Tim’s Picks: Ain’t that Tuff Enough?
When you're not checking your NCAA Tournament bracket, your guide to some choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Thaddaeus McKee with Sam Rocha and Olivia May, 8 p.m. Thursday, March 20, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — Whether it’s for the pod or the stage, Thaddaeus McKee’s funny shines in either format. The young Indianapolis comic has headlined in Circle City and opened for national acts like former “SNL” cast member Chris Redd and Ryan Niemiller, a fellow Indy comic whose stock soared after his work recent work on “America’s Got Talent.” McKee’s material can be heard with just a few taps on your smartphone as creator of the movie podcast “IDK IT,” co-host of Indianapolis top-ranked comedy food podcast, “Harder Brunch,” and producer of “The Drunk Dial Podcast.” McKee will make his headlining debut in Lafayette Thursday. He will be joined by a pair of Chicago comics, Sam Rocha and Olivia May, whose Instagram account claims she has 8.2 billion followers on TikTok. $10 or pay what you can.
Artists’ Own Silver Anniversary opening reception, 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 21, Artists’ Own, 518 Main St., Lafayette — A local arts Main Street mainstay opened its doors a quarter-century ago this year. To celebrate, Artists’ Own, the longtime local arts co-op, will present new works from its members while sharing stories from the last 25 years as well as revealing plans for the next 25. With members representing just about every artistic medium imaginable, expect a diverse show among the celebration and libation. The exhibit runs through April 19 while Artists’ Own will continue to be a hub for fine local art for decades to come.
Athenian Nights Rainbow Gala, 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22, Holiday Inn City Centre, 515 South St., Lafayette — Pride Lafayette’s first gala event will transform downtown Lafayette’s Holiday Inn City Centre into a Grecian paradise full of eat, drink, merriment and drag. Hosted by Vicki St. James, Indiana drag foremother and former Miss Gay Indiana, the Athenian Nights Rainbow Gala will benefit Pride’s downtown community center and its many events, most notably OUTFest, Second Chance Prom and its several outreach groups it supports. $75. Tickets.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — Less than two years after his former bandmate, legendary guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, lit up the Long Center Stage, Kim Wilson and his Fabulous Thunderbirds’ will have a turn. Vaughan, who also jammed with his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan to much acclaim, played in the Thunderbirds during the roots rock band’s most prosperous years during the 1980s when the T-Birds opened for rock royalty in the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, and they scored their lone top-40 hit, “Tuff Enough.” Vaughan left the band in 1990, but Wilson and his Fabulous band trucked on. Today, Wilson is celebrating 50 years rocking with his Birds and touring on a new album, “Struck Down,” which features an all-star cast of guest talents — ZZ Top founder and another Southern rock guitar god Billy Gibbons, blues-rock royalty Bonnie Raitt and even Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, just to name a few. This proves The Fabulous Thunderbirds are indeed still “Tuff Enuff.” $29-$49. Tickets.
Salivus with Nellie Bly and Wrought With Plague, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, North End Pub, 2300 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Sporting a vintage Pushead-drawn Metallica T-shirt and even 1980s-style white puffy high-top sneakers, Alex Oliver and the rest of Salivus have leveled up after a recent, memorable opening set before Lafayette metal kings The Mound Builders. This weekend, the young band will headline and headline well with its classic thrash metal sound and boundless energy. Opening will be Indianapolis death metal quintet Wrought With Plague and Nellie Bly, a pop punk band that started at Purdue University house shows but has since spread its wings to play Lafayette venues like Eleventh House, North End Pub and Indianapolis all-ages institution the Hoosier Dome. $10.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
BONUS CUT …
Also in play this week is SEAMUS ’25, an academic conference at Purdue featuring soundscape research and five days of performances along experimental edges of sound and technology. It starts Friday and includes 14 concerts in Purdue venues, as well as at The Spot and The Arts Federation in Lafayette. Here’s a way into the schedule and a Q&A with Tae Hong Park, chair of Purdue’s new Department of Music who brought the conference to campus.
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