What Steve Resch has in mind for the Jimmy's Music Center building downtown.

1970

1983.

It's one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.

Music venue, office space planned for downtown New Albany, by Brooke McAfee (Hanson's Folly)

NEW ALBANY — A live music venue, a bank and office spaces are some of the new additions coming to Market Street in downtown New Albany through a new redevelopment project.

The Jimmy's Music Center location at the corner of Market Street and Pearl streets is in the process of some major changes. Developer Steve Resch, owner of Resch Construction, purchased the space in November, and he is building offices in the historic building, along with a concert venue and bar in the basement.

Jimmy's Music Center remains open in a smaller space in the same location at 123 E. Market St., and owner James Gaetano is planning to eventually relocate the music shop to another downtown space. A space at the corner of the building's first floor has already been leased to New Washington State Bank, and the other side (where Jimmy's Music Center is now operating) will be a retail space. The second and third floors will be used for office space.

Joe Phillips, owner of Pints & Union, plans to open a live music venue called Misery Loves Company, or the MLC Club, in the downstairs area. The idea of starting a live music venue has been floating around in his head for about five years, he said, and the concept for the upcoming business was inspired by Jimmy Can't Dance, a jazz bar located beneath Another Place Sandwich Shop in Louisville ...

Musical addendum: Lots of local and regional music in 2012.

During the course of my year-end musical surveys, I've had very little to say about local and regional music and musicians, and yet it is clear that in 2012, I heard far more local music than usual close-up and live. It was an edifying experience, and I hope the keep the momentum rolling during 2013.

In fact, it may have been my most fallow year ever for attending shows held by nationally known acts: Adam Cohen/Rufus Wainwright at the Iroquois Amphitheater and Noel Gallagher/Snow Patrol at the Palace, and that was all.

What about Ben Sollee, nationally known instrumentalist and singer, live at the Carnegie Center in December? He may be getting bigger, but the venue was about as intimate as it gets, so he can count as local.

In May, there was RiverRoots in Madison, with many local and regional acts playing alongside the better known headliners like Bands of Heathens and Hayes Carll.

In July, there was our own NABC 25th anniversary "Beer & Loathing" party on the riverfront, with a great lineup of purely local talent: Roz Tate, Ben Traughber, Five Foot Fish, Beeler Attic, Jed and the NoiseMakers, Porch Possums, Dust Radio, Whiskey Riders and Toledo Bend.

In October, many of these same artists also played NABC's Fringe Fest in October, in addition to Artificially Flavored, Broke Bandit, Squeezebot, Temple of the Golden Dawn, Thunder Wrane and She Might Bite.

Also in October, and perhaps the most memorable sets I witnessed during the year, was the Heritage Festival in Cannelton, with the Troubadours of Divine Bliss and local favorite Jeremy Luecke, the latter a ridiculously skilled singer and songwriter.

There was a nostalgic get-together by Digby at the Indie Fest in September, and the many bands that played throughout the summer during the mayor's Live @ Five concert series. Andy "Thunder Wrane" Hunter played several times at Bank Street Brewhouse, and old friend John Woodard and the Rashers performed a wonderful evening set of Celtic music at Mt. St. Francis in August at a lakeside benefit for the Mary Anderson Center.

I'll close this recitation with a few links to Houndmouth, the front half of which I believe once was known as St. James Hotel (Fringe Fest 2011). Bluegill wrote about Houndmouth (and Toledo Bend) one year ago, on January 1, 2012.

"Get over it. Get used to it."

Given the overly familiar, often overbearing cast of characters, it's no surprise that some of the folks involved with the Bicentennial Commission are struggling when it comes to making traditional forms relevant in a modern world. Thankfully, a younger, more knowledgeable set is doing it just fine with an urgency and grace long missing from their better-known elders. It's theirs and similar names that will ultimately matter as we move into the post-historic now.

Paying attention to them? The sooner the better.

I've sent the year heeding Bluegill's advice. Here are the links.

"Penitentiary" music video.

"Houston Train" live video from SXSW.

"Krampus" at the Irish Exit.

Plaid Friday 4: Thunder Wrane at Bank Street Brewhouse tonight.

Andy Hunter, aka Thunder Wrane, will be performing this evening in the WCTU Reading Room at Bank Street Brewhouse. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free of charge, although we'd encourage you to enjoy a libation.

Dillinger's Music Venue to occupy the Parthenon.

The Bank Fusion Cuisine & Lounge opened a year ago with a Dillinger Room, and now there's been a rebranding. Here's the scoop, courtesy of the Dillinger's Music Venue page at Facebook.

ABOUT DILLINGER'S

Dillinger's is a music venue for Southern Indiana, located next to the popular Irish/Exit and was originally The Parthenon Building, which served as a bank established in 1837.

The building is multi-level and capped with a dome and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the New Albany Downtown Historic District. Many of the buildings alterations, including the steel reinforcement under the dome, were put into place to better protect it’s holdings from an anticipated robbery by famed bank-robber John Dillinger and his crew.

The New Vintage books and promotes the new venue. The company has spent the better part of two years booking/promoting all shows at ZaZoo’s in St. Matthews and occasionally at other Louisville venues, including Zanzabar and Headliner’s.

Hunter Embry, who runs The New Vintage with partners DeadBird Studios and Ryan Thompson, said “Dillinger’s is designed to cater to New Albany’s fast-growing nightlife scene. It will be a full-fledged music venue, much like the ones we’ve worked with in Louisville.”

Embry plans to bring in local, regional and occasionally, national acts to Dillinger’s. Dillinger’s will also be available for private parties and events.

“There’s been a solid music scene growing in Southern Indiana for quite sometime now and the town deserves it’s own venue. Like ZaZoo’s, Dillinger’s will have a top-notch PA with sound engineers to match. Bands will enjoy the comfort of green rooms and hospitality.”

"This place is rad - the huge pillars out front, tall ceilings, rustic look and that dome. It's going to be a pretty cool spot to see live music."

The Public Art Walk is this Saturday (June 23), with accompanying NABC beer garden and live music.

The New Albany Public Art Walk takes place this Saturday, June 23, and for the first time, there’ll be a beer garden right in the middle of Bank Street, with NABC beer and live music from 7:00 pm until midnight. It’s the same footprint as that being used for Live @ Five. Art walkers of all ages can begin and/or end their stroll there.

The Art Walk showcases annual temporary art installations intended to symbolize selected aspects of New Albany’s civic experience in the run-up to our bicentennial next year. In 2012, three previous works of public art and three new ones are on the walking route.

At 4:00 p.m. on the 23rd, Bank Street will be closed between NABC Bank Street Brewhouse and the Carnegie Center for Art and History. Parking areas on BSB’s side of the street can be reached by the two-way alley between Bank and Pearl. Lots on the Carnegie side can be accessed by the alley from Elm Street or a cut-through by the Schad Law office from 3rd Street.

There'll be some tables and chairs, but please feel free to bring camp chairs for use in the beer garden.

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Midnight Hour Sound System
9:00 - 10:30: Ten Penny Nail
10:30 - 11:30: Midnight Hour Sound System

Last call is 11:15 p.m.

Maybe we can find some Black & Blue Grass to pour. I have contacts.

Live @ Five returns to State and Market tomorrow night.

It's a work in progress. The overall reasoning is mostly sound, and I suspect the implementation will improve with each passing week. If not, perhaps CeeSaw can propose an ordinance.

State Street will still close, but some changes made for Live@5 concert; Smokin’ Joe to play free show Friday in downtown New Albany, by Daniel Suddeath (Zinc Ad Zeitgeist)

 ... “We’ve got to do something better if that stage is going to be in the middle of State Street,” said New Albany City Council President Diane McCartin-Benedetti during Monday’s council meeting.

Councilman Bob Caesar also said he received numerous calls about the traffic situation as a result of the street closure.

SWAT: Sisto, Wheeler, & Tiemann Jazz Trio tonight at Bank Street Brewhouse.

Tonight at NABC Bank Street Brewhouse: SWAT ... The Sisto, Wheeler, & Tiemann Jazz Trio, live from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.