Indy Allen - a member of so many kinds of music communities - joins Wally to talk about the bonds between fans, between artists and their audience, and changes in live music communities.
Indy's Playlist (see it on Spotify)
1. Thursday - Application For Release From The Dream - Integral to the creation of post-hardcore, Thursday gives us new music after twelve years. It was worth the wait. After 20+ years of battling record labels, they are finally free to do what they like without the sword of Damocles hanging over them. Their DIY ethics shine through their beautifully refined sound.
2. Class War - The Menstrual Cramps - Bristol accents and full voices; This is the song that you rock out to in your shitty car on your way to your shitty job while you decide if today is the day you're finally quitting. "Everybody go and join a union."
3. Koyo - What's Left To Say (feat. Vinnie Caruana) - They make me feel like I felt in the summer of 2006, without all the teenage bullshit. Koyo puts on some of the most energetic, fun shows I have been to in a long time.
4. Roman Candle - Can We Watch Something Happy? - Final Girl feels.
5 & 6. VIAL - Chronic Illness Flairups & Ur Dad - I love everything VIAL is doing so much that I couldn't pick between these two songs.
7. Death Lens - Disturb the Peace - FTP
8. Laura Jane Grace - Hole in My Head The infinitely enjoyable Laura Jane Grace does it again.
9. Scowl - Fuck Around - Scowl kicked down the door on the scene and convinced every girl who saw them to dye their hair flourescent green. All you have to do to understand why is listen.
10. I Am The Avalanche - Honey Bee - Vinnie Caruana (featured earlier on the list with Koyo) returns with beloved scene staple I Am The Avalanche who are back with something new, raw, and with the tendency to stick with you. Just like honey.
11. L.S. Dunes - ...How Dare You - This band got a lot of attention due to the individual members' previous work, but the music they are making together is worth listening to with fresh, unbiased ears.
12. GEL - Mirage- Go to a GEL show. To see them is to love them.
13. Fresh - Merch Girl - I don't know if anyone who has ever experienced gender-based exclusion in music can listen to this song and not identify with their whole soul.
14. Problem Patterns - TERFS Out -"Feminism is for everybody, every single body, and not just the bodies that you are comfortable with."
Indy Allen Bio:
"Indy has been a life-long participant in the creation of performance art and live music. Now a stage and production manager, they have been active on and behind the stage since early childhood.
Raised in a family of artists and musicians, Indy sang jazz and blues with her stepfather as her accompanist on piano throughout their childhood. The family performed together at parties and competitions, but most often for themselves.
They studied opera and classical voice for eight years. Their vocal work was recorded for holiday albums and with experimental musical projects. They have been honored to perform live with professional recording and touring musicians from all walks of life and genres.
Indy is a devotee of punk and its various subcultures.
Having been an activist and non-profit leader, working in the American South for racial and economic justice, they bring those values to their passion for music and live performance."