Girl at the Rock Shows

I was in the happiest place in the world on Thursday night. No, I didn’t book a last-minute trip to Disney World, and no, I did not finally live my dream of an overnight trip to Las Vegas. This happiest place in the world was actually found in downtown Minneapolis at The Fine Line. Anytime anyone moved in the venue, they didn’t just walk. Heck, they didn’t even just saunter; they danced. Whether it was to the bathroom, to the bar, or just around the venue itself, everyone was dancing, and everyone had a smile on their face. I may not know a lot about funk and jam band music, but I know that this is one of those shows that my heart and soul needed badly, and I know that, when the time came, it was hard for me to leave.

Chicago-based Hot Like Mars didn’t waste any time warming up the venue with their unique blend of everything from soul to funk to rock. Honestly, being a bit of a stranger to the jam rock scene, I don’t know that I have all of the correct words to describe the sound of this opening band (or the headliner in that case), but I know I was in awe. When their set started, I tried desperately to keep up with lines of notes. I was listening intently and trying to hop between instruments as they would be showcased in a particular track. When the whole band would come together for a triumphant hook or a broad instrumental moment, I found myself trying to pick out the pieces. I wanted to know what the keys were doing, what a particular drum fill was, and how the bassline worked among it all, but after just a couple of songs, I realized that that’s not how this band works. Although clearly made up of amazing and individual musicians, Hot Like Mars is a group. One unit makes a symphony of sounds, and that symphony is created to be enjoyed as a whole. Sure, there were solos here and there that would bring focus onto a particular member, but even then, the way all of these musicians grooved together made it clear that you were to take in their sound as a whole.

It wasn’t just the sound of Hot Like Mars that had me hooked; it was their swagger. I know this is going to be a bit of an obscure reference, but if you know, you know. The energy I got from this band while performing reminded me a bit of Bill Allen + The Pollies. It was larger-than-life but still felt accessible. The talent on the stage was clear, but all of the musicians made it seem so easy, and like it was just second nature to them. Maybe it was, or maybe this was from years of rehearsals and honing in on their craft. Either way, the energy from the stage and room alike just enhanced this performance to a level that, when they started to wind down, signifying the end of their set, I couldn’t help but be left praying for an encore. It didn’t happen, and, after a forty-five-minute opening set, probably shouldn’t have any way but I definitely wanted more. Chicago isn’t a far drive from here in Minneapolis, so here’s to hoping that Hot Like Mars makes the trip again soon.

I’ve now seen The Motet (the headlining group on Friday night at The Fine Line) two times. Both of those previous times, I have written about how this Colorado-based funk/jam band isn’t my normal cup of tea, but, honestly, I don’t even know what kind of tea I’m drinking anymore. What I do know is that, like the previous two times that I’ve seen this band perform, I was completely transfixed by them. I was no longer “me” on a Thursday night with a stressful Friday ahead and a weekend where I’d regret signing up for so much stuff because all I really wanted to do was couch rot all weekend. No, that’s not the girl who watched this show. The girl who was standing in the audience on Thursday night didn’t have a care in the world. She didn’t care that Friday at the day job was going to be rough or that any free time during the weekend was quickly getting eaten up by hastily created plans. All she cared about was the music and the people around her, even though they were mostly strangers.

The Motet is a legendary group made up of a rotating cast of characters. The band started all the way back in 1998 and, since then, has released eleven full-length studio albums and a smattering of other live albums, mixtapes, and other things. Drummer Dave Watts is the sole remaining original member, but, truthfully, you wouldn’t know that. Regardless of how long a member has been in the group, they fit, and they have a spot carved out just for them. Like Hot Like Mars, the amount of respect that the members of this group show for each other is insane. It’s in the way they let each other steal the spotlight for certain parts of certain songs and the way they pass out nods of encouragement and subtle hoots and hollers like they are candy on Halloween. I just love the collaborative energy that this band brings to a stage and feel like it gives any room they play this insane feeling of community and love that we could all use a little bit more of these days.

The Motet definitely didn’t phone in their set. Not only was it full of charm and talent, but it was also full of songs. It was fifteen tracks that lasted well into the evening. I think I heard that this set was slated to be 75 minutes, but it went so much longer than that, and I don’t know if that was on purpose (I also don’t know that it was for sure supposed to be only 75 minutes, but again, that was the mumbling I heard). I feel like The Motet is one of those bands that lets the music take them wherever it may. Don’t get me wrong, there’s structure to their sound, and they definitely have “songs” that they played, but I feel like each song took a life all of its own, and you lost track of how many songs they had played or what song they were on. That was beautiful. I go see so many shows and ingest so much music that sometimes I forget about the joy and creativity that it takes to make it all because, like myself, bands are doing the same thing night after night, but The Motet reminded me. They showed me the joy and creativity, and it sparked a fire in my soul.

So far this week, I have seen an acoustic pop set, an a cappella soul group, and a funky jam band. Where will I go next? Who knows and who cares. Music is music, and seeing a little bit of everything is what makes it such a fun life to live.

Line Up:

Hot Like Mars

The Motet

Venue: Fine Line

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 42

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

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

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

Hot Like Mars – 0

The Motet – 2

Show on Deck – Taking Back Sunday / Bayside

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