Girl at the Rock Shows

I always feel bad when I have to turn down a local band when it comes to covering their concerts. The truth is, I book out super far in advance. For example, I’m booked almost solid through August, so when a band asks me to cover a show in the next week or two, I have to say no, as I’m already committed. It never feels good, and I know many bands have given up on me (which breaks my heart), but some stay on it. Jared McCloud is one of those acts that just never gave up, and it worked to my benefit when it came to how I spent my Tuesday night. It could have been a rare night off, but instead, I was treated to four acts I had never heard of before that instantly all won me over.

Roz Prickel was the first to take the stage at The Green Room in Uptown, Minneapolis on Tuesday. I was instantly charmed by her shining personality. Her first time playing at The Green Room without a backing band, this self-proclaimed “one-woman circus” instantly captivated the ears and hearts of everyone in the room. Although I found her overall style to be super playful and fun, the talent of this local songstress is nothing to laugh at. Her voice is smooth, and she can hit notes that will send chills up your spine, but simultaneously, there’s something accessible about it. This could have been due to the many tangents she went off on throughout her fifty-minute opening set (of which some were painfully relatable), or it could have just been due to her overall aura. Either way, Roz was the perfect way to get the night started and is definitely an act I will be keeping my eye on in the future.

I had no idea what I was walking into when it came to this show, as I knew nothing about any of the acts playing other than the fact that I was invited to this show by Jared (who I honestly hadn’t even listened to yet). However, I know that I wasn’t expecting what I got from Wain McFarlane. Dubbed “the Dreadlock Cowboy,” Wain’s set had me confused and in love all at the same time the second he started playing. He kicked off his time on stage with just his guitar and a vocal microphone. I was instantly intrigued by his guitar playing. He was creating tones and sounds I had never heard of, and watching him was just as captivating as hearing him. On the way home, my boyfriend mentioned that it looked as if Wain had his strings set up opposite a standard guitar. That’s probably not the right way to describe what I was watching or even what was happening, and, truthfully, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is I knew I was seeing a true innovator and creative genius from the second Wain stepped on the stage until he left after giving the audience a little bit of everything from country to soul to rock to R&B and even an absolutely stunning Bob Marley cover.

I’ve already shown you my cards when it comes to this show. I’ve told you that I was at The Green Room because of Jared McCloud, the next act to take the stage. This does not mean that he gets special treatment regarding how I review him. I know that may be hard to believe, so if you want to ignore the praise I’m about to give this man, citing that it is biased, that’s fair, but please give this guy a chance. Jared’s vocals reminded me of Jaret Reddick from Bowling For Soup, but the overall instrumentation and presentation of Jared’s music felt a bit more classic and in the vein of Bruce Springsteen. The way he swirled these two very different elements into his unique sound was stunning and definitely, the first thing that caught my attention. The second thing was Jared’s no-frills performance. Don’t get me wrong, he and his amazing backing band were killing it. Every note, beat, and song was presented with an undeniable sense of fire and perfection, but at the same time, it just felt so understated, giving off this super accessible feeling. Sure, local or not, I know I was watching some rockstar magic happening on stage, but I also felt like I was just watching some buddies (who happen to be highly talented) dink around on stage. I know that it took Jared quite a while to find a free night where I could come see him, but by the time he and his band were leaving the stage, I vowed to myself that I would drop nearly anything and everything to see him again. It was just that good.

Taylor Robert closed out the spectacular Thursday night show at The Green Room. Like the previous three acts to grace the stage, I instantly fell in love with this man and his band. Celebrating the release of his new album, ‘Brighter Day,’ Taylor powered through a set that dabbled in all sorts of sounds and styles, but one thing remained the same– the heart with which it was done. Sonically, Taylor’s music leaned a bit deeper into a soulful blues style. I know what you’re thinking– that doesn’t at all sound like something I would be into, but I was sold and couldn’t get enough of it. That could be because of the pure perfection with which each sound was presented, or it could have been the amount of passion that came through with every beat. Something about Taylor’s set was just so honest and fun, but it was also down to business and serious in a way. Some bands try so hard to be perfect, but they lose the spark of creativity that makes a concert fun. Other bands are so focused on having a good time that a set can come off slightly sloppy. Finding the balance between these two worlds is not an easy thing to do, but Taylor Robert and his band definitely pulled it off and then some.

People always ask me how I pick the shows I do. It’s a combination of spying on calendars and finding shows I personally want to go to and then being invited to seemingly random nights. I love seeing bands I know. I love being able to sing along to songs that have soundtracked my life at one point or another but I love nights like Tuesday night more. I walked in without knowing what I was getting into, but I walked out with four acts that left me absolutely stunned and captivated. Go to that random show. Show up without knowing anything about anyone– I dare you.

Line Up:

Roz Prickel

Wain McFarlane

Jared McCloud

Taylor Robert

Venue: The Green Room

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 47

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

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

Roz Prickel – 0

Wain McFarlane – 0

Jared McCloud – 0

Taylor Robert – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8.2 out of 10

Show on Deck — Tiny Voices / Kerosene Heights / The Casper Fight Scene / Anita Velveeta / Fly Over States

Shameless Self Promotion:

Join My Patreon Here!

Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)

Check out my playlist HERE!