We’ll Make Our Way Down The Fire Escape

Having a couple of nights off from shows was great. My boyfriend moved in with me recently, and we are still getting all his stuff into my house and making a cool space for his two kids, whom he has part-time. It’s been a bit wild, and there have been many breakdowns as I move my stuff to make way for stuffed animals and Legos, so having a break from the grind was much needed. At the same time, all of these changes have me feeling anxious (hence the breakdowns), so although time to get situated was required, I also needed a release for all of the stress and anxiety. Wednesday night’s show couldn’t come soon enough, and, honestly, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Opening up the night was Joan of Profile. My introduction to Joan of Profile was decent, but it didn’t leave me that impressed, if I’m being entirely honest. I first saw them when they opened up for Japan Van Damme (another local group absolutely worth your attention) at The Garage in Burnsville in June of 2022. I don’t know what happened, but everything seems to have changed with Joan of Profile for the better. Instead of coming off as a shy and sweet singer-songwriter with a band behind her like they had back in 2022, Joan of Profile came off as a cohesive group with a story to tell, and they would make you listen. With a blend of alt-rock and indie-pop intertwining throughout their set, the amount of energy this group gave me on Wednesday night was more of a headlining act, not an opener. I was enamored and could go on and on about Joan of Profile’s set on Wednesday night, but if you weren’t there, you didn’t feel those words sink into your soul or feel their performance move you to the point of feeling things you didn’t think you would feel on a Wednesday night. Although the band said it was a joke, “JOP ’til you drop” is a thing and it’s a phrase to live by.

Following the impressive opening set was another impressive set from The Morning Kings. The way this band started off their set was probably one of my favorite moments of the night. Instead of just jumping into their eclectic funk-infused rock songs, one of the guitarists started the set by mentioning that he remembered the singer of Joan of Profile from back when he used to host an open mic in Excelsior. He expressed how amazing it was to be on this set with her and how proud it made him feel. I’m sure this happens all the time: bands show up to gigs and realize they are playing with long-lost friends and acquaintances, but something about this connection spoke volumes to me. From open mic nights to the stage at The Turf Club, I know Minneapolis is a “big city,” but when it comes to the music scene, it’s pretty small and, at the end of the day, we are all just rooting for each other to be as successful as possible.

But I digress. You’re not here to hear about this small moment in a fantastic night, so let’s talk about The Morning Kings’ music. It was fun and made you dance. Although I call it funk-leaning rock, there is so much more to their sound. There were moments when I was picking up on more of a Southern rock influence and others where I almost felt like the band was about to dip into a deep jam. Sure. I may not be able to classify The Morning Kings into just one genre perfectly, but that’s the point. They make music that makes you feel something rather than music that you can analyze. Looking around the room, I saw that there wasn’t a single person not smiling throughout their set, and that tells me that they accomplished their mission.

That mission was in the same vein as the next act to take the stage – Adam Bohanan. Like The Morning Kings, Adam and his band didn’t fit into just one genre box, making their forty-five-minute set so exciting for me. From soulful numbers that had me wanting to crawl onto the couch with a good book to other songs that made me want to dance around the darkened venue as if nobody could see me (don’t worry, I didn’t actually do this as I know everyone would have seen me and they would have laughed), there was something about Adam’s set that felt so freeing. Adam’s band was top-notch, but his vocals were the highlight for me (outside of the feeling their music gave me). Adam’s vocals are so smooth and vibrant. They come across as flawless, never missing a note and never dipping out of range, but, at the same time, there’s something about his voice that is raw and cozy. It’s a lot like the music- completely perfect, but it simultaneously makes you feel something real. Much like the previous two bands, Adam Bohanan and his band had me caught in the palm of their hand, and although the clock was ticking late into the night and I could feel my eyelids starting to get heavy, they could keep me hooked throughout their set.

Closing out the Wednesday night show at The Turf Club in Saint Paul was a favorite of mine- JoJo Green. I have covered JoJo Green multiple times and have even reviewed one of their albums, so I’ll spare you from going into the background of this fantastic group (although feel free to search for JoJo Green on my website to read all of my past articles on them). Without saying a word, this fresh and funky group jumped into their set, carrying everyone in the audience well into the late hours of Wednesday night. The first thing I always notice about this band is band leader Sharisse Germain. It’s not just her bright red wavy hair that I am so jealous of or her sense of style (which always makes me feel jealous); it’s more her aura. From how she carries herself to her infectious smile, there’s something just so warm and inviting about Sharisse, and it’s only amplified when she starts to sing. Sharisse’s vocals are full of life and soul but have a tender side to them as well if you listen closely enough. She dabbles between a world of bubblegum-poppy feeling vocals and a more mature, tender, and sensitive style in a way that I’ve never heard anyone else do.

Once I got over the excitement of witnessing Sharisse’s magic live again, it was time to move on to the life that the band of JoJo Green always brings me. Like Sharisse, this entire band is a thrill to watch, but, more importantly, they have a well-rehearsed sound that doesn’t feel rigid in any way. From solos to moments where the entire band is playing together to create a genuinely bombastic sound, everything about this group as a whole is perfect. That perfection was definitely in the spotlight on Wednesday night.