Giving Up the Ghosts: Closing Time at Doc's Music Hall

Respected music documentary filmmaker Robert Mugge's latest captures the last night at an influential music venue: Doc's Music Hall, which was originally a Muncie, IN, shoe store bought and reinvented in 1992 by keyboard player John Peterson, who oversaw the place for 20 years. In opening remarks, Peterson notes, “Yes, I'm a real doctor.” He keeps his board certification in Western medicine up to date, while incorporating Eastern systems such as Ayurvedic medicine into his practice. He opened Doc's in order to revive the style of venues he played in as a musician during the 1960s. In between full-length song performances here, Peterson and his associates—including manager Mike Martin—recount the place's history. Associate Paul Troxel mentions ghosts that some observers claimed to have seen over the years, suggesting that they might be vaudevillians of yore looking for somewhere to hang out since the building did attract artistic types in the early-20th century. The musical portion of the program includes a 10-song set with the house band, featuring guitarist Douglas Hunt, saxophone player Phil Dunn, and drummer Kyle Ivy, who concentrate on rock and R&B covers such as the Doors' “Light My Fire" and Lionel Ritchie's "All Night Long." Everyone except Hunt sings, but they are better musicians than singers, so the instrumental selections work best, like Peterson's “Tribute to Monk.” While too narrowly focused to have wide appeal, this should still be considered a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)