I got a pretty late start on Thursday night. My partner
called at 8 PM to let me know she was trying to get out of work early so I
could catch a bit of Kendl Winter, Jaybone
Bell & Restless Light and Wake Up Bedhead. Unfortunately, her relief never
showed, so it was 10:30 PM before I got out of the house.
Still a pretty great night – some highlights:
• Retribution Gospel Choir – I must say that after a couple
You Tube views I wasn’t that sold on RGC, but after reading the article about
them being the best live act in Minneapolis it was time to reconsider my initial opinion. Wow, these guys rock, nothing like LOW - Alan
Sparhawk simply shreds on guitar in RGC! I also loved the rhythm section, the
drummer playing a lot of the ride symbol (I hope I have this right drummers) –
it is the big symbol with a lower bell type sound - kind of heavy, rock-n-roll
sound. I’m definitely a convert.
• Watching David Echelard front and center at Paulie Matushek’s set at
Broken World Records. Paulie is a veteran of the La Crosse music scene and he
has a standing gig at the Popcorn Tavern. He is a one-man band with looping
pedals, so it is really interesting to see him set up songs by setting down his
grooves with several different instruments and then essentially jamming with
himself. For those that don’t know of Echelard, he is the master of music as
old as these hills (he sings and plays the hurdy gurdy), it was fun to wonder
what was going through his mind while watching this very modern take on one-man
rock band music.
• Not being able to get into Ed’s No Name. This place is an
anchor of the local music scene and as much as I was first a bit bummed about
not being able to get through the door, in retrospect it made me happy about
what is building here. We are fortunate to get the chance to see Charlie Parr a
lot, and also to sit at Ed’s pub and see live music on a regular basis, so it
was great to see other folks mobbing the place.
• Broken World Records. One of the newer live music spots in
town, I have really enjoyed going to this place. They had Paulie in the front
room and General B & the Whiz in the awesome back room. I know these guys
have played here several times, but I don’t get out enough. General B is like
some funk-a –fied Sonny Bono with 70s era ‘stache and hair. They sounded great.
Also great to see quite a few other folks at Broken World Records – the MWMF
crew did a great job it seems in organizing times and venues so that crowds
seemed to be everywhere.
• MWMF organizers. Really fun to see Sam Brown, Frank
Hessler, Adam Wiltgen, and Alex Stevens moving, grooving, and enjoying
themselves at several venues. They have put in countless hours over the past
year to bring this blissful three days of music our way. Bravo!
• Charlie Parr owns this town. I posted it on FB last night
and I stand by it. Fortunately, the crowd cleared enough later in the night and
I was able to duck in and see Charlie. He always brings it and when the crowd
is really heated and jiving and sweaty, Charlie brings it all the more - such a
blistering “Rattlesnake” I thought the whole bar was going to levitate. Joe
Thady gives me a hug and it’s like he just stepped out of some hot yoga
session, just dripping with sweat. Charlie quipped at a recent show in Winona
that he has thought about moving to Winona (his wife is actually originally
from Winona) – well Mr. Parr, if you were serious I am sure we could get
together a collection pretty quick to cover your moving expenses. Check out a video of "Rattlesnake" below.
No comments:
Post a Comment