Offering a diverse collection of entertainment, local bar Be Here Now is looking to be an alternative to the routine bar experience.
Located on Dill Street behind Greek's Pizzeria, Be Here Now gives local bands, comedians and poets a comfortable place to share their art. In addition, the bar provides eco-friendly living opportunities, promoting bicycle riding as well as appropriate recycling habits.
"We would choose to make an environment that is an example of an alternative way to live in the status quo system," owner Whitney Lewis said.
Immediately upon entrance, the bar's intriguing vibrations ring clear.
"It's a great little spot," said Don Snodgrass, lead singer of the Bonesetters. "Just the artwork on the walls is tremendous. [Lewis did] a really good job of making it whatever your tree fort would look like when you were a kid but you're too inept to do what you really want with your tree fort. He's made it that way for you."
Lewis and many local art students transformed the bland building into an art sanctuary within three months.
The basement is the pinnacle of the venue's decor, according to guitarist Josh Lockwood of Catch Curtis, a local act that has been guaranteed a show once a month at the bar. The basement entrance has a huge mural painting, eliciting thoughts of a famous comic cat.
"Coming from the outdoor area, going down the stairs feels like being eaten by Garfield's freakish space twin," Lockwood said. "Then, when you're down there, you feel like you're in some sort of underground dance party that people would scour the Earth looking for."
The bar provides new entertainment opportunities for Ball State students. It is open to those age 18 and older.
"We just want to support anything that is organic and comes from the people," Lewis said. "Musicians are artists and they make music to be shared and not owned as a commodity."
With themed nights such as bring your own vinyl night and open mic night — presented by Mossback Records, an Indianapolis record label — the venue is striving to provide an outlet for local musicians and music fans.
"With a successful music scene, we hope to encourage Ball State students to become involved in their community," Lewis said.
In addition to supporting local music, Lewis supports local breweries and record labels, hoping to build economic opportunities within the Muncie community.
"We'd like to use this bar as a vehicle to encourage practical and progressive change that brings economic benefit and then increased quality of life to the residents of Muncie," he said.
Derek Thompson of Potters Fieldboys, who played a show at Be Here Now on Saturday with Bashville Boys and Josh Condon, said the bar diversifies Muncie's music scene.
"Whitney views Be Here Now as a stepping stone for local acts, regardless of genre," Thompson said. "I've played all over the country and this is one of my favorite venues."
On the first Friday of every month, Catch Curtis organizes a "Village Invasion." The band attempts to draw regionally touring acts to Muncie. These are Midwest bands that play nearby festivals such as Wuhnurth, Forecastle, Hookah in the Hills and Summer Camp.
"Whitney has been so supportive that he doesn't just let us play there on our Village Invasion nights but also allows us to select and book the bands and lighting personnel for the evening," Lockwood said.
At the most recent Village Invasion, Catch Curtis was joined by Fresh Hops of northwest Indiana. This show drew in a large audience of commuters from outside Muncie.
"Catch Curtis also helped Be Here Now bring in fans from around Indiana, not just the Ball State student body, which is a goal of any ambitious, growing band," Lockwood said. "It's very important for a bar that serves as a live music venue to have music fans travel from around the state, especially when it's a bar that doesn't sell liquor or commercial light beer."
Lewis hopes to keep the bar going strong, considering the revolving door of bars that have previously called the Dill Street building home.
"This is the first time in six years that Myles Ogea [owner of MT Cup, Mugly's and other Village establishments] has not been associated with this building," Lewis said.
In the end, Be Here Now just looks to be a different kind of bar, about something other than just drinking.
"That's what this is, not to go out and get laid and get drunk, but to go out and experience," said Michael Foster, keyboardist for the Deadbeats. "You're alive. We're alive. Why aren't we experiencing this together?"
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