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Venue of the Month
Edited by David Saslavsky
Dame Leo's: The Heart of Muncie's Music Scene
by Aaron Hiatt
This month's venue comes to us from the perspective of a musician. Aaron Hiatt is the singer/guitarist of Muncie, Indiana's Ashakadank. They play Dame Leo's the second Friday of every month.
As always, you don't need to be a rock star to write about your favorite venue. Send your submissions to David Saslavsky
Located in downtown Muncie, Indiana at 401 South Walnut Plaza is a little haven for music lovers and kind folks. The flow of people and traffic through this neighborhood is fairly dismal when there are no shows going on, but usually when a good live group plays, people come out of the woodwork. Dame Leo's is a small venue in size, but in heart it lacks nothing. It has been around for years and is mainly known for featuring blues acts from all over the states. It is located on a blue-lit corner where the window wall behind the stage reveals the band performing. When you first walk in you will see plants, paintings from local artists, and everyone greets you as a friend. Subtle, soothing stage lights, an elevated rear balcony, up close and personal performances, great homemade food, beverages of all kinds- the list goes on and on. One of the best features is that alcohol is available, but you do not have to be any certain age to gain entry. Those of age who choose to drink may do so, but underage spectators are not excluded from the music. Beverages that are featured include Guinness, New Castle, Honey Brown, fruit drinks and a variety of mixed drinks. Food entrees served stray from pasta to sandwiches to homemade concoctions. A down-home atmosphere surrounds the building, encompassing blue shaded lights and decor. A section up front is reserved for dancing and directly behind this area is a sea of tables lit only by candlelight. Very intimate!
Through the week entertainment consists mostly of open-mic performers, but on Friday nights the joint rocks! Live bands from all over play almost every Friday evening, normally showcasing one band a night. A routine cover of two dollars applies, and music usually runs from 9:30pm to Midnight or later. The stage Dame Leo's has is almost divided into two separate sections. A short wall that helps hold up the building stretches up through the middle of the stage. About 4 feet of room is left ahead of you if you stand directly in front of the end of the wall. Smaller bands fit best, but large bands are not hard at all to accommodate. The PA cabinets and mixer are provided, as well as an acoustic piano and a mess of other acoustic stringed instruments. Though the sound system is not spectacular, it easily gets the job done.
The music scene in Muncie is vast because it is, after all, a college town. You end up with a melting pot of sounds, which makes for inventive musical groups. Ashakadank, a great live band, and one I just happen to be the singer/guitarist of, can be seen there the second Friday of every month. Our style is a combination of funk, blues, rock, reggae, jazz, and psychedelic bluegrass. Improvisation is always a key component to Ashakadankís jams. You can never see the same show twice, or even once if that's possible! Another band that plays from time to time is Groove Parlour. Their laid back jams and catchy melodies help draw attention to a great venue. Their style is more reminiscent of the Grateful Dead or String Cheese Incident, whereas Ashakadank falls somewhere between Pink Floyd, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and Phish. You really can not go wrong when attending a show here!
All in all, Dame Leo's is a perfect place to groove hard or mellow down easy. Groovin' music and crowd/performer interaction always brew throughout place. For all of you that truly appreciate quality music that screams with soul, don't miss the opportunity to see a show here. Through the summer Dame Leo's owner, Denise Broyles, holds and promotes outside concerts in a blocked off section of downtown Muncie. Look for upcoming news on the Come Together Music Event. It will be a concert downtown outside of Dame Leo's showcasing bands of different genres. The entry fee includes the cost of music all day and the chance to win some of the prizes that will be given away. Most of the prizes will be donated by local vendors and businesses. Ashakadank will headline the festival featuring four or five other bands. The summer is superb to catch a show, but then again the crowds are always huge during the school year. Thereís always something to look forward to at Dame Leo's so check it out!
Aaron Hiatt is the singer/guitarist for Ashakadank form Muncie, Indiana. Check out their website: http://www.angelfire.com/in/ashakadank
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