Self-described Pop/Punk/Religious band Iceage has been busy touring Europe, trekking through Sweden and England.  Now, the foursome is visiting the States and promoting its new album, New Brigade.  Soon, they will return to Copenhagen, the place they call home.  Read on as the band talks about the bodegas, record stores and Mayhem of K-Town.

1. What’s your town’s nickname?

Some people call it K Town.

 2. What’s your nickname for your town?

 We just call it Copenhagen.

 3. Why do you live there?

 We were all born there.

 4. What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

 I don’t think I can answer that.

 5. What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

 The big glass house in the botanical gardens and glyptoteket.

 6. What is the best time of year to be there?

 All year, both sides of the year have their advantages.

 7. Who is your favorite local celebrity?

 Morten Bræum.

8. Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

 It’s best to go to smaller bodegas cause if you go to bigger bars it’s very, very expensive.

 9. Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

 The bodegas have stuff like Bruce Springsteen and old Danish singers.

 10. Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

 We can recommend a place called Mayhem and yes we have played in Copenhagen.

 11. Does where you live influence your music?

 Yeah, a lot.

 12. What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Mayhem. We have played some really good shows there but I can’t pick all the shows I’ve seen there, there’s too many good ones.

13. What is your favorite local band?

 Sexdrome.

 14. What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish? 

There’s a place called Istedgrill at Istedgade serving really nice pork sandwiches.

 15. What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

 Insulamusic and Repo Man Records. I don’t know about my best find but I have found out about a lot of music through these stores.

 16. What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

 That might be something we’re missing here.

 17. What is your favorite local shop?

 The record stores I mentioned before.

18. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

 Cambodia.

We all love a good jangly, noisy indie pop song, and Hospital Ships is here, fresh from Lawrence, Kansas, to offer up a few of theirs. Actually, if you want to hear their music, go to their website. Right here is where we talk about their hometown. We were lucky in that the whole band decided to contribute, so this is some quality advice on where to have a nice casual encounter with a kind acid victim and who’s got the best truffle fries.

What’s your town’s nickname?
Larryville.

What’s your nickname for your town?
Jordan: Starston, USA.

Why do you live there?
Mitch: The thriving casual encounters section on our Craigslist.
Jordan: The cheap beer.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
No. Music and/or college brought us all here.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
Mitch: This random crazy guy walked up to a girl I was with, put headphones on her ears and said, “Have you heard this before?” and played Dave Matthews for her.
Jordan: The occasional accidental/awkward visit to an orgy/sex house.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc.)?
The river trail, the overlook, downtown, the pumpkin patch, all the Civil War sites.

What is your favorite local event or festival?
Spring Into Summer! (A local music festival put on by the Replay Lounge and Jackpot Music Hall.)

What is the best time of year to be there?
The fall!

Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Dennis, a man who dresses in childrens clothes and pushes dolls around in his stroller, Peace Rob, acid casualty who gives everyone the peace sign, Stan Herd and Michael Kruege, two local artists who are not crazy, just really awesome.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
The Replay Lounge anytime, or Harbour Lites for Thursday: Giant Beer Night.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Harbour Lites: local bands and sweet mix tapes made by the employees.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
No, the Replay Lounge is our favorite place to play. And house shows!

Does where you live influence your music?
Absolutely. If where you live doesn’t influence your art, you should probably move.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
The Bottleneck: King Khan and the Shrines, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Flaming Lips Boombox Experiment, The Jesus Lizard, The Appleseed Cast.

What is your favorite local band?
Drakkar Sauna and Cowboy Indian Bear.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Esquina/Burger Stand: Everything. Mainly truffle fries and tacos.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Love Garden Sounds. Every record I’ve bought for the last 7 years, basically!

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
I Heart Local Music!

What is your favorite local shop?
Richard’s Music, best small music store in the country as far as I’m concerned!

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
North Lawrence.

Dead Rider founder and frontman Todd Rittman is tough.  He actually likes Chicago winters, and recommends that you visit sometime, December through March.  While you probably won’t take his advice, living in what he calls “the Big Onion” helps him produce the unique rock and funk sound that the band is known for.  Read on to find out what else he likes about his hometown (as long as you promise not to steal his secret hangout).

What’s your town’s nickname?

Chicago has so many great nicknames: “the Windy City,” “City of Broad Shoulders,” “Hog Butcher to the World,” “Chi-town,” and “the Second City” to name a few.

What’s your nickname for your town?

My favorite is “the Big Onion,” which comes from the Native American name for the area, which meant “onion”.

Why do you live there?

I live here because I can get shit done.  The wonderfully brutal winters are beautiful and keep the riff-raff in their holes. The snow also covers up the filth.  It is centrally located in the continent, so touring the country doesn’t have to be all in one shot.  There is no better city in the world for music.  Great venues, studios and talent here. Really though, I love the bad winters; makes me feel alive. My friends all hate me when I say that, but there has to be someone else out there who loves a four-month long disaster every single year. Anybody…?

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

I grew up in the suburbs and have lived in the city for the last 23 years. Shit I’m old.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

This winter was the worst in ages. There was one blizzard that shut down the city for days.  The storm was so bad there was thunder and lightning all night. Really rare for a snowstorm.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

The lake is the best attraction. It really makes all the man-made stuff seem truly small.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

I really can’t believe how many festivals there are here.  Seems like more every year.  I stay away, though; I’m not good in crowds.

What is the best time of year to be there?

December through March are the sweetest months of the year here if you can survive it.  Wear more clothes and stop complaining is my advice.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Emo Philips.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

There’s a Polish bar called Zakopane on Division with pool tables that are always open and cheap, strong Polish beer. Their specialty is grumpy Polish dudes who won’t like you.  This has always been my secret hangout to avoid the crowds on the weekend, so don’t go there.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

John’s Pizzeria on Western (great thin crust) has the world’s most dilapidated jukebox that randomly plays b sides from one-hit wonders from the ’60s and ’70s.  Ever wonder if Sugarloaf has a song as good as “Green-Eyed Lady?” They don’t, but the two blown speakers make every dreary jam sound like it’s the hardest soft-rock ever. Hilarious every time.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

I play in a rock and roll band called Dead Rider. The best place to play is The Hideout.  Great little room, great sound, plenty of parking, and they don’t rip off the bands.

Does where you live influence your music?

I like to think I’d make the same music anywhere I was. I’m sure I’d make less of it, though, if I lived in a warm climate.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Again, The Hideout is a great place to see a show. They have a free jazz showcase every Wednesday. 

What is your favorite local band?

Cheer-Accident is the best band in Chicago period.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Murphy’s Red Hots on Belmont specializes in Chicago’s contribution to American cuisine.  Forget the hype and the lines. This is the best hot dog and fries you are gonna get anywhere on planet Earth.  

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Logan Hardware is a record store and vintage arcade on Western and Fullerton. My best find there was free pinball.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

The Chicago Reader.

What is your favorite local shop?

Andy’s Music has musical instruments from all over the world.  Even though I’m not really into the whole world music trip, this place is cool to poke around in, even if you’re not a musician.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

I hear they have some pretty interesting winters in Canada.

Actually, we hate to break this to you, but Fucked Up couldn’t make it to this interview. There are plenty of amazing things going on in Toronto, but the band has been really busy promoting their new album, David Comes to Life, and couldn’t take the time to talk about their hometown.

Lucky for us, however, David, the subject of the album, did have a spare moment between shifts at his factory job to tell us about his hometown of Thatcherite, England. Read on and find some new hot spots and bands from the other side of the pond!

What’s your town’s nickname?
“Brunt”.

What’s your nickname for your town?
“Old Well”.

Why do you live there?
Born and raised and just can’t find the effort to leave. It’s kind of somewhere between the comforts of home and the comforts of madness you know.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
Well I started here but my folks came here when the Well was still happening. Was supposed to be like another Bath or Leamington, somethin’ like that, and, you know, it all kind of went tits up dinnit? Was lovely for spell, though, I reck’n.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
As a lad, every time I switch the shower on the stove lights up, every time I light the stove the porch light turns on, when I turn the porch light on the toilet flushes, and when the toilet flushes the shower starts, but it runs brown and black for a few minutes before you can get under and get a wash.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
Byrdesdale Common. It’s the only green left ’round and something in the air feels a bit nicer there.

What is your favorite local event or festival?
Sunday Up Market at the Common, yeah. Just a good gathering. Music playing, wares exchanged, rain or shine, that sort of thing. Mostly rain anyway. Hard to find a unifying moment sometimes so that sort of sums it up for a few hours a week, donnit?

What is the best time of year to be there?
Any time when you’re about to leave for a spell haha.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Animal Man, without a doubt. Just a nutter. Iron Mouth, iron brawlies, crackin’ tunes, voice like an angel… a real pillar in the community anyway.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
Strut and Banner, the best boozer in Byrdesdale. Their drink is the Sting Ray. Get it? It’s Bitter with a torpedo of lemon liqueur. When you first drop it in there’s something about the chemistry of it all that creates a bright ray of liquor’s light in the middle of your glass. If you finish before it fades you’re supposed to live forever.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
As above as it is below, fella. Mostly bits and bobs from the past… the best thing in there is an acetate, though. It’s a “field recording” of the entire boozer singing the BFC song in the pub the night they played their first game. Chilling, that.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
Can do, yeah, but mostly it happens in hallways and homes. Best place to play is the old rendering plant. There’s a slant in the ceiling that goes lower to higher from the stage out so it’s got an inverse amplified effect. If you’re at the front you’re perfect cause everyone on stage has to play a low volume. If you’re at the back, it’s screamin’ at just the right temperature. You’ll be clacking your feet to “Wonderer” at full volume, smiles and all. Nice, that.

Does where you live influence your music?
Surely it does. Not much else to do here, save working and sleeping. The man who learned to count to four in time is a saint in my books.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
Strut and Banner, Grain, yer alright.

What is your favorite local band?
Animal Man.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Debby’s Dish and the best thing on the menu is “Debby’s Dish.” Stew with cockles in a Yorkshire Pud.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
The Record Exchange. You don’t find much. Mostly local stuff, but occasionally there will be something. Found a Dr. Feelgood record there, and that lovely “England’s Glory” 45.
What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
Company News is the only source of info really for local affairs. You can get it ’round but it ain’t much but news about what’s happening down in Bulb land. I did read about them boys in France over at Rhodia. Feels like ancient history now though.

What is your favorite local shop?
Woolworths.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
Maybe Wigan or Blackpool. Seems like they might have life in ‘em yet. Just like us ha.

David Bazan, former frontman of Pedro the Lion, came back in the fall of 2009 with a debut solo LP, Curse Your Branches, that blew away fans and new listeners alike. That album was step one in the reintroduction of Bazan as one of the savior songwriters of indie rock. Now he’s back, releasing his second full length, Strange Negotiations, a journey through his thoughts on politics, American culture and life as a touring musician. We had Bazan, a proud Seattleite, answer a few questions about where to find the best beer, his favorite pork sandwich and things not to do on a date with your future spouse.

Pick up Strange Negotiations in your favorite local record shop tomorrow, May 24.

What’s your town’s nickname?

Jet City, Emerald City, Rat City.

What’s your nickname for your town? 

Seattle.

Why do you live there?

I moved to Seattle with my folks in ’91, and fell in love with a local girl. I also kind of fell in love with Seattle, too. I really, really like it.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there? 

I shit my pants in the Marie Callender’s parking lot on I5 on a date with my now-wife. That was pretty weird.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

I like how visible the water and the mountains are at all times. It’s such a gorgeous town, it’s crazy.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Spring and Fall.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

John Roderick.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

The Leary Traveler, in Frelard. They have four rotating taps. They just have the best beer all the time.

Where is your favorite place to play?

Showbox at the Market is one of my favorite clubs in the United States.

Does where you live influence your music?

It must. I think that there is a culture of innovative dedication to rock & roll in Seattle that is contagious.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Again, Showbox Market is just amazing. There are many, many shows, but there is a Built to Spill show from 2004, or somewhere around there, that was, and is still, memorable. Second answer is the Tractor Tavern—Low on the first tour in support of Secret Name.

What is your favorite local band? 

The now-defunct Crystal Skulls.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

That’s tough. Paseo. Oh my God. That place is crazy. It’s just world-class sandwiches. I’ve been through everything, but I end up at the pork slab. I’m torn between that and the pork shoulder. I think I like the pork slab the best.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

I love Sonic Boom, and I love Easy Street too. They’re both such phenomenal records stores. I can’t pick.

What is your favorite local shop?

Emerald City Guitars is a guitar geek’s dream come true.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Portland?

In Portland, Oregon, when it rains, it pours.  However, the weather is no big deal for rocker Kasey Anderson; it gives him a reason to stay in and work on his music.  Below, Kasey shares some of his hometown highlights, including the Burnside Bridge, a funeral home-turned-music venue and a pimp named “Diamonds.”

What’s your town’s nickname?

Besides the “Rose City?” I think I heard people call it “P-Town,” but I hate that. Let’s not recognize that.

What’s your nickname for your town?

I’ll occasionally call it PDX which is asinine since I don’t refer to other towns by their airport codes.

Why do you live there?

It’s the only place I’ve ever felt at home. I’ve lived all around the world and I’ve never felt this comfortable anywhere else. I was born and raised here, so there’s probably something ingrained in me that makes me believe it’s perfectly acceptable to live in a place where it rains more than half the year.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

Yeah, I did. I spent some of what I guess you’d call my formative years in Bellingham, Washington, but Portland’s home.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

I spent New Year’s Eve 1999 in the back of an SUV with a man who went by the name “Diamonds,” and claimed to be “Portland’s most accomplished pimp.” I don’t know how we wound up in that car, and I don’t remember much else about the night, but I remember “Diamonds.”

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

It’s not really an attraction, but if you stand at a certain point on the Burnside Bridge and look north, that’s the way Portland looks to me whenever I’m away and I think about home.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Pickathon out at Pendarvis Farm. It’s my favorite music festival in the country to play, and my favorite to watch.

What is the best time of year to be there?

My favorite time to be anywhere is fall. I’m not prone to reminiscence, but fall seems to bring about these really melancholy pangs of remembrance in me, and I’ve never been one to shove that back down when it comes up. I don’t wallow, but I think people oughta embrace that sadness sometimes and ride it out.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

There was this guy, Ramblin’ Rod, who had a kids show on every morning for a long time around here. He had this sweater that was just covered with pins and buttons of all kinds; every show, some kid gave him a dozen new buttons. From what I recall, all he really did was introduce cartoons and play the occasional game with kids but, man, he was magical to me growing up.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

Pabst seems to be the drink of choice no matter where I go around here anymore, which is odd because I assume it tastes the same as it did when I used to drink it: like tepid piss.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

There’s a place called Lucky’s that has a great jukebox – old James Brown records, Meters stuff, Stax and Motown – and if you’re lucky, you’ll be there on a night when Willie Butler takes over the jukebox. He’s tuned in to that thing, man; he makes it his own, and he’s real theatrical about it. You can’t help but get into it.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

Mississippi Studios and Doug Fir are both great-sounding rooms. There’s this place called The Woods, which is a converted funeral home—that’s one of my favorite places in town to play.

Does where you live influence your music?

It can. The weather gives me an excuse to stay in and write when people in other parts of the country are out enjoying spring, which I’m told is a very beautiful season in certain places. Here in Portland, we just get slightly warmer rain than we had in January and February.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

There used to be this club called La Luna; it’s not around anymore and hasn’t been for a while. La Luna was one of a handful of all-ages clubs in Portland at that time. I don’t think any of those clubs are left. I saw The Wallflowers there in 1996, I think, just as that record – Bringing Down the Horse - was about to break. I remember loving that show. Saw Quasi there, Mudhoney, Guttermouth, Pete Droge. I ran into Mark Arm in the crowd before Mudhoney went on – I think I was 14 or 15 – and I looked up at him and just started freaking out. “Oh man! I love every fucking thing you’ve ever done! I love you!” I thought he was gonna have security haul me off. I’d probably do the exact same thing if I ran into him today.

What is your favorite local band?

Black Prairie and Blue Giant both put out great records in 2010.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

It’s not the best dish in Portland, but the Ham and Cheddar Mac at the Montage has served me well since I was 14-years-old.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Music Millennium. When I was in high school, I’d leave my last class everyday and go directly to Music Millennium, buy records, and then walk down the block to Escape From New York Pizza and get a slice. I was still discovering music at that point so my “finds” weren’t Beefheart first pressings or anything like that, but they were records I wound up loving and still love. Monk’s Underground, Some Girls, MC5 records, the Pogues—stuff like that.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

I think Ryan White of The Oregonian is a great music writer, not just for Portland, but anywhere. People should really seek out his writing, whether they live in Portland or not.

What is your favorite local shop?

There’s a deli called Kenny and Zuke’s that has its hooks in me pretty good. Powell’s Books is the greatest bookstore in the world. Those two places are within walking distance of one another, and both within walking distance of my apartment. That’s one big reason I never think too hard about moving.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Austin or New York. Maybe there’ll come a time when I need to be somewhere else, but it won’t be anytime soon.

Visually-stimulating, psychedelic band Yellowbirds are having a busy spring with shows scheduled from Massachusettes to Kentucky, but Brooklyn is home.  Read along as guitarist Sam Cohen shares tid-bits about his town.  Just don’t call it Crooklyn.

What’s your town’s nickname?

I guess if you’re an enormous dork you might call it Crooklyn.

What’s your nickname for your town?

The Greater Pulaski Bridge area.

Why do you live there?

Health reasons.

Did you grow up there?

No, I grew up in Houston, TX.

If not, what brought you there?

I’d been living in a very rustic setting in Western Mass in a farmhouse with my band Apollo Sunshine.  Everyone in the band started moving out for different reasons and going to different cities.  I could either move back to Boston or try something new.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

I’ve been issued tickets for some pretty obscure things.  That’s weird.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

The Cloisters!

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Wing night.  No, just kidding. I don’t know.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Spring!  On the first warm day after winter, the brotherly and sisterly love gauge is off the charts.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Woody Allen.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

I like Mark Bar in Greenpoint.  Their happy hour seems like it’s all day.  $3 top-shelf whiskey.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

Acapulco Restaurant at Manhattan Ave. and Clay, and they’ve got the system to make you feel the tuba.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

They won’t let me.  Whoever lets me.

Does where you live influence your music?

Very much.  ”Pulaski Bridge” was written looking out my window, and “In our world” is about the happiness I felt when my girlfriend and I finally got our own apartment.  She’s my wife now.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

I don’t stick to one place. The best show I’ve seen in some time was Warpaint at the new Knitting Factory.  I like Zebulon a lot, too.

What is your favorite local band?

There are so many great musicians around.  I just got into a band called Wish.  I went to see Superhuman Happiness the other night and they were great!  Been rocking a little Here We Go Magic.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Gonna have to go with Acapulco again.  Veggie fajitas, extra tortillas so you can share, whole beans instead of refried, no cheese, a side of jalapenos, and two pacificos.  The usual.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

I like Permanent Records and Academy Records.  I never find what I’m looking for, but stuff finds me at both those places.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

Brooklyn Vegan is a legitimate source.

What is your favorite local shop?

The Thing on Manhattan Ave. is the collagist’s best friend.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

On a hill that I don’t have to climb or in the woods by a babbling creek.  This would need to be less than 40 minutes to midtown.

Liz Janes is a singer-songwriter, folk artist, guitar player, and — to her own surprise — a Midwestern girl.  After living everywhere from Washington, D.C., to Orcas Isle, Washington, Liz is officially settled in Indianapolis, and wouldn’t dream of moving anywhere else.  Keep reading below to find out what makes the place she calls home so special. 

What’s your town’s nickname?

Naptown.

What’s your nickname for your town?

Indy.

Why do you live there? 

All of our family is out in California.  We moved here six years ago really just on a whim.  My husband and I had been very transient and adventurous in our twenties.  We had each separately moved from coast to coast multiple times.  We used to spend our free time dreaming about what place to move next, what job to try next, always thinking about moving on.  Imagine our surprise after a few years in Indy, to realize that our hearts just felt settled.  We realized that we’d no longer talk about where we wanted to move, but instead we’d talk about the new people and places in our own city that we were discovering.  Over time, we realized that we had everything here that we’d wanted in other places.  We can walk or bike to everything we need—library, post-office, work, school, groceries, farmer’s market, cafe, record store, parks and playgrounds.  Our neighborhood is demographically diverse.  The local farming/ slow food movement has tons of support and a great culture around it.  Lots of art and artists, with institutions and a city culture intent on supporting artists.  So, Indianapolis fits all of our priorities to a “T”: pedestrian, diversity, creativity, sustainability.  It’s all here in Indy.  

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there? 

Nope, Born in D.C., grew up mostly in Reston, VA, but moved to Philadelphia during high school.  Then, moved to Portland, OR; then Seattle, WA; then Olympia, WA; a couple seasons on Orcas Isle, WA; then Gloucester, MA; then San Diego, CA.  I’ve called all these places home, but what brought us here was just another adventure – never meant to stay.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

The weirdest thing of all is that I’m a Midwestern girl now!  Never in a million years would I have guessed that.  

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

The IMA (Indianapolis Museum of Art) opened a new Art and Nature Park last summer.  It is literally 100 acres of land full of incredible permanent art installations from all over the world.  Some of it is wooded, some is wide open space. There is a lake, and the whole place is so amazing to explore. Everything about it is exciting and experimental.  

What is your favorite local event or festival?  IMAF (Indy Music and Arts Festival) is at the Harrison Center for the Arts every summer.  It is free all day long and hosts tons of music as well as the HandiCraft Exchange which is like visiting an “Etsy Only” shopping mall!  The whole event is so creative and inspiring, and the Harrison Center offers wonderful hospitality to the artists.

What is the best time of year to be there? 

Every season has its charms, but I’d say late spring when it’s warmed up outside, but still cool enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay.  

Who is your favorite local celebrity? 

Melina Kennedy!  She is running for mayor here, and I’ve met her and she’s lovely, and powerfully capable of doing great things for our city.  Go Melina!  

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour? 

First of all, I don’t condone drinking.  I’m old enough to have seen alcohol ruin beautiful people and good marriages, and I just can’t stand it.  But if you’re not an alcoholic, and you’ve got your head on straight, and you’re doing right by your loved ones and making an honest living, and it’s time to toast a birthday or anniversary or Christmas or it’s just time for a pint in midwinter, I enjoy the Brugge Brasserie.  It’s as European as any place in Indy will ever feel and they brew three or four different beers at any given time which are always very rich and unique.  They also serve crepes and frites and oysters, so it’s a perfect place for the occasional indulgence.  

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)? 

Since I don’t frequent bars, I have no idea who has the best jukebox.  So I’ll have to say the listening station at Luna Records - and right now? I’m in it! Yay, have a listen!  

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play? 

I don’t play here (or anywhere) very often.  But I look for small alternative art spaces.  I’ve enjoyed playing at Big Car, Harrison Center for the Arts, Luna In-store, and I hope to play the Earth House soon.

Does where you live influence your music? 

Yes, but only in the fact that I have free time and head space for making art and music.  This is a friendly and slow Midwestern city where people can enjoy life and not just struggle to get by.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there? 

I will never forget the first time I saw Jookabox.  It was at the “Indie Indy” festival at Big Car gallery, um, 2006 I think?  I actually played my set and then right afterward, Moose from Jookabox started playing.  Back then he was called Grampall Jookabox and was more of a solo guy.  He was amazing!  He just jammed on this acoustic guitar with his rosey cheeks like Santa Claus, and his girlfriend and another guy were just making noise along with him.  But his groove was so strong and the music was so beautiful and the poetry immaculate and his face was just shining! That man is a genius.

What is your favorite local band?

Have to say Jookabox.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish? 

Honestly? I don’t eat out much.  I prefer to make food at home.  But there are two places I’m excited to try.  R Bistro is our local restaurant that emphasizes locally raised produce and meats.  And the Earth House has a “slow food” café that I’ve still never tried.  

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Luna Records is my neighborhood record store, and they just always have whatever I’m looking for and they’re so friendly.   

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

Nuvo and MyOldKentuckyBlog.

What is your favorite local shop?

Midland Arts and Antiques.  It is a giant warehouse where hundreds of vendors have stalls. Every beautiful old thing in the world that you would ever want or need is in there somewhere.  Just have to find it.  

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be? 

I can honestly say, there is nowhere on earth I’d rather be, than right here in Indy.

Let’s see. Athens, Greece is known for its classic architecture and Athens, Ohio is known for its classic Halloween block parties at Ohio University. But neither compares to Athens, Georgia, with its vibrant music scene that has produced talent such as Danger Mouse and R.E.M. 

Athens, Georgia, is also home to another music gem: Drive By Truckers.  Band member Patterson Hood tells Ghettoblaster Magazine why his Athens is unique among the others.

What’s your town’s nickname?

The Classic City.

What’s your nickname for your town?

Chronic Town in tribute to the first R.E.M. EP.

Why do you live there?

Because it’s a great place to live. It has a great and thriving music scene and a progressive city government, even though it’s in one of the most Republican states in the Union. I have the 40 Watt, a bunch of close friends, an art cinema and several world class restaurants. My wants are simple and appeased.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

No. I grew up in North Alabama and also lived in a couple of other towns. I wanted to live somewhere with a music scene and a progressive mindset. I spent one afternoon in Athens and it just felt like it should be home. I’ve been there for 17 years now.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

 I found a really happy and stable life. How weird is that?

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

All my favorite attractions are bars and clubs. We have a few really great ones. I like our art cinema, Ciné, a lot too. 5&10 is becoming a really world renowned restaurant.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Once a year we have Athfest and about 100 local bands play during a three-day period. You just walk down the street and there is a band playing in every room. It’s truly amazing, the wealth of talent in that town.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Spring and fall are good if you want to be outside, but fall has all the football bullshit, which I can’t stand because the hills empty out and the idiots invade and destroy the town and keep us up all night partying on our street. Summer is hotter than hell, although most of the bars have good air conditioning. I guess spring is my favorite, although I wish those girls would wear more clothes outside because they might catch a cold.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

That’s a good question.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

Flicker Bar and The Manhattan are both stellar. The 40 Watt Club and Caledonia are great places to see great bands play.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

The Manhattan. A bunch of great old records.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

We have a long tradition of playing at the 40 Watt Club. Our annual Homecoming Weekend draws fans from all over.

Does where you live influence your music?

Absolutely. It has always been a scene based more on being different and original than trying to be mainstream or get a record deal and that rush of creativity in the air was very inspiring to me from the first moment I came here.  We had a support network in place right at home that really enabled us to grow and push ourselves.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

I’ve seen some legendary shows at the 40 Watt. Flaming Lips on Soft Bulletin Tour, Vic Chesnutt, Patti Smith, The Hold Steady. I’ve gotten to see R.E.M. play there a couple of times and that’s always cooler than shit.

What is your favorite local band?

I love David Barbe and The Quick Hooks; Bloodkin, Don Chambers and GOAT, Liz Durrett, R.E.M. and the Futurebirds. My all-time favorite album to come out of there was by a band called The Glands. Their self-titled second album is one of my favorite albums ever made by anyone.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Love 5 & 10, love The National and love The Grit. The Grit is the local legend-a vegetarian that I actually love (and I’m NOT a vegetarian). They have a Mondo Burrito that is great. I can’t believe that I’m actually talking about something called a Mondo Burrito. Damn!

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

We have Wuxtry, which is the old classic favorite where Peter Buck and Michael Stipe supposedly met, we have Schoolkids where the guy from The Glands runs and Low Yo Yo just re-opened and they are excellent.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

Flagpole is our weekly and it is great. Home owned and often intelligent. It’s one of the best weeklies in the country and is still independently owned.

What is your favorite local shop?

Our downtown still has a lot of cool, locally owned shops of all kinds. I tend to be partial to the ones that sell records.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

I’m awfully fond of New York City, Portland and Austin. I like Chicago too, but my wife couldn’t handle the winters so it’s not on the list.

It’s no secret that Brooklyn has been a choice location for a good musician to find his place in the artistic landscape. It’s also no secret that Brooklyn is expensive as hell. That may or may not have something to do with why indie pop band Say Hi opted to move to the cheaper and rainier Seattle, which has an impressive musical roster of its own.

We recently got Eric Elbogen on the line to ask him about his favorite spots in the northwestern city. Read on to find out all the whens, wheres and whats that you should probably check out next time you’re in the Emerald City.

What’s your town’s nickname?
The Emerald City.

What’s your nickname for your town?
Passive-Agrestic.

Why do you live there?
It’s cheaper than living in New York City. It’s also pretty awesome.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
No. It’s a rather beautiful part of the world. Plus, it’s cheaper than living in New York City.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
Just the other day, an older man comes to my door to sell me a wreath. I tell him I don’t celebrate Christmas. “Oh, are you Hebrew?” he says. “I LOVE the Hebrews!” That was pretty weird.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
The Gorge Amphitheater is pretty mind-blowing. You’ll be watching a band play in front of this giant, unreal natural creation. It almost looks fake.

What is your favorite local event or festival?
Sasquatch, which happens at the aforementioned amphitheater. It’s curated and run better that any other festival in the country.

What is the best time of year to be there?
May through October. It’s paradise here then, there’s no rain and no humidity, but the wildlife is all overgrown from the moisture during the rest of the year.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?
I’m not much of a star-fucker.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
There’s a speakeasy on Capitol Hill called Knee High Stocking Co. You need to text for reservations and ring a bell to get in. It’s quiet and comfortable on weekends and there are rules of conduct. I’m not much for elaborate cocktails (mostly just a neat whiskey kind of guy), but they have a plethora of ‘em that I hear are pretty good.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Golden City in Ballard. The definition of dive bar. Classic rock, classic rap. You just have to ignore the paintings on the wall.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
Yes. The usual suspects. The Sunset, The Croc, Neumos, The Showbox. They all have their ups and downs.

Does where you live influence your music?
It has influenced exactly one Say Hi song, “Northwestern Girls.” (Duh.) Most of the time I’m more of a “look in my head for ideas” kind of writer.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
There was a David Bazan, The Head and the Heart, Damien Jurado show at the Showbox a few weeks back. I’ve never heard/seen more capable, compelling musicians on the same stage in one night.

What is your favorite local band?
Eh.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Pretty much anything from Rancho Bravo Tacos.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Big fan of both Sonic Boom and Easy Street. I’m not much a used vinyl kind of guy, but I have friends that consistently score great finds at both of them.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
The Stranger and Seattle Weekly both have some great writers.

What is your favorite local shop?
Trading Musician, a used instrument shop. It’s pretty overpriced, but the vintage items are normally in really great shape. I bought my first drum kit there this year, an early 70s Slingerland (silver sparkle!), and a really great 70s Mustang Bass as well. I’m super happy with both those acquisitions.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
Well, since it’s the dead of winter right now, any place with sunshine and a beach sounds about right.