Ep. 32 - Michael McReynold - Sweater Disco
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Intro
Once again, I’ve taken a sort of mental check-out the final 2 weeks of 2025, so not a lot to write here. But thanks for visiting as always!
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Michael McReynolds
Production learnings from the episode
Quick note here: I recorded this episode at Michael’s house. Michael is a music artist and thus has his own home studio, and I thought it would make audio that I really enjoyed. I do think the audio on this episode is really great, some of the best, but I don’t enjoy it.
It’s almost too clean, very much not within the realm of what I like my podcast to sound like, which is natural and in space. I think that is where this clean of audio kind of catches me personally off guard. A weird balance to strike here, seeking nice, clean audio but not too clean.
Third Space Indy is supported by City Rising
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Third Space Indy podcast, host Michael Zarick reconnects with old friend and DJ, Michael McReynolds, also known as Sweater Disco. They discuss the evolution of Michael's music journey, from his high school days of experimenting with electronic music to becoming a well-known DJ in Indianapolis. Michael elaborates on the unique experiences of DJing, the importance of finding inspiration, and how his music serves as a diary reflecting different phases of his life. They also delve into the concept of 'Third Place' as coined by Ray Oldenberg, the challenges and community aspects of the local DJ scene, and share personal anecdotes about creating meaningful and accessible community spaces through music.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
00:48 The Concept of the Third Place
01:17 Reconnecting with Michael McReynolds
02:59 The Origin of Sweater Disco
04:10 High School Memories and Early DJ Days
06:10 The Art and Craft of DJing
09:06 Challenges and Evolution in DJing
20:46 The Importance of Community and House Parties
26:10 Current Nightlife and Future Aspirations
32:55 Shoutouts to Local Talents
33:40 Discovering the Indianapolis Music Scene
35:55 The DJ Life and Music Production
40:00 Exploring Third Spaces
49:53 Reflecting on Past Third Spaces
52:51 Fun and Thought-Provoking Questions
58:26 Wrapping Up and Upcoming Events
Episode Transcript
Sweater Disco
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[00:00:00] Michael McReynolds: I don't know, I'm, I'm always trying to figure out like what's the most exciting thing I can find right now that's coming out that someone's working on.
Mm-hmm. cause I, I see myself very much so as like, in my music collection, like a, it's like a diary for me. You know? It's, it's like, where am I at right now? If you, if you hear a recording of a set at a certain point in time, it's like I can kind of pinpoint and see how that taste changes or what my mood is like, or just my life kind of reflected in that essentially.
[00:00:48] Michael Zarick: Hello, my name is Michael Zarick and in 1989, a man named Ray Oldenberg wrote a book called The Great Good Place. In this book, he coined a term called The Third Place. This describes a place that is outside of your home and outside of your work that you can go exist and just be in community with others.
And so I've made it my goal through my podcast, Third Space Indy, to find people all over Indianapolis who are creating community of their own. And so today I'm so excited to reconnect with an old friend of mine, Michael McReynolds. AKA Sweater Disco.
[00:01:24] Michael McReynolds: Yeah.
[00:01:25] Michael Zarick: What, what's up?
[00:01:27] Michael McReynolds: Not much just having coffee.
[00:01:29] Michael Zarick: I wanna paint a picture for you.
Actually, I wanna paint a picture for the listeners. I, this is, I was thinking about how I would introduce you. Sure. Imagine you're 21 or 22 years old, you're three gin and tonics deep. You're in a sort of dank basement style bar. Uh, I'm thinking of the Root Cellar in Bloomington, but you could have your own.
Mm-hmm.
And you're a little tired, but you're also riding high on vibes because there's a man in a booth playing the most delicious, delightful, wonderful jams on his speakers. And that is who I'm sitting next to today, is somebody who I got to personally experience going through my college years, but I've also gotten to re-experience here in Indianapolis actually.
Hmm. Um, and that's who Michael McReynolds is to me at least. I, I have a like, very distinct that memories of like, great, that's a good, that's a good image, you know, of just like being like half out of it, but also like, this is awesome.
[00:02:33] Michael McReynolds: Yeah, that's, I mean, that describes many, uh, many a time, you know, but yeah.
Love Root Cellar. I still am there like every, uh, yeah, we were talking about that month or
[00:02:44] Michael Zarick: so. Yeah, it's still going strong. But also I think, and this is, we'll get into this a little bit later, but there's also like side experiences, side quest as you, as I would say, of just like in random people's homes.
Also in Dan Basements. Yeah. Oh, yeah. so for anybody who does not know, give a little, give a little spiel about who you are, what you do.
[00:03:06] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. I, yeah. So I go by Sweater Disco, I, I've had that name for. Well, I say I had that name, I brainstormed that name in like 2011. Oh really? Yeah. Like high school.
Yeah. 'cause that's when I started, um, making stuff like doing Ableton, pirating Ableton and uh, trying to DJ with it and make music with it basically. Um, and basically I had just come up with my, like written, made my first song of some sort and was like, well I guess I need to have like a name of some sort.
Um, and I did wear a lot of sweaters in high school. You still wear a lot of sweaters in and I still do. Um, and I was like, at the time kind of getting more into like electronic music, more into house music and it was like, oh, this is all like, kind of coming from disco and evolving through different genres and things.
And me and one of my friends from jazz band were just like throwing ideas around. And we came up with. Sweater, disco. And I was like, that feels, it feels right. And now I've just had that
[00:04:10] Michael Zarick: like, oh, I totally forgot about this until this moment. 'cause you mentioned high school. Mm-hmm. So I was messaging, I reposted one of your things on Instagram.
Yeah. And someone I know goes, I went to high school with, do you know who Ellie ----- is? Yes. Or I guess their name is Ellie ----- now. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. We was playing in high school. She was like, she was like, he was a good friend of mine. And then she sent me a photo of you. I have it on my phone. Maybe I'll use it as your intro photo.
But it's you in like a, in like a, not DeadMau5, but like the robot. The robot, yeah.
[00:04:39] Michael McReynolds: That was like early Sweater Disco days. That was like almost like the, probably the first
[00:04:45] Michael Zarick: year almost. Were you striving to be like a, not like, I don't wanna say copycat 'cause that's rude, I think No, but like were you wanting to like be that sort of anonymous?
[00:04:54] Michael McReynolds: I was like, maybe, yeah. The robot thing was like, I. I think I just was trying to make a cot, like an interesting costume. Maybe not even necessarily for like DJing, but like L-M-F-A-O just had the, uh, party rock anthem video come out and they had the robot shuffling in it. And that was like, that's mine. I was like, I wanna make that.
And I just made it out of like cardboard and tinfoil. Didn't you wore it to prom? Uh, to homecoming. Homecoming, yes. And I was probably like a sophomore in high school and the administration actually like, took it from me because like you, I guess the, that wasn't allowed and then somebody went and like found it wherever they had like, kept it and they brought it back.
And so I like still, I, I kind of was returned. Wish you had it
[00:05:44] Michael Zarick: still. That's,
[00:05:45] Michael McReynolds: no, I think it de just deteriorate. I had it for a long time. Mm-hmm. I think when I moved here, I. I threw it out. 'cause I was like, uh, like it's a little moldy. Yeah. It's like I don't, I don't need it. I've got the pictures for sure.
But it was definitely like a, that was the, the start of my like dance music interest. That's so funny. And, and experimentation I would say. So
[00:06:10] Michael Zarick: what it, first of all, I have to let the people know that you are, I I don't have a lot of experience with DJs, so I, sure, I can't like say this definitively, but like, you are one of the most talented DJs I've ever experienced.
Thanks personally at, at hand. Um, and there are like quite a few DJs around town who are also very talented and almost all of them know who you are. Mind you, I'm like, oh, do you know my friends? I've been, yeah. I've been around for long enough to where that kind of happens. I feel like. So what, like, what drives you to like, keep doing this?
Because like you, you are up there and you look like you're having so much fun. Yeah, I think that's like, it's so cool.
[00:06:49] Michael McReynolds: I mean, it's. Hard 'cause because like the drive to do it doesn't just come from nowhere. Like, you know, like it's not, it's not like something that just like emanates from me. Mm-hmm. Like, I have to like, find inspiration and I guess find things to be excited about doing.
Mm-hmm. Um, which also just changes as you get experience. Like, um, it's still like every time I'm playing I find something new to work on or, uh, experiment with. And I mean, just like this week I've probably spent three to four hours listening through new releases. That's crazy. Like, just to keep up with like how much music is coming out and new styles of stuff.
Yeah. I used to be that way. Yeah. And, and it's like I'll listen to, you know, a new album that came out that's not dance music related. Mm-hmm. Um, or I'll listen through like all of the producers that I follow, like what are all the new stuff that they've released or their labels have released. Um, and it's, yeah, it's, it's a combination of like, I wanna find stuff to DJ with that is hopefully I can present something that's exciting to me and also could catch someone's interest.
Uh, but also like the non dance stuff I listen to is like, it's almost like a filling in the gaps of my historical music knowledge. Sometimes
[00:08:18] Michael Zarick: I think there's a, a lot of people like really discount the importance of that. Yeah. In any artistic work, like having inspiration outside of your personal area of work Yeah.
Is really important. Yeah. There's a song that I is like, one of my most listened to songs this year. It's um, So Be It by Pusha T Nice. Know what I'm talking about. Yeah. I think I know it. It's produced by Pharrell. Nice. Um, but there's this sort of undertone beat that's like very. Arab music inspired, it's got, I don't know the name, like, like a sitar sound.
Mm-hmm. Um, and it's so sick. Yeah. And it's like, that's not something you would normally hear on like a hip hop track, you know?
[00:08:55] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. I mean, I feel like Pharrell, I mean, just one of the most iconic producers mm-hmm. Of all time. And it's like, he's definitely got influences from all over the place. Yeah.
[00:09:05] Michael Zarick: You know?
Would you say that you're, uh, this is something I observed, so I am interested to see if you have the same personal observation. Would you say your personal output of music as a DJ has and the style of it has changed since we were in college 10 years ago? Oh, yeah, because Yeah. Yeah. I noticed that like, uh, at least maybe it was, it's a vibe based thing.
Mm-hmm. But like, and it's probably depends on the venue too, so heavily there's, there's that. Yeah. So like, I noticed that when we were at Turner's mm-hmm. At the Stutts, it was a lot more low key, a lot more like, oh yeah. Listenable.
Mm-hmm.
Versus my experience with you in Root Cellar, which is like, that's like, slap your face, slap your mama dance stuff.
[00:09:46] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Um, I mean, my taste has vastly changed. I mean, if you, if you count Yeah. From, you know, when I graduated in 2018 to now, um, I think, yeah, it, it just kind of has to essentially, if, if I played the same stuff as I was playing, I think I would be a lot more bored now. Like, um, and some people, like if you, if you have a certain amount of, let's say success or like a step up in, you know, reputation, they feel like they have to keep maintaining that stylistic kind of move mm-hmm.
Where like, oh, people like this because I'm getting more popular or whatever. Yeah. Um, and so it's, it's very real that like. If somebody was just looking to like, maintain, or just keep it around as like a side hustle, like you wouldn't have to change as much, I would say, but just like artistically, it's not interesting to me mm-hmm.
To just keep playing. Like, I don't know, the same type of like, I was probably doing a lot of like tech house, very straightforward, kind of more closer to mainstream stuff. And now it's like, I feel like when I really get into the stuff that I wanna showcase, if I'm, if somebody is like, show me your weirdest stuff.
Like that's the stuff I really am curious about, I would say. And like that's gotten more in like a techno, um, kind of like a conglomeration of like techno and more discoe house kind of sampled stuff.
[00:11:31] Michael Zarick: Yeah.
[00:11:31] Michael McReynolds: Um. And yeah, I, I'm just kind of trying to piece together like, uh, I don't know, I'm, I'm always trying to figure out like what's the most exciting thing I can find right now that's coming out that someone's working on.
Mm-hmm. Um, 'cause I, I see myself very much so as like, in my music collection, like a, it's like a diary for me. You know? It's, it's like, where am I at right now? If you, if you hear a recording of a set at a certain point in time, it's like I can kind of pinpoint and see how that taste changes or what my mood is like, or just my life kind of reflected in that essentially.
And, and that's I think part of the fun of it, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. It's like,
[00:12:18] Michael Zarick: is it, um, like Monet or whoever had like their blue ears Sure. Where they're like going through a deep depression and you're like, man, I was really depressed at this time. And you're like listening to your old set. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:12:28] Michael McReynolds: No, like, definitely.
It's interesting to see, like, yeah, I've gone through my more like, oh, I really wanna play very underground stuff. And then it's like, there's phases where I'll ease up and be like, oh, I'll go more like light with it. Like, or slower or faster. Like, there's sometimes where I'm like, oh, I feel like I wanna play really fast, like techno stuff.
And it's like, I feel like right now I'm, I'm more in a phase where it's like, oh, I like the more funky weird house stuff that's not mega fast, but it's like, got a lot of interesting stuff going on with it, you know? Yeah. Disco discord notification. Yeah.
[00:13:08] Michael Zarick: Um, did you know, sorry, total aside, I have been on your email list since like 2016.
Oh, sick. I've been getting emails. I haven't lived in Indianapolis since last year. Yeah, that's, but I was like, I'm like, oh, there's Michael. Like, yeah. I try to keep it updated, you know? Um, oh, so can you walk me through like. So like the difference between you and I don't mean to disparage wedding DJs, but Sure.
Um, can you walk me through like what you're doing on the stage that sets you apart from other DJs? Um, yeah, like I, I think like when you think of dj, you just think of like picking music Yeah. And putting it on the speaker. Sure. And that is not what you're doing. You're up there like working, uh, your, I'll let you talk about it, but you're like twisting knobs and doing stuff that actually has an effect on what the output is.
[00:14:02] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Um, so I, I think the kind of like the vast difference between the, the kind of breakdown of like a wedding DJ versus I, I guess a DJ who's going at it from a more personal artistic angle, you know, a wedding DJ or like, let's say even wider than that, like a radio dj mm-hmm. Who's playing on.
Massive station, you're, you're going for entertainment that kind of has the widest appeal possible, essentially. And it doesn't have as much to do with like, your personal taste as the taste of everyone in general. Mm-hmm. Like more of like a, almost like cultural barometer average. Yeah. That's, that's an interesting,
[00:14:50] Michael Zarick: yeah.
[00:14:51] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. And then, so as you get more into, I guess, environments,
[00:14:58] Michael Zarick: oh, there's pistachio, high pistachio,
[00:15:00] Michael McReynolds: more into like pers when people are seeking out like more personal artistic experiences, like club experiences or like. Raves or underground parties, they have more of an expectation that that DJ is gonna showcase their very individual mm-hmm.
Taste.
[00:15:19] Michael Zarick: Yeah. And
[00:15:20] Michael McReynolds: that's what they're looking for. Mm-hmm. You know, um, along with that, so it's like I'm showing
[00:15:24] Michael Zarick: because at a wedding you, like you're showing up for the couple and the music Yeah. Is a coutre Monon versus like going to a, a club or whatever and I'm showing up for the dj.
[00:15:32] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. And it's like, as you get into that, it's like people have more of an expectation or more, um, willingness to experience something really out there.
Mm-hmm. Whereas like, yeah, you're not gonna be playing experimental noise music at a wedding most likely. I mean, I mean, why not? I mean, sure, why not? Um, but it's like people are looking for, uh, peanut is sniffing the tripod currently. Um, you can't smell that good. No. Um, and so like, kind of what I'm doing differently is being more.
Aggressive with mixing and blending multiple songs together. Mm-hmm. Which, uh, I feel like people who are going to clubs and more underground parties have an understanding of that a little bit more than the typical wedding goer. Yeah. You know, and that's where like, oh, you can combine different genres and different eras and kind of put music in a different context.
Mm-hmm. That I think makes it more exciting or more, I guess, potentially thought provoking even. and yeah, it's, it's still about having fun and, and it's about having, you know, you want people to dance. Mm-hmm. And it's about finding different ways to do that framing, kind of like your music taste in the context of the party and the club that you're at.
Yeah. Um,
[00:17:00] Michael Zarick: okay. But for a total layman also. Yeah. Like even including me. Yeah. Who doesn't really understand what you're doing. I can notice it. But can you talk me through like transitioning from one song to
[00:17:11] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. So more of the specifics of that, like, yeah. I
[00:17:14] Michael Zarick: just am interested 'cause like I have no exp I, you know, it's funny like watching like a, like a boiler room video on YouTube or something.
Yeah. Is that what that's called? Yeah, yeah. The um, what's like a specific club or something? Like a house show. It's like an
[00:17:26] Michael McReynolds: event series basically that, that is int and they've got a
[00:17:29] Michael Zarick: giant board mm-hmm. And there's a bunch of knobs and even like random people will come up and like twist it. I was like, that's really weird.
That is that random person That is pretty adventurous. Yeah. Um, but those knobs like, do things. Yes. So like, what are you doing up there that is, that is creating the certain experience you're seeking to put out.
[00:17:46] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. So, um, to break it, to break it down, like what you're typically seeing on, like if you're talking a big live stream or a big live streamed event, it's a mixer in the center that's combining signals from basically multiple CD players, but they're playing.
Off of USB. Mm-hmm. MP3/WAV, whatever. Yeah. Um, and so the turntables don't do anything anymore. Yeah. I mean, people still play vinyl sets, but typically, like what I'm playing on is, is digital gear. Mm-hmm. Um, so everything's coming into the mixer. You've got two tracks that are lined up. Uh, I'm changing things like the EQ, so like taking the low end out of a song Yeah.
And bringing another one in. Mm-hmm. Um, changing just like the loudness of each song to kind of transition from one to the other. Mm-hmm. Um, and then more creatively, like adding effects using the mixer, like echo reverb, more creative stuff, like weird looping. Yeah. Things like that. Just to like, um, usually what I'm trying to do is like, create some like rhythmic excitement or some like tension mm-hmm.
Like the, the tension and release kind of.
[00:18:54] Michael Zarick: So it's not always about having just a smooth transition. There's other No. Yeah. Factoring in there
[00:18:59] Michael McReynolds: and it, it's like. Um, yeah. You could do the smooth transition thing, or you can do really fast transitions that are more jarring and it's like all kind of contextual uhhuh to see what works.
[00:19:10] Michael Zarick: Yeah. 'cause I was sitting with, I'm gonna give a shout out to Fred Miller. Yeah. Uh, local, shout out to Fred, local activist and like, music man. I don't know what, yeah. He does a lot.
[00:19:18] Michael McReynolds: Like he does everything.
[00:19:20] Michael Zarick: Yeah. We were sitting, uh, I mentioned being at Turner's, we were sitting at Turner's and there was a moment where I could like listen and hear a new song like creeping up.
Yeah. And I was like, oh, I hear it. And then it, the transition happened and it was not noticeable.
Mm-hmm.
Which is cool, but I could hear the old song lingering. Yeah. And I thought that was cool to like, have two tracks meld into one in a, in a interesting way like that.
[00:19:45] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. I, I think that's one of the most interesting things to me about the capabilities of, of DJing is the unique moment that happens when you mix two songs that were not destined mm-hmm. To be together necessarily. Yeah. I think they were, I
[00:20:00] Michael Zarick: don't, they were not, I can't, I don't know what songs they were necessarily. Yeah. Or the moment, but I, they were not similar. Yeah. No, it's, there was a moment of like,
[00:20:07] Michael McReynolds: oh,
[00:20:07] Michael Zarick: I didn't
even notice it.
[00:20:08] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. It's, yeah. Connecting the dots a little bit.
[00:20:11] Michael Zarick: Um, so what,
What drives you? Or like, what are you doing this, like just for the love of music or do you like the other end? Do you like seeing people, do you like giving people the joy of dance and like providing them, uh, a space to move their bodies and stuff like that?
[00:20:30] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Um, that's a good question. 'cause there's a lot for me that like, like kind of factors into the, I guess the enjoyment mm-hmm.
Of it. Um, so. Yeah. I, I mean, ever since college, you know, with, with house parties and with like Home Planet that we were doing.
[00:20:52] Michael Zarick: Oh ho. Oh my God. Yeah. I totally forgot. That's awesome.
[00:20:54] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Um, that's kinda, I feel like the shining example for me, where basically we were like throwing house parties bringing in a way too big of a sound system for what we showed have been.
[00:21:06] Michael Zarick: I, um, there was a couple of house shows that I attended in college, not necessarily yours, but I'm sure Yeah, they were a part of it. Yeah. Where I felt that the living room for Floor might have collapsed.
[00:21:16] Michael McReynolds: There's definitely, there's one of those situations where that has been an issue. Um, but yeah, so like that, it felt, I, I still kind of hold that personally as like one of the more important things that I've maybe ever done just because of, like, we were throwing free parties.
For people who couldn't go to bars. 'cause we were not 21. Mm-hmm. Um, it was all just producers who wanted to showcase. Like, that was kind of the, the start of that was like, we're all making stuff mm-hmm. That we want to showcase, but also we're DJing. So it's like a combination of things where some people are doing purely live like original stuff.
Yeah. And then some people were doing like me, like just DJ plus like my original stuff that I was making.
[00:22:07] Michael Zarick: Yeah. Were you, were you all music students, everyone involved?
[00:22:10] Michael McReynolds: Um, yes. Everyone who was like the core of it. Uhhuh, we were, we were all in the, uh, audio program. Okay. Yeah. Basically. So that's kind of where it started.
Mm-hmm. Um, and it was like seeing people's shock walking into that and being like, whoa, like this. Like, people, people were asking us we're like, is this a venue? Like, is this a. Like, what is this? Even like, is this a house? Like, um, seeing that kind of response and then seeing people just fully accept the kind of music that we were introducing or playing or exposing people to.
Mm-hmm. Like, that was so unparalleled, you know? and I met still like, just through that process, some of my best friends, like the longest friends that I've had, people who I still keep up with musically. We debuted people who went on, like have gone on national tours and that's international.
[00:23:09] Michael Zarick: That's crazy.
[00:23:09] Michael McReynolds: Like, like their first set because they were like from surrounding Midwest cities or elsewhere, or weren't 21 yet. And we kind of like. Spotted them. Yeah. And we're like, Hey, like this person's doing something really cool. Or this collective from Chicago, for example, we had a bunch of people come from Chicago.
they were doing something really cool and were having a hard time throwing events or finding places to play in a big city. And so we're like, oh, come down here. We're gonna throw a collaborative house party and just kind of showcase them. Yeah. and just like the, the connections, just friend friendships, kind of personal connections that we made through that were really cool.
[00:23:50] Michael Zarick: Have you, is there anything like that anymore? This is a constant conversation because Yeah. You're on Third Space Indy. Yeah. The premise of this show is that Third Space no longer exist. Yeah. And when I think of you and, and, and that's not to say like people are not finding community in certain ways.
Yeah. There are probably somebody at some college somewhere doing similar to what you did. Sure. But I think we struggle with like. Obviously you have bills to pay, so like you have a lot, you had a lot more free time probably in college and a lot for sure. Um, but like there's no, there's still no like real dedicated space for people of under 21 to go clubbing in that way.
Like yeah, you were unique in that way. Yeah. Um, there's not a ton of that going on, especially here in Indianapolis.
[00:24:38] Michael McReynolds: Yes. It's, um, I guess to expand from even just what we were doing, like the under 21 aspect of it. Mm-hmm. Just in general. Mm-hmm. Like there's, I don't know, most people who go to or host house parties,
[00:24:56] Michael Zarick: like, uh, there's a book I, yeah, I think it's called like the Death of the Party or Death of the House Party or something.
Yeah. I need to read it. That sounds, I think it definitely fits within relevant, my thing. But yeah, I think because of things like Netflix, because of things like DoorDash, um. Less of reason TikTok and the media on our phone, like, we're, so, we don't have like a, there's no ecosystem of like, let's just go out and maybe this is a, a problem for you and I to solve.
But Yeah. I saw yesterday on Instagram, like someone was hosting, like in this is in New York City, and I was like, I should do this here. Yeah. Just like, they called him living room lectures. They like go to someone, I think it's at one guy's house. Sure. But he invites different people to give like the nerdiest lecture of all time.
Just like, cool, Hey, come over, eat some charcuterie and we're gonna
[00:25:43] Michael McReynolds: Yeah.
[00:25:44] Michael Zarick: Nerd out.
[00:25:45] Michael McReynolds: That's sick. Like, yeah. I, I desperately miss the, the house party days mm-hmm. Of college. And it's always something that like, I wanna capture that feeling mm-hmm. For me now. Mm-hmm. You know, um, because yeah. What we're seeing, and this kind of very closely ties into what's happening in Indy nightlife overall.
Yeah. Where. Venues and bars and places where people are playing music are either heavily struggling, shutting down, having restrictions placed on certain types of events. Um, and it's just increasingly becoming really hard to find places to like showcase, um, just, I guess music, but in, in my case, like dance music that is not mainstream.
Mm-hmm. I guess. And there's certain places that are doing it super well. Mm-hmm. Like State Street, State Street Pub. Yeah. I still haven't been in there, but I'm aware of it. Um, killer. Like just across the board, great booking, doing really out there stuff. Mm-hmm. From punk to noise stuff? Yeah. To State Street Club, which does like a great techno night.
Um. And is that the
[00:27:11] Michael Zarick: one that you were at last night? Yeah. Yeah. Okay, cool. So you're there a lot. And then just to describe the scene, it's sort of like, uh, it's always red. I don't know. I dunno how to say that. Yeah. But there's like a, there's like an actual booth that you're in, sort of, or behind a table.
Yeah. And then there's like a big dance floor is
[00:27:28] Michael McReynolds: mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so that's, or you might be also thinking, you might be thinking of the Patron Saint, which was on Thursday from two days ago maybe. I don't know. I've never been to any of these places. That's if you're, if it's the videos that I posted that was from the Patron Saint.
Oh, okay. Um, where they've got the no requests, the neon sign
Oh's why I am
[00:27:46] Michael Zarick: thinking of,
[00:27:46] Michael McReynolds: yeah. And that's another great space to, for us to dance with our House night on Thursdays. Mm-hmm. Um, but still it's hard to get traction there as like a purely underground.
[00:28:03] Michael Zarick: Mm-hmm.
[00:28:03] Michael McReynolds: Framed kind of night, um, because it's on South Meridian and it's like the foot traffic is not accustomed to underground stuff.
Yeah. You know, and again, because it's on South Meridian, you've got the non-negotiables like, uh, rent, you know. Oh, hi. Creep it up. Yeah. It's,
[00:28:22] Michael Zarick: oh, he is on the, on the cam.
Yeah. I see you.
She's like, oh, but there's still stuff in there.
[00:28:28] Michael McReynolds: Yeah.
[00:28:29] Michael Zarick: Probably
[00:28:30] Michael McReynolds: I can toss it over here. Um, and so like they have to be mindful of the business side of things as well.
Mm-hmm. To where they're like, oh, we can't book too much of this or that because it's not economically viable. Or maybe because they don't know how to market it potentially. Because that's also evolving. Like every part of it is evolving. Yeah.
[00:28:56] Michael Zarick: Um, and I know there is a scene of. Uh, and I mean this in the kindest way possible.
Yeah,
[00:29:02] Michael McReynolds: yeah.
[00:29:03] Michael Zarick: A bunch of weirdos who Oh, yeah. Who want to dance.
[00:29:05] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. And it's, they're out here like, and we we're finding it. Yeah. You know, um, and there's parties that are doing really well to adapt and find those spaces. Mm-hmm. You know, um, where maybe it's not necessarily like a typical like central downtown location, but they're like, Hey, we can not only bring in people, but bringing in like internationally touring techno artists.
And because they know how to market it and know how to like, find that audience that's, that's interested in going to that. Mm-hmm. They're really succeeding at like, bringing together that, that kind of new, at least like in the last like year community of people that are like, oh, we have to kind of like pivot away from the central.
Downtown stuff that is not really giving some of these genres, like the opportunity to proliferate.
[00:30:05] Michael Zarick: Mm-hmm.
[00:30:05] Michael McReynolds: I would say because it is what people are looking for, especially young people who are just out of college and speaking from someone who, like I teach at IU Indy, like I see what people are listening to and it is super experimental.
Mm-hmm. And it is super out there and they ask or don't know like where to find it. Mm-hmm. You know, or like where they can
[00:30:26] Michael Zarick: perform too. Right. Yeah. You're, you're part that's a huge part of it. You're teaching, producing and stuff. Yes. So,
[00:30:31] Michael McReynolds: yeah, so I, I'm teaching music tech and a lot of that is performance based.
A lot of that, it's kind of a split between performance and production stuff. Yeah. So it's pretty even balance.
[00:30:43] Michael Zarick: Who are some local DJs that inspire you or like people should be paying attention to in your opinion?
[00:30:49] Michael McReynolds: Oh yeah. Um, honestly, in terms of like real inspiration, that's probably the, my biggest source of it.
In terms of like, stuff that makes me want to come back and practice and make stuff like, um, well, I've gotta shout out my good homies.
[00:31:08] Michael Zarick: That's okay. You're allowed to do homies here.
[00:31:09] Michael McReynolds: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Samaro has held it down for proper Oh, I've heard that name. Yeah. Uh, he is run proper at the Saint for seven years.
Mm-hmm. And it's a weekly party, so he is there nonstop. Mm-hmm. Uh, just always plays stuff that I've never heard every week. And, and I'm like, dude, I don't know. He's in the lab. Like, he just listens to so much new, I mean, music and new house music that it always kind of puts the fire under me to be like, oh, I wanna bring something cool.
Is it? Yeah. It's almost like a competition. A little bit. You're like, yeah. It, it's like a friendly competition of like, you wanna, once you get to a certain point of DJing, everyone's playing stuff that you've never heard Uhhuh like. It's kind of out the window to be like, oh, I know every song that this person's playing.
Uhhuh. It's probably not gonna happen. Yeah. If, if everyone's really on that level. Um, and that's what I love. Like those DJs can have that kind of friendly, like just encouragement uhhuh of like, let's go push the boundaries and, and find new stuff to play. Definitely. So Smaro, Tico Barber Pablo, uh, who also runs another party called Indu that has been really killing it lately.
Yeah. Um, uh, Petito who also helps with Indu. Petito. Yeah. Um, some of the people who I've been hanging out just over the last year, like Brofi Canine, Angel Aura, um, they're
[00:32:34] Michael Zarick: you really going like above and beyond here, by the way. I was excited like three names. But you're just so, oh, I mean, I, yeah, so like,
[00:32:39] Michael McReynolds: these are, these are all people who I see like, not only as like really solid DJs, but just like people who are.
Good community figures mm-hmm. As well. Um, I've seen, um, I've
[00:32:53] Michael Zarick: met Janelle. Janelle? Janelle, yes. Yeah. She's awesome. That's, yeah. Her name is Janelle, but her username is Janelle. Janelle. Janelle, yeah. And then there's somebody I've been seeing around, but I've never met. Her name is, is DJ Chyna,
[00:33:04] Michael McReynolds: is that Yeah, yeah. Yeah. She's she's great as well. Yeah. Um, and she's, she's done a bunch of stuff at, uh, blind Tiger. Mm-hmm. Um, and all over the place. Um, but yeah, so like, those are all people in like the dance scene. I'm trying to think of, um, I mean, nap d and b, just as a crew is always doing more cool stuff in the drum and bass, kind of more uptempo area.
[00:33:29] Michael Zarick: Yeah.
[00:33:29] Michael McReynolds: Um, and, uh, Gans and Tonic, who runs State Street Club, like are all super solid. There's more, but like, that's like a good, that's a good starting point. But
[00:33:40] Michael Zarick: this is like, the thing though is like once I met, uh. As soon as I met Fred, actually, this is, that was a real kicker. 'cause that for some reason he just knows everybody on earth.
Mm-hmm.
it was just like, oh, then I may, then I like reconnected with you. I got your number from him, actually.
Yeah.
Yeah. Uh, and then, and it was like, okay, I am now like going to a bar. I got a new job, so I'm go to a bar actually. And then it's like, oh, Janelle's there. And then it's like, oh, I'm starting to like, see that there's like an, an insane amount of extremely talented people here.
Yeah. And this is top down.
Mm-hmm.
Like, or I don't know what the correct term here is, but this happens across all genres here, actually. Like Yeah. Our hip hop scene here in Indianapolis is crazy. Like I, yeah. And the fact that there's a huge DJ scene, I've, no, there's insane jazz musicians here. Mm-hmm. Um, it's, it's crazy to see.
People always use the term world class, but I think that's so diminishing. Sure. It's like there's just incredible Indianapolis talent here. Yeah. And I think we don't see it, or like, unless you're like seeking it out mm-hmm. Specifically, it's not well highlighted.
[00:34:47] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. It, it feels like one of the scenes that is like really growing mm-hmm.
A lot musically. Mm-hmm. Um, and I think it just, it just tends to happen as the city overall. There's, there's a bit more light that's been shown on Indy in the last couple of years, I think due to conventions or sports or, you know, like Pacers and Fever and everything else. Like gets more attention. Yeah.
When are you playing at the Pacers game? Oh my, I mean those DJs are great as well, like that, speaking of the DJ scene, but. No, probably not the right gig for, for me necessarily, but, um, there's, there's certain people who are involved in the city, like, uh, MetroGnome is one of those guys, um, who has put on a lot of people in those, like those weekends, like the All Star weekends mm-hmm.
And, uh, big sporting events downtown where he'll like source DJs and place them like around at spots, either outside or, or at locations downtown and kind of help shine a light on local talent and local, like DJ talent especially, which is Yeah. Super cool. Yeah. And it's like you gotta have those people.
[00:35:55] Michael Zarick: How much, uh, just a pivot a little bit. Mm-hmm. How much of your, sorry. When I think of DJing, I think of sourcing music from others. How much music of your own are you producing? Yeah. So, because I saw you're, sorry. You're, um. Quote unquote apology video the day where you're like, sorry, everyone I released a punk punk rock video.
Yeah. Yeah.
[00:36:20] Michael McReynolds: But no, that, like, I, I think people forget, well, I mean, I just like am not good about releasing stuff regularly, Uhhuh. So I work on a lot of stuff I that is in progress or kind of slowly gets finished over the over months uhhuh, you know, um, oh my gosh, you're about to commit a crime, um, Mr. cat.
And so, oh my gosh. Oh, oh, see, you knew you as, yeah. Bad. Um, so I make a lot of stuff. I, I've been making stuff as long as I've been DJing, I guess longer technically. Um, but just with all my teaching and other stuff that I do, I don't get as much time to like hyperfocus on it. Um, 'cause also when I'm here, I'm doing stuff for other people.
Like I'm mixing and mastering, or I do music editing for performers. Yeah. Um, that's awesome. And just all kinds of stuff. Uhhuh, you know. Um, but I have been really trying to put more attention on, on, I guess, original music, um, to, to play and, and to release because like it's, it's a part of me that like doesn't get expressed through DJing as much.
It's like a different outlet. Mm-hmm. Essentially, um, I play a lot of my own stuff, especially in more club sets, I would say, yeah. Like if I'm given an hour to play, you know, as opposed to like five hours at Root Cellar or something like that. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, I, I wanna five hours at Root Cellar. Sounds crazy.
Oh yeah. Do you get breaks in there? Uh, no. That's, and it's crazy. I mean, I just like get in, I feel like DJs can just get into a mode where you just kind of like go. Yeah. And it's like, time just kind of goes away. How many Red Bulls do you pound a week? Probably too many for sure. Like that I go between coffee and that, and I'm just like going, you know, but no, I, you're a skinny guy, you metabolize?
Yeah, I just keep moving, you know. Um, but no, I try to showcase my own music when I can. Um, and I've been doing a lot more, like I, I put out a remix, like an official remix recently I did another one that's kind of like on, on the table to be released, but not sure on like when, and so it's like I have a large catalog of stuff that.
Is either released or unreleased or edits or remixes that will never be released. Yeah. That I kind of incorporate into DJ sets. Um, which is another way to kind of express like I, I guess my taste or my view of like what house music is to me, you know? Um, and so I think that's important as well and, and important to like, I don't know, I, I try to seek out the producers in Indy Yeah.
As well who are like doing stuff like that. 'cause like that's a really strong community to have is, is like people who are all making stuff and learning together, you know? 'cause there's so much learning to do in any kind of like intense software. Field like that, you know? Yeah. A lot of people don't
[00:39:33] Michael Zarick: think of music creation as software stuff, but it definitely is.
Yeah. Especially in the year 2025. Yeah.
[00:39:38] Michael McReynolds: I mean, if you're doing it really intensely, it's, yeah. It's, it's coding, it's programming, it's, it's understanding a, you know, user interface that is pretty complex. Mm-hmm. I would say. Mm-hmm. Um, and so yeah, it takes years to, to learn and to learn from other people and, and figure that stuff out.
Yeah. Uh,
[00:40:00] Michael Zarick: we're gonna transition into what I call the canned questions. Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah. I need a little notebook like that. I can get you one. Oh, you don't live that far. That's, that's true. I did walk here. Um,
I don't know why I'm acting like, I don't know what I'm about to say. Hmm. Third Space India is sponsored by cityrising.org. Mark Latta has decided to sponsor of the podcast. Shout out to Mark always. But if you didn't know, city Rising is a social impact studio that leads and supports innovative projects that strengthen, celebrate and repair people in places.
I like that you're nodding along. It's funny. I'm on for the ride. Um, so if you are a people or you're the leader of an organization or a place and you're interested in improving your built or lived environment, reach out to me, reach out to Mark Latta or go to cityrising.org and we'll get you hooked up.
Mark has sponsored a question. Oh, cool. And the question is, what is a Third Space to you? Ooh. Like metaphorically or just literal? Literally, you can take however you like. That's because, yeah, actually I like when people answer both.
[00:41:12] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. I, I mean that's a, that's a really good question. Uh, Third Space. Okay.
So it's, I think it's easy for me to think of a Third Space because so much of what I do revolves around, well, I. Interesting. I've caught you up. Yeah. Because it's like, do I count like a club as a Third Space because I kind of work there. Mm-hmm. So I'll, I'll discount that. I'll, I'll take that outta the equation.
Uh, 'cause I, I don't think that's an accurate Third Space for me. Yeah. Because it still feels like I am a professional.
[00:41:46] Michael Zarick: Yeah. You're not getting the same experience that the people who are attending your
[00:41:49] Michael McReynolds: No, it's, it's very different. Um, I'm still very much like a, a coffee shop guy. Like when I, when I get the opportunity to be What's your go, what's your go-to?
I mean, right now it's like, just out of location, I'll go to Thieves down on the corner. Okay. Yeah. Say, well, how have I never seen you there? I mean, I, I went there more in the summer. Okay. Because I would walk there. Um, but yeah, just like honestly anywhere that has a good. Uh, chai or macha latte. Mm. Uh, and like I, I just like to post up and like, get out of my house.
Like, which I guess is the whole idea of a Third Space is like Yeah. Somewhere else to, to get out of that. The rut of, especially working from home so much, it's like I have to physically leave here to get into a different kind of mindset. Yeah. Sometimes. So like, that's great. Uh, Hubbard and Cravens down there, I'll go to pretty often.
Um, outside of that, like, I mean, I love when I get the opportunity to go to things that are not music related or not dance music related, which like, I need to do more of really
[00:42:58] Michael Zarick: when you talk about pulling inspiration Yeah. Outside your genre. I don't see it. You know, there's a, there's your,
[00:43:03] Michael McReynolds: yeah. Um, and it's like, it gets me out of like the, the kind of like.
Not putting up a front, but like being a professional. Like if I'm, if I'm at the patron saint or I'm at a club that I play at, like, or I know people who are, that people approach you in a
[00:43:20] Michael Zarick: certain way.
[00:43:21] Michael McReynolds: Yes. Yeah. And so it's like, I don't fully feel like completely relaxed, you know? Yeah. It's like you're kind of on the on, not on the clock, but like people perceive you a certain, a certain way.
Yeah. You know, I went to
[00:43:36] Michael Zarick: a poetry open mic last Sunday. Nice. I wanna say it's my first one ever. Sure. I'm not, I can't say that for certain, but I mm-hmm. Am nearly certain. Yeah. And it was so pleasant. Like, I, where was that? Uh, so Sam Ferrante, who is the comms director for Indy Reads, um, through an open mic with Indiana Humanities at Indiana Humanities, which is on, I can never remember the street.
Sure. But it's across the street from the Harrison Center.
[00:44:07] Michael McReynolds: Oh, sick.
[00:44:08] Michael Zarick: Um, that's great. And it was the same day that it was like negative temperatures and I rode the bus there. I, anyways, yeah. But it was like wonderful to like hear people really put themselves out there. Yeah. She was like, Michael, do you wanna be on the open mic?
I was like, no. Oh God. Not today. That would be nerve wracking, but maybe, maybe next time, maybe a time after or something, but totally. But, uh, it was like the every single person was, and it really made me want to practice writing.
Yeah.
Um, 'cause it was like, wow, you are evoking something out of me, even if this is not like how I personally feel like I am feeling something.
Mm-hmm. And that's like really interesting that Yeah. Um, I really think is cool as somebody who does not consider themselves like actively a writer, even though I read a blog every week. Well sure. Hey, sign up for my mailing list. Yeah. Uh, um, so, oh, I, the reason I bring this up is 'cause like when you talk about wanting to get out of your.
Sort of Yeah. Realm of party music and dance music, I think like going to something like that or going to like a random, like something more like a different version of humanities because I think they would consider like, yeah, yeah. Um, they would consider dance music is sort of a humanities area. Um, so like going to seek out like a different humanities style.
Yeah.
[00:45:32] Michael McReynolds: Like different performances. Yeah. That, that's actually something that, that just kind of reminded me of is especially man, like, it is such a different experience to get to go see, like, for me it's like a dance showcase or performance of any sort. Mm-hmm. Or like when I've gotten to go to, you
[00:45:55] Michael Zarick: mean like Nutcracker or like anything in that realm of dance?
I mean
[00:45:59] Michael McReynolds: anything. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Like, like, um. And kind of adjacent to that would be like when I've gone to like the white rabbit mm-hmm. For like, uh, some of the drag shows or variety shows and things like that. And it's like, I don't know what it is. It brings out like a very emotional side in me, which like
[00:46:20] Michael Zarick: you're, you're mentioning a cabaret, which could bring out some certain emotions in a lot of people.
Well, sure. Yeah.
[00:46:25] Michael McReynolds: But like, it, it, like, it almost like I've seen performances that have like brought a tear to my eye almost to where, I don't know, it's like, it is really inspiring uhhuh to me, um, because it's like, yeah, it's like being a dj. I'm used to like, I don't know. There's such, it's a wide environment and there's a lot of people who like kind of phone it in and it's like people are not putting their, their whole ass whole ass into it.
Yeah. And it's like, it's, people find it easy to phone that in or like, it's like allowable and it's like if you're a like. Physical live performer who's making like a costume and making song choices and putting together like a concept uhhuh, that's a whole nother level, you know, that's so sick. Um, and it's like, man, I just, uh, like the song choice, the kind of performance capabilities, the, the costuming of it.
It's, it's such like, great to me, like just like riveting entertainment and it, it's, yeah. Inspiring. 'cause it makes me want to be like, oh, how do I put more of like myself mm-hmm. Into what I'm doing and really tap into, into that.
[00:47:42] Michael Zarick: Yeah.
[00:47:42] Michael McReynolds: Um, and it's always very refreshing to like, go to go to stuff like that.
Yeah.
[00:47:47] Michael Zarick: You know,
[00:47:47] Michael McReynolds: I think
[00:47:47] Michael Zarick: about, um, and then we'll move on to the next question. Sure. But I think about, um, when I was high school and younger, we would go to Louisville. Oh no. The, it's whatever the acting, uh, stage, the Louisville acting something actors Gu of Louisville, I don't know. Oh, sure. Yeah. Basically stage plays.
Yeah. Yeah. That's the easiest way to say it. Every year we would go see Dracula. Oh, cool. And it never got old.
[00:48:17] Michael McReynolds: That sounds sick. And it was
[00:48:18] Michael Zarick: more of than likely the same actors most years. Yeah. And it like talk about being transported into a different world.
[00:48:27] Michael McReynolds: Yeah.
[00:48:28] Michael Zarick: Even like, it's all, it's a stage play. Like if you were to stand back and like look at it, it looks goofy.
Sure. But these people, as you say, put their whole ass into it. Yeah. And they are selling a character. Mm-hmm. And they're selling a vibe. And the dude who plays like Dracula, who transforms into a werewolf in the opening scene for, I don know the reason for that. But, uh, like the guy who's dressed as this crazy werewolf looking guy is like.
Drooling on the person in the front row and you're like, oh my God, this, this is sick. That's so dope. Yeah. Or like a guy, like, um, there's a character who's like, uh, playing like a mad scientist guy. Mm-hmm. And he has a live rat. Whoa. And then he like pretends to take a bite out of it. Oh my God. It's like, and then his face is covered in blood.
That sounds sick. Pretends to eat the rat. Now I don't know if they still do this anymore. I mean, I hope so, but I know this is, that sounds awesome. This is the experience I had. And then his, and then he starts going crazy and like starts spittling, like fake blood. Oh my. And like that is incredible. I love that.
It's so amazing. Like Yeah. To be able to like truly sell an experience in that way. Yeah. Is something I think you can never experience sitting on your couch.
[00:49:42] Michael McReynolds: No. No way. Yeah. You
[00:49:43] Michael Zarick: have to be there. Yeah. You know? Um. Next question. Yeah, sorry. Related to the previous question. Thank you for sharing by the way, all this.
Yeah, that was great. Um, what is a third place or space for you that has existed previously? And you kind of already answered this, but I'm interested if you change it up that has existed for you previously that no longer does.
[00:50:07] Michael McReynolds: Ooh, that's a, that's a really good question. Um, I'm trying to think of like, okay.
Indianapolis, Bloomington, Noblesville even. Um, hmm.
I mean, one that I can think of long ago, I would say. Um, so this was high school. I went to high school in Noblesville. I, um, and at a. Like downtown Noblesville Coffee Shop. There was a writer's and like musician circle. Mm-hmm. That was organized by one of my friends. Yeah. Uh, duck Trash was it? Was it Noble Coffee?
[00:50:51] Michael Zarick: Yeah. Okay. I've been there.
[00:50:53] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Yeah. Um, so shout out Duck Trash. Who's Duck Trash is awesome. Yeah. Yeah. They're doing like insanely cool techno stuff.
[00:51:00] Michael Zarick: Well, he is out here still. Yeah, they're up in,
[00:51:02] Michael McReynolds: uh, Detroit. Oh, that's awesome. Um, yeah, and like long time, like from high school friends. Yeah. Um, but they organized like a writer's circle called Alphabet Soup.
Mm-hmm. And it was one of the first places where I ever shared music stuff. Like, I would like literally bring like a really, really crappy pair of like, like. Ox cord to like computer speakers, like tiny, horrible response. Like
[00:51:30] Michael Zarick: the type of cord where if you bent it too hard it would break.
[00:51:33] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, I literally would just bring my laptop and be like, Hey guys, like I'm working on this.
Or like, I finished this and share just like electronic music stuff I was working on. And they probably thought it was sick. Yeah. Yeah. And, and it really stuck with me because people were like, I, I specifically have ingrained in my mind like one comment that someone made where it was like, also somebody who I grew up with and she was like, wow, this made me feel way cooler than I actually am.
And I'm like, that's like, that's how I feel. Yeah. About music, you know, like, um, and, and it was like really, uh, confidence building and just like a fun, it was every week and it was like different people would show up and share stuff and do poetry and sing or, or play songs and, um. Yeah. It, it was really crazy just like that, how cool it was to think back on that.
Um, but just like a nice, a nice addition That's awesome. To my,
[00:52:34] Michael Zarick: my high school days. Yeah. Shut out to Noble Coffee. I do like that coffee shop. Yeah. I don't go to Noblesville very often. Uh, 'cause it's too far. Yeah. That's fair. But the, the town square there is really nice. Yeah. Super cute. Um, anyways, uh, thank you for answering.
That was a wonderful answer. I enjoy that. Thanks. Um, so every episode I have, the previous guest asked the next guest a question. Cool. Okay. So I like that. Yesterday I recorded another episode with a, a woman named Lillian Barkes. Mm-hmm. Uh, and she asked the question. It requires some back background. So the India, Indianapolis is founded on, you know, the Circle city is founded on the mile square plat.
Yeah. Um, and there's four quadrants. So there's northwest, northeast, okay. Southwest, southeast. Of those four quadrants, if they were to do a battle of the quadrants, which one do you think would win and why?
[00:53:32] Michael McReynolds: Oh, damn. That's really funny. Um, I'm trying. Okay. I'm, I'm making like a mental map. Um hmm. Like, I, I feel like I don't, uh, I, I definitely don't have like a full grasp of every quadrant, I would say.
[00:53:56] Michael Zarick: Mm-hmm. So I think the main sort of, um, landmarks would be like Mass Avenue. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. You got, uh, Indiana Avenue.
[00:54:04] Michael McReynolds: Okay. Yeah. And you got.
[00:54:05] Michael Zarick: Um, in the south, uh, west you would have like the Colt Stadium. Yeah. What's it called? Lucas Oil. Yeah. Yeah. And then Gainbridge would be like the four main Sure.
Sort of landmarks. Yeah. Um, if you, I don't consider, uh, I didn't actually even, I answered the question, I didn't reference any of those, so. Sure. Um, yeah.
[00:54:28] Michael McReynolds: Is Fountain Square within that, or that's like a little outside? I think it's a little bit outside. Yeah. In that case I would have to go, uh, Northeast with Mass Ave.
Is there any particular like thing that draws you to that
[00:54:44] Michael Zarick: area or do you just like
[00:54:45] Michael McReynolds: that? Um, I like the food. Mm-hmm. You know, uh, I had a, uh, euro from Petro Cafee recently that changed my life. I thought I've been there, so it was like the best I've ever had. Canal Bistro over here. Yeah. Okay. I like Canal Bistro banger.
Yeah. Yeah. But so. That got, that, got some them some points with me. Okay. And I just think like, people are like, I just like have had a really good time. Like you've got like Old National Center kind of over there. You've got like Teeny and Metro, you've got like titanium. It's a nice little restaurant over there.
Um, you know, I won't count Bottleworks in that 'cause that's like new school. Like we don't really associate with, with them as much. That's funny. Uh, like there's, it sounds like there's some beef there, there, it's not beef, but it's like, that's like, that's like not, that doesn't feel like Indianapolis as much to me.
Okay. As like, it's kind, it's kind of touristy. I still love it.
[00:55:41] Michael Zarick: Like I,
[00:55:41] Michael McReynolds: I love their theater. I go to their, go to their movie theater a lot, but I'm like, mass Ave is like its own thing, you know? That's funny. Um, and like North Mass Boulder is over there. Uhhuh. I think there's just a lot of strong. Strong locations with strong people.
[00:55:58] Michael Zarick: Mm. Strong locations with strong people. The tagline, I just feel like,
[00:56:01] Michael McReynolds: I feel like they would, they would hold their own, you know, if it, if it really came down to it. Yeah. I don't know
[00:56:06] Michael Zarick: if it's like a physical fight or if it's like a, just like a Lillian said, it's like a party. Like everyone's throwing a their own party.
Oh, oh. Still definitely mass out like, oh my gosh. That's funny. Yeah. Well, thank you for answering. Thank you for answering. Uh, great. One last question and then we'll wrap up. Sure. What question would you like to ask the next Third Space Indy guest? I have no, I have not scheduled it, so I don't know if I can't tell you.
No, that's great. Um, you're the last episode of the year, by the way. Oh, sweet. Yeah.
[00:56:33] Michael McReynolds: Well, happy, uh, happy New Year. New Year. We're wearing holidays. If you're not
[00:56:37] Michael Zarick: watching, we're wearing Santa Claus hats in, in lights.
[00:56:40] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. You better be, you better be watching though, 'cause you're missing this. You missed some cat action.
You, you did miss some cat action, so that's fair. Um, okay, so question for the next. Guest. Um, it can be whatever you want. Yeah. I'm, I'm trying to think of something, something interesting. okay. So I think, Hmm. Okay. I have one. Um, to set the stage, you are throwing a party at your chosen Third Space. It is the last event at that space ever. Mm. And you're in charge of the music. Mm. What is the last song that you play at to, it can't be, to shut it down.
[00:57:30] Michael Zarick: It can't be closing time. No, no, no, no. Like, like, this is like, uh, it was your last meal type thing,
[00:57:37] Michael McReynolds: kind of.
Yeah. Yeah. Like, let's say the, the world is ending tomorrow, or at least this space is, you know, uh. transporting out of existence tomorrow. What, what is the song that you would play that could sum up your experience with that place? That place
[00:57:55] Michael Zarick: Oh,
[00:57:56] Michael McReynolds: to, to shut it all down.
[00:57:57] Michael Zarick: That is a sick question actually.
[00:57:58] Michael McReynolds: I, I'm kind of poaching it from, uh, a music podcast that, like, there there's like a, a last Party on Earth that like the, the whole concept is about like different aspects of the last party on earth.
But I just love that question as well. So I'm now asking it to you.
[00:58:17] Michael Zarick: I really don't know who it is. I, yeah, normally I do and I need to do something. It's a, it's a mystery. Then, uh, I don't tell the guest anyways, so whatever.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, Mr. Sweater Disco. Yeah. Where can the people find you? Oh yeah. Um, oh, you've got some shows coming up.
Oh yeah, that's true. Spit those out. Yeah, like, because this will come out before, uh, new Year's show. Oh,
[00:58:38] Michael McReynolds: sick. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, I'm playing at New Year's Eve with the Progression Indy crew at Guide and Anchor Creative Studios, uh, graphic design studio. Mm-hmm. Um, but also like party space. And also party space, which is definitely a great Third Space.
Oh. Um, and you can find a lot of just where I'm playing. Generally. The best place to keep up with me is probably Insta at this point. 'cause I just try to share all my music is that It's at Sweater Disco. Right? At Sweater Disco. Uh, if you wanna find my, like, actual music, music stuff, um, that's online, I would recommend SoundCloud, uh, which is just.
Sweater Disco. I've got like 40 hours of DJ mixes up there. Mm-hmm. So, uh, you won't be bored. Hopefully. Sorry if, if you are,
[00:59:22] Michael Zarick: Do you plug the mailing list ever? I'm on the mailing list.
[00:59:25] Michael McReynolds: Yeah. You can also join my mailing list. It's, it's, I've got like a link tree with all my, you know, that's right. That's right.
Links and whatnot, which that is on there. Hey. In the show notes.
[00:59:33] Michael Zarick: Check it out. Yeah. Uh, thank you so much for watching or listening to this episode of Third Space Indy. Yeah. Thank you Michael. Thank you, Michael, for being you live so close. We need to hang out more, but, thank you for listening to this episode of Third Space Indy.
You can find me at Third Space Indy on Instagram or by going to Third Space Indy dot com, where you can sign up for my weekly blog, which I release on Mondays with the episode. Thank you to cityrising.org for sponsoring the podcast. And thank you as always to Jennasen for letting me use your music as my intro music.
anyways, thanks so much for listening once again, and we'll see you in the next one. Goodbye. Later. We're done.
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