Life is Music™

Brendan Bayliss shines

“I’m just being a representative of the Midwest.”

Brendan Bayliss sings that lyric in the Umphrey’s McGee’s tune, “Slacker”. Yet when it comes to playing shows in the Midwest, Umphrey’s McGee has never slacked. Instead they continuously bring multi-day runs to the heart of their fan base and the fans show up big, oftentimes from all parts of the country. In their fourth year at the best rock club in the Midwest, the prog-rocking powerhouse brought it larger than ever with the inclusion of their newly innovative and wonderfully orchestrated Stew Art series (S2).

In the Stew Art series (named after “Jimmy Stewart” which is what the band calls their improvisational jams), a very limited amount of fans not only get to direct the music the band plays, but there is a question & answer and meet & greet session. I was fortunate to have taken part in this and it was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.

On Friday, March 12th, a capacity crowd welcomed the Chicago band with high spirits as Umphrey’s McGee returned to Minneapolis for night one of their three night run at First Avenue. The first set was a good primer for things to come. The second set rocked. And their were still two days left.

Friday, March 15th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Spires, “Jimmy Stewart” > Linear > Mulche’s Odyssey, Much Obliged > Hajimemashite > Glory > Hajimemashite, Hurt Bird Bath

Set II:  Professor Wormbog > Booth Love*, Cemetery Walk II > Making Flippy Floppy**, Gulf Stream > Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Masoka Tango > Miss Tinkle’s Overture
Encore:
Got Your Milk (Right Here), Waiting Room

Notes:
* with Get Up, Stand Up jam
** with Can’t You Hear Me Knocking jam

Brendan Bayliss

Umphrey's McGee

Ryan Stasik

Umphrey's Mcgee

Saturday afternoon I was one of fifty people to take part in the Minneapolis edition of the Stew Art series (S2) which the band started last fall in select cities. When we entered First Avenue, the shadowy club was dimly lit and a large projector screen stood upon stands on the main floor. Pizza and refreshments were provided and half an hour later things got started.

The idea behind Stew Art is to give the fans ultimate control over what the band plays. Fans text message ideas to the sound guru, Kevin Browning, who then displays them on the screen for the band to read. The band makes up the music on the spot and plays a few minutes before molding directly into the next idea which is highlighted. Entering (S2), I was a bit skeptical about this process, but Umphrey’s McGee quickly put those thoughts to rest. The precision of how they play while directing each other is nothing short of amazing. The band’s Midwestern humor has always been evident to me, and on this day hilarity oftentimes ensued from the ideas the fans sent in. Imagine for a moment the band playing as Revenge of the Nerds, or guitarist Jake Cinninger making up words to “Divisions” as he sang like Johnny Cash. That’s how things ended, and when it was over, it took a long while before I could wipe the smile off my face.

After a little over an hour of music, the band then stepped onto the floor to talk and sign autographs. It was a nice experience to talk to the band and their crew. Guitarist, Jake Cinninger, summed up the musical energy the band brings to every show. With a goofy smile on his face he illustrated to me how moments of their live shows peak, “It goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me…..” The band’s openness and sincere appreciation of their fans is something to be admired.

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #1

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #2

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #3

Those who attended the Stew Art got to stay in the venue for the night’s show. Doors opened at 6PM and the venue was quick to fill. The band sounded well rested and they brought great energy straight from the start. The first set rocked.   The second set opened with the title track to their spectacular 2009 release, Mantis. The song was huge and from there I knew the second set was going to get heavy.  The band worked into a jazzed up version of “Wappy Spayberry” with the help of Minneapolis  saxophonist, Kevin Sinclair.  “Fussy Dutchman” was excellent before a dark and nasty “Ocean Billy” into “Plunger” mash. This was the best show I witnessed all weekend, and one of my favorite Umphrey’s McGee shows ever.

Saturday, March 13th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Prowler > In the Kitchen, Cemetery Walk > Pay the Snucka (parts I & II) > Atmosfarag > Resolution* > In the Kitchen , That’s All > Pay the Snucka (part III)

Set II:  Preamble > Mantis > Wappy Sprayberry^ > Mantis, The Fussy Dutchman, Push the Pig, Steppin’ Razor > Ocean Billy > Plunger > Kula > Plunger > Ocean Billy
Encore:
Alex’s House^, 1348

Notes:
* with Norwegian Wood jam and Rock Your Body (Justin Timberlake) teases
^ with Kevin Sinclair on sax

Brendan Bayliss as yoda

Jake Cinninger

Kris Myers

Joel Cummins

Jake Cinninger shreads

Umphrey's McGee

Sunday, March 14th was the finale of their recent American tour. Minneapolis’ own, Heatbox, opened the show with some funk driven hip-hop. Heatbox is a one-man band minus the tangible instruments. He plays beats and instrumentations with his voice and samples them over before adding lyrics. Umphrey’s McGee joined in for his last tune, and worked straight into “Jazz Odyssey” to start their show as he picked up his gear and left the stage. That’s not a show introduction one often sees.

First Avenue was maybe over two-thirds full leaving ample space to move. This was appreciative on a Sunday night as the band once again rocked for the hard cores. Last year I made some friends at the First Avenue shows. We labeled ourselves the “Circle of Trust” and on this night we returned to the same balcony rail that we met at a year before.

Set one was fun, but set two was powerful. The “Nothing Too Fancy” and “Andy’s Last Beer” mashes got things moving and the wicked “Wizard Burial Ground” encore tore the place down.  This was another terrific show and a great way to end the weekend.

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  #Jazz Odyssey > Hangover > Wife Soup > The Triple Wide*, Slacker > Dear Lord > Slacker, Rocker (part II) > YYZ > Hangover

Set II:  Nothing Too Fancy > Higgins > Get In the Van > Nothing Too Fancy, Andy’s Last Beer > Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty > Andy’s Last Beer, JaJunk > London Calling > JaJunk
Encore:
Wizard Burial Ground> Made to Measure > Wizard Burial Ground

Notes:
Heatbox opened
# during his closing jam, Heatbox was replaced by Umphrey’s before seguing into Hangover
* with Rhiannon teases

If Umphrey’s McGee can top this weekend in their next Minneapolis run, I’d be a little surprised. But then again nothing this band does should be surprising. After all, it was Sunday night when singer Brendan Bayliss also sang in “Slacker”, “In the end I must confess, you have yet to even witness our best.”

Jake Cinninger

Ryan Stasik

Jake Cinninger

Brendan Bayliss

Brendan Bayliss

Saturday Set Break

The Hold Steady at Basilica Block Party

Even Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak got in on the festivities while wearing a Hold Steady t-shirt as the one-time Twin Cities rockers, The Hold Steady, were back in town.  The band was back this time for the 15th annual Basilica Block Party, the annual music fundraiser to support the Basilica of St. Mary church.  And while Friday night The Jayhawks and The Black Crowes endured on and off rain, Saturday night The Hold Steady were fortunate to be blessed with an absolute perfect summer evening in Minnesota.

Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak

Mayor R.T. Rybak introduced the band and then the crowd waited a long eight or so minutes before The Hold Steady finally took the stage.  Singer/guitarist, Craig Finn, was all smiles as he picked up his guitar and jumped into the opener ”Constructive Summer”.  From there on out the wild crowd rocked as the band ripped through their set overflowing with Twin Cities influence.  No new songs were introduced, but instead the band gave the hometown crowd what they expected and as usual the often fanatical Hold Steady crowd was there to respond with fists pumping, feet jumping and voices backing the band passionately.  “Lord, I’m Discouraged” was a gorgeous highlight especially considering the surroundings.

the always energetic Craig Finn

After about an hour and ten minutes, the band took a quick encore break before Craig Finn came back with a beer bottle in hand and grateful smile on his face.  He put the crowd into a frenzy as he talked about Minneapolis and how it has changed since the late 80’s when he roamed town.  “In fact the only thing that really seems the same is Minneapolis’ two greatest houses of worship”, he exclaimed as he pointed, “The Basilica and First Avenue!”

singer/guitarist Craig Finn

With guitarist Tad Kubler on acoustic, the band changed directions and worked through a two of their slower songs, “Citrus” and “First Night”.  It was a beautiful moment before mayhem once again ensued as night ended with “Stuck Between Stations” and “Killer Parties”.  The Hold Steady rocked the best show I’ve seen all year.  It was a massive night.

Franz Nicolay on keys

 The Hold Steady – Basilica Block Party, Minneapolis, MN - July 11th, 2009
Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
Chips Ahoy!
Sequestered In Memphis
The Swish
Magazines
Massive Nights
Party Pit
Don’t Let Me Explode
Stevie Nix
Multitude of Casualties
Yeah Sapphire
Southtown Girls
Lord, I’m Discouraged
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Stay Positive
Slapped Actress
How a Resurrection Really Feels
————
Citrus
First Night
Stuck Between Stations
Killer Parties

FLAC audience recording available here.

Minnesota Twins

Rock-n-Roll

Don't Let Me Explode

The sun was shining brightly; it was a glorious summer day in Minneapolis.  On Saturday, June 20th the studious indie-rockers, The Decemberists, headlined 2009’s version of “Rock the Garden”.  The new and improved set-up proved to be a success with the stage facing the grassy natural amphitheatre where the old Guthrie Theatre once stood.  Sponsored by The Current 89.3 and the Walker Art Center, a sold-out crowd of nearly 10,000 rocked through the mid-day sun to benefit one of Minneapolis’ greatest treasures, The Walker Art Center. 

Opening the day was the local electronic rock band Solid Gold, who played a fine set in the peak of the heat.  Then came New York art-rockers, Yeasayer, and finally just as the sun was beginning to relinquish, the eclectic southwest Latin tinged band Calexico took the stage with a very impressive set.  After Calexico The Decemberists had their turn.

Dusk was just setting in when keyboardist Jenny Conlee took the stage alone.  She sat down quietly and held the keys in an organ tone for what was the prelude of The Decemberists’ rock-opera, The Hazards of Love.  Soon the rest of the band impressively well-dressed in dapper suits and ties took the stage and the crowd absolutely erupted.  Leading the band, singer and guitarist Colin Meloy settled in to “The Hazards of Love 1″ and from there they worked through the entire album with the ever-enthusiastic crowd following attentively.  Becky Stark, beautifully draped in a virginal white princess dress played the part of Margaret and was introduced in song four, “Won’t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)”.  She swayed like a goddess with equally pure vocals and from that point forward I knew this was going to be far more than any old rock concert.

Shara Worden, in a clinging black dress and chopped black hair stormed the stage as the evil queen for her entrance in song eight, “The Wanting Comes in Waves Repaid”.  She went straight to the edge of the stage crouching low with her fist pounding down as a slight riot ensued amongst the masses with fists pumping hard and heads banging as Chris Funk and Colin Meloy ground away steadily at their guitars.  The energy was absolutely unbelievable, and wow that woman can wail!

From there Meloy took his turn in the pounding and rhythmic “The Rake’s Song”, one of the heaviest of the night as the females Conlee, Stark and Worden all hammered on tom drums.  The tune flowed into “The Abduction of Margaret” and ‘The Queen’s Rebuke The Crossing” where Shara Worden once again had the crowd stirring as she howled and jerked across the stage impulsively.  The set then calmed as Meloy strummed through “Annan Water” and Becky Stark returned with the voice of an angel for “Margaret in Captivity”.  “The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)” and “The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)” once again made the enthusiastic crowd sway as the story concluded.  The set ended in perfect fashion with Meloy’s mellow and lovely “The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)”, and then band put down their instruments and walked off the stage.

It didn’t take long for the band to come back (sans Stark and Worden).  Colin Meloy first gave thanks to the The Walker Art Center and Minneapolis for providing a wonderful evening before bringing in “Leslie Anne Levine” from the band’s 2002 debut, Castaway and Cutouts.  The band then touched on all of their albums while working through five other songs.  The bouncing “Billy Liar” concluded with Meloy conducting a four-part chorus with the crowd.  After that Meloy explained he was going to play “the worst song he ever wrote” entitled “Dracula’s Daughter”.  Becky Stark and Shara Worden came back in changed attire to end the remarkable show with an explosion.  The band covered Heart’s classic 1976 hit, “Crazy on You” with both Stark and Worden ruthlessly nailing the vocals as the rest of The Decemberists played spot on obviously enjoying every moment of it. 

The Decemberists have never failed to impress me and this night was no exception.  With a wondrous performance combining both music and theater, they provided the perfect art.  And art is what we were there to celebrate.  It was a gorgeous summer night in the city and it could not have ended on a higher note.

The Decemberists – Walker Art Center, June 20th, 2009 setlist:

Prelude
The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)
A Bower Scene
Won’t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)
The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)
The Queen’s Approach
Isn’t It a Lovely Night?
The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
An Interlude
The Rake’s Song
The Abduction of Margaret
The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing
Annan Water
Margaret in Captivity
The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)
The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)
———
Leslie Anne Levine
Engine Driver
Billy Liar (with four-part chorus by crowd)
Dracula’s Daughter
O’ Valencia!
Crazy On You (Heart cover)

After cancelling their last two shows in Minneapolis in 2002 and 2005 (2005 cancelled to play Letterman), the Brit-rock band Doves finally landed in Minneapolis on Thursday, May 28th, 2009.  The sold-out show was at the historic little Varsity Theater in the Dinkytown section of the city.

The trio of Manchester, England rockers (with unofficial fourth member on keys) were in good form and in good spirits as their sound pounded through the carpet lined confines of the Varsity.  On tour to support their long-awaited fourth album, Kingdom of Rust, the band worked through a majority of the new album while also touching on plenty of their classic older tunes.  Highlights for me were “Snowden”, “Here it Comes” and “Black & White Town”.  ”There Goes the Fear” was a fantastic closer with everyone in the band banging percussion to end the night.

It seemed this show was an introduction to many in the crowd as a majority of concert-goers were oftentimes emotionless, but the band still brought large applauses throughout the night.  Doves played a very fine show, but I wasn’t much impressed with the opening band, Wild Light, whose redundant indie sound couldn’t keep me interested for a minute.

Minneapolis Setlist:
Jetstream
Snowden
Winter Hill
Rise
Pounding
Almost Forgot Myself
10.03
The Heat Is On tease (Jimi & Martin)
Words
Denier
Kingdom Of Rust
Ambition
Black & White
The Outsiders
Caught By The River
—–
Lonely
Northenden
Here It Comes
Last Broadcast
The Fear