Girl at the Rock Shows

It’s seriously unseasonably warm up here in Minneapolis right now. Instead of sub-zero temperatures, it’s been a solid 30 degrees nearly every day, but that didn’t stop The Hook & Ladder in Minneapolis from hosting Winter Sol on Saturday night. Winter Sol is a beach party-themed night of music. This event would have been much needed any other winter, but I was afraid the theme wouldn’t stick due to the warm temperatures. Oh, how wrong I was. As my friend and I walked up to The Hook & Ladder, we noticed multiple people in shorts and Hawaiian shirts. I mean, I know it’s warm up here, but shorts and t-shirts? It’s not that warm. And so began our Saturday night. Surrounded by people ready to party it up and act like we live in a super tropical state.

Opening up the show was Socktopus. I was familiar with this band before they took the stage as I saw them last May and knew how much fun I was about to have. As soon as I saw their signature red beanies take the stage, my heart fluttered with excitement. They leaped into their set full of fun 90s-inspired tracks and danceable beats and instantly had the entire room dancing and smiling. Socktopus’ style is 90s, but it’s all over the place at the same time. Rapped vocals with heavy electronic beats but an overall fun, poppy vibe; if seeing Socktopus live doesn’t make you smile, are you even living? One of my favorite parts of their set on Saturday night was the dancing. I’m not just talking about the dancing happening around me in the audience; I’m also talking about the dancing done on stage. This band has no shame and, no offense to the band, had some of the most awkward dance moves but it gave the set a very “just have fun” kind of attitude that was very easy to fall in love with. So whether you spent their set with those finger guns out as you, like the band, awkwardly danced through their set or spent their set socializing with those long-lost friends you bumped into, it was a perfect way to kick off Saturday night.

Following Socktopus was the one band on the four-band bill I knew nothing about– Push & Turn. Although I had never heard their name before and had no idea what to expect, they hooked me on their first song. Stylistically, I would call Push & Turn a 311 meets Sublime ska-infused reggae band, but that description alone isn’t enough to accurately set the scene for this band. Their vocals were smooth and almost meditative, but their beats were dancey and fun. With a surprise guest appearance from Time Kingstrom of Space Monkey Mafia and Lost Island Society fame, I felt that this band brought a different sound to the night to keep it feeling fresh, but, at the same time, they made sure that the energy didn’t drop.

Up next was a band that I can not seem to get enough of and haven’t been able to see live since last March (although I’ve been thinking of that set ever since)– Lost Island Society. This group is a very third-wave ska-styled band but with a twist. There’s an extra dash of jazz influence, a little sprinkle of punk angst, and a slight hint of roots music in their sound. Like the two bands before them, Lost Island Society brought so much energy to the stage that it was impossible to stand in the back of the venue and not move. Their set came complete with their cover of Cage The Elephant’s “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked.” This song isn’t a ska song, but Lost Island Society has made it that, and I think that goes to show the genius behind this group. They forced you to boogie in whatever way you wanted to. Although I didn’t give them consent to make me dance like a fool, I appreciated the energy they were filling me with, especially so late on a Saturday night.

Although it was already well past my bedtime (what can I say, I’m an old lady and like to get my sleep), we still had one more act to go in the line-up, and this was the one I was most excited to see. It’s not that I wasn’t thrilled to see the other three bands because I was; it’s more that it’s been so long since I’ve seen Rocksteady Breakfast perform, and I knew my body, mind, and soul needed their sound and vibe. The last time I saw Rocksteady Breakfast was back in November of 2017 at The Triple Rock Social Club– like I said, it’s been too long. Although it’s been years since I’ve seen them, this band took the stage, and I instantly remembered why this group’s name has been imprinted on my mind for so long.

With a bit more of a punk-leaning sound, I love that Rocksteady Breakfast has a very multicultural sound. It’s more than how their vocals are done in both Spanish and English- the different sounds, beats, and textures seep into their sound. Sure, they are a high-energy ska band, but when you really start to hear them, you realize it’s so much more than that. If you’re not looking to get that deep into their sound, Rocksteady Breakfast kept the energy high and the audience dancing as they had been throughout the previous sets. With a giant empty space right by the stage where people were taking turns showing off their skankin’ skills, this was one of those sets where I needed help figuring out where to look. Did I want to watch the band? Of course! Did I want to watch the people dancing? Of course! Did I want to watch how the music was making everyone around me grin like they didn’t have a care in the world? Of course! So I spent their set the only way I knew how– wholly lost in the moment with their music as the perfect soundtrack.

I only took a few notes on Saturday night, which is all you need to know about the amount of fun that I had. I want to thank all of the bands for absolutely killing it on Saturday night, and I want to thank the staff at The Hook & Ladder for hosting such a fantastic event. I’m already impatiently waiting for Winter Sol 2025.

Line Up:

Socktopus

Push & Turn

Lost Island Society

Rocksteady Breakfast

Venue: The Hook & Ladder

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing notable although I feel like the lack of sunscreen smell was a missed opportunity given the theme of the night

Average Age of the Crowd: 35

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Dance-ability-10 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Beach Balls (Duh!)

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)-

Socktopus – 1

Push & Turn – 0

Lost Island Society – 1

Rocksteady Breakfast – 3

Celebrity Sightings – Ann of Mostly MN Music

Overall Score – 9.3 out of 10

Show on Deck — Joey Valence & Brae / SLOE JACK

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