Why I Like Robins, Lafayette indie rock vets, reunite after 12 years
Why the return of Why I Like Robins? A Q&A with the band ahead of Saturday’s welcome back show. Plus, Indiana Chamber's new water report, LEAP's other pipeline and more
Today’s edition is sponsored by the West Lafayette Public Library Foundation, which is hosting an ice cream social from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Caretaker’s Cottage, 1496 N. Salisbury St. Donations from the pay-what-you-wish event will support operations of the renovated Cottage, which recently opened as the library’s history center on the edge of the Grand View Cemetery. More details below:
Today’s edition opens with this cool bit from Lafayette’s music scene, via friend Tim Brouk.
LAFAYETTE INDIE ROCK VETS WHY I LIKE ROBINS REUNITE AFTER 12 YEARS
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
After more than a year of jamming and rehearsals, Why I Like Robins are ready to rock again after a 12-year hiatus. But there will be one difference: The guitar-driven indie rock band that ruled the Lafayette scene from 2007-2012 will have a much smaller bar tab in 2024.
Since its final riff rang out at The Black Sparrow that decade-plus ago, members of the band, all age 43, have made lifestyle changes while keeping up their musical chops in various bands and projects.
“We’re all sober now, which makes a really big difference it turns out,” said guitarist Rob Soden with a laugh, ahead of a Saturday show at Lafayette bar The Spot. “We were partying pretty hard back then. Now, it feels a lot more focused. All of our practices used to be hangover practices. Not anymore. Everybody grew up.”
Soden, Jonny Magic (vocals, guitar), Brad Threlkeld (bass) and Justin Edington (drums) have gotten together a couple of times a year for camaraderie and some N/A cold ones, but with Threlkeld moving back to central Indiana from Champaign, Illinois, the occasional jam became fuel for an official reunion. The Robins even have a couple of new songs that will see the stage for the first time this weekend, “El Spooky” and “2 M 1 S.”
Why I Like Robins have already embraced streaming, as the band’s music can be found on Spotify and Apple Music, and another EP will be in the works. More shows should be expected as well.
I recently sat down with Magic and Soden to discuss the reunion, how the scene will re-embrace them and why it’s important to keep your 40s rocking.
Question: The big question: Why did you guys decide to get back together?
Rob Soden: One of the last times we got together, we had a cabin down by Shades (State Park) and we were listening to some of our old recordings, and I think it was Brad’s idea, “We should just get together and see if we want to do it.”
Jonny Magic: We all said, “That would be really cool. OK!”
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