Saturday 9pm right on schedule.  I jump out of the truck and begin to change. My shirt was wet from the rain and sandals were not suitable for a night at the Melody Inn.  Lo and behold the motley crew pulls up just as I finish changing. It is Jake, Travis, and Katie.  The quartet is back together for yet another night of music and fun.

So, here is where I am going to hit the pause button on the story. Many may ask, what is the Melody Inn? Or What is Punk Rock Night? Here is some back story on the venue and the event.

The Melody Inn

The Mel, affectionately known as such, is a historic and intimate bar and live music venue located in Indianapolis. It has been serving drinks since the 1930s, making it one of the longest-running watering holes in the city's history. Throughout the years, The Mel has become a sanctuary for an extensive range of music genres including punk, rockabilly, indie, metal, and more. Its ambiance exudes a dark and gritty dive bar atmosphere that has made it an essential component of Indy's local music scene. Both residents of Indianapolis and touring bands hold The Mel dear to their hearts. Adorning its walls are old concert posters, photographs, and various music-related trinkets that contribute to its distinctive charm.

If you happen to find yourself in Indianapolis craving great tunes accompanied by an authentic Indy bar experience look no further than The Mel. Drop by this establishment where you can indulge in auditory madness at its finest - be sure to check their website or social media platforms for upcoming musical offerings.

 Find the Melody Inn Here: https://melodyindy.com/

Punk Rock Night

Punk Rock Night at The Mel is an Indy staple that's been going strong for over 20 years now. What started as a thinly attended niche event in the late 90s has evolved into a packed weekly celebration of punk's rowdy spirit. Back in the early days, just a handful of local punk acts would take the stage to plug in and rage for a small but dedicated crowd. As word spread, more punk hungry fans and musicians caught wind and started showing up. Over time, the buzz around Punk Rock Night grew from an underground whisper to a full on shout.

Nowadays, every Saturday you'll find a line out the door at The Mel full of pierced, patched, and colorfully coiffed punks waiting to get their fix of amplified anarchy. The weekly ritual has been crucial for breeding and nurturing the local punk scene. No matter if the bands are homegrown Hoosier punks or just passing through, Punk Rock Night consistently delivers a potent dose of raw, unadulterated tunes to stir up the floor. The community and camaraderie you'll find at The Mel during these punk parties is second to none too. From the old school early punks that have been coming for decades to the next generation moshing their liberty spikes off, everyone is welcome to throw down at this long running punk institution.

While the audience and attention has swelled tremendously over the years, the ethos has remained the same - embrace individuality, question the status quo, and most importantly, have a kick ass time. Through evolutions in the scene, Punk Rock Night has stubbornly persisted as Indy's home for all things punk. So if you're craving the sweet sounds of distortion cranked to 11 and nonconformity from the norm, do yourself a favor - get to The Mel on Saturday night for Punk Rock Night!

 Find Punk Rock Night Here: https://punkrocknight.com/wp/

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Blog Post

So, we get up to the door and see a lot of old faces I know and quite a few new faces too. The energy is popping and Shep who is the PRN photographer huddles us up for a group photo. We get in the door, and I head straight back to stash my bag and get the camera ready. I run back up to the bar and I get a red Bull. I hate these drinks, they don’t taste good and it’s like playing Russian Roulette with my heart. Wait, did I bring my beta blockers I thought? Nope, YOLO it is!!

I run around and snap some shots and say hello to people I haven’t seen in a while. I missed this, I needed this. The energy and the faces. I spent the last two months mostly held up at home knowing if I left, I’d spend money I was trying to save. The detriment to my social and creative side of my persona were beginning to show.

The Beer Garden

I decided to head out back to the “Beer Garden” because this is where the magic happens most of the time here. I swear, you can walk back there and have an amazing conversation with a complete stranger and become friends within 15 minutes of arriving there. I have not found a place like the Mel anywhere in the world. The place and the people are truly unique, and this is also why it is so special. I don’t care if you are a punk or not, or whatever you are. This is the most open and inclusive crowd I have ever met. Just check your attitudes and misconceptions at the door before entering.

I stood back and just watched everyone interacting with each other while I was navigating this new camera. Slowly but surely, pictures began to add up while capturing the vibe and energy of the night. AT this point I am still exhausted, no food and very little sleep. I opted for yet another second disgusting Red Bull just to keep up with the tempo of my surroundings.

The night goes on

By this time my hunger is getting the best of me. I order on of their infamous frozen pizzas which on many occasions got me through the night. Thought I would try and wash it down with a Guinness in hopes to fill my void with something other than an energy drink.

I’m sitting in the back picking at this pizza. I start to go through some of the pictures and I discovered these two things.

1: I still need to dial in some settings and learn this camera much better.

2: I caught some magic tonight

I don’t know if it was the crowd, or the new camera in my hands, or just that drive to go out and be creative. Capture moments and people in time and tell a story about it. But it all worked out, the universe had put me where I needed to be at that time. There were no hikes, no tacos, no campfire, no massive lightning strikes, or damaging weather. There was just now and the music and the people that made it so special.

Going Home

After the last band finishes up, I migrate back out front to get a few last shots and say some goodbyes. Also, like an idiot I get yet another Red Bull to help me get home as the drive was long and dark. On the drive home I reminisced the evening in my head. Anxious to process the images and see what I got and what they would become. By the time I got home, what I actually had concerns about with the Red Bull had happened. It had triggered and AFIB attack, which is usually not a big deal but the next couple days after one is a bit to recover from. I had been up nearly 40 hours with a small nap 24 hours previous. I was tapping out.

So, a bottle of water and some heart meds before bed. God, I love getting old!