When you live in one of the most diverse and vibrant music areas in the world, there are no shortage of places to go and artists to see. Picking a Top 5 is a challenge. What’s the critieria? Shows that suprised in a positive way? Best played? Ones which challenged or seemed comfortably familiar? In my case, I’m inclined to select those shows where the overall vibe was positive. It may have been the people with whom I attended the show or what occurred in the aftermath.
No matter how you decide to go about it, for me these are the gigs that delivered the goods. Like some of my predecessor reviewers I’m taking the liberty of listing some nights that came close but didn’t get a cigar.
Honorable Mentions:
-Nathaniel Rateliffe & The Night Sweats at The Palace.
What a big soul sound! Like time warping to the early 70’s with Van Morrison.
-The Shackletons at Basilica Block Party.
Just when you think you can’t rock any harder you bring on Lori Barbero to kick it up a notch.
-The Record Company at First Avenue
Hey, I love the blues! As much as Gary Clark, Jr tripped my trigger, this new LA trio is in your face in a way I haven’t seen since SRV.
-Lucy Spraggan at 7th Street Entry.
Young Brit folkie with a boatload of beautiful, heart on the sleeve songs. Not normally my style but I’d love to sit around and drink tea with Lucy.
5. Chuck Prophet at Turf Club
One of the finest songwriters going with a band that can follow him anywhere. Some artists can roll into a venue and they own it. Half the people out that night knew the words to nearly every song. Prophet is droll, biting and every bit the long time American rocker. Like his good buddy Alejandro Escovedo, they’ll probably never fully get their due. But musicians are blown away by what they do. Experienced show goers are, too. Few songs this year were more enjoyable than Jesus Was a Social Drinker.
4. Kraig Jarret Johnson & The Program at Turf Club
It was April. There was a blizzard. It didn’t stop anybody. One of those nights where folks were happy to get there in one piece and decided to leave their worries about getting home at the door. That was Minnesota through and through. Johnson is Twin Cities music royalty beginning with Run Westy Run and The Jayhawks. Local musicians were out in force. His band The Program was a who’s who of established Twin Cities players. Despite the winter outside, the evening inside felt like a night around a desert bonfire with friends. Music is communal when it’s at its best. It sure was on this night.
3. The Posies at Turf Club
I’m a relatively new convert to The Posies, having caught them three times previously at little pop up gigs in non traditional spaces. Ken Stringfellow gave TCM an extended interview prior to the Turf Show. This world tour was to promote the re-release of the band’s three seminal albums from the early 90’s. He and co-founder Jon Auer reformed that original band. Ken told me that they were moving back into traditional performance spaces; this band needed the big sound system because of the fire power they were packing. No kidding!
I also learned how important Husker Du had been to their development. Despite that, neither Stringfellow or Auer had ever met Husker bass player Greg Norton, whose band Porcupine opened for them. The night’s encore brought Norton to the stage for a 30 minute, tequila fueled encore set of Husker Du classics. The Posies could play them note for note. The grin on Norton’s face stretched ear to ear.
2. Low Cut Connie at First Avenue
There is nothing cooler than catching a band at that moment they are literally blowing up. There is a joy, energy, motivation and freshness that hasn’t been dulled by constant touring and unreasonable expectations. This Philly band had already grabbed the Twin Cities by the throat. In the span of a single year they went from Turf Club to an opening slot at Rock The Garden to a sold out Mainroom. My early notes at that show said something about how they reminded me of The E Street Band. Before I was able to self edit this kind of blasphemy a local radio exec walked over to me and said: “Man, these guys come at you like The E Street Band!” It wasn’t the sound that was familiar. It was the attitude and swagger. American rock and roll at its finest.
I mentioned in the outset that the evening’s vibe was an important consideration in my choices. There was an after party at The Depot. The place was full of radio people, local musicians and the band. Front man Adam Weiner made it his mission to shake hands with every person in that room, thank them for the support and find out what they thought of the show. It felt like a premier celebration. How wonderful when a band loves its fans as much as the fans love them.
1 The Pretenders at State Theater
I’ve loved Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders for nearly 40 years. At TCM I often find myself the go to reviewer when one of rock’s “senior citizens” comes to town. There’s always this risk you’re going to end up catching some Dad Rock. You know, where it’s a stretch to look beyond the pattern baldness, pot belly and replacement parts. The shows where you close your eyes and use your memories and imagination to try to match up with the music. In this case, the risk was Mom Rock not Dad Rock.
Not to worry. Chrissie Hynde is timeless, as powerful and dynamic as when she was 25. The Pretenders scorched the joint. Most surprising to me, was this crazy level of adoration which poured from middle aged women. I mean, I was on my feet dancing. Some of them were literally prostrate in the aisle worshipping the once and future queen of rock and roll.
Often I find myself talking music with fellow writers and friends. I truly love discovering new music and am a strong supporter of new bands making their bones. Quite frankly, I’ll take a wild night with 20 somethings in The Entry over a Hall of Fame Dad Rock show at the State or Orpheum nearly every time. But when somebody like The Pretenders come to town I’m quick to point out there’s a whole other level out there. Come talk to me in 30 years and we’ll see how your band du jour has held up in comparison.
