“Bike People of Indy” is a new bike-centered podcast interview series by the shop featuring both new and familiar characters you may spot rolling the streets of downtown Indianapolis. If you enjoy this series, please become a Bike People Cycling Club member today by becoming a paid member to this Substack, all proceeds directly support the opening of Bike People, a friendly community-oriented bike shop coming late 2024 to Factory Arts South in Downtown Indianapolis.
It was a real pleasure sitting down with my friend and sometimes band-mate, Sam Gerry for this week’s episode. Sam has worked as a bike messenger downtown for over 10 years, riding his Italian-made Cinelli fixed gear for most the time I’ve known him (I’ve never seen him behind the wheel of an automobile though I hear he is trained). I value Sam’s friendship, he is very intelligent, much more well-read than myself, and is always a great conversationalist willing to lend you a cig. I’ve always found him to be a good sounding board to test my thoughts and theories on whatever subjects may be occupying my mind at any given time. He is not afraid to check you on your bullshit. I love that about him.
Sam is a talented musician. We somehow completely avoided the topic of music this discussion, but he has a college background in audio production, and a natural ear for music. His favorite band is the Smashing Pumpkins. He’s always been a talented guitar player, but when I was in need of a drummer for a paid gig at Chilly Water to perform the Nirvana Unplugged album for Kurt’s annual birthday party there, Sam immediately came to mind even though I had never heard him play drums, and he had never once played a show before. He was only just beginning to learn drums at the time after just getting a kit, but still, I had no doubt in my mind he would pull it off flawlessly. And just as expected, he did.
Sam had just made a New Year’s resolution around that time to not turn down any musical opportunity that presented itself, so I suppose I might have caught him at a moment where I was able to take advantage. Soon after, the Chilly Water Family Band similarly found themselves in a pinch for a drummer to perform Pink Floyd’s entire Dark Side of the Moon record, and they asked me for Sam’s contact. The show was only 10 days away, but nonetheless Sam was game for it as soon as I asked him. He learned all the material in a few short days. I went to see Sam and the band perform, and had the most fun watching them play being one of the only ones in the room knowing what Sam had just accomplished with his learning the album in hardly no time and with hardly any rehearsal. As a long-time musician myself, I can say it takes a “real one” to pull off this kind of feat, especially for someone with no on-stage experience.
I hope you enjoy this chat with Sam, we talk about riding Indy, ebikes & scooty scoots, favorite books, homelessness in Indy, and the current state of the world. It is less of a bike-related chat than usual. Sam manages to keep a low profile online and in life, and has somehow managed to continue doing so despite this podcast’s attempts: our video footage of this interview was lost along with Matt’s phone this past week. My apologies for this week being an audio -only episode.
Share this post