Have I written about how amazing it is to be going back to shows? Sure, we aren’t where we were before the world shut down but a few shows here and there has done nothing but help my mental health and make me optimistic for the future. Last night was one of those nights where I smiled from ear to ear throughout the night just taking in the smiling faces, the warm air, and the music. What I’m trying to say is brace yourselves, this is going to be another sappy post about me feeling like my life is coming back.
I was giddy as I weaved through traffic to get to The Icehouse in Minneapolis. As soon as I got into the patio at The Icehouse, I felt a sense of joy that can only come from the promise of live music. Although I was there early, spending time catching up with someone I hadn’t seen in nearly a year made time fly by and, before I knew it, opening act Mayda was taking the stage.
Mayda is one of those acts that I have heard so much about but have never had a chance to catch. Her opening set definitely set the tone for the night. Calming vibes that were full of energy rang through the area just outside of the Icehouse in a beautiful way. That mixed with the warm arm on my skin and the cold drink in my hand just really got the night started right. Mayda’s sound is unclassifiable. There were moments throughout her opening set that had a very singer-songwriter-type tone to them but other moments that had a bit more of an electronic swagger behind them. Although you could feel the excitement radiating from the packed audience, there was a sense of respect that came in the form of silence and awe.
It may have been years since some of the groups of people had seen each other but there was a chilling silence that hushed over the crowd every time Mayda and her brilliant bassist Miho kicked into a song. Yeah, I think it would be fair to say people were excited about live music and just wanted to take it in but I felt like it was so much more than that. There was something about the way these musicians effortlessly captured the audience in the palm of their hands. It was captivating to watch them play through their opening set. I could have listened and watched Mayda all night but we still had another act to go and daylight was slowly slipping into night.
Last night’s show was a celebration of the local group Kiss the Tiger. I have seen this band a couple of times now and they never fail to impress. I say it was a celebration for these guys because last night was the release show for their album ‘Vicious Kid’. Even though they had most of this album recorded back in 2019, they are just now getting the chance to release it but, let me tell you, it’s well worth the wait! I’m not super familiar with Kiss The Tiger’s music if I’m being quite honest so I couldn’t tell you if they only played new music or threw in some oldies but I can tell you that every song they played seemed to hit the spot for not only myself but the entire audience.
Much like Mayda’s set, I found myself completely captivated by Kiss the Tiger. The entire band is very fun to watch live but it’s lead singer Meghan Kreidler who had my attention the majority of the night. There’s just something about the way you can see her feeling every word that I found addicting. She has an aura and energy about her that can make you feel amazing even on your worst day. Beyond the energy of Meghan and the rest of Kiss the Tiger is the music. This band has a powerful sound that, like Mayda, refuses to be put into a box. A little indie-pop, a whole lot of rock, and even a punk edge at times Kiss the Tiger has a sound that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see what they will hit you with next.
Kiss The Tiger’s music is amazing but I think it’s the personality of this band that really pushes them onto the next level. From quick stories about the songs to shout-outs to what felt like the entire audience, it was obvious that the band appreciated the audience as much as the audience appreciated them. I’ve seen some bands that do the shout-outs as almost an obligatory task but not Kiss the Tiger. You could feel the warm thanks radiating from the stage as Meghan thanked everyone from musicians who had played on the album, to people who helped them get this new album out. Minneapolis may be a huge city but just seeing all of these people who helped with the album (and this band in general) all sitting around me was a good reminder of how close-knit the music community is and it was truly an honor to be sitting in that audience.
I want to tell you so much more about the show last night but, like the shows I’ve been at lately, I find myself lost for words. The music was great and absolutely a highlight of the night but it was also a night full of just watching people which, if you didn’t catch onto, is one of my favorite things. From people who were clearly there for the bands to people who probably just live in the neighborhood and come to every show at The Icehouse, everyone was smiling and having a great time. Kiss The Tiger will continue playing at The Icehouse on Thursday nights throughout the month and I highly suggest snagging a ticket and checking it out. I may or may not be at more of these so, if you see me, come say hi!
Line Up:
Venue: The Icehouse
Sausage Fest Meter- 5 out of 10
Smell-O-Meter – The sweet aroma garlic fries (or something that may have been garlic fries)
Average Age of the Crowd- 42
Crowd Surfers- None
Dance-ability- 7 out of 10
Stage Divers- None
Broken Bones- None
Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing
Fights- None Witnessed
Pukers- None Witnessed
Passed Out People- None Witnessed
Idiots Taken Out By Security- None Witnessed
How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-
Mayda- 0
Kiss the Tiger- 2
Celebrity Sightings- Krista from Tinderbox; All of the amazing people Kiss the Tiger thanked
Overall Score- 9.7 out of 10
Show on Deck- Leslie Vincent
Shameless Self Promotion- Join My Patreon Here!
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