Girl at the Rock Shows

There were a lot of shows going on on Saturday night, and I couldn’t make up my mind about how I wanted to spend my night. Part of me just wanted to sit at home, order some crappy Mexican food, and just zone out on the couch until I inevitably passed out at an oddly early hour for me, but after co-hosting the radio show I often do on Saturdays, I felt like that would be such a waste so I conferred with the other host of the radio show, my good friend who, like me, is hopelessly addicted to live music. We threw out a bunch of options for how we could spend our Saturday night and finally settled on a wild card. It was a show at Can Can Wonderland, a curious venue in one of the warehouse districts of Saint Paul that comes complete with innovative mini golf, boozy milkshakes, retro pinball, and other video games, as well as a few stages.

LETTTERS was the first to take the stage in this lively and over-stimulating venue. LETTTERS is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer Robert Martin. Their sound ranged from strange to standard, which instantly caught my attention. There were moments in some of the songs where it felt super familiar and, quite honestly, a bit plain. However, there were other moments where the band experimented with interesting electronic sounds and a more punk approach to what music is supposed to be. Between that and some three-part vocal harmonies that were more than enough to send chills up my spine, LETTTERS had stolen my heart by the time all was said and done.

Up next was the homocore duo, The Dirty Pretty. Never heard of Homocore? Honestly, I haven’t either and am almost a bit uncomfortable using that term, but that’s how they have labeled themselves on social media, so I will stick with it. As they put it, “We’re a bear and non-binary on a queer-positive punk rock adventure.” I have your attention now, don’t I? This duo was insane. Their noisy punk sound was perfectly chaotic and unorganized, yet I found it to be super easy to get lost in. Their music definitely wasn’t for everyone, and I could see how it was a bit much for some who were at Can Can Wonderland just to play some mini-golf and enjoy some craft cocktails and self-serve beer. From super screechy and abrasive vocals to math-induced guitar solos matched with fierce and solid drums, The Dirty Pretty easily commanded my attention throughout their set.

There weren’t many people at this show. I mean, there were lots of people wandering around the maze-like venue, and some stopped to grab a drink and see what was going on, but, overall, the night felt light. That didn’t stop this band from saying a few things about who they are and what they stand for. As if I wasn’t already sold on this band’s intense energy and insane sound, the two members of this group talking about rights for trans people. They spoke in dissatisfied tones about how the current administration is trying to kill them by doing things like trying to shut down the suicide hotline created for trans people in particular. There was so much fire in them talking about this, and I loved the way that seemed to boil over into their art. Whether you love them for the intense and somewhat quirky sound or the message behind what they’re doing, The Dirty Pretty is absolutely a band to pay attention to and support.

So why did my friend and I choose this one out of all of the shows happening throughout the Twin Cities? Easy answer- Ryan Sexton of The Customers. Ryan is the vocals of this tried and true local rock band and is also one of the sweetest humans in the world. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t care if a show is sold out or if there is just one person in the audience. He and his amazing bandmates always put on a heck of a show full of heart and fire, and Saturday night was no different.

The “instant classic” element of The Customer’s sound soared throughout the space. Stylistically, The Customers dabble between just good old-fashioned rock & roll, something a bit more punk-leaning and, at times, a bit more of a Springsteen kind of Americana rock. It’s versatile, but through it all, you get The Customers’ signature brand of grit and wisdom that comes with every song. It’s no frills yet something about seeing this band is thrilling. As someone who struggles with anxiety and being a super introverted person when it comes down to it (I know, hard to believe, but it’s true), there’s something about seeing the guys of this band playing their hearts out regardless of the circumstances of the show that makes me realize that I don’t have to be so shy. I can move around the room and get those photos. I can go get a drink and chill; I can dance a little if a riff really hits me. The Customers constantly remind me that it’s okay to be me, and that, among all the reasons mentioned earlier, is why Can Can Wonderland was my choice for Saturday night.

I’m sure that the Charli XCX show at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis was a spectacle. Sure, there was probably more movement in the crowd at the Popstar show at the Underground Music Cafe, and I’m sure there were more people in general at Zhora Darling to enjoy Disaster Kid, but honestly, I was in the mood to wild card my night, and I am so glad I did.

Line Up:

LETTTERS

The Dirty Pretty

The Customers

Venue: Can Can Wonderland

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 42

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 12 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)-

LETTTERS – 0

The Dirty Pretty – 0

The Customers – 2

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8 out of 10

Show on Deck —askSERPENT / Boy Dirt Car / MAKR AN ERIS / Sawtooth Witch / Sophia Deutsch / White Dune

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