What to Expect

Forget all the things I said about 317 BBQ and Taproom recently—the great selection of beer, the BBQ, the vibe…Ladies and gentlemen—RIDER’S UP! It is Hippie Dippie Derby Day at 317!

This is going to be an epic afternoon and evening. Of course, the highlight will be Downstairs Dads starting about 6:45pm (*see below)—but you can fill your day shopping at some of Broad Ripple’s vintage/hippie stores: The Source, Elevated Hippie, Satellite Vintage, Broad Ripple Vintage, and the Wild Goose Exchange. AND, when you save your receipt from the last 30 days, you can get a discount on the BBQ right off of 317’s own smoker.

But wait, there’s more… Best-dressed hippies will vie for fabulous prizes, so swing in with your finest hippie fit! Festivities start at 5:30pm.

My one beef (Dad pun intended) with the whole program—it’s Derby Day—they have Derby in their flyer. Why, for the love of all things sacred, is there not a Derby hat contest? Maybe next year?

I have it on good authority that equine enthusiasts will be able to catch the Derby on at least one of the Taproom TVs. Post time is scheduled for 6:57pm ET. I’ll be out in the car with my Mint Julep roadie, and then back in for beers, BBQ, and the Dads.

To misquote Timothy Leary: Turn on, tune in, and drop in for Hippie Dippie Derby Day with the Dads at 317 BBQ and Taproom Broad Ripple.

Let’s all learn to love algebra together (said no one, ever). Hang on though—let’s make it simple. Solve for x:

2x + craft beer + high energy + familiar songs = great time

 I’ll do the work for you… x = Downstairs Dads.

Let’s put it this way: if you don’t have fun at a Downstairs Dads show, it might be a you thing. Their setlists are built for entertainment and engagement—sing along, or just sit back and take it in. Here’s a sampling from a recent show: Set Fire, Son of a Preacher Man, Simple Man, With or Without You, Can’t You See… wait, hold on. Downstairs Dads? Who’s covering Adele and Dusty Springfield?

The Dads have a ringer.

 Like most of the local bands featured on Indy.Local.Live., I usually have some connection to the group. In this case, it’s Mark Berry (bass/vocals) and Eric Sheets (acoustic/vocals). And while those guys can hold their own—including the occasional surprise falsetto—the real secret weapon is Emily Reissner. She brings serious vocal punch, putting her own spin on artists like Dolly Parton, Dolores O'Riordan, and, yes, Dusty Springfield.

Could Downstairs Dads be eyeing a deal with Warner Music Group? Maybe. But it feels more like a group of good people playing music they love—and having a blast doing it. And that energy is contagious.

I’ve never walked away from a Downstairs Dads show without feeling a renewed love for live music—and like I just had a kick-ass time