Can o' Worms throws local music at fans

People usually avoid opening a can of worms and letting the twisted mess unfold.
But when the can’s exploding with rock ’n’ roll, punk rock and 1960s garage rock, there’s no reason to shy away.

This Friday, the Can O’ Worms Rock ’n’ Roll Weekend returns for its second year.
Whether attendees stay for one band or all 14 in the lineup, a ticket costs only $5 at the door for the all-ages music festival.

It will be at three different locations: Landlocked Music, Russian Recording and Magnetic South.

“It’s a chance for people who are new to town, at least, to get a taste of something different,” said guitarist Evan Whikehart, whose band Tammar will be part of
Saturday’s concert.

The festival was organized by Charlie and the Skunks member and freshman Chris Mosson, Apache Dropout member Seth Mahern and Landlocked Music co-owner Jason Nickey.

“The goal for the three of us was to get our favorite local bands to all play in one weekend,” Nickey said.

Can O’ Worms opens with a free concert at Landlocked Music and ends with free beer — for those of age, of course. Tammar will provide the beer for its LP release show as part of the musical weekend.

“We’re not a big touring band. We take it slow,” Whikehart said. “This album has songs we’ve been kicking around for a while.”

While many of the festival’s bands are “garage-leaning,” Nickey said Tammar’s music is more “synthy and atmospheric.”

Whikehart said the audience can expect to hear songs from Tammar’s new album, “Visits,” as well as reworked and newer songs.

The album itself has been featured on NPR’s Song of the Day and received high ratings on pitchfork.com.

“We’re proud of recording, but we love playing live,” Whikehart said.

He said he’s excited to play with other local bands, from Apache Dropout to Charlie and the Skunks to Open Sex, the act that follows Tammar on Saturday night.
Most of the bands playing in the “strange vibes time machine,” as the event is billed, are native to the state.

“We want to showcase some really good music from the Midwest, particularly Indiana,” Mosson said.

Last year’s show went well, he said, and while he would like to make the festival an annual event, they’re taking it one step at a time.

“The three of us all agree it’s a labor of love,” Mosson said. “We really like to throw a party with all of our friends and keep it cheap for everybody.”