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Cage The Elephant’s Unstoppable Energy Thrills at Ruoff Music Center

Noblesville, Indiana

Wednesday night at the Ruoff Music Center was a night to remember, as Cage The Elephant took the stage with three opening acts. Vlad Holiday, a Romanian-born American singer-songwriter with lo-fi melodies, kicked off the evening of music. Following that performance was the English singer-songwriter Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr, aka Bakar, whose unique sound added a refreshing layer to the lineup.

Next up was Young the Giant, hailing from Irvine, California. Led by vocalist Sameer Gadhia, the band—comprised of Jacob Tiley and Eric Cannata on guitars, Payam Doostzadeh on bass, and Francois Comtois on drums delivered an energized set for the crowd. Gadhia mentioned that the band had not planned to tour this year after touring heavily for the past ten years until Cage The Elephant invited them along.

Despite Cage the Elephant’s frontman Matt Shultz’s recent injury—just four days prior, he had broken his foot—he took the stage on a knee scooter, proving that nothing could slow him or the band down. Shultz moved around the stage while popping wheelies and making the most of his recent injury.

The band’s setlist spanned their entire discography. The band’s guitarist, Brad Shultz, took to the crowd several times to display his showmanship chops. Cage The Elephant’s performance was also a visual spectacle, featuring pyrotechnics and lasers that added to the night’s electrifying atmosphere. The band slowed things down a few times, most notably during “Telescope,” with the crowd lighting up the amphitheater and lawn with their cellphone lights. Shultz also took a moment to thank the audience for their support during a rough time, leading into a heartfelt rendition of “Skin and Bones.” The band ended the night with a three-song encore with Shake Me Down, Cigarette Daydreams, and Come A Little Closer. The band will continue the rest of their Neon Pill tour, which will run through September and a few dates in November.

Cage The Elephant Setlist: Broken Boy, Cry Baby, Spiderhead, Too Late to Say Goodbye, Good Time, Cold Cold Cold, Ready to Let Go, Neon Pill, Social Cues, Halo, Mess Around, Trouble, Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked, Skin and Bones, Rainbow, Telescope, Tokyo Smoke, House of Glass, Sabertooth Tiger
Cage The Elephant Encore: Shake Me Down, Cigarette Daydreams, Come a Little Closer

Young the Gaint Setlist: Jungle Youth, The Walk Home, Cough Syrup, Waves, Panoramic Girl, Nothing’s Over, Dollar $tore, It’s About Time, Call Me Back, Superposition, Mind Over Matter, Tightrope, My Body

Photo Galleries: Cage The Elephant, Young the Giant, Bakar, Vlad Holiday

Cage The Elephant Neon Pill Tour at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/ Jams Plus Media)

Young the Giant at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/ Jams Plus Media)

Bakar at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/ Jams Plus Media)

Vlad Holiday at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on August 7, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/ Jams Plus Media)

Band of Horses and the Carriers at Rock The Ruins

Rock the Ruins

Holliday Park

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 30, 2024

Photo gallery by Tony Vasquez

Setlist:

The General Specific, The First Song, NW Apt., Casual Party, Warning Signs, No One’s Gonna Love You, Islands on the Coast, In Need of Repair, Marry Song, Older, Factory, Dilly, Laredo, Crutch, Never Tear Us Apart (INXS cover), The Great Salt Lake, Is There a Ghost, Ode to Lrc, The Funeral

Forty5 Presents the Band of Horses at Rock the Ruins on June 30, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/ Jams Plus Media)

Maggie Rogers mesmerizes the crowd at Everwise Amphitheater

Maggie Rogers delivered an emotionally deep and captivating performance on a muggy evening at the Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park in Indianapolis. The rain subsided as Amber Mary Bain’s introspective journey under her moniker, The Japanese House, kicked off the evening of music. The band performed songs from the 2023 release, In the End It Always Does.

Maggie Rogers’ performance was a truly magical experience. From the moment she hit the stage during “It Was Coming All Along,” the opening track from her new album, Don’t Forget Me, released earlier this spring, the atmosphere was charged, and the audience was fully engaged with her performance. Rogers’ airy voice filled the amphitheater, enchanting the audience with each note, who were hanging on to every word.

One of the highlights of her set was the third song, “So Sick of Dreaming,” where Rogers changed the lyrics to “So she calls me up 15 minutes before the reservation and says she’s got Fever tickets instead,” a nod to the Indianapolis Fever that sent the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.

Rogers’ setlist was a blend of old favorites and new tracks:

It Was Coming All Along
Drunk
So Sick of Dreaming
The Kill
Say It
Dog Years
Love You for a Long Time
Never Going Home
Retrograde
If Now Was Then
I Still Do
Alaska
Back in My Body
Light On
That’s Where I Am
All the Same
Don’t Forget Me

Each song showcased Rogers’ ability to blend ethereal melodies with deeply personal lyrics, creating an immersive and emotional experience for everyone present. More ticket information for Maggie Rogers’ current tour can be found here.

Maggie Rogers and The Japanese House Photo Gallery

Maggie Rogers The Don’t Forget Me Tour at Everwise Amphitheater in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 5, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

The Japanese House opening for Maggie Rogers at the Everwise Amphitheater in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 5, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

Gloria Trevi

Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

Indianapolis Indiana

Gloria Trevi En Concierto Tour

May 17, 2024

Photos by Tony Vasquez

Photo Gallery

Setlist: Gloria (Umberto Tozzi cover), ¿Qué voy a hacer sin él?, La Noche / Pruébamelo / Me río di ti / Habla blah blah / Hijoepu*#, No querías lastimarme, Me Lloras, Ellas soy yo / Que se acabe el mundo / Te diré que sí / Vestida de azúcar, Dr. Psiquiatra, Con los ojos cerrados, Pelo suelto, Ábranse perras, Inocente, El favor de la soledad, 5 minutos, Medusa, El recuento de los daños, Todos me miran

Gloria Trevi at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 17, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Egyptian Room at Old National Centre

Indianapolis Indiana

In Between Thoughts… A New World Tour

May 16, 2024

Photos by Tony Vasquez

Photo Gallery

Setlist:
Astrum In Corpore, True Nature, The Eye That Cacthes the Dream, Egoland, Monster, Seeking Unreality, The Ride of the Mind, Diablo Rojo, The Soundmaker, The Simurgh, Tamacun, Gabriela Solo, Finding Myself Leads Me to You, In Between Thoughts…A New World, Hanuman, Descending to Nowhere

Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Egyptian Room in the Old National Centre on March 16, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

The Wood Brothers and Jobi Riccio at the Egyptian Room

Friday night at the Old National Centre’s Egyptian Room in Indianapolis was a musical escape filled with soulful and captivating performances, and the evening featured The Wood Brothers, accompanied by opener Jobi Riccio, fresh from their stellar performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the night before.

Jobi Riccio, hailing from Morrison, Colorado, kicked off the night with her tunes from her 2023 release “Whiplash.” Her performance revealed a deep-rooted passion for country and Americana music, earning her the prestigious John Prine Songwriter Fellowship from Newport Folk last year. Riccio’s set the stage for The Wood Brothers perfectly.

The Wood Brothers, comprised of brothers Chris and Oliver Wood and Jano Rix on drums, immediately transported the audience with their seamless blend of folk, blues, and soul. The band treated fans to a mix of their beloved classics and rarely performed gems like “Heartbreak Lullaby” from their 2015 album Paradise.

The Wood Brothers showcased their musical prowess throughout the night, with Chris Wood’s mesmerizing bass lines, Oliver Wood’s soulful vocals and guitar work, and Jano Rix’s dynamic drumming creating an infectious energy throughout the evening.

The Wood Brothers will be on the road for the rest of the summer, with Jobi Riccio joining them for a few more dates in April. To catch them live and experience the magic, check out their tour schedule at https://www.thewoodbros.com/tour.

Photo Gallery: The Wood Brothers with Jobi Riccio

The Wood Brothers at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 5, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

Jobi Riccio opening for The Wood Brothers at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 5, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez for Jams Plus Media.

Sierra Hull at the HI-FI

On a Friday, March evening, I made my way to the HI-FI for a night of brilliant music with singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull and opener Gabe Lee. Having caught Sierra last summer at the Summer Camp Music Festival, where she collaborated with several artists, including Willie Nelson, Andy De Frasco, and Maggie Rose, I knew the evening would be a magical bluegrass musicianship. I was pleasantly surprised by the solid performance of the storyteller and songwriter Gabe Lee, who opened the evening of music.

Sierra Hull started her set with ‘How Long,’ ‘Beautifully Out of Place,’ and ‘The Last Minute’ from her 2020 album 25 Trips. The band laced in a few covers from Del McCoury, Bela Fleck, Flectones, and The Impressions ‘People Get Ready’ before closing the set with ‘Long Way.’ Gabe Lee joined the band on stage for the encore to play ‘Summer’s End.’

Sierra will be hitting the West Coast with some dates in California in April. For more concert info, head to https://www.sierrahull.com.

Setlist:
How Long, Beautifully Out of Place, The Last Minute, I Feel the Blues Moving In (Del McCoury cover), What Do You Say?, Bombshell, Escape, In Between, Boom, Celiing to the Floor, Movement 3, Poison, Muddy Water, Come Out of My Blues, E-Tune, Middle of the Woods, Stomping Grounds (Bela Fleck and the Flectones cover), People Get Ready (The Impressions cover), Long Way

Encore: Summer’s End (with Gabe Lee), Haven Hill

Photo Gallery: Sierra Hull

Sierra Hull at the HIFI in Fountain Square on March 22, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/Jams Plus Media)

Gabe Lee opens for Sierra Hull at the HIFI in Fountain Square on March 22, 2024. (Photo by Tony Vasquez/Jams Plus Media)

Dancing with the Stars Live Tour Lights Up Valentine’s Day

Love was in the air this Valentine’s Day night as ABC’s sensational Dancing with the Stars embarked on its live tour on the Murat Theater stage at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN. Featuring a star-studded lineup, including special guests Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev, the performers captivated the audience on Wednesday night with dazzling, spectacular dance routines. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic firsthand! Visit DWTSTour.com for more information on tickets and tour dates.

Dancing with the Stars live tour at the Murat Theatre in the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 14, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez

Nickel Creek in Indy with special guest The Staves

Nickel Creek returned to the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre on Saturday night for the first time since their last performance in May 2014. The trio, consisting of Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins, joined by bassist Jeff Picker, released their album Celebrants in March of the previous year. The setlist included selections from their latest release alongside beloved fan favorites. The evening began with the mesmerizing harmonies of a special guest, The Stave, setting a captivating atmosphere for the night’s musical journey. Throughout their career-spanning performance, Nickel Creek redefined the boundaries of bluegrass, infusing it with the emotional depth of pop sensibility to create a strikingly bold, effortlessly captivating immersive experience. Remember not to miss Nickel Creek as they will be touring with special guests The Staves, Gaby Moreno, Monica Martin, and Andre Bird this year. For more tour info, go to https://www.nickelcreek.com/tour.

Nickel Creek Setlist

Where the Long Line Leads, Ode to a Butterfly, When in Rome, Destination, This Side, Going Out…, Celebrants, Reasons Why, Elephant in the Corn, Strangers, The Lighthouse’s Tale, Scoth & Chocolate, Somebody More Like You, Sabra Girl, To the Airport, …Despite the Weather, 21st of May, When You Come Back Down (Tim O’Brien cover), New Blood, Smoothie Song, The Fox, Hayloft (Mother Mother cover), Holding Pattern

Photo Gallery

The Staves opening for Nickel Creek at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 10, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez

Nickel Creek at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 10, 2024. Photo by Tony Vasquez

Jim James’ Soulful Night of Music and Literary Magic for Young Authors Greenhouse

Last week, Jim James returned to Lousiville, his hometown, for a special pre-Thanksgiving solo acoustic performance at the W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre to help raise funds for the Young Authors Greenhouse, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring children aged six to eighteen to embrace the power of their voices and stories.

Kiana Del, the lead singer of Kiana & the Sun Kings, kicked off the evening with an impassioned performance, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of music. Following her captivating set, young authors Jaden, Riyan, and Nandan took the spotlight with their readings. Kiana Del and Jim James joined them on stage to pose questions after each reading, creating a unique and interactive atmosphere that showcased the young authors.

Jim James, known for his role as the frontman of My Morning Jacket, took the stage with a pair of James’ original compositions, “The World’s Smiling Now” and “A New Life,” setting an intimate and personal tone for me as I recalled covering James on the stage back in 2013 on his solo tour debuting the Regions of Light and Sound of God album. James then delved into My Morning Jacket’s catalog with the “Knot Comes Loose” and “I’m Amazed.” The audience was so quiet that Jim’s vocals cut deep with lyrics:
I’m amazed what they want me to believe
After all is said and done- where is the justice?
I’m amazed, the lack of evolution
I’m amazed, at the lack of faith
I’m amazed, at the love we rejecting
I’m amazed, what we accept in its place

James debuted several covers, which made for an extraordinary night, starting with George Harrison’s moving “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth).” Jim continued to surprise the audience with first-time renditions of classics from Marvin Gaye, George Harrison, and The Beatles.

The encore started with My Morning Jackets’ “In Color” and continued with soulful performances of Marvin Gaye’s iconic “What’s Going On” and a beautiful rendition of The Beatles’ “Real Love.”

Closing the night on a poignant note, James played “Here in Spirit” from his solo album “Eternally Even,” followed by New Multitudes’ “Changing the World,” and he closed the evening with Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy.” The night was a testament to James’ ability to blend his heartfelt original compositions with timeless classics, all for a fantastic cause.

Set: The World’s Smiling Now
A New Life
Knot Comes Loose (My Morning Jacket)
I’m Amazed (My Morning Jacket)
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (George Harrison)
Why Can’t We Live Together (Timmy Thomas)
Hopefully (My Morning Jacket)
Look at You (My Morning Jacket)
Throwback, My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)
Only Memories Remain (My Morning Jacket)
Big Decisions (My Morning Jacket)
I Will Be There When You Die (My Morning Jacket)
Movin Away (My Morning Jacket)
Over and Over
I Needed It Most (My Morning Jacket)
Never in the Real World (My Morning Jacket)
The Right Place (Monsters of Folk)
Peaceful Easy Feeling (Jack Tempchin)
Wonderful (The Way I Feel) (My Morning Jacket) * Kiana Del joined
State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)
Encore: In Color (My Morning Jacket)
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
Rainbow Power (Timmy Thomas)
Bermuda Highway (My Morning Jacket)
Real Love (The Beatles)
Here in Spirit
Changing World (New Multitudes)
Love and Mercy (Brian Wilson)

Photo gallery link: Jim James