HamCo Live Hot Ticket

HamCo Live
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Performing Arts
  • Weekly

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, a show dedicated to promoting the Hamilton County live music scene, local bands and bar venues. Connecting Music fans with Live Local Music!

  1. 4h ago

    Singer Ryan Ahlwardt, Straight No Chaser and top five Indiana songs

    Join host Josh Cecil and co-host Tyler Mechem for Season 1, Episode 26 of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. Producer Chris is away on special assignment in Mexico, but special guest Ryan Ahlwardt joins the studio in downtown Noblesville. Ahlwardt, an Emmy Award-winning former co-host of Fox 59's "Indie Now," discusses his 20-year career as an independent singer-songwriter. He shares memories of joining the Indiana University a cappella group Straight No Chaser as a high school senior at Hamilton Southeastern, getting signed to Atlantic Records after their "12 Days of Christmas" video went viral, and touring internationally for more than five years. He also breaks down his new album, "Crying in the Canyon," which released Oct. 23. Recorded in Noblesville and featuring 85% Indiana musicians, the 1970s-inspired project draws influence from Laurel Canyon acoustic folk rock, James Taylor, America, the Eagles and the Beach Boys. Ahlwardt also previews his upcoming "Human Jukebox" concert on Dec. 17 at Feinstein's at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. The hosts recap their weekends, including Tyler playing a gig at Voodoo Brewing in Fishers and sharing how slide guitarist Derek Trucks used an LM Products strap while playing Jerry Garcia's $11.5 million Tiger guitar. During the weekly Top Five segment, the group debates the best Indiana-themed songs, building a Spotify playlist featuring tracks by Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, The Samples, Steven Wilson Jr. and John McLaughlin. Listeners can test their pop culture knowledge with a daytime TV host trivia question about Regis Philbin, brought to you by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero. This episode is filmed at Moonshot Studios inside Moonshot Games and is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products. Visit hamcolive.com to view the complete local music calendar and subscribe to the weekly newsletter

  2. Oct 29

    Clint Culberson of Modoc, 2000s indie rock and Phone Club

    Join host Josh Cecil and co-host Tyler Mechem for Season 1, Episode 25 of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. Producer Chris is away on vacation at Disney World, but special guest Clint Culberson, former lead singer of rock band Modoc and current frontman for cover band Phone Club, joins the studio.   Culberson discusses his musical roots in Muncie, the origin of Modoc's band name and his decision to move to Nashville, Tennessee. He shares behind-the-scenes insights on signing a 360 record deal, working with producer Brendan Benson, securing Fox Sports music placements during the World Series and writing Modoc's hit song, "Coward," in just 15 minutes. He also reflects on moving back to Indiana and overcoming an ego to find joy in playing with cover band Phone Club.   The hosts recap their fall break family trips, including Tyler's visit to Kings Island and Great Wolf Lodge, and Josh's trip to Branson, Missouri, to ride Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler roller coaster. Josh also recaps bartending at Bier Brewery's Oktoberfest and attending a Front Porch Records showcase at the Mousetrap.   During the weekly Top Five segment, the group debates the best 2000s indie rock songs, building a playlist featuring tracks by MGMT, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, Vampire Weekend, the Strokes and the Killers. Listeners can test their music knowledge with a 2000s indie rock trivia question, brought to you by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero.   This episode is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products and Moonshot Games. Visit hamcolive.com to view the complete local music calendar and subscribe to the weekly newsletter.

  3. Oct 1

    Feverdream's Mikey Garrett, TradeUp Fest recap and 1980s pop trivia

    Join host Josh Cecil, co-host Tyler Major and Producer Chris for Season 1, Episode 24 of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. In this episode, Mikey Garrett, lead singer of the indie rock band Feverdream and founder of the Feverdream Halloween music and arts festival, joins the studio. Garrett discusses his musical evolution from making hip-hop to playing the 2017 Vans Warped Tour at Ruoff Music Center with Almost Heroes, hosting basement shows at Hometree and releasing Feverdream's EP, "Hope You Got What You Wanted," on Front Porch Records. The group previews the third annual Feverdream Halloween festival taking place Oct. 10 in downtown Noblesville, featuring 55 local acts across multiple indoor and outdoor stages including Alexander's, Primeval Brewing, Bar Ellis and Syd's. The 12-hour event also features professional wrestling, local art and community mental health resources, reflecting Garrett's background as a therapist at Compassionate Roots and opiate clinic manager. The hosts also recap the inaugural TradeUp Fest held Sept. 19 at the Riverview Health Arena in Noblesville, highlighting performances by Norah Reese, The Wilder Blue and Larry Fleet, and the interactive Trades Village. Listeners can test their 1980s pop music knowledge with a Michael Jackson "Thriller" trivia question sponsored by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero. The episode wraps up with local weekend event previews, including Spencer Farm Fall Fest and downtown Noblesville Fall Fest.  For a complete local music calendar and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit hamcolive.com

  4. Sep 16

    Country rock band The Wilder Blue, TradeUp Fest and 1970s vocal harmonies

    Join host Josh Cecil for a special edition of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. In this episode, Josh sits down for a porch-side interview with Zane Williams and Sean Rodriguez of the Texas-based country rock band The Wilder Blue. Joining from their tour bus in Wisconsin, Williams and Rodriguez discuss their unique sound, which blends 1970s acoustic folk rock, 1990s country and five-part vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Eagles, Alabama and Steely Dan. The duo shares behind-the-scenes stories about recording "Seven Bridges Road" with Luke Combs, touring 12 stadium dates on Combs' 2024 tour and crafting intricate vocal arrangements on songs like "The Conversation". They also break down tracks from their new album, including "Texas Women," "Last Chance for Dancing," "Only the Years" and "Chasing the Sun," while explaining their decision to bring in outside musicians on fiddle, pedal steel and keyboards for the first time.The conversation covers life on the tour bus, sharing driving shifts, first and favorite concerts, and a hilarious memory of Zane playing a private solo show for a single audience member. Josh also previews TradeUp Fest, taking place Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville. The celebration features a free outdoor daytime festival with eight local bands, food trucks and an interactive Trades Village, followed by a ticketed arena concert featuring Norah Reese, The Wilder Blue and headliner Larry Fleet. Visit tradeupfest.com to claim free daytime passes or purchase arena concert tickets. For a complete local music calendar and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit hamcolive.com.

  5. Sep 3

    Singer-songwriter Kelli Ray Yates, coffee shop jams and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trivia

    Join host Josh Cecil, co-host Tyler Mechem and producer Chris inside Moonshot Studios for Season 1, Episode 22 of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene.   In this episode, local Noblesville singer-songwriter Kelli Ray Yates joins the show as our first repeat guest. The group recaps a packed couple of weeks, highlighting local performances at Noblesville Porchfest, Tyler's accordion and keys set at the Federal Hill Billy Joel tribute show, and ongoing community flood relief efforts. Josh shares highlights from his birthday trip to Willie Nelson's Outlaw Country Music Festival featuring the Avett Brothers and Steven Wilson Jr., while producer Chris discusses volunteering at the Trice hip-hop festival.   In honor of Kelli's 19 years as a barista at Noble Coffee, the group debates the ultimate top five coffee shop jams. They discuss coffee shop culture, share the recipe for a Kelly-style chai, and draft a playlist featuring acoustic tracks by Norah Jones, Kimya Dawson, Death Cab for Cutie and the Avett Brothers.   Listeners can also test their music knowledge with a country music trivia question about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, brought to you by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero. The episode wraps up with a preview of the upcoming TradeUp Fest on Sept. 19, where Kelli Ray Yates will perform with her full band.   This episode is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products. For a complete local music calendar and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit hamcolive.com.

  6. Aug 21

    Kurt Meyer, historic Noblesville flooding and top whiskey drinking songs

    Join host Josh Cecil, co-host Tyler Mechem and Producer Chris for Season 1, Episode 21 of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast on the Get In Podcast Network. This week, Noblesville real estate expert and author Kurt Meyer joins the studio. Meyer discusses the unique appeal of historic homes in Oldtown Noblesville, the history of local theaters and his family's recent reunion with guests visiting from Japan and Bozeman. The group discusses the historic flooding in Hamilton County that surpassed the 1913 record by nearly a foot, submerging local parks like Federal Hill and Southside Park. The hosts share how local businesses were affected and highlight community recovery efforts led by Noblesville Serve Village. To support the community, 100 percent of the proceeds from this episode will go toward local flood relief. Weekend recaps include Tyler's recent gig at Walk-Ons, Chris's trip to Terre Haute Brewing Company and Kurt's family trip to the Indiana State Fair. This sparks a conversation about historic state fair concerts, from the Beatles performing at the coliseum in 1964 to Tyler's memory of opening for Michael McDonald. In honor of their guest, a noted bourbon drinker, the group debates the best whiskey drinking songs for the weekly top five segment. The final playlist features tracks by Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Townes Van Zandt, Midland and Larry Fleet. Later, the hosts test their music knowledge with a soft rock trivia question sponsored by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero. The episode also previews TradeUp Fest, a free community music festival celebrating the skilled trades on Sept. 19 at the Riverview Health Arena in Noblesville. This episode is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products and Moonshot Games. Visit hamcolive.com to subscribe to the newsletter and view the full music calendar.

  7. Aug 13

    Front Porch Music Festival, TradeUp Fest and best concert memories

    oin host Josh Cecil, co-host Tyler Mechem and Producer Chris for the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. The show is filmed at Moonshot Studios inside Moonshot Games and is part of the Get In podcast network.   In this episode, special guest Jason Pearson, founder of the Noblesville Front Porch Music Festival, joins the studio. Pearson shares the origin story of the event, which started after an anniversary trip to Evansville in October 2019, and previews the upcoming festival on Aug. 29. The free community event covers four and a half blocks of Logan Street in downtown Noblesville, featuring 25 local bands across 16 porches from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. He also explains the unique parade tradition featuring the Pickle Stompers playing "When the Saints Go Marching In" down Logan Street to Primeval Brewing.   The hosts also recap their weekends, discussing local gigs, Josh's trip to Franklin, Indiana, and Producer Chris spinning records at The Pretender, a new 1970s-style hi-fi listening room in downtown Noblesville. During the weekly Top Five segment, the group creates a list of the best "porch sitting jams," featuring songs by The Band, Sublime, John Mellencamp, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. The crew also swaps stories about their first, best and worst concert experiences of all time.   The episode previews the upcoming TradeUp Fest on Sept. 19 at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, featuring headliner Larry Fleet, The Wilder Blue and Nora Reese. Listeners can also test their music knowledge with a 1995 grunge trivia question about Pearl Jam, sponsored by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero.   This episode is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products. For a complete local music calendar and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit hamcolive.com.

  8. Aug 5

    HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast: Serve Village community service, best music duets and TradeUp Fest

    Join host Josh Cecil, co-host Tyler Mechem and Producer Chris for the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, your guide to the Hamilton County live music scene. The show is filmed at Moonshot Studios inside Moonshot Games and is part of the Get In podcast network.  This week, special guest Patrick Propst of Serve Village joins the studio to celebrate the nonprofit's 15th year. Propst discusses how the organization evolved from a local collaboration of youth pastors into an asset-based community connecting group. He explains their philosophy of reducing isolation and improving mental health through service projects like Serve Week, which mobilizes about 1,000 volunteers on 100 projects. Propst also shares details about Funfest, local mural walkways and several upcoming fall events, including the Serve Celebration on Aug. 23, a White River cleanup in September, and the Great Village Campout on Oct. 2 and 3. The hosts and guest also recap their weekends, discussing leaky ceilings, cleaning out garages, a three-hour nap in the rain and driving teenagers around. During the weekly Top Five segment, the group debates the best music duets of all time, building a Spotify playlist that features tracks by David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Chris Stapleton and Joy Oladokun, and Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. Listeners can also test their classic rock knowledge with a duet trivia question sponsored by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero, Indiana.  The episode concludes with a look at the upcoming TradeUp Fest on Sept. 19 at the Riverview Health Arena in Noblesville and a round of weekly music recommendations. This episode is sponsored by Anderson-based LM Products. For a complete local music calendar, to shop the online merchandise store and to subscribe to the weekly newsletter, visit hamcolive.com. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and LM Products Mesa series guitar strap prototype 2:15 - Weekend recaps: Leaky ceilings, cleaning the garage and driving teenagers 9:30 - Interview with Patrick Propst of Serve Village 11:15 - Connecting the Noblesville community through service and Funfest 16:45 - Highlighting Serve Week projects, IDES and Be Free partnerships 21:30 - Fall events: Serve Celebration, White River cleanup and Great Village Campout 25:40 - HamCo Live Top Five: Best music duets of all time 36:45 - Previewing TradeUp Fest and Trades Village at Riverview Health Arena 40:15 - Rock duet trivia sponsored by Rudy's Recycle Shop in Cicero 44:10 - Weekly music recommendations: What are you listening to? 48:30 - HamCo Live merchandise store and show wrap-up

See All (25)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the HamCo Live Hot Ticket podcast, a show dedicated to promoting the Hamilton County live music scene, local bands and bar venues. Connecting Music fans with Live Local Music!

Information

  • Creator
    HamCo Live
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    HamCo Live Hot Ticket