At Least I’m Something

Another Monday night, another missed opportunity to break out my cowboy boots and steal my boyfriend’s cowboy hat. I’ll be honest, I’m not a country kind of gal. I’ll listen to almost anything, but country is the one kind of music that just doesn’t do it for me. I know, one of my favorite bands could technically be considered country, but Lucero (my favorite band) has more of a punk grit to it, which sets it apart. So, with all this in mind, why did I choose a country show to spend my Monday night at? Honestly, I wanted to give it another go. I wanted to try and experience some honest country music in real life and see if maybe that makes it click. I’m not sure if it clicked for me by the end of the night, but I’m sure that I loved every second of my time spent with Cole Diamond and Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, on Monday night at the 7th Street Entry.

Cole Diamond, the opening act, is a local legend. His name is constantly floating around town as he seems to be constantly performing, yet I’ve only had the chance to catch this local king once, and that was a quick set at Palmfest last year. I was so excited for an opportunity to really experience Cole Diamond in all of his glory, and he did not let me down. Although his sound is absolutely country, there’s a Minnesota grit behind it. I wish I could tell you exactly what comes with that Minnesota grit or what gives the grit this “Minnesota feel,” but, truthfully, I just can’t. Perhaps it was the lyrics about working hard and trying to play harder, or maybe it was the charm that radiated from Cole and his band through their constant smiles and expressive notes. Maybe it was none of that, and maybe this was just standard country music. Regardless, I was in love.

Although Cole Diamond was definitely a commanding figure on stage throughout the opening set, this performance would have been nothing without his band. The way they added intricacies and a sense of flair to every song, while still coming off as a cohesive act, was something that you don’t often see every night. There was a palpable sense of respect throughout the crowded stage, making it clear that this was a band of musicians who had been doing this for a long time, yet hadn’t lost the feeling of magic that comes with performing. Their songs were clearly well-rehearsed, but there was a loose feeling about the performance. The beats dragged ever so slightly, giving certain songs a subtle sense of Nashville swagger, while other songs felt a bit rushed, bringing a more rock ‘n’ roll influence to the speakers.

I was ready for a good ol’ fashioned hoedown by the time Cole Diamond and his band left the stage. The good-for-a-Monday audience seemed to be, too. The excited chatter was deafening at times as the opening act cleared the stage and made way for the headliner, but that chatter all stopped the second the lights went down and Jenny Don’t and the Spurs started playing. I don’t know much about country music but I do know that Portland, Oregon (where Jenny Don’t and the Spurs is from) is a far cryfrom where country music reigns supreme but, after what I got from this cowpunk-leaning band, I’m starting to wonder if Portlant knows country music better than the rest of the country.

Jenny Don’t and the Spurs got their start in 2012. Over the years, they have released numerous albums, embarked on numerous tours, and endured more heartbreak than one band probably should. I won’t get into their history because, truthfully, I didn’t know anything about this band before seeing them on Monday night, but I feel like all of these moments and marks that make up their career also make up their sound, leading to a dynamic set full of emotion and passion. From country-western inspired ballad-leaning tracks to more rocking cowpunk songs with an undeniable sense of grit (not Minnesota grit, but just your standard kind of grit), I loved how Jenny Don’t and the Spurs gave the excited audience such a wide range of emotions and feelings throughout their set. It not only showcased the sheer talent that we were seeing on stage, but also gave us all a night to process our emotions and either sort them out or just make space for all of them in the span of just one night.

I lost track of how many songs Jenny and the Don’t performed and didn’t even try to catch the names of the introduced songs. None of that mattered to me. What mattered to me on Monday night was the thrill of experiencing a whole new world, and although the world of country music is still something I’m not entirely sure I’ll delve into deeply, I felt utterly and wholly welcomed by Jenny Don’t and the Spurs. Their ever-changing sound and mood helped me get comfortable with the unfamiliar music because, at the end of the day, the emotion and passion I saw radiating from the stage was the same as any punk or metal show I typically attend.