When they’re not spitting their own bars on stages across Indy and beyond, David “Simon Sed” Katz and Jeremy “Rhetoryk” McClure can be found hosting Lyrics & Libations, a monthly open mic. Every third Thursday of the month the duo invites budding rappers to share their latest work at The Health Club in Broad Ripple.
Lyrics & Libations gives attendees an opportunity to sign up and perform a few songs they’ve been working on.
“The people who come to Lyrics & Libations are looking for a safe creative space to perform and mess up if they need to — for something to push them forward and motivate them to keep growing as an artist,” McClure, 34, said.
The concept dates back to 2013, when Katz, 36, lived in Chicago and worked alongside Bradley Bullock, known on stage as Big Ole Lil Young Blaise. Lyrics & Libations arrived in Indianapolis in March 2023, at the now-gone Chromatic Collective brick and mortar event space in Broad Ripple. Since Chromatic’s closing in January 2025, the event moved to The Health Club.
Besides celebrating local hip-hop culture, the open mic also includes a monthly featured act to close out the night and help set the standard. The first ever Indianapolis Lyrics & Libations featured rapper Skypp and Bigg Woog.
Apollo “T.G.I. Free” Freeman, a local rapper, said he first attended Lyrics & Libations in 2024. Since then, he has been to “more open mics than he can count.”
One thing that kept Freeman coming back was the respectful environment. “You could tell that they were for the artists, and people had good artist etiquette,” he said. “When another artist was performing, everybody was quiet. And even when you had artists who would mess up or trip over words, everybody was encouraging.”
While some may come to Lyrics & Libations with bigger aspirations, Katz ultimately wants the open mic to be a space where Indy artists can freely express themselves.
“People can get caught up in the conversations and negative spin of, ‘Everybody and their mom’s a rapper. There are too many rappers,’” Katz said. “While there is some truth to that sentiment, the core principle behind Lyrics & Libations is that it’s healthy to express yourself. The world should have more expression, not less expression.”
Occasionally, Lyrics & Libations scores bigger acts. After bringing New Orleans rapper Jay Electronica to Indianapolis for an intimate performance in May, Lyrics & Libations partnered with the concert series Late Night Munchies to bring Detroit MC Boldy James on Nov. 21. The event will take place at Monon 30 at 1118 E. 30th St. and feature performances by local rappers such as KoolKidKalvo and hip-hop duo Distinct and Baby Ebony, as well as Houston’s Looni.
Attendees will still get a chance to perform on Nov. 21, but the open mic portion will be shorter and participants are encouraged to sign up ahead of time.
Katz and McClure said these bigger events are all about giving Indy artists a larger platform.
DeHart (left) and Sky (right) perform Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
Simon Sed (left) and Rhetoryk perform on Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
Dragging Knuckles performs Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
Ric Gagger performs Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
Audience members record VTeamer10K’s performance Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
TGemz performs as the featured artist Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy 
Queen Kh’arma and TGemz perform Oct. 15, 2026, during Lyrics & Libations at the Health Club. Credit: Ted Somerville for Mirror Indy
So far, it’s worked out for Freeman. “They’ve helped me out more than you can even imagine,” he said. “They’ve booked me several times, and I’ve created forever supporters from Lyrics & Libations. There are people who I’m locked in on a day-to-day basis with now.”
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Seth Johnson is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach him at seth.johnson4291@gmail.com.
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