Into The Blue Frame

I feel like I belong in the 90s. Don’t get me wrong, I love that I grew up in the emo pop-punk world of the early 2000s, but put on a 90s song, and I’ll instantly go into my element. I was born in 1989, so I missed the majority of the 90s, but I do remember some of the hits and listening to 90s pop music because that’s what was on the radio. What decade do you think you belong in? Do you feel like you were born in the right one? Or do you feel like you missed a huge opportunity? I can’t say for sure, but I get the feeling that all three acts that performed at The 7th Street Entry on Wednesday night feel like they were meant for a different decade. That being said, they all brought their signature vintage sounds into the 20s with a flare of personality and an unapologetic sense of perfection.

I last caught Lighter Co. (formerly known as Zippo Man) at The Turf Club almost exactly a year ago, and they instantly stole my soul. Although it’s been some time since that show, I knew I was about to get transported into a whole new world with their music, and I was right. Kicking their set off with a cover of “Come Together” from The Beatles (but with a very Lighter Co. influence), this band quickly won over my heart and soul again. Their sound is much more relaxed and chill than what I typically listen to, but as you start to really pay attention to them, you realize the complexity of what they’re doing. From dazzling runs of notes on the guitar to stunning keyboard solos and perfectly placed and curated drum fills, this is clearly a band of musicians who know what they are doing and do it so perfectly.

Although their sound is best described as 70s-inspired jam-leaning pop-rock, there was so much more to that. At one point, almost an 80s hair-metal influence came through in frontman Collin’s vocals. It caught me off guard, if I’m being sincere, but, at the same time, it worked with the music because, at the end of the day, the only way to describe the sound of Lighter Co. would be the phrase “genre-fluid.” I know that phrase is overused and, at this point, has lost some of its meaning, but it fits here. Psychedelic undertones matched with alt-rock styled guitars and then whatever it was that Collin was doing for a particular song– there’s no right way to classify this band, but there’s also no wrong way, and that’s what makes them such a standout group in the local scene.

The sole traveling band on the three-band bill, Saltydog, was up next. Although they come from Duluth, something about them felt local, and I don’t think anyone would complain if they just went ahead and claimed to be from the Twin Cities. Their sound, like that of Lighter Co., was all over the place but put an emphasis on a more jam-rock sound. That’s definitely not my thing. I don’t get jam-rock bands. Their songs are long, but there’s no reason for that. When it comes to Saltydog, there was reason for the lengthy songs. The talent in this group was not lost on me. Every band member brought a different flavor to the intimate stage of the 7th Street Entry, but they all came together to create a pleasant, cohesive sound.

I was a pop-punk princess lost in a jam band world during Saltydog’s set, yet I felt welcomed and loved. I don’t quite know how to expand on that, but you just have to trust me on this. There was something about their performance that felt oddly understated and informal, yet everything about it was perfect. Their original and chill tunes didn’t make me want to move (which is what I typically look for in music), but they also didn’t bore me. They had me lost with my head in the clouds, which was quite a feat as it was a stressful night for me as I tried to split my time between this show and the show happening at the conjoining First Avenue mainroom (that’s right– it was my first double of the year and, yeah, I’m feeling it).

The headliners of the night, Burning Blue Rain, are another one of those bands that are so out of my norm as far as what I like to see, yet Wednesday night was my third time seeing them live, and I already can’t wait to see them again. Honestly, it’s not because of their sound. It’s a great sound, but their signature blend of blues rock and jam band just doesn’t get my blood pumping the way other styles do. It’s because of their passion. This group is young, like ridiculously young, yet their music has a very “old soul” vibe to it. On top of that, they present a level of talent that is absolutely spectacular. I’ve said it before, and I will repeat it– if you are one of those crotchety people who think that kids these days just don’t understand music, go see Burning Blue Rain. They are young, but they are uber-talented and have a sound that is so perfect yet so organic that they will single-handedly make you see the light that there are some kids out there that know good music, and they live right here in the Twin Cities.

Burning Blue Rain has only been around for a couple of years at this point (they started in 2022), yet they already have a load of material, including the new EP that they just dropped and that this show was a celebration of. Although I don’t hear a big stylistic difference between their new ‘Blue Frame’ EP and some of their other tracks that are out there, I do hear this group honing in on their sound. The beats are getting more intricate and the guitar playing more dazzling. The keyboard parts have more of a flare and the bass has just a bit more of a thump behind it. It may be the same signature Burning Blue Rain sound, but ‘Blue Frame’ shows a sense of growth behind this band, which makes me very excited for their future.