Indianapolis: Where the Cornfields Meet the Concrete (and My Sanity Frayed a Little)

okay, so indiana. not exactly top of everyone’s bucket list, right? but hear me out. i’m a touring session drummer, and sometimes you gotta play gigs where the map looks like a Jackson Pollock painting. this time, it landed me in indianapolis. and honestly? it was… something.

a black and white bird sitting on top of a tree branch

I just checked and it’s… a damp, grey sort of day. The kind where you question all your life choices. The temperature’s hovering around 0.86 Celsius, feels like -5.1, which is just delightful when you’re lugging a drum kit around. Pressure’s 1025, humidity’s a swampy 82%. Basically, pack a raincoat and a therapist.

My hotel was… fine. Nothing special. But the neighborhood? Interesting. If you get bored, *Columbus and Bloomington are just a short drive away - apparently, they’ve got some decent college vibes. I spent a lot of time wandering around downtown, trying to find decent coffee. Let me tell you, it’s a quest. I ended up at a place called “The Coffee Ax” - it was… adequate.

“Don’t go near the Canal Walk after dark,” someone slurred at me in a bar. “Too many… things.”

I’m not entirely sure what “things” they meant, but it added a certain je ne sais quoi to my evening stroll. I did check out the Indianapolis Canal Walk though, during daylight hours. It’s… surprisingly pleasant. Lots of people walking their dogs, families, that sort of thing. It’s a nice little escape from the city’s bustle. You can find more info here: TripAdvisor.

Food-wise, it’s… hearty. Lots of meat. I had a pretty solid burger at a place called Bru Burger Bar. Yelp says it’s popular, and I can see why. Yelp It wasn’t exactly groundbreaking cuisine, but it hit the spot after a long day of setting up drums and trying to remember the chord progressions.

I overheard a couple arguing about the Indiana State Museum. Apparently, it’s got a surprisingly good collection of Native American artifacts. I didn’t have time to check it out, but it’s on the list for next time (if there is a next time).

Here’s a quick rundown of what I learned, mostly from eavesdropping and slightly panicked Google searches:

*The Circle: It’s a thing. A big roundabout. Don’t get confused. Just follow the signs.
*Monument Circle: The big monument in the middle of The Circle. It’s… tall. You can climb it, apparently. I didn’t.
*Mass Ave: Apparently, this is the artsy district. Lots of galleries, theaters, and quirky shops. I didn’t spend much time there, but it seemed… lively.
*White River State Park: A decent place to wander around if you need some green space. White River State Park

“The Pacers are playing tonight,” a guy with a handlebar mustache told me. “Get down there. It’s a good time.”

I’m not a huge basketball fan, but I appreciate the enthusiasm. I did manage to find a decent vintage shop - Atomic Vintage - which was a highlight. Atomic Vintage. I snagged a killer 80s blazer for like, twenty bucks. Score!

Honestly, Indianapolis wasn’t a bad place. It just wasn’t… exciting. It’s got a certain… quiet charm. A sort of “fly-over-state” vibe. But hey, at least the people were friendly. And the coffee, eventually, was drinkable. I’m already forgetting most of it, which is probably a good thing. I’m heading to Fort Wayne* next. Wish me luck. I’m also checking out some local music forums to see if there are any decent gigs. Indianapolis Music Scene

Indianapolis: Where the Cornfields Meet the Concrete (and My Sanity Frayed a Little)

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