Girl at the Rock Shows

“Geez, that was kind of fun, guys!” – a gentleman to the opening act right after their set.

I feel like that statement represents Tuesday night at The Turf Club so perfectly. It was a Mardi Gras celebration- Minnesota style. Three amazing local brass bands took over both floors of the Saint Paul venue and gave audience members a place to escape the existential dread that we have all been feeling up here in the Twin Cities lately. Instead of whistles and panic, it was smiles and dancing, and I honestly cannot thank the bands that performed enough for giving us all this night of beautiful, funky solace.

Easing us into the night was Brasszilla. Their sound, although absolutely boisterous and full of life (and horns), felt a bit more jazzy than the two groups that followed them. That, mixed with the fact that this was a four-piece rather than a fifty-seven-piece group like the other bands (okay, I’m being dramatic, none of these acts had fifty-seven members, but they did err on the side of being rather large), really made Brasszilla the perfect opener for Tuesday night. What I really loved about Brasszilla’s sound was how organic it felt. Being new to their world, I couldn’t tell you whether this band is the kind that often improvises or plays the same songs every time, but I can tell you that there was something about their set on Tuesday night that felt free. Instead of just a set of music, their time on stage felt like an exploration of sounds that I never wanted to end. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but thankfully, I would have another chance to see this band later on in the evening.

Following Brasszilla on the stage of Turf Club, things shifted downstairs to the Clown Lounge. Honestly, this is one of those hidden gems of local music venues. It’s a place I often go during shows when I just need a break from the music or a break from people. It’s often quiet and calm, but not on Tuesday night. I’ve heard that they have had bands play down there before, but I couldn’t picture it until Tuesday. I got downstairs just in time to hear the first note of a set from Brass Messengers. I had heard Brass Messengers’ name before, but this was my first time seeing them live, and to say that it was love at first note would be an understatement. Like Brasszilla, there was something super fun and organic about Brass Messengers’ sound. It was well organized and curated, don’t get me wrong, but it also felt spontaneous and creative. Some of that could have been due to the outfits. I felt like I was watching a ragtag group of gypsies or something. Honestly, it reminded me of the band my dad had in college, where anyone could join with any instrument, as long as it was one you didn’t know how to play (no, I’m not kidding). Although the band’s members clearly knew how to play their instruments, it had that same feeling of fun and no judgment, so the typically sleepy, quiet floor of The Clown Loud quickly turned into a dancefloor for all. Brass Messengers’ set downstairs felt super short, but, like Brasszilla, I was going to have another chance to catch them later on in the evening, and I couldn’t wait for it.

A quick jaunt back upstairs, and it was time for a personal favorite of mine- McNasty Brass Band. I promise not to rehash everything I’ve said about this band time and time again since I’ve covered them so much, but seriously, you need to hear and see this band. With the front of the stage taken over by a line of horns, MBB gave the audience what they typically do– a touch of New Orleans attitude with a Minneapolis flair. I will always love the creativity this band brings. Their originals are great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s their way of turning pop standards into triumphant brass band anthems that will always keep me coming back for more. Although this is one of those groups I seem to have lost count of how many times I’ve seen them live, every time I do, it feels fresh, and I feel like they always give me a new song, with Tuesday night being no exception. Unfortunately, McNasty Brass Band only had one set on Tuesday night, whereas Brasszilla and Brass Messengers had two, but the band made it worth it, and by the time they left the stage, the entire room was feeling more like a bar on Bourbon Street rather than the humble little Turf Club.

It was time to head back downstairs for an encore performance from Brasszilla. Although the feeling between seeing this band upstairs and downstairs was the same overall, something seemed to have shifted. The more intimate space of The Clown Lounge made you see the sheer amount of creativity and musicianship that is behind this band. Being a bit more up close and personal, let me see the talent and the thought that went into each and every passing note. Although seeing them downstairs didn’t help me figure out whether their sound was improvisation or something a bit more curated, just played with a sense of freedom, it was nice to hear just a wee bit more from this local band.

Things shifted one last time, back upstairs for Brass Messengers’ final set. The band boldly kicked off with a slow, somber song, explained as a dedication to lives affected by the ongoing federal occupation of the Twin Cities. Opening with this song was a strong statement and reminder that, while we enjoyed Tuesday night at The Turf Club, the fight is not over. The audience’s silence during this song reflected its tenderness (and echoed their earlier tribute). After this moving start, the show returned to brass band mania until the band closed with a perfect march throughout the venue, instruments in hand.

I’ve never been to New Orleans. I would love to go there and experience a “real” Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras, but I don’t know when that will happen. But who needs to go to New Orleans when you can have a night with Brasszilla, Brass Messengers, and McNasty Brass Band? Like the guy said to Brasszilla right after their set, “Geez, that was a lot of fun, guys!”

Line Up:

Brasszilla

Brass Messengers

McNasty Brass Band

Venue: Turf Club

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 48

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-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

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Drunken Idiots Taken Out By Their Own Friends – 0

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

Brasszilla – 0

Brass Messengers – 0

McNasty Brass Band – 4

Show on Deck —Rogue Valley / Stephen Wallack

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