Girl at the Rock Shows

My goal for this year was to hit 500 shows. I know, it’s an insane number but that was my goal. Sadly, I’m not going to hit it. I tried but life got in the way this year and I missed a couple of days here and there and struggled to keep up with just one or two shows a night let alone three or four. Although I put up a fight, there’s no physical way to hit 500 and it would be so easy to just stop now and take advantage of a couple of weeks off through the end of the year to reset, recover, and brace myself for another attempt next year but that’s not my style. Sure, I’m not going to hit my number but I’m still going to hit a couple of amazing local shows to close out the year.

After an electric evening downtown on Saturday, Minneapolis turned back to the sleepy town I know it to be come Sunday but that electric energy was still hanging in the air in the intimate 7th Street Entry as I made way inside for my show of the night. People were huddled in groups scattered throughout the dark venue having excited conversations and sharing hugs and laughter over drinks. I always love walking into atmospheres like this. Although I was alone, I instantly felt like I was part of something even without talking to anywhere. It’s a weird feeling and one that only seems to happen at local shows but one that I crave night in and night out so I was relieved that, although I may not know anything about the bands performing, I was getting that familiar and comforting feeling.

First up was the massive Vinny Franco and the Love Channel. When I say massive, I mean it. This band took the stage and it was as if there was a constant stream of members taking their spots for a solid couple of minutes. It ends up that this is a nine-piece powerhouse of a band that actually utilizes all nine members in a beautiful way. Coming complete with a horn section, three vocalists, and then your standard band set-up, Vinny Franco and the Love Channel brough a super funky and fresh sound and feeling to the 7th Street Entry. Sonically, I can only describe them of a bit of a R&B and soul band but with funk grooves and indie-pop sensibilities scattered throughout the sound. You could feel a bit of an old soul vibe come through with this band but I wouldn’t call their sound dated. It had a super modern twist to it that kept me completely stuck in the palm of each of these member’s hands throughout the set.

My favorite part about this opening group was the sheer passion for music that all of the nine members clearly shared. Whether it was moments when the band would literally take a knee while one of the members took a solo or the way they would cheer on their bandmates throughout the set with everything from smiles to hoots and hollers, I just loved that they loved making music. I know that sounds like a no brainer and that all bands should have this but it’s something that I feel like some bands forget about– passion. Passion was in the spotlight for all of Vinny Franco and the Love Channel’s set on Sunday and it left me feeling so warm and fuzzy on a fairly cold and dark winter night.

Following Vinny Franco and the Love Channel was Eau Claire, Wisconsin based Motherwind. I’m not sure what’s going on in Eau Claire but this act is the second Eau Claire based band I’ve seen this month that I would like the Twin Cities to go ahead and claim as our own. The first thing that struck me about this band was definitely drummer Jackson Kleingartner. Do you remember that video that went viral a couple of years ago of the “drummer at the wrong gig”? Long story short, it’s this clip of a drummer going absolutely apeshit and insanely hard like a metal drummer would but it’s clear he’s at a church gig of some sort. That’s kind of the vibe I got from Jackson. From drumstick twirls between massive hits of the snare to the way he would shoot out of his seat for the final beat of each song, I found his performance, alone, to be enough to have me sold on this band.

Don’t get me wrong, this entire four-piece was solid. Their sound was another “old-soul” kind of sound but it leaned more into the rock vein of things. From wicked guitar solos to solid beats that made you tap your toes and nod your head even if you were trying to resist, Motherwind was one of those bands that, although stylistically not quite my thing, had me loving every second of their set. Vocalist Nate Rogers may have referred to the band as “just a scummy rock band” but there are so much more than that and I know in my gut that this young band has an extremely bright future ahead of them.

The old-soul vibe of Sunday night continued as Beneath Green took the stage. Apparently Sunday night was “let’s see how many people we can fit on the small 7th Street Entry stage” night because Beneath Green was another massive band. The seven members took the stage and instantly dove into a set that felt a bit more like the funk-inspired set of Vinny Franco and the Love Channel but with a bit more of a classic rock n’ roll vibe behind it. The vocalist of this band has a voice that I truly just can not describe accurately with words but it’s one of those voices that you have to hear. It was smooth and soulful but with so much power behind it. Out of all of the members of this band, the vocalist is the one that had me locked into their quick set on Sunday night and will definitely be what keeps me coming back to see this up and coming local band.

Closing out the show was White Line Darko. Like so many other local bands, this is a name I had seen numerous times but had never gotten a chance to experience live. Winter is good for local shows up here in the Twin Cities. Apparently a lot of touring bands avoid the north in the winter for fear of snow and ice which gives local bands a chance to take over the venues and gives me a chance to go see them as there is less competition with the national touring acts so I was beyond thrilled to finally have a chance to check out this band whose name I had seen time and time again.

White Line Darko brought a unique blend of psychedelic and indie rock to the closing set on Sunday night. There were moments where the organ sound reigned supreme giving those clear psychedelic vibes but other moments when this group came off as a more standard indie-rock band. I loved how seamlessly the band was able to switch between the two worlds and it definitely made their sound unique. Unfortunately, the crowd had thinned out throughout the night and what was a packed audience had turned into a bit more of a scattered crowd. That didn’t stop White Line Darko from giving the audience that was smart enough to stick around everything they had. Each note and every beat from this band came with a fire behind it making it the perfect ending for a perfect Sunday night.

I may not hit 500 shows but I’m not just going to stop dead in the water. There are too many amazing local shows coming up and I hope to see you out at one before the year is done!

Line Up:

Vinny Franco and the Love Channel

Motherwind

Beneath Green

White Line Darko

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 37

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Dance-ability-4 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Irritated I Was With The Audience – 0 out of 10

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Vinny Franco and the Love Channel – 0

Motherwind – 0

Beneath Green – 0

White Line Darko– 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Odd Prospect / Mom Rock / Natalie Fideler

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