There is music this week in Minnesota despite the uneasiness here and after some shows late last week were rescheduled and postponed due to the statewide general strike Friday and even more Saturday in the aftermath of the mob-like execution of Alex Pretti.
Big Richard, a Colorado-based all-female bluegrass quartet named to make misogynists uncomfortable, will grace Saint Paul’s Turf Club Wednesday — which tops my list of national touring acts coming through this week.
Trampled by Turtles also announced a pop-up charity show at Turf Club slated for Saturday to benefit Immigrant Rapid Response Fund.
And the bebop supergroup The Cookers play Dakota Sunday.
But most of the shows on my list are from local musicians: International Reggae All Stars, The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, Creekbed Carter Hogan, EFMI, Dream of the Wild’s Terrapin Stallion, The Jones Gang, Majoon Travelers, Ditch Pigeon, Hunny Bear, Wandering Eye, TH3, Uff-da!, Mikel Wright and the Wrongs, Atmosphere, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.
It’s been a scary time in Minneapolis for the past several weeks, but I’ve never been more proud of this place — and really its people — that I relocated to 15 years ago.
As a brown-skinned man, I would lie if I told you that the current illegal occupation of our state hasn’t caused me anxiety.
Live music has long been a place of solace for me — and that has proven true during the last several weeks.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
The International Reggae All Stars play their weekly show at Bunkers in North Loop starting at 9:30 p.m.
Whitey’s Old Town Saloon hosts Graydon Peterson’s weekly Old Town Tuesday Night Jam every week starting at 10 p.m. in Northeast Minneapolis. It’s a jazz-forward, open jam that attracts an incredible amount of talent to the classy joint every week. The music usually goes to at least 1 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
I’ve already mentioned Big Richard’s Wednesday show. What I left out is that the show kicks off their Pet Tour, which continues to Madison, Appleton, Wis., Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa, this week.
Also, Creekbed Carter Hogan, a trans folk musician from Saint Paul that uses the pronouns he/they, opens for Big Richard. The doors are at 7 p.m., and show starts at 8 p.m.
EFMI, a newer local jamband, is on a bill with Record Prophets and Natnl Park Srvc, at Pillar Forum in Northeast Minneapolis from 6 to 9 p.m.
J Lenz of Pert Near Sandstone has his monthly show at 331 Club, Lenz and Frenz, and this week it features Brotherhood of Birds. The music starts at 9:30 p.m.
BZ3 Organ Trio has its monthly show at Schooner Tavern in South Minneapolis from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Last but not least is TWINE, which has brought back the Wednesday night jamband tradition to Minneapolis for more than a year, kicks off its show at 9:30 p.m. The music plays until about 1 a.m.
A good friend that I made through the music scene (specifically, a Dream of the Wild show more than a year ago) told me that Bunkers felt like home to him last week — and I responded that, yes, it is OUR home.
Of course, I am biased as the band’s photographer and light board tinkerer at Bunkers, but I have been motivated to help out in part because of the special improvisational powers this band possesses. Every week, on multiple occasions, the band transports the room to another place.
That keeps us coming back and comforts us.
South Dakota’s Johnny Hastings, who was set to play the parts of Eric Clapton at The Last Waltz tribute last Saturday, did get to sit in with TWINE last Wednesday. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Thursday, Jan. 29
Speaking of Dream of the Wild — led by First Avenue staffer Jay McKinney — the band has taken on somewhat of another moniker known as Terrapin Stallion under which the band covers and mashes Ween and Grateful Dead songs.
They headline an event called “Acid Test Reunion: Celebrating 60 Years of Pranksters” with long-time Minneapolis Grateful Dead tribute The Jones Gang and Majoon Travelers. The doors are at 7 and show at 8 p.m.
I can just tell you up front, based on all who are involved, that they will do Merry Pranksters justice.
Jay McKinney and his Dream of the Wild band will perform as Terrapin Stallion, which covers Ween and the Grateful Dead at Turf Club Thursday. It’s part of a 60th anniversary party to celebrate the Merry Pranksters, and The Jones Gang and Majoon Travelers are on the bill. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Elsewhere, Ditch Pigeon, jazz fusionists Hunny Bear and Mouthful will be performing at Pilllar Forum in Northeast Minneapolis starting at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30
There is another, high-powered Ween tribute, Wandering Eye, featuring Alan Sparhawk, Tim Saxhaug of Trampled by Turtles and Marc Gartman, at The Hook and Ladder in South Minneapolis. TH3, a Minneapolis funk trio, opens, with music starting at 8 p.m.
Another upstart jamband, Uff-Da!, which features a friend, Chris Marti on guitar, headlines a four-band gig at Underground Music Venue in North Loop. Also on the bill are Millennial Falcon, Lost Evidence and Duck Bomb! with doors at 6:30 p.m.
Mikel Wright and the Wrongs play Bunkers Saturday.
Saturday, Jan. 31
Mikel Wright & the Wrongs return to Bunkers in North Loop, with music starting at 9:30 p.m .
Trampled by Turtles announced a pop-up charity show to benefit Immigrant Rapid Response Fund at Turf Club. Minneapolis’ Bathtub Cig opens in what is sure to be an extremely packed club.
Sunday, Feb. 1
Atmosphere’s Winter Carnival at First Avenue includes Sage Francis, R.A. The Rugged Man, Kook Keith and Mr. Dibbs with the doors at 5:30 p.m., and show at 6:30 p.m.
The Cookers, a bebop supergroup, play Dakota, with music at 7 p.m.
Grateful Dead tribute Shotgun Ragtime Band plays show No. 763 at the Driftwood in South Minneapolis, with music starting at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Mambo’s Combo, currently without singer Julius Collins (help him here), plays one of the longest-standing residencies at Bunkers starting at 9:30 p.m.
For more ticket links on all of the above shows and more, including all shows on my radar, head to my Minnesota Music Calendar.