Girl at the Rock Shows

Halloween is one of those days when I dread going out. I just don’t have the patience for drunk idiots, especially when those drunk idiots are in costume, which makes them act a bit more idiotic. That said, there always seems to be a show on Halloween night that I just can’t resist, and this year was no different. Sure, my head wanted to be home, but my heart wanted to be at The Turf Club in Saint Paul and, like usual, my heart won.

My boyfriend and I got to the show ridiculously early because I truthfully just wanted to sit at the bar and enjoy a drink instead of slamming one in time to take photos of the acts. Not only was just sitting down with a drink nice, but the soundtrack that paired with it was brilliant. Instead of just playing house music before, between, and after the acts, this show featured a live DJ, and to say that Theology (said live DJ) was hitting the spot as people were coming into the show would be an understatement. I don’t typically spend much time talking about DJs at shows because, truthfully, there’s always so much to talk about when it comes to the bands I see, but I want to give a huge shout-out to Theology. The night started with his unique blend of old-school video game music and new-school jams. My favorite little mix was when he mashed up “Bodies” from Drowning Pool with something that sounded straight out of the original Mario games (I’m not a gamer, so I could be wrong on that particular game call-out, but you get the gist). It was fun, it was unique, and it definitely laid the groundwork for a fantastic night. As the evening went on, I felt like Theology lost some of the quirkiness in his mix, but the energy didn’t drop. He was the perfect person to keep the good time rolling before, between, and after the live music.

Kicking the live music portion of the night off was Rada K & The Cicadas. They wasted no time, swiftly taking the stage and jumping into their set of indie jazzy-pop with a funky undertone that was beautifully infectious. I wish I could tell you who this band reminded me of, but that would be next to impossible, as their sound seemed to change and morph throughout their opening set constantly. From funk to rock, indie to pop, they had a little bit of everything, but it wasn’t just the sound; it was also the vibe. Some songs had people getting out of their chairs to boogie a bit, but others had people settling deeper into the barstools. That wasn’t a sign of disrespect, more a sign of comfort because, when it came down to it, there was something super welcoming, comfy, and cozy about this opening act. The whole band helped create this ever-changing vibe, but vocalist Rada Kolarova really led the charge. The way her voice shifted from a beautiful velvet tone to something slightly grittier in the blink of an eye floored me. The way that danced on top of everything else the talented band was doing had my heart singing. Saturday night may have been my first time with this band, but I truly hope it’s not the last, and I expect to start seeing Rada K & The Cicadas’ name around more often.

Following Rada K & The Cicadas and a few tracks from Theology, it was time for Radiochurch. Every time I see this band, I think about how badly I want to see this band more often. At the same time, only getting to see them every few years makes their performances stick with me a little less, and Saturday night is no exception. Like Rada K & The Cicadas, Radiochurch has a unique sound that blends far too many genres for me to list them all, with a very funk-forward attitude. The difference between the first opening act and Radiochurch is the slight R&B influence that comes through in the vocals. It’s smooth and sexy, but it’s also fun and quirky. This is one of those bands that clearly takes the music seriously and knows how to craft a perfect track and perform it just as well, but there’s also a feeling of freedom when you watch them play. From the ripping solos to the way the members smile at the crowd and encourage those who are dancing like nobody is watching, charm oozes from every point of a Radiochurch show, and this band in general. That whole attitude and vibe made them a perfect fit for Saturday. Although it was Halloween night and this entire show was definitely a party, it felt much more laid-back than what I saw my friends attending on social media, and that’s what made it perfect for someone like me who dreaded going out on Saturday. Although Radiochurch respected that vibe, they also respected the people there to dance, and they somehow created space for both, which expanded on that comfy, cozy vibe laid out by Rada K & The Cicadas.

I don’t care how many times I see McNasty Brass Band live. I will keep coming back again and again and again, if only because of the life this band breathes into my body and my soul. Look, I know a brass band is nothing new, and there are more than you would think here in the Twin Cities, but something about this band is different. Maybe it relates back to what I said about Radiochurch. This band is great at what they do, but they don’t take themselves too seriously, as proven by their covers of everything from Dido to Black Sabbath. Maybe it’s because my history with this band dates back well over a decade. Whatever it is, this is one of those bands I just can not get enough of, so leaving my couch on a night when I didn’t really want to go anywhere was a bit easier because they were the headliners.

The band was up to their usual game of boisterous brass songs and covers that filled the intimate space of The Turf Club with ease. People in the audience started dancing the moment the band started, and I don’t think said dancing ended until the final note had cleared the air. Really, there was nothing new here (although there were a few new songs that were stellar), yet I enjoyed it so much and never wanted the night to end. Okay, saying that there was nothing new here was a lie. It was Halloween, so, naturally, costumes were at play throughout the night, and I think this band won with theirs. On trumpet, we had Vin Diesel. On saxophone, we had Vin Diesel; on other trumpet, we had Vin Diesel (see where this is going?). The entire frontline of this band had dressed in pants, a black tank, a cross necklace, sunglasses, and, for the most part, a bald cap. I was watching a line of Vin Diesels play brass music, and it was freaking perfect. There was definitely a missed opportunity when introducing the band to introduce each member as Vin Diesel, but I’ll let that slide because I thought the costume idea was as quirky as this band is. I know there wasn’t a lot of depth to this costume idea, but there is something fitting about the “Family” aspect, and I loved that (and if you don’t get that reference, shame on you).

My boyfriend and I don’t get trick-or-treaters at our house for some reason, which means that Saturday night could have been a truly lovely night in. I had made soup in the crockpot (shout out to crocktober) and would have loved to just watch scary movies all night, but my heart told me that’s not what I really wanted to do. I wanted to go see McNasty Brass Band and celebrate the holiday with my family and friends. Long story short, follow your heart.

Line Up:

Theology

Rada K & The Cicadas

Radiochurch

McNasty Brass Band

Venue: Turf Club

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 39

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- None

Passed Out People- None

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 8.7 out of 10

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

Theology – 0

Rada K & The Cicadas – 0

Radiochurch – 1

McNasty Brass Band – 5

Show on Deck – Bethany Larson & The Bee’s Knees / Turn Turn Turn / Twins of Franklin

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