Girl at the Rock Shows

Although Friday night at a packed Armory to see The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, and Friko was terrific, I was craving something a bit more intimate. There was definitely emotion and love floating in the air that night but I was having to share that with thousands of other people and I wanted to feel that feeling a bit more head on so, for my Saturday night, I went to one of the many venues in town where love, emotion, and community reigns supreme – The Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge.

Saturday night’s show in the Theater portion of this sprawling multi-room venue was the first music fundraiser done to support the Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota & Dakota Chapter. This foundation uses money from this event and many other fundraising events to fund research to find a cure for the disease and also provide ongoing support to the community affected by Parkinson’s. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about Parkinson’s and can’t think of anyone in my life who is dealing with this nasty disease, but that didn’t change the fact that I felt this was a need that needed some support, and I wasn’t alone in that. The room was full of people who were ready to dance but also ready to lend a hand to the cause, and that set the stage for what turned into a beautiful night. Although the cause behind this show was clearly important, I was there for the music because this show featured two absolutely stellar local bands, starting with Annie and the Bang Bang.

I hope every scene has a band like Annie and the Bang Bang in it. I hope every scene has a human-like front woman, Annie Enneking. I seriously cannot overstate how much joy and love this band can bring to a room. I also can not speak enough about Annie’s kindness. I’ll be honest, I was a fish out of water at this show on Saturday. I was easily one of the youngest ones there and didn’t come with a group of friends. Outside of the bartender (shout out to Medbh from Surly Grrly), I didn’t know anyone in the crowd, but Annie was quick to notice me and say hey with her signature charming smile. I know this doesn’t affect you, anyone else at this show, or how the show went, but it just goes to show how much Annie cares not only about the music but also about the scene and the people in it. I was in the midst of a slight panic attack trying to remember if I had blown out the candle I had going at home before I left (which I did), and just seeing Annie bounce around the room saying hi to everyone she could before taking the stage took away that anxiety.

Sonically, Annie and the Bang Bang were on point like usual. Their style is all over the place, but the amount of power and emotion that they bring to each sound is always solid. From songs that felt almost Led Zeppelin-inspired to more indie-rock feeling bops, all the way to a song that Annie described as “if Stevie Nicks and Kurt Cobain had a baby”, I loved how this band refused to be put into a box when it came to their style and urged people to just get lost in whatever sound they were giving at any given time. Personally, I got the most lost in their angsty anthem “Boys in the Mosh Pit Are Having Feelings.” Outside of the super catchy and funny song title, this is the kind of song that hits you like a bus but isn’t just straight angst. The composition of this particular song, like many of Annie and the Bang Bang’s songs, is an epic journey.

Annie and the Bang Bang are set to release a new album next spring. The audience got to hear a few of these new songs on Saturday, and I absolutely think that this new album is going to blow everyone away. One of the new songs that they played (which I didn’t catch the name of because, let’s be honest, I was here to enjoy this show, not just take notes) seemed to come with much more of an angsty punk edge than other songs I had heard from the band. I loved it and loved how it gave a glimpse into the direction of this band. I’m not saying that we should expect an Impaler-styled metal album, but I definitely think that whatever Annie and the Bang Bang releases next spring will be a bit more full of fire just due to the current state of, well, everything.

After a quick break and a raffle for various prizes, it was time for the only other act of the night- the iconic Flamin’ Oh’s. I just recently saw this band for the first time ever, a few months ago at Front Row Paul Fest at Palmer’s. That was a super short and emotional set, and although I didn’t feel like I had really “seen” The Flamin’ Oh’s that day, I knew that I was in love and wanted another chance to see them where their set length was a bit longer than just thirteen minutes. Saturday night was my chance, and I instantly knew that my gut was right– this is a band for me.

The music of Flamin’ Oh’s is very ’90s. I know that may not sound like a praising statement, but for a ’90s baby like myself, it was everything my heart could have asked for. Anthemic choruses mixed into heartfelt verses, all performed with a sense of energy that matched the emotion. Flamin’ Oh’s won my heart over one note and word at a time. Although there was definitely something nostalgic about the sound that was floating out of the speakers and surrounding the entire audience like a comforting yet energized hug, there was also something fresh about the sound. There were songs where I would have bet money on knowing where the track was going to go next, but then, the band would change the game and take the song in a completely different direction that I wasn’t expecting.

Have you ever seen a band and just known that you’re in the presence of legends? That’s how it felt as I stood there watching Flamin’ Oh’s. Don’t get me wrong, the members of this band are nothing short of personable and charming, but you could just feel that you were seeing something extraordinary as they played through their songs. Sure, it was impressive to hear vocalist Robert Wilkinson talk about his interactions with The Replacements’ old manager and co-founder of Twin/Tone Records, Peter Jesperson, but, as I do some more digging this morning, I realize there is so much more to this band. Flamin’ Oh’s were one of the earliest bands to make music videos. I know that music videos aren’t as prominent as they once were, but I still love taking time to go down the rabbit hole of new and old music videos and can’t wait to check out the vintage videos from Flamin’ Oh’s. Long story short, I felt like I was in the presence of legends, and, clearly, I was, but, at the same time, Saturday night’s set from Flamin’ Oh’s felt approachable, vulnerable, and perfect.

Going to big shows like the one I was at on Friday night at The Armory was awesome, but honestly, Saturday night at The Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge filled my heart a bit more and in a different way.

Read more about the Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota & Dakotas Chapter and donate HERE!

Line Up:

Annie and the Bang Bang

Flamin’ Oh’s

Venue: The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing

Average Age of the Crowd: 56

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

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)-

Annie and the Bang Bang – 2

Flamin’ Oh’s – 1

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8.6 out of 10

Show on Deck — TBD

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