The Hoosier Ballroom

[Marti Abernathey]

The first punk show I ever saw was at the Hoosier Ballroom. It was located next the gay bar the "Ten" (their address is now 1218 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, Indiana).

I don't remember a lot from the show other than Jot was playing and Nick Adams was Jot's bassist (for anyone that remembers Jot, Nick wasn't in the band very long. On a side note, the last time I heard about Nick Adams, he was wanted by law enforcement) at the time. I remember falling down in the pit and a really cute girl in fishnets with a mohawk helped me up, humped by ass, and then pushed me back into the pit. :)

The Hoosier Ballroom seemed more like someone's garage, than a ballroom. It wasn't very well lit, the place was the kind of dirty you get from being closed up for five years.

I'm not sure when the Ballroom closed (was it ever really open? One has to wonder, considering the shape it was in), but I know that the Ten bought the space and now I believe it's the dance floor of the Ten. Ironic to think that the place where punk shows happened now is the domain of drag queens. I know, because I'm queer and I've been to shows at the Ten. I laugh every time I'm there and I think about it.

[CraiGrrr]

Yes, a grimy room, perfect for what would be called "alternative" acts, these days. I remember catching the Chili Peppers there. And Sonic Youth.

[Marti Abernathey]

Grimy and gritty are two perfect words I'd use to describe the place. It's been a long time, but the sound was pretty decent, given the disheveled appearance of the place. The show was memorable because it was the first time I ever met Marvin P.

[mike whybark]

Sonic Youth, for sure. Great show.

Am I making it up that Marvin went around putting a slice of pizza on all the tables with strict instructions that it was not to be eaten, in order to enable the restaurant beer law?

[Marti Abernathey]

There are so many stories about Marvin P, I wonder how many of them are true. I remember hearing a story about Marvin getting his a** beat by members of Samhain because they didn't get paid fully for a show (if I remember correctly it was a show at the Gym of the closed IPS school next to Englewood Christian Church, off of Washington and Rural Street).

[Will SIbley]

Some fun shows. I remember the entire room toasting Marvin due to the strong turnout for Sonic Youth. I think I remember the Hoodoo Gurus from Australia playing there in front of about 10 people. They had big hair.

[Jim Judge]

I believe it was in '87 that I saw Let's Active, unfortunatly the only time I went there. I remember it was small, but cozy, and closed not long after that. I remember a wonderful version of "See Emily Play" as their encore.

[Kirk]

No, you're not making it up. I ate my slice of pizza and then had to get another one to put in front of me. I was really hungry.

mike whybark said:

Sonic Youth, for sure. Great show.

Am I making it up that Marvin went around putting a slice of pizza on all the tables with strict instructions that it was not to be eaten, in order to enable the restaurant beer law?

[LUMPY REPELLENT]

Will SIbley said:

Some fun shows. I remember the entire room toasting Marvin due to the strong turnout for Sonic Youth. I think I remember the Hoodoo Gurus from Australia playing there in front of about 10 people. They had big hair.

The Primates opened for that show - the Hoodoos were very star-like and hated us even before we played the show.

[LUMPY REPELLENT]

We played there a few times - with the Minutemen, the Hoodoo Gurus and the U-Men, [I THINK] if my memory is workin'

[Will SIbley]

We loved the Primates!
LUMPY REPELLENT said:

We played there a few times - with the Minutemen, the Hoodoo Gurus and the U-Men, [I THINK] if my memory is workin'

[LUMPY REPELLENT]

Will SIbley said:

We loved the Primates!
Thanks for the kind words, Will!

[LUMPY REPELLENT]

I remember Buddy from Raw Meat trying to pick up chicks in 'Ten' which was nearly chockfull of lesbians at the time. I thought they were gonna kill him, it was hilarious.