Local bands a jammin' success on Walnut

The Jammin' On Walnut musical extravaganza Tuesday night was exactly what it was expected to be: jammin' all night and a lot more. The event consisted of local and regional bands performing at three different locations: Axis, 419 S. Walnut, Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut, and Kilroy's Sports, 319 N. Walnut. The net proceeds of this event were donated to Shelter Inc.\nAt 9:30 p.m. the party got off to an impressive start at Kilroy's with the captivating group Dale and Moe Z. They thrilled the young, party-hungry audience for more than an hour with their diverse musical talents. While this was highly entertaining, the party was just beginning.\nThings got off to a slightly slower start at the Bluebird with Danger Will Robinson, but it didn't take long for the dance floor to get crowded. The popular local group Danagas was next on the agenda. \nArguably the most popular band in Bloomington, Danagas was as mesmerizing as ever with their seemingly flawless fusion of rock, hip-hop, funk and rhythm and blues. \nMost of the people there were long-time fans of the group. \n"That's what you call great music. I wouldn't miss them for the world," said Ryan Coleman, a graduate of IU and former IDS editor who drove down to Bloomington especially for the event.\nWhile things heated up at Bluebird, the real attraction was the newly renovated Axis (formerly Mars). While the grand opening is not until Thursday, hundreds of thrill seekers got a taste Tuesday night of what it has to offer. This was undoubtedly the most crowded club of the three.\n"I thought people in Europe knew how to party, but it doesn\'t get better than this," said Theodoros Sophocleous, a native of Greece and an associate's degree student.\nThings continued this way until almost 2:30 a.m. Even though the music ended then, the party did not. People had to be urged to leave.\n"The musicians I spoke to were very happy about the reception they received. Things definitely exceeded expectations for me," said Dave Kubiak, general manager of Axis and the Bluebird.\nWhile the next Jammin' On Walnut concert isn't until November, Tuesday night gave people a lot to talk about, including a preview of the multi-talented bands playing in Bloomington for the rest of the year.