Supporting new LP featuring John Medeski and Todd Clouser, lineup includes special guest Mark Joseph of The Big Wu
Organ legend John Medeski will be playing an intimate charity show with Todd Clouser and his A Love Electric bandmate Jorge Servin on drums.
“It is really our trio,” said Clouser. “Mark is a special guest.”
It’s the first time the Mexico-based Clouser, a Minnesota native, has brought Medeski to Minnesota since August 2023.
The show (get tickets HERE) will benefit Music Mission, which has put on the Lakeside Guitar Festival and benefits musicians in both Mexico and Minnesota. Tickets are only about $35.
“John is a generous guy,” Clouser said. “It has a good cause behind it. It feels right. … It is kind of a house show. We are trying to raise some dough for our foundation. … We do a bunch of stuff, including scholarships and grants to musicians. The general purpose is supporting communities in creating and sharing their music.”
Clouser, Medeski and drummer JT Bates recently released Flowerchild. Read my writeup of the release here. The trio has played Icehouse in Minneapolis several times since 2016.
This time, Bates had a scheduling conflict as he’ll be on tour with Bonny Light Horseman, which is scheduled to play Fine Line Sept. 9.
Clouser, Medeski and Servin also have shows booked at North Street Caberet in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 14 and Minnesota State University Mankato on Sept. 16. Check out Clouser’s full tour schedule here.
Asked how Joseph ended up in the lineup, Clouser said, “He is an old friend. We have played together since we were in high school. We have kept in touch.”
Joseph noted that they’ve known each other since they were 14 years old. Joseph is from Northfield and Clouser from St. Paul.
“We would go to shows together, whether it was The Big Wu or Phish,” Joseph said, recalling his youth hitting shows with a large pack of friends that included Clouser.
Back in 2018, Joseph booked the Medeski, Clouser and Bates trio at Revival Festival at Harmony Park — the same year Phil Lesh performed.
The Big Wu’s Mark Joseph had a hand in Medeski, Clouser and Bates playing at Harmony Park’s Revival Festival back in 2018. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Joseph is quite excited to play with Medeski — who soared with Medeski, Martin & Wood — for the first time.
“Genius musician,” Joseph said. “He stands alone. There is nobody that does what he does.”
Joseph also described the setting, a backyard that will seat about 70 lucky individuals.
“It is a beautiful backyard in Como Park,” Joseph said. “(The host) has developed it into a cool, serene music habitat. It is going to be amazing.”