Album Notes

The Indicators are a blend of roots-based rock mixed with American punk influences - just imagine CCR being run over by the MC5 in a big 'ol Mack truck.

"The Indicators: Beautiful Whores" by Lee Smith
from Creative Loafing - Atlanta "Earshot" column 6/6/2001

Walker Percy's novel The Moviegoer depicts the search for purpose in life for Binx Bolling, a young movie fan who finds personal redemption only by embracing the irrational and succeeding because of it. "I wake up some mornings and wonder 'what would Binx do?' " says Indicators guitarist/songwriter Mike Goldman.

In fact, much of his band's new album Beauty Is a Whore (Shut Eye Records) was written during Goldman's own Binx Bolling years. "I had just gone through a divorce and had an overwhelming sense of 'what do I do with myself?' Percy's work was almost like a manual of how to get through that."

With Percy as their muse, the Indicators -- featuring Goldman (ex-Skylarks), Shut Eye Records owner Pete Knapp (ex-Nillah) on bass, guitarist Ken Morton (ex-Wonderlust) and drummer Dave McNair (ex-Magnapop) -- originally formed three years ago to play Clash covers. The band, like the Bolling character, has weathered a series of changes to become a defiantly loud and literate unit.

The Indicators' decidedly retro sound lies somewhere between the slam of the MC5, the ranting of Roky Erikson (whose "Don't Slander Me" they cover on Beauty) and Steve Earle's insightful twang. However, Goldman and Knapp have no aspirations of preaching to their audiences. "If they look up from their beer or the girl they are trying to pick up once a song I feel like I have done something," laughs Goldman.

"We try not to bore drunk people," agrees Knapp. "We prefer to play loud and leave the important messages to the surgeon general."