Girl at the Rock Shows

I’ve always toyed with the idea of throwing a birthday show for myself one of these years. It’s never come to fruition because, honestly, I don’t have the time, but after being at Tim’s birthday party on Sunday night at Zhora Darling in northeast Minneapolis, it’s something that may have to happen this year.

I don’t remember how I met Tim. I’m pretty sure it was a drunken night outside The Turf Club. I think he used to work for First Avenue, and I’m sure I’ve had some interactions with him through that connection, but, as of late, he’s just a super friendly guy that I keep running into at shows. He has pointed me in the direction of some great shows in the past, so when I bumped into him on Thursday night at Amsterdam for the afters show, and he mentioned that his birthday party was Sunday night, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to miss it. I knew it didn’t matter how tired I was after my marathon weekend of concerts; I was going to be at Zhora Darling not only to celebrate this lovely man but also to continue my celebration of fantastic local music.

Kicking things off was the man of the hour with his group, Topez. This band powered through a couple of super fun covers with Tim at the helm. Anyone and everyone became victim to Tope,z from The Killers to Neutral Milk Hotel and all the way to Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.” The covers were a little chaotic and, at times, felt a bit more like a karaoke night than anything else, but it was perfect, and, at the end of the night, this was Tim’s show, and he was going to do what he wanted. Sure, the covers were fun, but Tim also treated the audience to at least one original that I found particularly touching. I only know Tim in passing, but hearing him play through an original track made me learn so much about this man and oddly made me feel more connected to him than I had in the past. I know they say that the eyes are a window into the soul, but have you listened to someone sing their heart out and leave it all on a stage? That’s what really lets you see into someone’s soul, and it proves that Tim’s is a beautiful one.

Following Topez’s set was a quick set from Poison Ivy & The People. The last time I saw this group was back in March of 2024, and I’ve been craving another performance from them ever since. This group is very musical theatre meets indie rock with a little punk edge. Think Panic at the Disco, but if Brendan Urie had actually committed to his more theatrical side and was raised in the DIY punk community. The whole band here is amazing and features one of my local favorites- Zaq Baker, but it’s the vocalist who commands your attention. Ivy is a force to be reckoned with as far as one of the most dynamic performers in town. It’s not only their voice but how they present their words. Clearly, they have a music theatre background (and I know this as a fact because they were actually in a local performance with another good buddy of mine), and I love how they bring that to the more standard rock show stage.

Following Poison Ivy and the People was local ska royalty- Space Monkey Mafia. I don’t care how often I see this band– they will never get old. Since I cover them so frequently, I promise to keep this short. I just have to say that they were the perfect band for an event like this. They had the crowd dancing and skanking their hearts out and, at the end, invited Tim up for their final song. There was a moment when Tim was on stage dancing and singing with Dante of Space Monkey Mafia. Nothing in particular happened during this moment other than smiles stretching across everyone’s faces, yet it was a moment that really hit me during the set. One of the reasons I would never truly do a birthday show is that I would have no clue how to pick the bands I wanted to play. This small moment on stage made it obvious why Tim had picked Space Monkey Mafia, and it added a sense of charm to an already lovely celebration.

Closing out the night was Dog Gamn. Dog Gamn’s sound was definitely the chillest of the night, and with a start time after 10 PM, it wasn’t quite what my soul needed to keep me going, but it was a truly unique set. Featuring a few familiar faces in the band (including the amazing Bryn Battani on keys), Dog Gamn’s style is a bit hard to describe, but let me take a stab at it. It’s 90s rock-leaning jam band sounds with a slight stoner and slacker rock vibe all wrapped up in a bow of folksy indie pop. I swear I’m not crazy. This is truly what it sounded like, and although I didn’t have the energy to stick around for the entire set, I fell madly in love with their quirkiness and imperfect perfection that makes their set so great. It felt organic, fun, and with zero expectations in a way, making them the perfect closer for the celebration. My apologies to this band for not sticking around to the end, but honestly, had I stayed any longer, I probably would have started to hyperanalyze their set because, like a child, I was getting crabby the more tired I got with every passing moment.

This year may be the year I throw a birthday show. Maybe it’s not. All I know is that it will be hard to top this birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Tim! You deserved every hug, every shot, every moment in the spotlight, every smile– everything. Thank you for inviting me to your birthday!

Line Up:

Topez

Poison Ivy and the People

Space Monkey Mafia

Dog Gamn

Venue: Zhora Darling

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 32

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 2 out of 10

Broken Bones- None Spotted

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

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

Topez – 0

Poison Ivy and the People – 1

Space Monkey Mafia – 9

Dog Gamn – 0

Celebrity Sightings – Members of afters and Battery Eyes

Overall Score – 8.98 out of 10

Show on Deck — Lauren Mayberry / Cult of Venus

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