Everything’s Coming Up Indie

Like seemingly everything in the universe, good music comes to Central Pennsylvania in waves. For months we'll get nothing but David Allen Coe and Michael Bolton. It's horrible. But then the wave of crap crests and you can see some promising shows on the horizon. The Millennium Music Conference is behind us and March and April seem to be particularly stuffed with highly-worthwhile music, and since now is about the time you'll need to be buying tickets, I figured it might be a good idea to pull everything out into one post. So... Voila!

Ingrid Michaelson
Chameleon Club w/ Mat Kearney, Lancaster
Tuesday, March 9
Tickets: $25
I’ve actually saw Ingrid Michaelson when she came to Messiah College in the fall of 2008. Going into that show, I wasn’t sure whether I was going to enjoy it or not, but I ended up having a good time. Her brand of indie pop is palatable to both sexes.
Essential Track: Die Alone

David Bazan
Messiah College, Grantham
Saturday, March 27
Tickets: Free
The former Pedro the Lion frontman’s music is not going to be for everyone, but a colleague who has seen him live assures me that Bazan puts on a good show. Just like his music with Pedro, Bazan’s solo stuff is stuffed full of thoughtful lyrics.
Essential Track: Cold Beer and Cigarettes

Passion Pit
The Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, York
Monday, March 29
Tickets: $28–$45
Yes, Passion Pit’s debut EP was actually written as a Valentine’s Day present from Michael Angelakos to his girlfriend. They’re a completely unlikely success story, and their music is offbeat electronic indie pop that people tend to either love or hate.
Essential Track: Sleepyhead

The Manchester Orchestra
Chameleon Club, Lancaster
Wednesday, March 31
Tickets: $14–$17
Andy Hall started the Manchester Orchestra during his junior year of high school in Atlanta and over the course of three albums the band has gotten steadily better. Mean everything to nothing has a few tracks that seriously rock and a few poignant but over-thought slower tunes.
Essential Track: I Can Feel a Hot One

“Ben Folds
Hershey Theatre, Hershey
Saturday, April 10
Tickets: $32.50–$39.50
Everybody loves Ben Folds right? The erstwhile ringleader of the awesome Ben Folds Five, Folds has gotten a lot of traction out of his ability to write a catchy piano tune, writing bitingly emotional yet snarky lyrics and curse creatively. So what was he doing on that a capella show?
Essential Track: Annie Waits

The Hold Steady
Appalachian Brewing Company, Harrisburg
Friday, April 16
Tickets: $22–$25
The Hold Steady has been called the greatest bar band in America and who are we to argue. They are unequivocally awesome. All of their music is great, but if you aren’t familiar purchase “Boys and Girls in America” like, right now. Top notch album top to bottom.
Essential Track: Chips Ahoy

The Welcome Wagon
Tabor Church, Lebanon
Friday, April 23
Tickets: $15 (no online purchase)
I’m not one for gospel music, but I am one for beautiful music and this is beautiful music. Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique don’t waste a single note — a single sound — in their songs which are heartbreakingly spare. Worth checking out.
Essential Track: Half a Person