The 2019
It's more than
magnificent - it's mediocre. ~ Samuel Goldwyn
I generally categorize the annual State Fair Free Music Stage
announcement into
three different groups:
·
Can't Wait (no explanation needed)
·
Can't Stand (do I only need one trip to the Fair this year?
Rarely, if ever, is that the case)
·
Can't Believe (both in the good and bad sense)
This year I'm adding a 4th:
·
Can't Understand
Looking at the lineup this year I'm a little underwhelmed, but
then I realize that the
Fair is perfectly in line with what's going on today, a little
something for everyone, but
this year, a little less for me. So instead of lamenting lack of
shows in my wheelhouse,
I'll get out of the way and forge on into the valley of the
unbeknownst, unfamiliar and
unabashed.....and try to understand.
Stuff that piques my interest (I’m lovin’
the local bands this year) In order by date:
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Sarah Morris—Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater- Thurs 8/22 & Fri 8/23-
11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm
Even though she played the Fair back in 2016, I first heard Sarah Morris
at Record Store
Day this year down at Know Name Records in
stayed for the set. Lawrence University Conservatory of Music grad,
honed her chops in
and 2017 albums both landed in the Top 100 of the Americana Music
Association radio
charts.
Well written songs and a warm lush voice is what you’ll hear, with band.
I’m on board.
Used To Be Mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANj8K4LAcq4
Brighter (from 2016 State Fair TPT
Stage):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61SioqzBk20
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Joyann Parker—Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater- Thurs 8/22 &
Fri 8/23- 3:00pm, 4:00pm,
5:00pm
Sticking in the singer/songwriter vein, Parker is a
classically trained pianist who taught
herself to play guitar. She’s a Blues singer and writes
songs with her daytime
boss/lawyer/lead guitarist. A semi regular at Crooners, you
may know her from her
popular Patsy Cline tribute shows.
She received a lot of press in 2018 and lives up to the
hype.
Nice groove here. Envy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJs0bGIVU40
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Intoxicats--International Bazaar- Thurs 8/22 & Fri 8/23-
3:15pm, 4:30pm & 5:45pm
Now, this looks great. Fronted by Michele Rundgren,
Todd’s wife (yes, that Todd Rundgren),
this is a melting pot of Surf, Tiki, Spy and 60’s theme song music. The
description of
themselves on their website sums it up: “Originating from
were born of a rum haze one
steamy tropical night at TikiIniki. Picture
Gilligan's
with access to MTV, Get
Smart,
with an unlimited bar tab.” Noah Levy on drums makes it that much better.
Give me two Mai Tai’s to go.
Velvet Gorilla:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1d0F4P5Rqs
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Chubby Carrier and the
-Thurs 8/22 & Fri
8/23-3:30pm & 4:45pm
The Fair never fails to make sure that the great state of
the Leinie’s main stage. This year
it’s Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.
Steeped in the Zydeco tradition, Chubby adds more of a Funk
groove to his sound than
most that play in this style, and he will have the crowd on
their feet in short order.
Laissez le bon temps rouler.
Zydeco Junkie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeyIKzgzFIQ
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Belinda Carlisle--Bandshell Tonight-Thurs 8/22 & Fri
8/23-8:30pm
Guilty pleasure alert.
The Go-Go’s were in my wheelhouse in
1981. New Wave,
all female, wrote
their own songs, played their own instruments and ruled the airwaves.
We Got The Beat,
Vacation, Our Lips Our Sealed, Head Over Heals…the
list goes on.
Belinda Carlsile was the voice behind all those hits along with her
own impressive
solo work, and she’ll
bring all that and more. Who knows, maybe she’ll reprise her
duct-taped trash bag
dresses from the early days. Should be an interesting crowd.
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Rich Lewis
Band—Ramberg Music Cafe- Sat 8/24- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm &
Sun 8/25- 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm
Back at the Fair for the first time since 2016, and coming
off the Taste of The Fair
fundraiser, RLB is sounding better than ever. The last few
times I’ve seen them they
really seem to be hitting their stride, especially at Como
Park Pavilion a few weeks ago.
With Faye tearing it up on vocals and the band tighter than
ever, it’s well worth
the trip out. As Mean Gene used to say, don’t you dare miss
it. 2 days, 6 sets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5WWMeRW6I8
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The War and Treaty--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell -Mon 8/26 & Tues 8/27
-1:00pm & 2:30pm
Gospel meets Roots Soul. Husband and wife. Emotional
heartfelt energy. Big voices.
Another one I’m looking forward to.
See you at the revival.
Are You Ready
To Love Me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0ADXvbeAY
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Blue Book Band-- International Bazaar--
Mon 8/26-
3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm &
Tues 8/27- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm
What happens when you take the Twin Cities best Soul singer,
Maurice Jacox,
and team him with six-time MN Horn Player of The Year winner
and Swing master,
Steve Clarke? Well, you get the Blue Book Band. Timeless
Blues, R&B and Soul that’s
flawlessly delivered with their own funky stamp. After you catch The War and Treaty,
take the walk across the street to the Bazaar. You’ll be
glad you did.
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One Night of Queen
Performed by Gary Mullen & The Works--Bandshell
Tonight Wed 8/28 & Thurs 8/29-8:30pm
This is a leap of
faith for me. I can’t remember when I’ve had so many people express
this kind of a
sentiment to me; “You know, I’ve never been a Queen fan, but after
watching Bohemian
Rhapsody, man, I’m hooked.” Well, I haven’t seen the movie yet
and they were never
really in my wheelhouse, so this is a blind faith recommendation.
Of all the Queen
tribute bands out there, I hear that this is the one to see.
If you couldn’t afford
the $400 prime seats at the X a couple weeks ago,
this one’s for free.
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Honkey Tonk Jump--Ramberg Music Cafe- Fri 8/30- 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm &
Sat 8/31- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm
Western Swing on Vicodin led by Twin Cities accordion maestro
Dan
Jammin’ with Jimmy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfSlBky4Ow0
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Bill Kirchen and Redd Volkaert--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell -Fri 8/30 & Sat 8/31
-1:00pm & 2:30pm
This is my pick of the Free Stages. Both have played the
Fair before, but not together.
Simply put, two out-of-sight guitar players. Kirchen was a founding member of
Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen and can shred a
Telecaster like nobody’s
business. He started the “Twangcore”
movement and has dubbed his playing
style “Dieselbilly”. Volkaert spent many years in Mearle
Haggard’s band and is
also a Telecaster Master. They have performed together
before under the name
the Twangbangers, but this time it
will be a Hillbilly Rock -n- Roll bonanza. Can’t wait!
My favorite Redd clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY8AFtlAykA
..and Kirchen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsLdufJePz0
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The Christopher David Hanson Band--Ramberg Music Café
- Fri 8/30- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm & Sat 8/31- 10:30am,
11:45am, 1:00pm
These guys are a veteran band
from the northern Minnesota bar scene. With a half
dozen albums under their
belts, they play Roots Rock, vintage
Soul and Country with a
side of Rockabilly. Chris Stapleton Reverend Horton Heat, The Band
and Van are
influences. A little bit of the Seger growl goes with their hook-filled
tunes.
Ramberg Music Cafe is really booking in some nice stuff this year.
Evergreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0nWALN8y08
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First Ave
Goes To the Fair—West End at Sunset -Fri 8/30 & Sat 8/31-8:00pm
A nice showcase of Minnesota talent past, present and
future. It’s also a nice change of
pace format, bringing multiple acts to one stage during the prime-time
evening slot.
Seven artists each night followed by an after-party DJ. Friday’s highlights for me
are Minnesota’s Dean of Scream, Curtis A and weirdo genius,
Har Mar Superstar.
Saturday I like Maurice Jacox and
Alt-Jazz group, Seaberg.
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The Peterson
Brothers--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell -Sun 9/1 & Mon 9/2
-1:00pm & 2:30pm
The young bucks known as the Peterson Brothers have grown up
since their last
State Fair appearance in 2016. Guitar player, Glenn, is now
21, and bass player, Alex,
is now 19. Funk, Blues, Jam-Band, Jazz and everything else
under the sun can be found
at their shows. Gary Clark Jr is a big supporter of these
Austin, TX whiz kids.
A lot of talent and energy.
Meet The Peterson Brothers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzmdEArOocg
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BB King Blues Band w/Michael Lee from The Voice--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell
-Sun 9/1 & Sun 9/2-3:30pm & 4:45pm
BB’s
gone and Michael Lee ain’t no BB, I get that. BB’s
touring band is intact, though, and
some
of the players have been with him for over 35 years. These guys can play the
BB
songbook and sometimes you have to take what you can get.
A nice
way to close out the Fair with this show and the Peterson Brothers back to
back.
The
Voice blind audition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmHVzmjlDY
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Some quick hits I’ll be checking out:
Steve Noonan--Ramberg Music Cafe-Thurs 8/22- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm &
Fri 8/23- 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm
Audio engineer for Prince in the early 90’s. Singer
songwriter that reminds me
of Warren Zevon.
Brandon Lay--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell -Sat 8/24 & Sun 8/25-10:30am & 11:45am
The best of this year’s Bro Country.
Tony Cuchetti--Ramberg Music Cafe-Sat 8/24- 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm &
Sun 8/25- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm
Roots
rock singer-songwriter. At Ramberg the same day as RLB.
Sawyer's Dream--Schell’s Stage at
Schilling Amphitheater- Sat 8/24 & Sun 8/25
- 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm
3
female vocalists, tight harmonies, 60’s vibe with a San Francisco feel.
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone--Bandshell Tonight Sat 8/24 &
Sun 8/25-8:30pm
Bubblegum
pop from the Baby Boomers
heyday.
Henry the VIII, Mrs. Brown,
I’m Into Something Good.
Six Mile Grove—Schell’s Stage at
Schilling Amphitheater- Mon 8/26 & Tues 8/27
- 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm
Folk
and Country with electric, acoustic and pedal steel 3-guitar-attack.
They’re
friends and tour with Bob Wootton, Johnny Cash’s guitarist for 30 years.
Jaida Dreyer--Leinie
Lodge Bandshell -Fri 8/30 & Sat 8/31-10:30am & 11:45am
Straddles
the line between Traditional Country and Sis Country and sounds like a
warbly-voiced
truck driver. Written 9 songs for the TV series Nashville.
Tony! Toni! Toné!-- Bandshell Tonight - Fri 8/30 & Sat 8/31-8:30pm
90’s R&B group. If
I Had No Loot was their biggest hit and it’s a great song.
Bill & Kate Isles Band--Ramberg
Music Cafe-Sun 9/1- 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:00pm
& Mon 9/2- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 5:45pm
Duluth
singer-songwriter couple with a nice sound and great harmonies.
Don’t forget to visit all the privately booked stages too!
(Café Caribe, Dino’s Gyros, TPT Stage, MN Wine Country,
Giggles,
The Hangar, Coasters, Frontier Bar, Minnesota AFL-CIO,
Crossroads Chapel, French Creperie, Mancini’s, Minnesota
Farmers Union,
O’Gara’s, RC’s BBQ…….and SO MANY MORE!)