Girl at the Rock Shows

Friday night at the Turf Club was absolutely a celebration. People were dancing, and the sounds of joyous bands like McNasty Brass Band, Dilly Dally Alley, and Obi Original & The Black Atlantics. It was loud and rambunctious but in all of the right ways. Saturday night at The Icehouse in Uptown Minneapolis was also a celebration but a bit more subdued. Sweet singer-songwriter music, smoky jazz tunes, and just overall more chill vibes blanketed the venue and restaurant. It didn’t have the same vibe as Friday night, but it was still absolutely a celebration, one that I was beyond honored to be at.

Halle Hanson was the first to take the stage at this super cozy and intimate venue. Although the packed audience didn’t quite let Halle’s sweet voice end the conversations that continued to rumble throughout her opening set, it was clear that everybody was enjoying her calming and delightful sound. Halle’s set was a mix of originals and covers, and I loved the way that the covers she and her fantastic band picked seemed to really highlight her personal talent in a way that, if you didn’t know, they were covers since they were hit songs like “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow and “Kiss Me” originally by Sixpence None The Richer, you could easily be fooled into thinking they were Halle’s originals.

The sweetness of the set, matched with the accessible nature of her songs, made her a great opening act, but it was the way she and her newly-made fiance would glance at each other throughout the set that really lit up my heart. After a couple of songs, Halle introduced her band, including the second vocalist, who was introduced as her fiance. She laughed a little and talked about how she had never said that on stage before. From there on out, I noticed all of these glances between the two of them during certain words and phrases that seemed to revolve around love. It was adorable, and although it had nothing to do with the music or the way these two voices wrapped around each other in such perfect harmony while the band continued to absolutely kill it in their own way, it was one of those things about Halle’s set that really stood out to me.

Following Halle’s set was another somewhat subdued track from Dylan Hicks, but it completely changed the vibe of the room. Dylan and his band, which included horns and strings (yeah, he had my attention with that), turned The Icehouse into a slightly smoky jazz club without the smoke and with me using the word “jazz” loosely. There was something freeing and avant-garde at times about the sounds that this group was giving, but, at the same time, it listened like jazz music. Everyone on the stage was clearly talented and brought their own personal flavor to the set, making Dylan Hicks’ set one of those sets where it was almost hard to follow in a way but was oh-so-fun to listen to. I found myself picking out a particular line of notes, a specific player, with every song and just following them on their journey. I felt that this music was almost a choose-your-own-adventure type thing. You could follow along with the cellos and get an almost orchestral vibe from the tunes, or you could follow the drums and bass and get a soft rock vibe. If neither of those things were for you, you could follow the horns giving you a more jazz influence, or Dylan Hicks behind the gorgeous piano on stage and get an almost theatrical vibe. Regardless of what adventure you chose, Dylan Hicks’ set was gorgeous, it was fun, it was quirky (due to Dylan’s super fun and expressive storytelling), and it was the perfect lead-up to what was to come.

Saturday night was a celebration of Zaq Baker. You may recognize that name as I have reviewed Zaq (in various forms) but don’t stop reading now because you think you’re going to just get another review of a Zaq Baker set that includes words like “musical theatre” and “quirky charm”, this review is not about his live music performance. Don’t get me wrong, he and his band absolutely killed it on Saturday night. Their set was fun and slightly theatrical in a way only Zaq Baker can pull off. It was full of songs I recognized strictly from seeing him repeatedly and the fact that his sound is so unique and memorable, but also with a few new ones that Zaq mentioned he would be releasing soon (including a sweeter-than-sweet song about his partner). This review is not about the show, this review is about his newest accomplishment- a novel.

When did I stop reading? I honestly don’t know when it was or why. I used to be an avid reader, but now I can barely find the time to read an entire article on a website or in a zine. One of my best friends never gave up reading, and I envy her for that. She always tells me about these fantasy worlds that she had entered through a book, and sometimes, when we are hanging out, she will head out early, citing that she just has to get back to her book. Sure, I don’t read like I used to, but I recognize the talent and time it takes to create a truly spectacular book, and that’s precisely what Zaq Baker has done with his new book ‘Unspectacular’, which Saturday night was a celebration of.

I’m not going to give away what this book is about. You just need to read it for yourself, but I can say that although I haven’t finished the book yet, it has hooked me. Zaq’s writing feels like his music. It’s a little theatrical and a little dramatic but from the heart and oh so real. It’s the kind of book where, although there are no visuals other than the cover that pictures a cat sitting on a piano in what looks like an ocean (three of my favorite things right there so, yeah, I may be a bit biased here), you can see the story unfold in your mind as you read throughout. Just like I somehow was able to form a sort-of relationship with Zaq purely based on his music and the way it speaks to me every time I hear it, I felt relationships being formed with the characters in ‘Unspectacular’.

Zaq Baker said something on Saturday night that really spoke to my heart and soul. I didn’t catch the exact quote as it hit me so hard that I needed a few seconds to let it digest, but it was something to the extent of he was celebrating the way he knew how. He understood that this was not your typical book release show and, instead, more just another concert (albeit an amazing show), but, in his world, this is how you celebrate. You perform a show, you go to a show, you experience a show. Saturday night was the perfect celebration for a true talent that we are beyond lucky to have here in the Twin Cities scene, and I am beyond thankful that Zaq invited me out to celebrate this significant accomplishment.

‘Unspectacular’ is out now and can be bought HERE or found at various local Twin Cities businesses (a list of those can be found HERE!).

Line Up:

Halle Hanson

Dylan Hicks

Zaq Baker

Venue: Icehouse

Smell-O-Meter: The delicious food of The Icehouse

Average Age of the Crowd: 47

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Mosh-ability- 0 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)-

Halle Hanson – 0

Dylan Hicks – 0

Zaq Baker – 4 as just Zaq Baker or Zaq Baker Team but many more in his various other projects around town

Celebrity Sightings – Natalie Fideler / Bryn Battani / members of Toilet Rats

Overall Score – 8.2 out of 10

Show on Deck — Geordie Greep / NNAMDÏ

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