Life is Music™

Trampled by Turtles gets their star

Trampled by Turtles have come a long way.  Knowing this, on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 the management of First Avenue awarded the alt-bluegrassers with their very own star on the infamous exterior wall of the finest rock club in the Midwest.  Later that night singer and guitarist, Dave Simonett, sincerely explained how that was one of the biggest honors to date for the band.

The bluegrass boys from Duluth, MN were in fine form for night two of their album release weekend at First Avenue.  Palomino is the title of the band’s fifth album in six years, and if their live performance of each track  is any indication, it is destined to be one of Trampled by Turtles’ best.

Dave Simonett starts things off with "Wait So Long" from Palomino

After Minneapolis band, A Night in the Box, opened things up, the superb California Americana-playing, Devil Makes Three, kept things rolling with a terrific set of rebel country.  Then as they did the night before, Trampled by Turtles opened their set by playing straight through their new release Palomino.  The crowd attentively bounced along to the new songs before the band finally mixed in older material to take the show out.  That’s when the crowd did its best to rage, but on this night it seemed there wasn’t enough energy to rage.

It was a rather mellow yet nice show, and the band’s version of “Breathe” by Pink Floyd was a fantastic piece of their first encore.  The band ended the night with their raucous hit “Codeine”, from their 2005 release, Blue Sky and the Devil.  The joyful and animated crowd then dissipated, all smiles, into the streets of downtown Minneapolis with appreciation of one of Minnesota’s greatest musical treasures.

Erik Berry on mandolin

Trampled by Turtles

Trampled by Turtles

photo courtesy of Trampled by Turtles

Born from the Superior shores of Duluth, MN, Trampled by Turtles have gained tremendous momentum since their inception as a band back in 2003. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, with each new show and each new album, the fan base grows exponentially. The band now spans out far past the Midwest, playing shows in wonderful venues all across the United States, Canada, and even Europe. But no matter where they are, Trampled by Turtles does not forget their humble beginnings in Minnesota and the fans that helped them attain their modern success.

Original members Dave Simonett, Dave Carroll, and Erik Berry started Trampled by Turtles as a novelty side act to their respective rock bands, but as circumstances would have it, Trampled by Turtles wasn’t ready to play second fiddle to any band.

Singer and guitarist, Dave Simonett, explained the origins of the band in a recent telephone interview, “Well three of us started the band, that’s Eric Berry, Dave Carroll and myself. None of us had ever really played bluegrass before, or this style of acoustic music but we were really getting into it. We’d been playing rock music before, and this band was started as an acoustic side project to those bands. But as time went on, all those bands split and this band was all that was left. I was dead broke and left with just my acoustic guitar, after someone stole my electric guitar and my amp while loading out gear after the last show with my previous band. And like I said, the other bands were gone, and all my gear was gone, so this just naturally happened.” An escalating amount of fans across the country are grateful for that.

One of the most memorable moments for the band in the last year was playing the main stage and the seventh annual 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN. Their growth at this fantastic festival precisely represents their evolution as a band and the direction they are headed in the future. After starting on the small saloon stage in 2004, then growing to the festival’s barn stage in 2006 and 2007, then finally playing for fans as far as the eyes could see on the main stage in 2009, the band has come full circle. “That was a blast!” Simonett said proudly. “That was really something that was so exciting for all of us.”

With a new management team on board, Trampled by Turtles have a tour schedule full of larger venues including the recently announced Stagecoach Festival next April in California. But don’t expect these larger shows to start going to their heads, “We spend enough time packed into a little van and staying on people’s floors to stay grounded.” Dave said when asked if there was a definitive moment that made him realize the band was getting big and he could make a career out of music. “As far as making a career out of it, that was something that I knew personally before I even made my first dollar. Playing music is what I always wanted to do. Before we even started touring or selling any albums, we made that decision to see if we could do it.”

This quintet from Duluth has come a long way with their unique take on bluegrass music and their live show is not to be missed. Seated in chairs, the band bangs out enough raw energy to part the sea and if a listener is brave enough to stand in their way, the music will surely shroud every last bit their being. Their music is as much rock as it is folk, as much metal as it is bluegrass, but one thing it definitely is not, is lacking in sheer power. When asked what part of the country gets the rowdiest at their shows, Simonett responded with a laugh, “Probably the Midwest, but it really depends on where we are playing.”

With four albums under their belts and a new and currently untitled release due out next April, Trampled by Turtles are on a mission to spread their music far and wide. Currently they are doing just that, one unassuming step at a time with fans ever-enthusiastic holding on in the wake of the flood.

Who: Trampled by Turtles
Where: The Aquarium
When: Friday, November 20th
Cost: $15, 21+

Written for High Plains Reader in Fargo, ND for their November 19th, 2009 issue.

Trampled by Turtles rock to a sell out crowd of faithful fans

It’s been just under a year since Trampled by Turtles last filled First Avenue to capacity.  After a recent stint on the east coast and a Halloween show in their hometown of Duluth, MN,  the Minnesota boys were back at the best rock club in the midwest and their fans were ready.  First Avenue sold out once again.

Charlie Parr

A guitarist and drummer from Duluth called The Boomchucks opened the show.  They were very appreciative to be onstage at First Avenue and played a nice and short set to get the night started. 

By the time humble and brilliant Northwoods folkster, Charlie Parr, took the stage, First Avenue was filled.  No time was wasted on stirring the crowd as he thumped his boot down on a homemade kick box and squealed across the strings of his trademark steel resonator guitar. The lively and youthful crowd bounced along with a roar and they didn’t ease until Trampled by Turtles walked off the stage some three hours later.  Charlie Parr was accompanied by Mikkel Beckmen from The Brass Kings on washboard. Dave Simonett, the singer and guitarist of Trampled by Turtles, later joined the two.  For Parr’s final song, the remaining members of Trampled by Turtles took their respective places on stage to create a smile-inducing jamboree. 

Soon after, the curtain was raised for Trampled by Turtles.  Never to be underestimated, the band brought in their sold out show with a wonderful version of “No Surprises” by Radiohead.  They then rocked through songs from each of their four albums as First Avenue heated up into a sweltery sauna.  It was so hot that security sprayed water into the crowd at times.  Simonett did his best to cool things down as he calmly sang the cold and slow moving lyrics of “Duluth”, the title track of their fourth album.  The fans who made the voyage down from the town made their presence known by singing along, “Still I like the quiet, of Duluth in the winter.  In the sacred morning, there’s no place like home.” The local support was nice to see and certainly not surprising.

Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles

Singer and guitarist, Dave Simonett, announced in the middle of the set that they just finished recording their fifth album which is due out in the spring.  The band then played several new songs from it and the crowd slowed down with attentive ears open.  The new songs were very good. Bassist, Tim Saxhaug, later took the vocal reigns to lead a uniting sing-along of the classic ”Stand By Me”.  It was upbeat and fantastic.  All night the band was relaxed and I’ve never seen them play a better live show.  The live experience of the band was more obvious than ever as they burned through a wonderful set for their favorite local fans.  Big things are due for these talented alternative bluegrass rockers, and rightfully so.  Go see this band!

Charlie Parr & Mikkel Beckman

Charlie Parr and Trampled by Turtles jamboree

Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles

Erik Berry of Trampled by Turtles

Yonder Mountain String Band are best heard when the sun is shining bright.  I have fond memories of listening to these guys while traveling down the highway with my sunglasses on, the windows down, and the sun beating bright and warm.  But on Saturday, August 15th there was no need for sunglasses.  A rain coat would have been a better accessory as Yonder Mountain String Band were back at the Weesner Amphitheatre at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN playing to a sold-out crowd.

With rain showers threatening, the band got an early start at 7:30PM.  It wasn’t but a few minutes before the first light rain came but it was gone soon enough leaving the sold-out crowd who finally packed the small gem of a venue wet.  The first set was full of new songs from their upcoming album, The Show, which is due for release on September 1st.  Even with new songs being played by one of the best bluegrass bands around, the weather was a distraction and it continued to be all night as evident by the relatively motionless crowd.

The band took a set break and when they returned singing and mandolin playing, Jeff Austin, said they would play as long as they could.  They played a new and currently untitled instrumental track written by banjo-playing, Dave Johnston, then bassist Ben Kaufman got things moving with an awesome “Traffic Jam” medley.  Later Jeff Austin, ripped through another oldie-but-goodie, “Ramblin’ in the Rambler” and the rains returned.  The skies had an ominous darkness as Ben Kaufman played the beautiful slow song, “River”.  That song is incredible!  The band was playing “If You’re Ever in Oklahoma” when lightning flashed in the skies behind the stage and that is where the show stopped.

The band promised to come back if they could, but we knew better and barely made it past the top of the small amphitheatre when the rains really came down.  Sheets of rain poured while thunder shook the zoo.  It was an eventful evening and fun nonetheless, but it could have been much better had the weather cooperated.  Better luck next time I suppose.

Yonder Mountain String Band – Weesner Ampitheater at Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN – August 15th, 2009

(I do not think this is the correct order…taken from phantasy tour)

Set I:
Going Where They Do Not Know My Name
Ain’t Been Myself In Years>
Let Me Fall
Jail Son
I’d Like Off>
Up On The Hill Where They Do The Boogie
You’re No Good
All Your Dreams
Traffic Jam>
I Am The Slime>
Traffic Jam

Set II:
Ramblin’ in the Rambler>
My Gal>
My Sisters and Brothers>
Ramblin’ in the Rambler
New song (no name given)
Long Time
This Lonesome Heart
River
If You’re Ever In Oklahoma 1

1 show ends due to rain

Trampled by Turtles live at The Cabooze

A capacity crowd of Minnesota faithful packed The Cabooze once again to stomp and romp in support of the bluegrass boys from Duluth, MN, Trampled by Turtles.  I attended night two of their two-night run at the club on the west bank of the Mississippi on Saturday, April 25th, 2009.  Good times were had.

The Hackensaw Boys, a six piece of assorted looking fellows from Charlottesville, VA got the night started with a banging hour long set of foot-stomping colorful Americana music.  Before their set I had only heard a few of their tunes, and after their set I wanted to hear more. 

The Hackensaw Boys

The fiddlin’ and sometimes bass playin’ Ferd Moyse IV was as entertaining as they come with a stretched out Yosemite Sam crossed with Les Claypool look whose face bore an unvarying yee-haw expression.  Together The Hackensaw Boys were wildly entertaining and an ideal opener for the boys from up north.

The Hackensaw Boys

Ferd Moyse IV

Trampled by Turtles hit the stage at 11:00 PM and by this time The Cabooze was jam-packed with fervent fans and a few new concert-goers who came to see what all the fuss was about.  Since releasing their debut album Songs From a Ghost Town in 2004, Trampled by Turtles have successfully expanded out far and wide from their home state of Minnesota with constant touring throughout the country and a few stops in Europe.  The fuss is that these guys have the talent to raise the roof on every given night, yet the humbleness to never forget how they got there and where they are from.  They are from Minnesota and their local shows seem to be as much a celebration of this wonderful state as they are a celebration of their wonderful music. 

Dave Simonett & Tim Saxhaug

Last night’s show was no exception as they worked through songs like “The Darkness and the Light” from their 2008 release Duluth where singer and guitarist Dave Simonett sings “Colorado was so nice, but I’m Minnesota’s son”.  Later the band hammered through two of the more punkish numbers from Duluth; “Truck” the fantastic momentum building instrumental that hits the breaks just before completely going out of control and ”White Noise” which showcases Tim Saxhaug on a driving bass so swift it feels like you’re chasing your tail trying to catch the beat.  They also slowed things down with one of my favorites, “Trouble”, the title track of their wonderful 2007 release that is in my opinion their best album.  As always, their set was mixed well with this night’s show hitting on a lot of their newer material. 

banjo Dave Carroll

Early in the set singer Dave Simonett stated they were recording the show for a new live album.  Between songs he gave the always raucous crowd an opportunity to say something and what came out was a deafening wail of indistiguishable screams.  At a Trampled by Turtles show in Minnesota people are always screaming, and dancing, and smiling, and hugging, and pumping their fists to the fabulous homegrown music this band shares. 

Trampled by Turtles rock The Cabooze!

When the show was over The Hackensaw Boys were waiting in the crowd to play some acoustic tunes with a few members of Trampled by Turtles joining them.  Yes I said “in the crowd”!  Even as The Cabooze workers swept up a night’s worth of beer bottles and concert debris, a large circle of fans hung around and the music never stopped.  It’s just another day in the life I suppose.  “Come on children, come on and clap your hands.” 

Ryan Young on fiddle

Erik Berry on mandolin