The Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series at Butler is always amazing - for example, I heard Joyce Carol Oates read from one of her many novels at the series. She is very prolific; I think she writes a novel in the time I takes me to type this column. While I was getting a book signed by Joyce, she asked me what I did. I panicked and told her that I was a restaurant manager; at the time I worked in a clothing store. I changed jobs shortly after, back to the hospitality business, where I belonged. I also credit Joyce with my fascination with boxing. I had honestly never thought about the sport until she talked about it. Now I have season tickets to the Golden Gloves matches.

I was not worried about coming out of the Nick Hornby reading with any new obsessions. I'm already a music fan, and I'm certain I will never become a football (soccer) addict. Nick entertained us with humorous, poignant stories of rock and roll heroes, bouncers and four people planning to commit suicide.

Nick talked about the process of his books being made in to films. "The thing they're paying you for is, they might mess around with it a bit," he said. "If you don't like that, then you shouldn't take the money."

He spoke of the hardship of writing fiction. Not a far jump from wondering if the telephone box should be across the street in the story to wanting to chuck the story out of the window.

He spends his time raising his three children, writing and on the look out for new pop music (He left with a copy of Otis Gibbs' latest in hand).

I love bluegrass shows. The audience is always respectful and the musicians are skilled.

Otis Gibbs opened the show and set the tone for the evening. His bluegrass band is great and it's always a treat to have Miss Amy Lashley join him on stage. The first time I saw Ralph Stanley I was with Otis and his stand-up bass player Dean Metcalf. I love the idea that Otis is now sharing the marquee with Dr. Stanley.

The Clinch Mountain Boys started the evening without Ralph Stanley. Every member of the band got a big ole bluegrass introduction. The mandolin player mentioned all their recordings and honors as he introduced them. I knew that his son, Ralph Stanley II, was part of the band, but the big surprise was the mandolin player - Nathan is his thirteen-year-old grandson. The respect Nathan has for his grandfather is obvious. When Ralph came on stage, he helped him off with his jacket. I love seeing the legacy continued. When Nathan introduced Ralph he encapsulated seemingly every honor his grandfather had ever received, including awards from the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. You got the sense that his honorary doctorate degree in music from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976 is the one closest to his heart. That's Dr. Ralph Stanley to you and me.

Dr. Stanley apologized for not feeling well, and his time on stage was limited. He sang O Death a cappella. This song was made famous by the movie (and soundtrack) O Brother Where Art Thou, the only movie I've seen that I went straight from the theater to the record store.

I was disappointed that he did not play his banjo at all. It's always a treat to see the famous Stanley Style of claw hammer playing, but I still had goose bumps the whole time he was on stage.

Oberon equals springtime. Just a few short years ago, before Bell's Beer was available in Indiana, beer geeks had to drive to the Kalamazoo Brewing Company in Michigan to get the seasonally brewed Oberon beer. Now we can find it several Broad Ripple bars. The Broad Ripple Tavern hosted the Indianapolis kick-off for the yummy wheat beer. The beer is non-filtered for the intense wheat grain, citrus and spice flavor. The glass I had brought the promise of summertime and evenings in the backyard.

The ReachArounds have been playing for several years. They are made up of local favorites Scott Sanders, Jeff Ayers (Ben Wah Salami), Keith Carey, and Robin Reuter. This night John Byrne was standing in for Scott Ballantine. They play Scott Sanders originals and fun cover songs with a twist: the twists mostly provided by Mr. Salami. You are always entertained by the ReachArounds.

I have an unnatural affection for this corner. It's only three blocks from my house, and I take a very personal interest about what happens there. The corner has just gotten better! Luna Music has officially joined the group of great independently owned businesses and restaurants. Now you can shop for everything from silver to shoe gaze rock within a few feet. I stopped in to Luna in the late afternoon, and the store was. . . well. . . rocking. They have a wide selection of local, national and international music, both new and used. One of my favorite musicians, Vess Ruhtenberg, was setting up to play. I was feeling a bit like Cinderella as I ran out the door to work at the Red Key Tavern.

Russel Settle was celebrating his fifty-fifth anniversary of owning the Red Key Tavern. Anniversary days are big at the Red Key. There are photographs of past celebrations adorning the walls; the guest book is passed around, and everyone gets a treat. Russel was there in all his glory, looking handsome and dapper in his red vest. I was very appropriately wearing an old Red Key shirt of his. Russel claims the shirt is older than I am. I doubt that, but I love the shirt. The bar was packed the whole night. The standing and chair moving rules were suspended for the evening. It was an honor to be part of this great evening. I appreciate working at this neighborhood institution.

The Roundups are celebrating their 10th anniversary as a band, and that is huge. Band years are like dog years, one equals seven!

They play in the vintage country music tradition, down to the great clothes they wear on stage.

The Stone Mug comes as close to being a true honky-tonk as we get, this will be a great place to see them. And there is no cover charge, yeehaw!