Where the Cool Kids Hang Out:
Celebrating a Quarter Century of Dave, Rob, and Community at The Melody Inn
MAKE SOME NOISE
By Kevin Vickery
Welcome back, music lovers! Pull up a vinyl booth and grab a cold PBR, because this month we are celebrating a massive milestone for a true Indianapolis institution.
If you have spent any time over the last few decades looking for the beating heart of Indy’s underground music scene, your boots have undoubtedly stepped across the threshold at 38th and Illinois Streets. I am talking, of course, about The Historic Melody Inn, a beautiful, gloriously defiant rock ‘n’ roll sanctuary that has been making noise since 1935.
Vintage Melody Inn Photos
This October marks an extra special silver anniversary: co-owners Dave Brown and Rob Ondrish are celebrating 25 years of ownership.
Dave Brown and Rob Ondrish
To survive a quarter-century in the grueling nightlife business is a miracle. To do it while strictly committing to original, live independent music is legendary. Dave and Rob have steered “The Mel” through neighborhood transformation, economic rollercoasters, and a global pandemic, all while keeping the beer cold and the amplifiers cranked to eleven.
The rest of the country is finally catching on to what we’ve known all along. Just a couple of months ago, “The Takeout” published their definitive list of the absolute best dive bars in every single state, and they rightly crowned the Melody Inn as the undisputed king of Indiana dives.
Here Are The Hands-Down Best Dive Bars In Every State
They pointed out exactly what makes the Mel so special. It’s a beloved, historic music venue dripping with punk-style graffiti and band stickers, staffed by the friendliest bartenders pouring the cheapest drinks in town. This recognition comes right on the heels of the Mel being named the only Indiana dive bar to land on “USA Today’s Best Dive Bars in America” roster.
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Locally, the accolades have been pouring in for years. The readers of “NUVO Magazine” have consistently showered the venue with “Best of Indy” honors, securing the Mel’s status as a perpetual finalist and winner for Best Dive Bar, Best Small Venue for Live Music, and even Best Bartenders. But there’s one specific crown they defend with absolute, fierce pride.
The Award Winning Melody Inn Juke Box
Year after year, “NUVO” readers have voted the Mel as having the absolute Best Jukebox in the city. It’s a machine so legendary that Dave and Rob affectionately refer to it simply as “The Award-Winning Melody Inn Jukebox, located on the East end of the bar.” Packed with everything from classic punk cuts to deep-cut rock ‘n’ roll gems, it’s the ultimate soundtrack for a night out, just as long as you drop your quarters in before the live bands start drowning it out. Sadly, earlier this year that classic machine spun its last tune and went to the big neon graveyard in the sky. It has since been replaced with a modern model that still delivers all the same great tunes but without the prestigious, award-winning status.
To mark this quarter-century of well-deserved local and national acclaim, the boys are throwing a giant 25-Year Anniversary Celebration on Friday, October 9, 2026, featuring a powerhouse lineup of local favorites including Devil to Pay, United States Three, The Crypto-Kats, and I am proud to say, my own band of misfits, The Cousin Brothers.
The story of how Dave and Rob took the reins reads like a classic indie album liner note. Back in the mid-1990s, the two were working day jobs at BMG Music’s local distribution facility. Rob already had roots at the Mel, tending bar part-time under the stewardship of former owner “Munch.” Needing a dependable partner to man the door on busy nights, Rob recruited Dave. The two quickly became inseparable, spending their off-hours trading stories at the very bar they would eventually own.
When then-owner Gary Neumann was looking for an exit strategy in early 2001, he approached Dave. Sensing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Dave pitched a co-ownership agreement to Rob. Operating more on pure passion than deep pockets, they structured a land-contract sale and officially took the keys on October 2, 2001.
The Melody Inn
The reality of small-business ownership hit hard and fast. For the first year, they could not afford an external staff. It was just the two of them working every single shift. One pouring drinks behind the heavy, original 1930s oak bar while the other checked IDs at the door. They pooled their tips, kept their heads down, and built a foundation. One of their first big moves was taking the bar to a seven-day-a-week schedule and pivoting entirely away from cover bands. They wanted real, raw, original music.
Devil To Pay
United States Three
The Crypto-Kats
The Cousin Brothers
That democratic stage has welcomed over 7,000 distinct acts under their watch. It is a vital incubator where bands like Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band made their performance debut, and where groups like Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s played sweaty, packed sets before finding national acclaim.
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Margo and the Nuclear So and So’s
While the venue is famous for its Saturday “Punk Rock Night” (originally started by Greg Brenner in 2000), it has also cultivated other legendary traditions, particularly the venue’s famed Hillbilly Happy Hour on Fridays. Now, I might be a little biased here as the bassist and vocalist for The Cousin Brothers, but there is truly nothing like the Friday evening vibe inside those walls.
The Cousin Brothers at Hillbilly Happy Hour
My bandmates (Ben Long, T.R. Yelton, Dave Bagdade) and I have had the honor of playing the second Friday of every month for over 20 years during Hillbilly Happy Hour. We bring our signature blend of “Powergrass”—which is rocked-up bluegrass and grassed-up rock—and classic country to an audience that feels more like a big, rowdy family reunion than a bar crowd.
The Cousin Brothers at Hillbilly Happy Hour
That unwavering monthly residency is a testament to the deep-seated loyalty Dave and Rob have always shown to local musicians. They did not just build a venue; they built a community.
The Cousin Brothers with Rob and Dave
I knew that I wanted to be a part of that community the first time I stepped inside. It was at least 23 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Ben and I were in the earliest phases of writing songs and putting together what would become The Cousin Brothers’ sound and style. We had seen ads for “Hillbilly Happy Hour” at The Historic Melody Inn” in the back pages of “NUVO” and decided we needed to check it out. We sat at a table and watched The Punkin’ Holler Boys deliver their unique twist on folk and bluegrass under some cleverly crafted lyrics, and knew instantly that we had to be a part of that scene. I remember telling Ben, “This is where all the cool kids hang out!” Those guys still play the Hillbilly Happy Hour slot on the third Thursday of the month, and we’re now proud to be veterans of the same stage as them.
The Punkin’ Holler Boys
In its current form, we play our Hillbilly Happy Hour set as a stand-alone act sweating it out for two rowdy sets, but earlier in our 22-year tenure, we split the bill with some great support acts that brought their own twist on the night. We were joined for several years by Miss Kimmy and Zorba from Indy and then for a couple more years by fellow Henry County homies, The Mooreland Bobcats.
Miss Kimmy and Zorba
The Mooreland Bobcats
Fronting The Cousin Brothers has given me the opportunity to discover so many great local bands over the years, especially at The Melody Inn. When Hillbilly Happy Hour ends at 9:30, the night is just getting started as there are generally another 3–4 bands on the bill for the night show. That has allowed us to share the stage with and discover the tight, heavy-power-pop of The Fuglees, the acoustic-horror-punk of Harley Poe, the crooning, lounge vibe of The Leisure Kings, the surf-telecaster sounds of any Danny Thompson project, Rockabilly Hall of Famer, Art Adams and even the Star Trek tribute band, Five Year Mission.
The Fuglees
Harley Poe
The Leisure Kings
Danny Thompson
Art Adams
Five Year Mission
Our history with Dave and Rob runs deeper than just our monthly happy hour residency. The Melody Inn has always been our home away from home. It’s where we chose to capture our show’s raw energy by recording our “Live at The Melody Inn” album right there on that iconic corner stage.
The Cousin Brothers, “Live at the Melody Inn”
When it came time to mark our own milestone, there was only one place on the list of venues to have it. Dave and Rob graciously hosted our 20th band anniversary party back in 2024, which was an absolutely legendary, sweat-soaked night of music and memories that we still talk about today.
The Cousin Brothers 20th Anniversary Party
Although I admit I’ve completely lost count of our actual grand total over the decades, I recently went scrolling through my digital archives. Based strictly on my saved setlist files, I can officially verify that The Cousin Brothers have played the Mel at least 175 times. That’s a lot of tuning up, a lot of broken strings, and a whole lot of empty PBR cans. Seeing Dave and Rob reach their own 25th milestone of keeping this place alive feels like the ultimate full-circle moment for our band. We’ve played their annual anniversary party show several times over the years, but being part of this milestone gig is extremely cool for us.
The Cousin Brothers and Dave & Rob Anniversary posters over the years
The Mel is home to a lot of other great recurring themed events as well. There are occasional comedy showcases, Open Mic Nights, Rob’s “Mel Yeah! Happy Hour” on Tuesdays, Sustain Concert Series Events, and “The Cash Bash”, and of course Punk Rock Night.
Special Events and Features at The Melody Inn
Their annual Halloween show is legendary and is generally booked over a year in advance. The show features 4–5 bands playing tribute sets to their favorite artists. Back in 2018, we played that gig as “The Willie Nelsons,” which was the most fun I’ve ever had while wearing a wig.
The Cousin Brothers as “The Willie Nelson’s”
The unique setup of The Mel is one of the things I enjoy the most about playing there. The stage is situated in the corner, immediately to the left of the entrance, so when patrons walk into the bar, they are instantly in front of the stage and part of the action. It reminds me of what I always called “shotgun-style” bars on lower Broadway in Nashville, TN, like Robert’s Western World, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and Legends Corner, which are long, narrow, and have a similar stage location. It should be noted that being the sound guy at The Mel is a gig that also doubles as the door guy, collecting the cover as people come in. Balancing those responsibilities simultaneously isn’t easy, and we’ve been lucky to become friends with the two guys that have mastered that task, Hubert Glover and Jeff Parks.
Hubert Glover and Jeff Parks
When I say the Mel is a part of me, I mean it in the most literal way possible. Last year, during one of Dave and Rob’s Melody Inn rummage sales, I walked away with the original door handle from the front door. That simple piece of metal that has been handled by thousands of rockers, rebels, and rejects alike as they made their way inside the legendary establishment. I simply couldn’t resist buying it with the post-it note stuck to it on the sale table that read, “Once touched by Peyton Manning.”
The Melody Inn Rummage Sale
Also, just in case any of you were wondering what ever happened to the old sticker-covered sink that was in the men’s room before they replaced it with a more modern version, I should let you know that I salvaged that as well. As much as I’d like to tell you it was functioning in my house in some cool way, I must admit that it’s in my barn awaiting the day when I finally get around to that little rock history restoration project.
Above all other characteristics and charm of Indy’s best dive bar, The Mel’s best feature is the people. It’s not just Dave, Rob, and the other staff, but also the interesting mix of folks who spend time there, enjoying each other’s company, taking in the atmosphere, and supporting the eclectic mix of live entertainment. Nowhere else have I ever witnessed such a vast array of characters peacefully co-existing despite their obvious different styles and traits. I believe this is largely due to the wide spectrum of musical styles featured by the artists on any given night.
The Cousin Brothers and Friends
When you’re there, it’s not at all uncommon to see punk rockers, hillbillies, hipsters, drag queens, frat guys, and businessmen all peacefully having a cold one and sharing a laugh, regardless of their color, gender, religion, or whatever other social identity may otherwise define and divide people. At The Melody Inn, everyone is welcome.
welcome.
The Cousin Brothers and Friends & Family
I wrote and added an extra verse to Waylon Jennings’, “Waymore’s Blues” that sums up my opinion of playing there:
“Hillbilly Happy Hour at The Melody Inn,
The coolest damn bar that you ever been in.
I got friends here from all over the land,
Y’all are listenin’ to The Cousin Brothers Band
The Cousin Brothers Band,
Yeah, The Co-Bro Band.”
Today, the Mel remains a beautiful living museum, complete with vintage vinyl booths saved from the historic Teepee Restaurant, the PBR Lounge in the back, the “Smokers Garden” outside, and walls draped in decades of musical history. I’ve personally spent hours of my life reading all the cool band names printed on stickers that are plastered throughout the place. Its decor is basically a 3D scrapbook of the Indianapolis music scene and culture.
Melody Inn Signs, Stickers and Decor
Through it all, Dave and Rob remain the same down-to-earth, hands-on stewards of Indy’s underground music scene that they were 25 years ago.
Dave Brown and Rob Ondrish
So, if you want to pay tribute to two guys who have kept the rock ‘n’ roll flame burning bright in the Circle City, make plans to come out on October 9th. Let’s pack the house, raise a glass, and make some serious noise for Dave and Rob!
- What: Dave & Rob’s 25-Year Melody Inn Anniversary Party
- When: Friday, October 9, 2026. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
- Where: The Melody Inn, 3826 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN
- Lineup: Devil to Pay, United States Three, The Crypto-Kats, and The Cousin Brothers
- Admission: $10 in advance at the bar, $15 at the door (21+ only)
- Connect: Visit the official website of The Melody Inn and follow them on Facebook and Instagram
