As seems always to be the case, there are a lot of amazing live music options around the state of Minnesota this week — with jam legends The Disco Biscuits at The Fillmore at the top of that list.
There are some other touring acts in town of note, including jazz trumpeter, producer and composer Maurice “Mobetta” Brown at Icehouse and electronica string duo The Spooklights, formerly MK Ultra, at 7th Street Entry.
Local shows (from Minneapolis to Duluth and down to Winona) include Red Eye Ruby, ELOUR, Amanda Standalone, International Reggae All Stars, The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, The Menagerie, Anything You Want, Funk N Spuds, Alpine Shepherd Boy, Javier Trejo, Glitterati, Saltydog, Jay Bee and the Routine, Buffalo Galaxy, Entheos Enclave, TH3, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.
You’ll have to scroll down a little to get to the day by day rundown.
So, yeah, on one hand we have jam masters in town: Any Bisco fan will tell you that TDB is at the top of its game right now — or, more specifically, THE jam game right now. And I’m not here to argue (or necessarily weigh in).
Bisco has been around since 1995, and time tends to have a way with elevating dedicated improvisational musicians to greater heights.
The band does have a new drummer in Marlon Lewis, who has only been on the job for a bit over a month after the departure of Allen Aucoin.
Anyone who follows this page knows I love improvisational, psychedelic rock bands, aka jam bands: and I’ll mention four of my favorite Minnesota-based improvisational rock bands: The Big Wu, TWINE, Saltydog and Dream of the Wild. I could go on with names such as God Johnson, Mikel Wright & The Wrongs, Shoeless Revolution, The Jones Gang, and others (sorry, there are too many to name them all — I love all of your efforts Minnesota jam bands).
The Menagerie’s headlining gig at 7th Street Entry Wednesday is their second time playing the venue this year — opening for Brennan Wedl in March. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE MENAGERIE
But there’s a new band — The Menagerie — on the Minnesota jam scene that just released its first LP last week and will be headlining 7th Street Entry Wednesday.
I recommend jam fans head to both 7th Street Entry Wednesday and then do their diligence (if they can play late on Wednesday) and head over to the legendary Bunkers, where TWINE has been ripping mean jams for three sets every Wednesday night from about 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Menagerie is led by a U of Minnesota student, Matthew Smith, who is studying communications and Spanish. He does vocals and guitar for the band, which also includes his father Dan Smith, a long-time Phish fan (and also Goose fan), and friends Max Froehlich on keys and guitar, and drummer Nick Otto. Two of these guys haven’t turned 21 yet.
The Menagerie (from left to right): Nick Otto (drums), Matthew Smith (guitars, vocals), Dan Smith (bass) and Max Froehlich (guitar, keys). PHOTO PROVIDED
I had coffee with them on the U campus last week, and it’s safe to say that they’ve drawn influence and inspiration from a lot of different genres, including folk, soul and indie. I’ve given their new LP a couple listens and one song I’ll recommend is “Galactic Boogie.”
It’s actually the second time The Menagerie has played 7th Street Entry, opening up for Brennan Wendl in March among about 10 shows they’ve performed around the Cities in the past year, including gigs at Green Room and Day Block.
Opening for them Wednesday are folk rockers Anything You Want, jazz/funk/fusion jammers Funk N Spuds and “sheep rock” band Alpine Shepherd Boy, not to be confused with an episode of Better Call Saul. The doors are at 7 p.m., and the music starts at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 15
Only Every Monday, the weekly showcase put on by Geoffrey Fischbein, is taking the week off. It’s last edition was held last Monday at Gluek’s in downtown Minneapolis. Stay tuned for details of the next edition.
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Red Eye Ruby continues its residency at 331 Club with ELOUR and Amanda Standalone. The music starts at 9:30 p.m., and there’s no cover.
International Reggae All Stars keep their long-time residency going at Bunkers every Tuesday from about 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.
The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast Minneapolis kicks off at 10 p.m. and goes late, sometimes past 1 a.m. It’s an open jam that is based in jazz but veers wherever players take things.
Kevin Dorsey brought the organ funk to TWINE’s Bunkers residency last week. This week, Jon Miller returns on guitar after a week in “the shallows, in the sun, basking away” in Mexico.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Wednesday, Dec. 17
So, other than TWINE and The Menagerie, there are other options:
Brown, a Grammy-award winning trumpeter from Harvey, Ill., plays Icehouse with doors at 6 p.m. and music at 8 p.m.
Brown touches on a lot of subjects, including jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop, and was once a member of Tedeschi Trucks Band before he launched his solo career.
Up in Cambridge (about an hour north of the metro) guitarist Javier Trejo plays The Listening Room with doors at 6:30 p.m. and show 7 p.m.
In Northeast Minneapolis, Lenz & Friends — Pert Near Sandstone’s Jay Lenz, returns to 331 Club for his monthly gig starting at 9:30 p.m. It’s 21-plus and there’s no cover.
Up near Duluth, Glitterati, which features Dave Carroll and Tim Saxhaug of Trampled by Turtles, as well as Marc Hartman, play the Cedar Lounge in Superior, with music from 7 to 11 p.m. There’s a $12 cover for the 21+ show.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Saltydog returns to one of their favorite haunts, No Name Bar in Winona. There’s a $10 cover for the 21-plus show that starts at 8 p.m.
Saltydog at Saint Cloud’s Red Carpet recently. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
The aforementioned Disco Biscuits play The Fillmore Minneapolis, with doors at 6 p.m. and music at 7 p.m. It’s an 18+ show.
Don’t miss The Disco Biscuits at The Fillmore Minneapolis in North Loop Thursday.
PHOTO BY TARA GRACER; COURTESY OF THE DISCO BISCUITS
One other great option every Thursday is Jay Bee and The Routine at Bunkers starting at 9:30 p.m. and running to about 1 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 19
The Hook and Ladder Theater is hosting the 18th Annual Yuletide Sweater Ball with headliner Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins and special guests Stringdingers, The Foxgloves and Horny Boiz in South Minneapolis. The doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the 21-plus show starts at 8 p.m.
Your Favorite Music plays Mystic Lake Casino’s Hop House in Prior Lake from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. There’s no cover for the 21-plus show.
Saturday, Dec. 20
The Spooklights, formerly MK Ultra, are a weird (in the best way) string-electronica band from the Ozarks. I’ve seen them play many times over the years at festivals. If you like when String Cheese Incident gets into jamtronica, this will probably be your cup of tea.
Buffalo Galaxy plays a second supporting set at 7th Street Entry Saturday — this time opening for The Spooklights.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Minnesota jam grassers Buffalo Galaxy open for The Spooklights at 7th Street. It’s their second opening slot at the club this year, also recently opening for Magoo. The doors are at 7 p.m., and show is at 8 p.m. It’s 18+.
Funk trio TH3 hosts Funky Holiday at Icehouse’s Starlight Room, with doors at 6 p.m., and show 8 p.m.
Up in Duluth, Entheos Enclave, a project described as “Nordic fusion of indie/crossover prog and world music” will be joined by the fantastic Kathryne Ford, who will be doing Liquid Light, for this show at Bent Paddle, which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. There is no cover.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Shotgun Ragtime Band brings consecutive Sunday show No,. 757 to the Driftwood in South Minneapolis. Phine and Friends kick things off at 6:30 p.m., and there is no cover.
Last but not least, legends Dr. Mambo’s Combo keep the longest-running weekly residency in Minnesota going at Bunkers every Sunday starting at 9:30 p.m.
For ticket and info links to any of these shows, head to my full calendar, updated weekly.