|
08/23/09 Cabooze Outdoor Plaza Minneapolis
Discography
08/29/09 University of MN - Morris 09/11/09 University of Wisconsin River Falls
|
In a brief live track from 2005’s “Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus,” Cloud Cult lead singer/patriarch Craig Minowa instructs an audience “I want you to show the people of the world that you are alive.” Following several seconds of mike-busting screaming by the crowd, Minowa giggles and informs the crowd that they are officially been inducted into the Cloud Cult. Consider this the indoctrination video. In Cloud Cult’s DVD Documentary, “No One Said it Would be Easy” the band shows us their life as well, with a depth and breadth long-desired by fans of both their music and artwork.
Not that any could doubt their vitality. Minnesota’s Cloud Cult has exponentially upped their exposure in the year and a half since the release of “Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)”, including a performance at Coachella, on Last Call with Carson Daly and even an appearance as oil-field-fighting, eco-activist cartoon characters in an Esurance ad.
Ever inspirational and yet emotionally devastating, Cloud Cult give their lyrical genius visual muscle in vivid computer art melded with interviews and concert footage in documenting the progression of the band from Craig Minowa’s one-man project to the introduction of painters into their live performances and the sudden death of Craig and Connie Minowa’s two-year old son. While the film is an extremely thorough review of the history of the band, with a wealth of footage from tours and performances, it focuses heavily on present-day interviews that display how the group’s experiences have shaped their motivations, inspirations and philosophy. Which is far more engaging; covering everything from environmentalism to spirituality to the hippopotami that appear in dreams.
And, ooh, the artwork. Created by John Burgess and painter Scott West (the latter paints in the band’s live performances alongside Connie Minowa), the film is as visually stunning as befits the wealth of brain-melting poetry that is the norm for any Cloud Cult song. The vibrant pastels that have long adorned their albums and beautifully coated their on-stage canvasses float and dance and come to life…can I call it genius again?
Cloud Cult are taking a long-postponed break from live shows after the next few weeks, as the Minowas are expecting a child in October, and don’t plan to tour, locally or nationally, until spring. Catch them now if you can, or catch them later, maybe check out the DVD in between. It’s a long, cold Minnesota winter.
Ever inspirational and yet emotionally devastating, Cloud Cult give their lyrical genius visual muscle in vivid computer art melded with interviews and concert footage in documenting the progression of the band from Craig Minowa’s one-man project to the introduction of painters into their live performances and the sudden death of Craig and Connie Minowa’s two-year old son. While the film is an extremely thorough review of the history of the band, with a wealth of footage from tours and performances, it focuses heavily on present-day interviews that display how the group’s experiences have shaped their motivations, inspirations and philosophy. Which is far more engaging; covering everything from environmentalism to spirituality to the hippopotami that appear in dreams.
And, ooh, the artwork. Created by John Burgess and painter Scott West (the latter paints in the band’s live performances alongside Connie Minowa), the film is as visually stunning as befits the wealth of brain-melting poetry that is the norm for any Cloud Cult song. The vibrant pastels that have long adorned their albums and beautifully coated their on-stage canvasses float and dance and come to life…can I call it genius again?
Cloud Cult are taking a long-postponed break from live shows after the next few weeks, as the Minowas are expecting a child in October, and don’t plan to tour, locally or nationally, until spring. Catch them now if you can, or catch them later, maybe check out the DVD in between. It’s a long, cold Minnesota winter.
08/22/2009 17:01:00 ♥ andrew (
) ♥ cloudcult.com ♥ myspace.com/cloudcult
