Girl at the Rock Shows

Thursday night was one of those nights where I couldn’t choose just one show to go to. Two absolutely amazing lineups were happening, and luckily for me, they were just steps apart, so I did what every concert addict would do —I went to both. Each show showcased a different part of my love for music. One, at the 7th Street Entry, showcased the local scene. A vibrant community full of love, friendship, and talent. The other, at First Avenue’s mainroom, showcased sheer talent and featured a truly iconic band’s return after years away. As I said, an impossible choice, but thankfully for me, I didn’t have to make one. All I had to worry about was my timing and, thankfully, I kind of nailed it.

Let’s start by talking about the show at The 7th Street Entry, which kicked off with We Are The Willows. I’ve seen this name around the local circuit for years, but Thursday night was my first time catching them live, and I instantly regretted all the shows I’d missed. Their sound, like the members’ personalities, was playful and fun, but it carried a fiery sense of heart and passion. The indie-pop sounds made you want to move, and the chatter between the band and audience made you chuckle, leaving me with a super fun way to kick off what was going to end up being a bit of a marathon of a night. Although I call their sound indie-pop, I feel like that doesn’t do them justice. There was so much thought and creativity put into their sound that, at times, I feel like maybe “art-pop” would be a better way to describe them, but at the same time, this is a band whose performance goes so far beyond their sound, so at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter how I would classify their sound. All you need to know is that this band deserves your attention and love, so don’t be like me. As soon as you see this band on a calendar, go see them live. I know that’s what I’ll be doing from here on out.

Up next was a personal favorite of mine, Admiral Fox. Every time I see this band live, I’m reminded just how amazing they are, and their short time on the intimate 7th Street Entry stage on Thursday night was no different. Another band that could be classified as indie-pop but brings so much more to the table than just that, Admiral Fox took me away from the stress of trying to cover two shows in one night (although that’s a good kind of stress, and I would never change it for anything). This was my fourth night with this local band, and truly, they are aging like a fine wine. Their way of playing with space in their songs seemed to hit just a bit harder, and the glitter of infectious energy that comes through here and there throughout their sound seemed to glisten just a bit brighter under the spotlights. I loved that, although it’s been a hot minute since I last caught this band, I instantly recognized some of their songs while also feeling like I heard an evolution in the newer, unfamiliar tracks they played. Long story short, there’s no stopping Admiral Fox and, although I don’t catch them as often as I would like, every time I do, it is pure magic.

Although I was excited for this entire banger of a line-up, I think my anticipation was highest for Third Date, the next band. I co-host a radio show on the Macalester College campus all about Minnesota music. Every week, my co-host and I invite a different local band to come in and chat. Sometimes these bands even play in the crammed studio. It may not sound the best through the radio waves, but in person, it’s magical, with some acts hooking me more than others. Third Date had me hooked. Beyond the fact that I’ve known and become friends with one of the members of this local group over the years, this band had a spark that hooked me, and Thursday night was my first chance to see it live and in person. They did not disappoint. Like everyone else, if I had to classify this band in just one genre, I would probably say indie-pop, but that doesn’t really paint the full picture of this band. From shoegazey moments where your head starts floating toward the clouds to angst-filled moments that bring you back to earth in a fiery crash of subtle angst and extreme energy, Third Date does a little bit of everything. No matter where they take a song or where they take you on your personal journey, soundtracked by their sound, Third Date takes care of you and gives you space to breathe and just be you. It’s charming, organic, freeing, calming, energizing, and downright perfect.

Closing out the Thursday night show at the 7th Street Entry was Big Big Brain! I’ll be honest, I had never heard of this act before this show, but with a lineup like that, I knew I could expect big things. Thursday night wasn’t just another show for Big Big Brain!; it was a celebration of the release of their new album, ‘For What?’. And a celebration it was. I’ll be honest, I felt like Big Big Brain!’s sound was a bit rough around the edges, and there were moments where I felt like it was almost too rough, but at the same time, I loved how that really let you fall into their folk-punk-adjacent world. Angst and fire came through in certain lines, but those lines were followed by tender moments of sheer emotion and almost diary-style lyrics. What hooked me was how this group could do both sides with the same conviction, heart, and passion. Big Big Brain! doesn’t just write music because something makes them feel a certain way; they write music because they have to get their thoughts out and, luckily for them, most of those thoughts are shared by the local community in one way or another. Maybe I’m a bit late to the Big Big Brain! party, but I’m here now, and I really hope you join me sooner rather than later.

Thursday night at the 7th Street Entry is the kind of show I live for. A showcase of talent from the local scene that truly showcases all that we have to offer here and how hearts and passion are what drive this scene. Sure, being upstairs at First Avenue’s iconic mainroom to see a few legends perform was great, but the vibe down in the 7th Street Entry was just a bit more up my alley and just a bit more perfect, if you ask me.

Line Up:

We Are The Willows

Admiral Fox

Third Date

Big Big Brain!

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 25

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

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)-

We Are The Willows – 0

Admiral Fox – 3

Third Date – 0

Big Big Brain! – 0

Show on Deck – Big Big Brain! / Third Date / Admiral Fox / We Are The Willows

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