The Indulgers

Many performers consider the term "bar band" to be pejorative, believing it implies that folks will enjoy a certain outfit's music only if they're properly lubricated. Still, it's a plain fact that the songs of some combos are more effective in a raucous social setting than they are on plastic...

By Michael Roberts

March 20, 2003

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Many performers consider the term "bar band" to be pejorative, believing it implies that folks will enjoy a certain outfit's music only if they're properly lubricated. Still, it's a plain fact that the songs of some combos are more effective in a raucous social setting than they are on plastic -- and as evidenced by High Road to Heaven, the Indulgers may be such a group.

Led by the irrepressible Damien McCarron, the Indulgers are among the metro area's hardest-working, most likable live acts, capable of bringing out the Irish in even the most leprechaun-phobic listeners. Moreover, the production of Heaven, their fourth disc, is thoroughly professional, and the playing of multi-instrumentalist Mike Nile and his cohorts is consistently skilled. But while the material is generally solid, it's also a touch generic, melding familiar Celtic influences and middle-of-the-road rock in a manner that, on "Still Fine" and elsewhere, feels rather secondhand. McCarron's throaty vocals help on tracks such as "Hard Back Dollar," which calls to mind a jauntier-than-usual Warren Zevon, and none of the tracks is anything less than pleasant. Odds are good, though, that all of them would sound better in a noisy pub reeking of love, lager and heartbreak. (See www.shamrocker.com.)

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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