Big night for music in Minneapolis last night — Low in NE, Summerfest at Cabooze and oh yeah, two big shows at 400 Bar and the Turf…
After waiting nearly five years since our first exposure to Holes in the Wall, we finally got to see Brighton’s Electric Soft Parade at 400 Bar last night. Tearing through a set of older tracks, new ones from the new disc, No Need to be Downhearted, and a closer off the Human Body EP, brothers Tom and Alex White quickly won over the small club with their dynamic songwriting and lush soundscapes — prompting the night’s continous heckler to shout, “You’ll be headlining First Avenue this time next year.”
ESP also made multiple references to this Spin.com review of their Denver gig the night before. Check out that photo of Tom White on the keyboard with the caption, “Steve Large on keys.” Nice. Check out our interview with Tom here.
Prior to their set, I caught up with Pela drummer Tomislav Zovich to find out how the Brooklyn group’s first national tour is going. “We played this crazy show in Salt Lake City,” Zovich said. “It was in a garage super early and was all these 16 year-old kids.” Of course, it was Kilby Court, where we’ve also had an interesting experience. He also told me vocalist Billy McCarthy is a huge Husker Du and Soul Asylum fan, who gave the band members a lesson in 400 Bar lore. “This place is like the CBGB’s of Minneapolis!” Zovich exclaimed.
We liked Pela’s new EP, Exit Columbia Street, we didn’t anticipate their live show to be so tight. And for a brusque, buff, New Yorker frat boy, McCarthy put on a heartfelt performance of soaring pop that sucked in the audience.
Finally the headliner. Brakes was great (okay, BrakesBrakesBrakes if you must), and although we wanted to cut out early in order to make it to the next show, we were still able to catch 6-7 of the group’s mini-masterpieces.
If The Beatific Visions hadn’t already confirmed it, seeing the group reinforced this is much more than just a side-project of British Sea Power and Electric Soft Parade members.
Then it was over to Turf Club for the HowWasTheShow.com Anniversary Party, which had been rolling along since 9 p.m. itself.
We only caught the last two bands. First was local group The Slats, whose album Boom Patrol continues to gather steam across the country.
If you haven’t seen this band live yet, you’re missing out on a crucial component of the Minneapolis rock scene circa 2007.
And closing out the night was First Communion Afterparty. Boasting the largest amount of minor hand X’s, the group’s Brian Jonestown Massacre, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas vibe was a great way to end of the evening.
Also, was great to finally meet some HWTS friends of whom we’ve only interacted with online for years. Congrats on 5 years and here’s to 5 more!
