Girl at the Rock Shows

Sunday night was another day full of stellar local music. Although I was still recovering from the marathon that was Fast Fun Fest #2 in Amsterdam on Saturday, I showed up at The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (or at least as close as I could get with my current level of exhaustion) on Sunday. This show was not just another local festival-type show; it was a celebration and kick-off for The Front Row Project.

I won’t spend a lot of time going into what this organization is since I have ten full acts to tell you about (each one just as amazing as the last), but I want to share their mission statement and a brief intro about what this organization is:

“From booth to barricade, nobody contributed more to the MN music scene than producer, band leader Ed Ackerson of Flowers Studio and Paul Engebretson, aka Front Row Paul, the most dedicated music fan in local history.  It is important to the entire music community that their memories never fade.  It is also important that the next generation of rock and roll bands comes to understand the contributions made by these two individuals which paved the way for so many bands to find success.

The Front Row Project is a not-for-profit partnership between The Shackletons Band and The Firehouse Performing Arts Center.  Our mission is to provide a pair of annual grants to Minnesota bands in need. This may include but is not limited to: professional recording opportunities, vinyl pressing, transportation needs, theft replacement or merch. 

Grant recipients will be determined by a revolving panel of respected Minnesota musicians.  One grant to be made in memory of Ed Ackerson and one in the name of Paul Engebretson.  Musicians helping musicians.”

I didn’t know Ed Ackerson at all (I had only seen him here and there at shows) and only interacted with Paul Engebretson a few times before he tragically and quite suddenly passed away, but I can still feel their prescense at every show I go to, especially on Sunday at The Hook & Ladder. The amount of love and passion that was in both rooms of this amazing venue told me everything I needed to know. Ed and Paul (admirably referred to by the entire local scene as Front Row Paul) may be gone from this world, but they are not gone from this scene. It was the perfect backdrop to a perfect day of celebration, tears, passion, and community.

Okay, like I mentioned, there were ten bands on Sunday, so without further ado, let’s jump into all of the magical music I got to experience on Sunday. Much like my post from Saturday, I’m going to keep things brief, but that’s not at all a statement on the talent or passion I got from each band. Seriously, every single one of these groups is worth your attention.

Oister Boy kicked things off on the larger “Theater” stage. I will always love getting a chance to see these local rockers live. Their indie-pop, mixed with a slight 90’s grunge sensibility, is always high energy. Although they were the first band to perform on Sunday, they let that energy flow throughout the venue and the outside courtyard, where people were enjoying one of the last tastes of summer. I really enjoyed hearing some of Oister Boy’s classics, but the highlight of their short set for me was hearing a few songs I hadn’t recognized from previous performances. I couldn’t tell you if those tracks were all new ones or ones pulled from the vault, but I can tell you that it seems like Oister Boy is working on something big, and I’m eager to see and hear what that is.

I honestly forgot how much I love Products Band, but was quickly reminded as they took the smaller “Zen Arcade” stage just a short jaunt down the hall from the “Theater” stage. This band is quirky in all of the right ways. I love how they can hook you with a super chill and approachable riff or beat, but then, just when you’re getting comfortable, they change something, giving you a sound that is as unique as it is mystifying. There was a time when I felt like I was seeing Products Band a lot, but then, in the blink of an eye, it seemed to stop, I’m really hoping that Sunday was the start of a another rash of Products Band performances because, truly, I just can not get enough of this band.

My first time catching The Melismatics was at Front Row Paul fest just a couple of months ago. The sets were beyond short that day, so I was stoked to finally see these local legends in all of their glory with a more generous set time. With Ryan Smith (guitarist of Soul Asylum) at the helm, there was no denying that this band knows what they are doing, but at the same time, there was something so free and fresh about their set. You definitely got a ’90s vibe from their sound, but you also got a modern twist on it. On top of that, you got dancable beats, soaring vocals, and no shortage of rockin’ vibes. Long story short, The Melismatics are a powerful band that absolutely stands on their own and is more than worth your time.

It has been years since I last saw Sleeping Jesus live. The first time I saw them, I was less than impressed. The second time I saw them (which was all the way back in 2017), they started to win me over. When I saw them on Sunday, they absolutely won over my heart. Their sound has a hint of Southern swagger to it and definitely leans more toward an Americana-influenced kind of rock, which is not entirely my thing, but there was something about it on Sunday that just clicked. Although this band was clearly all business, never missing a note and having everything perfectly laid out in terms of sound and set curation, there was a sense of fun-loving charm that I found absolutely irresistible.

Although I’ve seen Devon Worley Band’s name around town for years, Sunday was my first time experiencing them live, and it was so worth the wait. Another act that leaned a bit deeper into a world I don’t frequent, Devon Worley Band’s sound is a vintage-tinged rock with a sense of Southern swagger, much like Sleeping Jesus. Although the entire band is clearly amazing, it was vocalist and frontwoman Devon Worley who captured my attention throughout the set. There were moments when it felt like a lot,but Devon is clearly a performer. From her insanely talented vocals to the way she moved on stage, this is a band of professionals, and, although it took me forever to finally see them live, I really hope it doesn’t take too long to see them again.

The power that I got from Devon Worley Band was insane, so it was a bit of a shock to go back to the Zen Arcade stage to see Yonder. Don’t get me wrong, Yonder is amazing and definitely powerful, but their power came in a different form. Instead of a super strong and loud sound, Yonder seemed to let the volume take a backseat and lean more into the sheer passion that this group has. Although I was definitely a bit more into the more energized music at this point in the day, if only to help keep me awake, there was no denying that I was completely lost in Yonder’s world of lush beauty and insane heart.

I could truly write a full, 10-page paper on The Shackletons, the next band to take the Theater stage on Sunday, but I will save you. All you need to know about this band is that, not only are they some of the sweetest souls in the local music scene, but they are also some of the most talented. Their rockin’ songs come with that undeniable sense of heart that reigned supreme throughout Sunday’s festivities. It was so fun to see them up on stage, doing what they love, for a cause that they have a huge hand in. It also didn’t suck to hear them play a new song. No matter how big this band gets, or how many tours they do with the legendary Frank Turner or Lucero (my personal favorite band of all time), I feel like they will never lose sight of their roots, and their set on Sunday was proof of that. Again, I could go on and on about this band, but just do yourself a favor: check them out, show them some love, and make sure you check them out the next time they perform somewhere close to you.

Closing things out on the Zen Arcade stage was local punk group Loki’s Folly. This band is all charm and all piss and vinegar in all of the right ways. A trio of siblings (although the drummer had to bow out of this performance so they were replaced by a good friend of the siblings), Loki’s Folly’s sound is distinct. It’s raw and definitely a bit rough around the edges here and there, but that’s part of the charm and one of the reasons that this band continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the local scene.

Sunday’s festivities closed out with a jam featuring The Schakletons and Scott Holt. I already told you about The Shackletons, so please, may I introduce you to Scott Holt? Scott got his start as Buddy Guy’s side man and then went on to front Foghat for the past three years. That’s right, we were not only graced by legends of the local scene, but also by this kind of legend. Scott came off as so fun and personable throughout the set. Although not typically one for long jams of any sort, I found myself pulled into the world that had been created by Scott and The Shackletons, and it was a world that I was hesitant to leave.

And there you have it, all ten bands from Sunday at The Hook & Ladder that came together for a truly amazing cause. Much like on Saturday, I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate I am to live here and to call this community my home. Ed Ackerson and “Front Row” Paul Engebretson were very much at The Hook & Ladder on Sunday. You could feel them in every note that was played and every hug that was shared.

Line Up:

Oister Boy

Products Band

The Melismatics

Sleeping Jesus

Devon Worley Band

Yonder

The Shackletons

Loki’s Folly

Scott Holt

Venue: The Hook and Ladder

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 42

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 1 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)-

Oister Boy – 4

Products Band – 4

The Melismatics -1

Sleeping Jesus – 2

Devon Worley Band – 0

Yonder – 1

The Shackletons – 3

Loki’s Folly – 3

Scott Holt – 0

Celebrity Sightings – Andy of Whiskey Rock N’ Roll Club MPLS; Robert of The Flamin’ Oh’s

Overall Score – 9.2 out of 10

Show on Deck — Shellshag / Al Scorch / Makin’ Out / Panel

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