uncomfortable as I tried that first. And the treadmill is actually quite old and has quite a few buttons that stick from time to time. Overall, I don’t suggest coming to the TownePlace Suites to work out.

Perhaps that is why they formed a relationship with Lifestyle Family Fitness Club located just down the road. While staying at the TownePlace Suites you have full access to Lifestyle Fitness. It is located just a couple of blocks east of the hotel and very easy to get to, even if you are not from here. Just show your room key and a photo ID and you get full access to all their equipment. It is a nice added perk, especially if you are trying to stay fit and are planning on staying for a while.

Taking a Dip

Weather permitting, and it was during my stay, make sure you check out their swimming pool. Just outside the main office you will find a small swimming pool as well as a few chairs for sun bathing. The pool is not that big, reaching a max of only five feet in the deep end, but it allows you a chance to cool down after a long day in the office. And if you just want to work on that nice tan you have going on, you can do that too.

Also near the swimming pool you will find a gas grill for all your summer cookout needs. Grill some burgers or hot dogs and invite some of the other hotel guests down for a bite to eat and quick dive in the pool. Of if you want some alone time you can just take a seat at the picnic table on the far side of the parking lot. Either way you look at it, the TownePlace Suites has something for everyone.

Getting Some Shut Eye

Inside the hotel rooms you will find either one or two beds for your comfort. Whether you just want to lay down for a quick nap or a long night’s rest before your big meeting the next day, you have come to the right place. These beds are incredible. They are so soft, almost too soft, and the pillows remind you of clouds at how soft they are. The second I pulled the sheets down on this bed (we had two beds in our hotel room) I knew I was in for a good night’s rest. I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to attack the day. It was truly a great night of sleep.

You can also lie on the couch if you like. The rooms here at TownePlace Suites have a chair and couch in the main living area. Here you can work on your laptop, watch a movie on TV, or just take a load off for a while. While the couches are not as comfy as the beds are, they do offer nice options for relaxation.

Checking In & Checking Out

The process for checking in was as easy as they come. As soon as I said my name she knew where I was coming from and what room I was in, and proceeded to tell me a bit about the surrounding area. She offered me a welcome packet from the front desk and said that I could come to her with any questions. I don’t recall her name, but she made me feel right at home from the start.

As easy as the check in was, the checkout was just the same. I walked down to the hotel lobby, grabbed another one of those complimentary cookies, and handed in my key. I was in and out in a matter of moments. The rest was taken care of by the man behind the counter. It goes to show they care about the business traveler who is on a schedule and is trying to make a meeting or an early morning appointment. As they say, the early bird gets the worm.

Our stay at the TownePlace Suites was great from the moment I walked in the front door. We were only there for a couple of nights but the staff went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. It was the little things that mattered most, like the free coffee and the fresh sheets. But it was the way I felt at home that made this a special visit. The next time I book a hotel, I will keep an eye out for not only the Marriott name but also the name TownePlace Suites.

I would like to personally thank Andrew Lyon of the Circle City Chamber Group for introducing me to the TownePlace Suites as he is an avid visitor and has spent many a night in those same comfy beds as we did. I also want to thank Clint Sheets, the hotel General Manager, for being so accommodating and for literally going out of his way to make sure we had a grand experience. Your attention to detail did not go unnoticed and I hope that here in this article you can see that. I can’t stop talking about the TownePlace Suites.

I love going to amusement parks. It is rare a summer will go by where I don’t visit at least Cedar Point or Kings Island. I love the thrill of packing for a weekend getaway or even just a day trip to ride roller coasters all day long. I even look forward to waiting in line and people watching as the day goes by. In my book, nothing beats a day at an amusement park. Of course, the same can’t be said for everyone that seeks a thrill. Especially Teagan Marti.

Teagan is only twelve years old. And this summer all she wanted to do was go to Wisconsin to take a ride on Terminal Velocity. The attraction is at Extreme World Amusement Park located in Wisconsin Dells and was recently featured on a television show. This is where the young girl got the idea for a trip out west.

While they were waiting in line for this ride, Teagan’s mother noticed the man operating the machine. He was the same man that appeared on the television show. The concept of this ride, as explained by the operator on television, is to take people up over 100 feet and then drop them straight down, with no cord or bungee attached. It truly is a free fall.

It was time for Teagan to take her turn on the ride and her mother grabbed the video camera to catch all of this on tape. Just then, Teagan was dropped from over 100 feet in the air and fell to the ground with nothing to catch her. The net was not in place and the ground was the only thing left to break her fall.

When Teagan’s mother arrived by her side, she noticed her daughter bleeding from the nose, mouth, and ears. Imagine hitting the ground that hard from that high up. I can’t believe she wasn’t killed instantly, to be honest. Her mother reached for her daughter and noticed that her eyes had rolled back in her head and that her mouth was turning purple. When the mother reached for a pulse, she found nothing.

Teagan is still alive, but just barely. As of this past weekend she was in stable condition at the American Family Children’s Hospital. Doctors say that she has suffered from swelling in her brain, as well as multiple fractures in her spine and pelvis. She has also suffered from lacerations to her liver, spleen, and intestines. Chances are she will end up paralyzed from this accident.

The ride operator is only thirty-three years old and goes by the name Charles Carnell. He comes from Lake Delton, Wisconsin, and has been charged with first degree reckless injury, a felony that is punishable by up to twenty-five years in prison and as much as $100,000 in fines. The operator admits to having, “blanked out” and never saw the all-clear sign before releasing Teagan.

On top of that, the family’s lawyer has said a criminal lawsuit is also planned on being filed against Charles. However they want to make sure that Teagan is better before proceeding with any legal action.

A story like this makes me cautious to visit any more amusement parks this year. Granted, I have never experienced anything like this before, but this is a big deal for not only the amusement park itself, but for Mr. Carnell’s life. His mistake could not only land him in prison for the next twenty-five years, but it could also have taken an innocent girl’s life just the same. Regardless of warning signs, you can never be too careful. All I can hope is that this girl can recover just fine and find it in her to ride once again. But when asked if she remembers what happened, all she can recall was there being an accident of sorts and that she didn’t think the net caught her the way it was supposed to.

If you are a thrill seeker, perhaps you should skip Terminal Velocity this year and focus more on the bumper cars or the merry-go-round.

Great live music is hard to come by. But when I hear a band like this I have to do whatever I can to get involved. Image taking a guy like Dave Matthews and putting him into a blender with Bruce Springsteen. That is what we have here for you today. These guys bring so much energy to the stage. They are a typical party band, but they are also extremely original. There is a saxophone in there somewhere, and the lyrics are being belted by a man who has felt pain and pleasure just the same. They are not a band I would want to see a music video for necessarily, but they are a band that I beg to see live. And they play a lot of live shows. If living in the Circle City you can see them at The Rathskeller quite often or at a wide range of venues all across the Midwest. They hail from Nashville, Tennessee and produce some industry standard sounds. I have only seen them perform once, having caught their last show at the Rathskeller, but can’t wait to see them again. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the guys of Elmwood.

Elmwood seems pretty common. Where did you come up with that name?

Yeah, I guess it kind of is. It’s actually a street name. For us it was the end result after several failed attempts to come up with a name that made us seem cooler than we actually are. So we asked ourselves what our street name was. There you have it.

How long have you guys all known each other?

We have been together for about two years. We all met on Craigslist.

Where do you guys practice?

Anywhere we can. We try to go to friends’ houses/basements, studios, hotel parking lots, a van bench seat, backstage. Ruston writes in custodial closets, and Derek practices in vacant bathrooms when we’re on the road.

Where are you all originally from?

Derek is from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ruston’s from everywhere, Don’s from Keyser, West Virginia, and Justin’s from Cleveland.

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

I would pick either Ohain, Belgium or somewhere in the south Alabama. Justin would go to Cobh, Ireland. Donnie wants to own one of the homes on Pebble Beach golf course. And Derek would go to British Columbia, Alaska, Tahiti, or the Dominica Republic.

You guys have a pretty solid MySpace page. Who designed that?

We have a great web designer. You can click here if you want to see more of her work.

You are also on Facebook. And YouTube. And Twitter. How do you guys keep all those social networks straight?

We keep it going all the time either at home or on the road. We all share certain aspects of each one like blogging or tweeting or uploading photos. We try to keep a system going.

What are your thoughts on all those social networks?

Overall, it gives us a unique chance to have a vast amount of personal contact with fans of our music, to network with everyone who’s interested in the tours, set lists, guitar tabs, etc.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Lot of times we jam in soundcheck on a riff or a groove. But really we all love to improvise in a way that tends to focus on a song or the rough bones of a song, whether it’s one Ruston brought to the table or a completely new one we write together.

You guys play the Rathskeller quite a bit. You like playing the  Biergarten?

It is seriously one of the best places to play in the Midwest. Dan McMichael, the owner, is the most easy going and hospitable guy. He loves, LOVES, bringing in all kinds of music and expects you to have more than one of their many German beers with him after the show. The people are welcoming and the food is incredible. We are so enthusiastic about it because treatment like that is very rare on the road.

Do you drink beer when playing in the Biergarten?

We will definitely have some great beer there after we finish our performances. Like I said, we love The Rathskeller.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Side jobs here and there, but mainly all music.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

About 4,500.

The smallest?

Literally nobody.  Except the bartender. He was on a smoke break.

You have a ton of shows at the Wild Wing Café. Is that a cool venue?

It’s a fun and very relaxed atmosphere. Great wings and a great staff. The sound systems are usually very well managed as well.

I like the saxophone. Any reason for throwing that instrument into the mix?

For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by the sax. Since I was a kid, more how it stands out in a rock-based music. So when I put an add on Craigslist for another instrument, it was definitely going to be sax.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

We all come from completely different musical backgrounds and influences. Everywhere from jazz, bluegrass, bebop, folk, fusion, rock, funk, emo, hip-hop, etc.

You have a ton of likes on Facebook. You must be pretty popular huh?

Well, we just want to keep things growing and connecting with our fans on a friendship level and Facebook let’s us do that.

What are you usually drinking on stage?

Water with and without ice. Ruston drinks this vegan sports drink called Vega Sports Optimizer. It’s made completely from plants and seeds.

Explain a typical Friday night for you.

On a stage either in a nightclub, bar, amphitheater, arena, cafe, or theatre, playing very loud for a new audience. After the show we hang out with new friends and others who dig our music, then drive all night or part of the way to the next city. Saturday’s usually a lot like Friday.

Tell me a little bit more about Developing Artist Management.

Well the reality is they are a company smaller in size that works very hard for all their clients no matter if they are superstars or up comers.

Where can I get some Elmwood merchandise?

You can get some on our website or at any one of our live shows. We also have two albums on iTunes, including a new live album!

If you could only perform one song for the rest of your career, which song would you choose?

Either Fool in the Dark or Wood Duck.

Based on the design of your MySpace page and the design of your website, I see you understand the power of branding.

We like the idea of representing every aspect of ourselves in a uniform way that characterizes us, and leaves a familiarity with fans of our music who keep up with everything we do and offer.

Who does all your graphic design work?

We do a lot of it ourselves along with help from our web designer.

Tell me about Dreaming Little Things.

That album is very special to us because we weren’t even a full band when Ruston booked studio time to cut some demos with Nash Johnson, our first bass player. Derek hadn’t even answered the ad online yet. And the day we met in the studio was really when we were like okay, we’re actually gonna attempt this. It was like, oh man. Hope this works! Here, this is a song called Night Caper. Go! That was essentially how it went. And it surprised us all.  Alan Shacklock, our producer, was impressed by the demo, and asked if we’d like to do 8 more and call it an album. We cultivated the beginning of our identity there, and a realization that hey we randomly happened upon this magic. Which is usually how magic works.

I just saw a movie about dreams. Have you seen Inception yet?

Yes, it was a mind trip. Literally.

How did you all react to the passing of Michael Jackson?

We had a lot of respect for Michael Jackson.  No matter how you feel about his social life, I think he was an incredible entertainer. I don’t think a lot of people realized the life style he must have lived being so young and having to entertain all his life.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Anywhere but this damn van. No but seriously, we hope to get as many fans as we can, play as many shows as we can, constantly building through relationships with the people that support our music. Anyone is welcome and considered officially invited to listen and take part.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

To be remembered for being honest in making great music.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Just would like to pull from the deepest gratitude in our hearts and thank our families, friends, and fans of our music, for their support and invigorating faith, which,  without we would literally not be doing this interview in a twelve passenger van flying down the interstate, headed to the next city. Thank you. Hope to see you all very soon!

Weddings are popping up all around me right now. I have been to a ton of weddings this year, and it seems like all of my friends are tying the knot this year. While I am not married myself, I still know how a typical wedding works. Not just the day you say, “I do,” but the entire process from buying the ring to popping the question to walking down the aisle. Even to the honeymoon and the thrill of living together. (Note that I already live with my girlfriend so I would be able to skip that part if we ever got married.)

Recently I read an article on the top ten wedding trends that must be stopped. I wanted to talk on each one of these elements as someone who has not been married and why I agree that most, if not all, of these trends must cease. (Note that if I ever do get married it will be in a far away place where I can kiss my bride to be on the beach at sunset wearing flip flops.)

Goofy “Photo Booth” Photo Shoots

I must admit that I have done this. But I didn’t do it as a groom. I remember walking through some random mall in some random city on some random weekend getaway when Sheryl and I spotted one of these cheesy photo booths. We decided to jump in and see what would come of it. We had a few where we were kissing, one where she had her eyes open the whole time, a few where we smiled bright, and a couple that were silly and just plain fun. But if you are about to get married, unless you are trying to have fun with the wedding (which might be the whole point anyway) then skip the cheesy photo booth shots and hire a real photographer.

Do you really need all of that plastic surgery?

There are so many brides out there getting pre-marriage plastic surgery. Of course, I am not a woman so I can’t speak for one, but I am sure the mentality is that this is her day and she needs to look her best. But if the guy that is standing beside you asked you to marry him before the surgery, then I bet he didn’t want you to get a plastic surgery. Of course, some plastic surgery is necessary. But unless you are the victim of some horrendous accident or have suffered through some sort of life changing illness, skip the surgery and focus on your future.

Wearing a Strapless Dress

I am not sure why this is considered a faux pas. I love strapless dresses. Especially if the lady wearing them has taken into consideration her tan lines. Of course, the signature wedding gown does have straps, so if you are trying to be traditional with it, make sure you include the straps. But if you are trying to go modern then leave off the straps. But don’t do the trashy tan lines and for the love of God please don’t wear a bra. And no, you are not allowed to wear a bra that has “invisible” straps. Guess what, they are not invisible. We can still see them.

Sporting the Veil

This was cool… fifty years ago. Sure, there are women that can still sport the veil, but it is not a modern trend by any means. I almost think of the veil as something you wear to a funeral, not a wedding. I want to see my bride. I don’t want her hiding behind some piece of fabric.

3D Videos & Photography

People will spend thousands of dollars on their photographer. Some might even go the extra bit and spend a few hundred on someone to shoot video of the event. But please, under no circumstance, leave the photographer or the videographer with total creative freedom. No matter how much you have researched the photographer, there is only one chance to get this right. So make sure you get it right the first time and plan out how these shots will take place. Have some fun with it, but leave the 3D effects at home.

Back to the Photos

Facebook is allowing us all to see pretty much every newlywed’s photo album. And every gallery I look through has the same images in them. The girls will have shots where they are getting dressed or putting on their makeup. The guys will have some where they are in sunglasses or with their arms crossed acting too cool for school. But one that has been making a lot of noise in the wedding world is the “jump” shot. As tempting as it might be to have everyone in your wedding party jump for a photo, try to resist. Focus on the chapel, the dress, and the people that are joining for your special day.

A “Unique” Wedding Day Drink

As much as I drink you might think I would be in support of this. And I’m not saying if I ever get married there won’t be one at my wedding. But a trend that is making some noise is the “signature wedding drink”. This is a drink that is served at either the rehearsal dinner or the reception and is selected by the couple getting married. It usually tends to be some random martini or some specialty beer that is hard to get. If you do this be creative. For instance, Sheryl and I are making our own beer right now. One idea might be to make a batch that is specific for the wedding and only give a bottle to those who attend. But don’t make some random tutti frutti drink and think you are being original.

Green Weddings

The entire country is obsessed with this notion of going green. From grocery stores to wineries, everyone is going green. There is even a cemetery here in Indianapolis that is offering a green burial. I don’t support it. There is nothing I can do, or you and I together can do, to save our environment. We are growing as a nation and we are getting lazier and lazier. Sure, it is a cool concept to recycle your tin cans or your plastic bags. But in the end, nothing will change enough for us to notice a difference. So if you are getting married, and you are the type of couple that recycles, save the green talk for after the wedding. Try to stay focused on what is important.

Releasing the Birds (Or Butterflies)

I have been to several weddings where they give you a bird or a butterfly. The idea is that rather than throwing rice, which is really fun to do, when the bride and groom walk but you release a bird or a butterfly into the wild. It is supposed to symbolize freedom or the release of these two into a journey together. Regardless, it is just more fun to throw rice.

Miniature Hats for the Ladies

Have you seen these? I am not saying it cant be pulled off, but think about it for a second. What point are you trying to prove by ticking a miniature hat on top of your head? I have looked and looked and I can’t figure out what the point of these little things is. But if you are invited to a wedding and you show up to find the bride sporting one of these, leave immediately.

Like I said, some of these will more than likely find their way into my wedding if I ever decide to walk down the aisle. But for all of you out there going to a different wedding every weekend (and I know who you are, I see you on Facebook), try to stay away from weddings that are featuring some of these trends. And if you are planning a wedding—just the same, try to be original and enjoy the best day of your life.

No matter how hard I try, I just can’t explain what I hear when I listen to a Pretty Lights album. From a full-length to an EP I am just overcome by beats and by an almost forced hip-hop sound. (Did you know that you can download all of his work on his website.) But it works. It works on so many levels that I just can’t turn it off. There are not a ton of vocals in his work, but that’s okay. You don’t need a lot of vocals with beats this good. I had the chance to sit and chat with Pretty Lights not too long ago and I learned a lot about who he was before he got into music and where he sees himself going with his work in the future. Pretty Lights is tall, tall enough that when growing up he had thoughts of being in the NBA. When I asked him in the interview what he would be doing if he was not performing, he said, “I always wanted to be in the NBA.” As Pretty Lights gears up for Electric Zoo here in a few weeks, he took some time to sit with me and discuss his latest EP, his thoughts on how the record industry currently stands, and even on where he sees himself five years from now. I learned a ton from this conversation and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Pretty Lights.

Where did you come up with the name Pretty Lights?

I first saw the name on an old Pink Floyd poster. It was the first time I saw the two words together and it stood out to me as not only a cool name but also a cool concept. It was very visual and got me thinking. It definitely stuck with me and related a lot of the ideas I wanted to communicate. What it really means to me is the concept that people and artists specifically go through their day eyes always looking for a moment of beauty or inspiration. It would be things that inspire people to create music and art. It would be any sort of form of that. Pretty Lights is an obvious element as it relates specifically to that. It‘s sort of like the essence of creative minds.

You are originally from Colorado. Is there much of a dance scene out there?

Yeah, the scene out here is really blowing up. It’s not a typical or traditional dance scene though. There are not a lot of the big named DJs coming through. At least not the club kind of stuff. Independent artists are basically performing hip-hop in a live setting. People are really supporting it and coming out for it. I just did a show for ten thousand people in Colorado of nothing but Pretty Lights beats. That is pretty much the scene today. A lot of artists are selling tickets for shows like that.

I get an almost hip-hop feel from your work. Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

I suppose my vision for the style I have created has been developing since I first started getting into music. When I bought my first bass guitar in the 8^th grade is when I first started. I was exposed and became interested in being a part of different themes. I think that over the last ten years, maybe fifteen years, I have tried to hang on to different elements and different genres. I have tried to design a style that fuses everything together. I grew up on hip-hop so that is part of the reason for the current music structure. I take the hip-hop approach to BPM and put the combined dance elements behind it. For a while I was going to a lot of dance parties and the rave scene started popping up. That infused it all too.

Also the dub step scene and reggae has had an influence. I was into that for a while and I was even in a few funk bands. I tried to take the best elements of all those things and fuse it together into a new style. I tried to create what I would consider to be my own favorite music. It just hadn’t been created yet. That is how I did it on a greater scale and crafted the vision on this music. I want to take the music to a new level.

I try to stay up to date on what others are doing all the time. I am not locked in the world of Pretty Lights.  It can be a danger when you get too busy with your music and your own shows. You can become cut off and alienated from the rest of the music scene. I always want to have a good idea where you are at and where your style is. You have to have an idea where the rest of your community is as well. It helps stay motivated and continuously inspired.

I am in love with your new EP. Tell me a little bit more about it.

This whole three EP thing that I have set out to accomplish over 2010 I did because I wanted to release more music than a single full-length over the course of the year. I wanted to hang on to the element of surprise. I am really big on people having never heard the music when it comes out on the EP.

It’s important for me when fans get an album that they haven’t heard the music live yet. That is just an element of it. With this second EP, I was thinking about it from the moment the first EP was released. I went on tour shortly after the first EP came out and while on tour I made it a priority to go visit used record shops in all these different cities across the country. I basically visited a bunch of record shops to go vinyl shopping while on tour to collect samples and snippets and sounds to start building this EP from.

I am not sure how much you know about my production style, but it’s what I like to call “sample collaging”. It’s where I am not just sampling an intro to someone else’s song and then building a track, but rather I am taking smaller pieces from old sounds and records and making several of them work together the way they were meant to be. I gathered material to create this material from all over the country while on tour.

Stylistically I was trying to explore a couple of themes. I was trying to choose multiple genres and throw them into a single track. I also wanted to take multiple styles into single songs at the same time. At one point it flips to a harder more electronic sound. That is one thing I was really messing with on the new EP. It was an idea I had been thinking about for several years now. I wanted to do two interpretations of the same song. I wanted to flip back and forth in a single track seamlessly. I was exploring new ideas on how that was possible and how I could push that. I learned a lot about what is possible and got a ton of new ideas from making that EP. I am really excited to start working on the third one.

Are you looking forward to Electric Zoo?

Absolutely. I play a lot of festivals and this is definitely one that I am looking forward to being a part of.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

The biggest crowd of my own headlining show was actually just last weekend. I headlined a gig at Red Rocks for about ten thousand people. I have played bigger sets than that at festivals though. Coachella was maybe fifteen thousand people.  That is the most I have played in front of I think.

The smallest?

Ten people probably. I played some really small rooms and small crowd when I first started.

What is the best show you have been to?

I can tell you one of them. I have been to a lot of really dope shows but I was blown away by Jay Z’s performance at Coachella. That guy has managed to bring it to the next level on all fronts. With the production and the musicians and just the overall show. Just everything has been thought of. Obviously when I watch a show I think back to how it was put together. I also think about my show or how I can push what I do to the next level. I was inspired by his performance.

I really dig that style of artwork you showcase on your album covers. Who does all your graphic design work?

I work with a handful of different artists. I try to conceptualize everything and then work side-by-side with artists and graphic designers. This EP trilogy I have worked with an artist from Australia for the covers. My website and posters I work with an artist out of Denver. A good friend of mine designed all my older album covers and shirts.

What would you be doing if you were not producing music?

I would be in the NBA winning titles. (Laughs) I always played basketball growing up. I was really into it. Not sure you knew this, but I am 6’8”. But in high school I decided that music was my calling. I quit the basketball team and focused on that. When I was a kid I always wanted to be in the NBA.

How cool is it to know that Behind Your Eyes has been downloaded over 500,000 times?

It’s sick. I feel so blessed to have such a large amount of people who are listening to my music and ready to download it when it comes out. It’s cool because when I sit down and produce something I know that it is has the potential to affect a broad number of people. It’s awesome. It reinforced what I had hoped for from the beginning. I wanted to show that an independent model like this could be successful and exist without the support of a major label. To prove that it can work without the system that the record industry has in tact.

This has been completely independent venture as far as creating and releasing the music. It’s awesome for Pretty Lights and my shows, but its also an example to set for where the music industry can go and what indie artists have the potential to do without major record label support. I hope that I can continue to evolve this model and other artists can do similar things. I want to make the playing field level and more indie artists can be self-sufficient.

If I were to release one record for free, and get all my fans to buy just one record, it could put Pretty Lights near the top. It makes you think of the scope of downloads and how it relates to the major labels.

I almost want to hear your work in a movie or as a theme song for a television show. Have you ever thought about working that angle?

I do a lot of that already. I work with a lot of major motion pictures and tons of extreme sports films. Surf videos, snowboard videos; stuff like that. I am completely down with that and it has been a goal of mine actually. Rather than license preexisting tracks, I want to go in and compose the score for an entire film. I would love to do that in the future.

How many stamps are in your passport?

(Laughs) I don’t know. I have been focused on the US and western Europe. Ten or fifteen maybe. I don’t know. There are just so many places to play in this world. There are so many markets and I am really trying to get into Australia and Japan. It’s not that we have not been offered shows there, it’s just the time to do it all and still take care of the markets that have already been through it in the states.

Do you prefer to play shows overseas or here in the States?

Right now it is all about playing the States. It’s not the same thing over there. I am trying to build it best I can. The shows in the States are leaps and bounds to what is happening in Europe. I am definitely working to build that up though.

Tools like Twitter and Facebook are changing the way people listen to music. How much attention do you pay to these services?

I realize what you are saying; they are really powerful tools. With everything that has been going on, I find myself neglecting them a little bit. I have been trying to communicate with my fans on Facebook and Twitter more frequently. I am a newbie, although I have had a Twitter account for a while. I used it to send out updates and show things, new download announcements, etc. I don’t like to tell people what I’m doing and where I am eating my next meal.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Laughs) That is a question I have been asked before, and I don’t know where I see myself in six months. I know that I will hopefully have fifteen more albums that I am proud of, an expanding, thriving label and a show that pushes the bounds of what shows do. Hopefully, if the next five years are anything like this last year; it will be crazy. (Laughs)

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I suppose when the dust settles, I want to be remembered for exactly what my main goal and ambition has been the whole time. Just to create fresh, good, tasteful music with longevity and emotion that is thought provoking and can really affect people. Whether it is right now or ten years from now, that is the music I am aiming to produce. In all the craziness of touring and running a business and putting on a production every night, sometimes that can sort of lose its luster. This is about making good music. The shows will happen and they will eventually come to an end, and there will be memories of those times, but the music will always be here. I want to evolve and push the music. I use the word evolve and I never think that my style will ever stay where it is. I want to get better.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

*Right when I asked this question the phone went dead. I told him, after a previous dropped call, that I was speaking to him on an iPhone 4. He stated that he was on an iPhone 4 as well. So whether you blame Apple or AT&T, Pretty Light’s last words will forever remain a mystery.