Past Shows
FOR LIVE CONCERT PHOTOS, CLICK HERE:
http://ireneandreed.wordpress.com/tour/past-shows/live-photos/
FOR HI-RES PRESS PHOTOS (300 DPI), CLICK HERE:
http://ireneandreed.wordpress.com/press/
Irene & Reed Play Debut Concert at Birdy’s
CONCERT PHOTOS: Check out photos of Irene & Reed’s live concert debut at Birdy’s Bar & Grill in Indianapolis, Ind., from 12-1-10, by Nikki Arnold: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobynikki/sets/72157625521560442/
12-1-10: Thanks to Birdy’s for hosting Irene & Reed’s concert debut on Dec., 1, 2010, and thanks to all our friends for coming out in the bitter cold to support our first live gig last night. We had an awesome time! We received some great feedback from old and new fans, touting our sound as “mellow, hip, comfortable, torch-singer-y, and professional.” …Thank you!
Veseria also rocked the stage! …The very musical band included a male and female vocalist who harmonized beautifully together, as well as a cameo by a very hip “squeezebox,” which all reminded me of an alt. folk blend of Jefferson Airplane and Bloomington’s own Murder By Death. And their song, “Bad Man,” is now stuck in my head. Buy their roots rock demo and find them online at: www.facebook.com/Veseria.
Irene & Reed Featured at Speakeasy Party
12-4-10: For our second live gig, Irene & Reed performed live on December 4, 2011, for a private Speakeasy-themed costume party in the heart of downtown, Indianapolis, Ind. Complete with guests dressed in 1920′s garb (flapper girl dresses, feathers, fedoras, and suits), the show was a fantastic continuation of the live band format, featuring newcomers Eddie Venable on drums and Scott Carroll on bass guitar, as well as Irene (Leslie Benson on valocs) and Reed (Jason Reed Milner) on keyboard.
Irene & Reed Open for Mirrorball at The Vollrath Tavern
12-21-10: Thanks to Mirrorball (http://mirrorball.weebly.com/) and Lounge Soundsystem for graciously inviting us to perform at The Vollrath Tavern on 12-21-10. Despite the snow, we all made it safely, along with our awesome fans.
Second Album Preview Concert:
Friday, Jan. 21, 2011: Irene & Reed performed songs off their upcoming second album, as well as singles off Closer to Home, live at The Verve, 677 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, Indiana 47807. Irene & Reed opened, sharing the stage with Chicago’s Ornery Little Darlings, the self-proclaimed “love-child between Billie Holiday and Lou Reed” and Terre Haute natives A Thieves Parade, who awed the audience with their original experimental rock in the vein of Radiohead.
The concert garnered media coverage as seen below:
The Terre Haute, Indiana, Tribune Star newspaper features Leslie Benson, vocalist, of Irene & Reed: http://ireneandreed.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/thtribstar-1-21-11-print1.jpgand Jason Reed Milner, pianist, of Irene & Reed:
http://ireneandreed.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/tribstar-ir-1-14-11-hard.jpg
Irene & Reed Return to Birdy’s
Wednesday, March 16, 2011: If you missed Irene & Reed’s debut performance last December 2010 at Birdy’s Bar & Grill in Indianapolis, fans had the chance to hear the original “piano pop cabaret” quartet back at their favorite venue for a special gig, opening for Yukon Fox and In Euphoric Company. Video footage of the event is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjUX0wO4acc&feature=youtu.be&a.
Irene & Reed, Missing Pieces, Yukon Fox, Pi-Eyed Pipers at Locals Only, Friday April 1
Friday, April 1, 2011: Presented by Puzzle Peace Entertainment, this was Irene & Reed’s first Friday night gig! We welcomed back locals Yukon Fox, Missing Pieces, and The Pi-Eyed Pipers for this joyful, “Foolish” Celebration!
Irene & Reed Kicks Off Broad Ripple Original Artist Series
Friday, May 13, 2011: Irene & Reed opened Indy Parks’ Broad Ripple Original Artist Series with a two-hour live set, featuring hit songs from their debut album, Closer to Home, and their new album, which is being released in 2011. About 100 fans, friends, and families came out, along with their pets, to show their support. Even mosquitoes wet their bite!
Irene & Reed Summer Gigs at the Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar
Friday, May 20 and Friday, June 3, 2011: Irene & Reed performed three hour gigs at the beautiful Sunset Stage, a new outdoor, candlelit venue being promoted by Bloomington, Indiana’s upscale, gourmet dining facility, Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar. The regular shows kicked off the inaugural year of concerts on the Sunset Stage.
Irene & Reed at The Melody Inn for Cocoanut Grove Lounge Night
Sunday, June 5, 2011: Irene & Reed played two sets of original material at The Melody Inn in Indianapolis, Indiana, for Phil Kellar’s Cocoanut Grove Lounge night, held the first Sunday of every month. The crowd cheered at the band’s songs off their first two albums, many of which were unreleased tracks, and especially loved the encore performance of the band’s covers of “Zombie” by the Cranberries, “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos (featuring a solo by classically trained pianist Jason Reed Milner), and “Shadowboxer” by Fiona Apple.
Irene & Reed Featured in Free Concert at Broad Ripple Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, July 6, 2011: Irene & Reed performed a free, all ages show at the Broad Ripple Farmer’s Market, Broad Ripple Park, 1115 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220.
Irene & Reed at Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar in Bloomington
Friday, July 15, 2011: Irene & Reed performed a three-hour gig on the Sunset Stage to an audience of 50 people, including a birthday party, throughout the night, at the beautiful Scholar’s Inn Gourmet Cafe & Wine Bar, 717 N College Ave., Bloomington, Indiana.
OHIO GIG!!!!!!:
Dayton Native Returns Home on Tour from Indy with Debut Album
Saturday, August 6, 2011: Dayton, Ohio-native Leslie Benson, singer-songwriter in Indy-based piano pop band Irene & Reed returned to Ohio her first hometown performance since 2002′s incarnation of the original band Burning Veda. Playing to a packed house at the South Park Tavern, the band played two sets to a welcoming audience of Stebbins High School and Wright State University alumni, among many other friends and family.
Irene & Reed and The End Times Spasm Band at The White Rabbit Cabaret
Irene & Reed (Duet) at Green Hat Lounge Piano Bar
Saturday, August 27, 2011: Irene & Reed made its debut at The Green Hat Lounge in The Charley Creek Inn in Wabash, Indiana, to a packed room of diners in the first-class bar and restaurant inside an upscale hotel, which was built in 1920 and renovated in 2009.
From Indy.com: “Hoagy Carmichael’s image on the wall of the 30-room Charlie Creek Inn’s Green Hat Lounge is just one bit of Hoosier nostalgia Ford’s small downtown Wabash boutique hotel offers its visitors.”
From CharleycreekInn.com: “The perfect getaway.Located in the heart of historic Downtown Wabash, the Charley Creek Inn is an historic boutique hotel standing as a proud symbol of the 1920s. After a two year restoration, the Charley Creek Inn is the perfect place to rediscover history, romance, culture and the arts.”
Irene & Reed at Lazy Daze Coffee House
Sunday, August 28, 2011: Irene & Reed played a trio gig in the sunshine at the Lazy Daze Coffee House in the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana, welcoming new bassist Eric Latham on upright bass guitar.
Saturday, September 17, 2011: ORANJE 2011, Featuring Irene & Reed and Many Other Local Artists and Musicians
ORANJE [http://www.oranjeindy.com] is an interactive experience of art and music that, for one night each year, brings together the best of emerging and progressive art & music talent from all over the Midwest and showcases them in an funky, urban, industrial venue that creates a stimulating, social and interactive environment. For this, the 10-year anniversary, ORANJE 2011 presented over 40 fine artists in individually, custom designed booths, over 30 music acts presented on five stages, multiple “enviro-lounges,” an Indie Film Lounge, a Fashion Design competition, a live graffiti exhibition and food and beverage service all in a 60,000 square foot, two-story industrial building in downtown Indianapolis. Irene & Reed was honored to be a part of the tenth anniversary celebration of ORANJE 2011.
Irene & Reed Headline Wine Fest in Seymour, Indiana
Saturday, September 24, 2011: Irene & Reed headlined the annual Chateau de Pique WineFest in Seymour, Indiana. Opening band Me, Him, and Jim played awesome covers of The Dave Matthews Band, Guns N’ Roses, and more. Irene & Reed performed three hours of original music off albums one and two, the latter of which will soon be recording in the studio. Thanks again to Brad Milner and Brandon of B&B Sound for running sound; thanks to all the fans who came out, and thank you so very much to the Chateau de Pique for inviting us to the event. We can’t wait until next year’s WineFest!
Irene & Reed (Trio) at Green Hat Lounge Piano Bar
Saturday, October 8, 2011: Irene & Reed performed as a trio with upright bass guitarist Eric Latham at The Green Hat Lounge in The Charley Creek Inn, 111 West Market Street, Wabash, Indiana 46992. What a beautiful historic town!
Irene & Reed Play Broad Ripple Music Festival
Saturday, October 15, 2011: Irene & Reed performed at Indy CD & Vinyl for the fifth anniversary of the Broad Ripple Music Fest, which featured over 100 artists and 30 participating venues. Proceeds benefited Girls Rock!, an Indy-based music summer camp for girls.
