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11/01 Mipso with Humbird at Fine Line
Tour Dates
Nov. 2 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
Nov. 3 - Madison, WI - High Noon Nov. 4 - Indianapolis, IN - Hifi Nov. 5 - Detroit, MI - The Ark (Ann Arbor) Nov. 8 - Toronto , ON - Velvet Underground Nov. 9 - Ottawa, ON - Red Bird Live Nov. 10 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz Nov. 11 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Nov. 12 - Portland, ME - Portland House Nov. 15 - Boston, MA - Sinclair Nov. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Made Nov. 17 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club Nov. 18 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater Nov. 19 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas Read More
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Last night may have been one of the few times the opening and headliner not only shared the same producer for their latest albums, but that producer, Shane Leonard, also supported both bands by playing drums.
Humbird opened the evening with Siri Undlin on lead vocal and guitar and Pat Keen on upright bass.
Undlin said it was a little weird to be playing at the Fine Line for she is currently on the road, but also back in her hometown, playing in front of a welcoming crowd of friends and family. She and Keen in fact had been in town for two days and did the only logical thing a musician would do with a day off - laundry.
Undlin grew up in south Minneapolis, performing in Irish ensembles and church choirs. She spent her first year out of college on a fellowship traveling through Norway, Scotland and Ireland researching Nordic and Gaelic folk songs.
The band she formed melds these traditions with American folk music, country and I believe based on some of Keen’s bass solos, elements of improvisational jazz.
Undlin’s songs are a nice amalgamation, never preachy, never strident, but light of touch and deeply thoughtful. Like the song “Summer Storm for Charlotte” from her sophomore album Still Life, a song about Undlin’s five year-old neighbor learning to ride a bike hours before her and Undlin’s homes would be filled with tear gas during the George Floyd Riots.
Mipso next took the stage. They are an Indie folk band based out of Chapel Hill, NC with Jacob Sharp on mandolin and guitar, Joseph Terrell on guitar, Libby Rodenbough on fiddle and keys and Wood Robinson on bass. They all sing and they are in their sweet spot when crowded around one microphone.
With ten years on the road, Mipso found themselves at a crossroads, frankly burnt out by the demands of relentless touring. Was it the seven year itch to call it quits? Well, they decided to stick it out and expand their musical horizons on their sixth album Book of Fools set to release November 23rd.
Based on the new songs it sounds like they are all looking to explore other musical avenues with songs that had Rodenbough playing an Irish dance lick and Terrell responding with a bluesy, soulful retort; Robinson taking his time to lay down some fine introspective bass solos, and the whole band turning to a reggae vibe for the encore.
But it wasn’t all experimental. Sharp acknowledged the reason everyone came was to hear and sing along to songs like “Hurts so Good” from Coming Down the Mountain,” “Louise” from Dark Holler Pop and a personal favorite “Wallpaper Baby” from their self-titled album:
This house is coming down
Also, let it be noted that it wasn’t all experimental on their soon to be released album. “Carolina Rolling By” is a sweet, wistful song that will have fans singing along next time Mispo comes to town.
Mipso |
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Mipso at Fine Line, Minneapolis (01 Nov 2023) |
| dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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