W♥M

Rachel Baiman at Cedar Cultural Center (04/15/2023)

04/15 Rachel Baiman at the Cedar Cultural Center Rachel Baiman Setlist Some Strange Notion Bad Debt Shame She Don’t Me Self Made Man Lovers N Leavers Colorado Old Songs Bitter Annie Old Flame Young Love -- Encore -- Grey Owl One More Dollar Read More Rachel Baiman This time, the band is headlining the Fine Line Music Café this Friday, September 22nd. Rachel Baiman to open for this show, but starting September 27 Bluegass musician Dori Freeman … Barbaro We last wrote about Baiman in Sep 2017 when she was in town with Mandolin Orange. Barbaro to open. Tour dates: Apr 6 Decatur, GA, US Eddie's Attic Apr 7 Charlotte, NC, US The Evening Muse Apr 8 Durham, NC, US The Pinhook

It’s not a good sign for spring when members of the opening act and headliner sport ski caps in the middle of April. At least no one wore mittens while playing their string instruments.

Barbaro opened the evening with most seated except for Jason Wells on the upright bass. The setup lent itself to a cozy atmosphere with the members attune to each other as if the songs were not completely set, giving the four members room to explore.

Kyle Shelstad (guitar) and Isaac Sammis (banjo) first started off as a bluegrass duo. But when Rachel Calvert (fiddle) and Wells joined, the group began to evolve for the additions came from a more classical background. In fact, Wells was not even familiar with the bluegrass when he signed on.

Barbaro’s music was not so much a display of technical dexterity found in most bluegrass bands as much as cooperative effort to accommodate the different viewpoints with Shelstad, Calver and Sammis sharing singing duties and Calvert and Wells creating at times an almost cosmic, ethereal sound. The whole effort felt as intimate as a campfire and as vast as the stars.

Rachel Baiman was joined on stage with Lauren Horbal on drums, Jacob Groopman on guitar and Steve Hann on bass.

Born and raised in Chicago, Baiman became attracted to the traditions of folk and bluegrass while attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She decided to stay and became a fiddler-for-hire who eventually evolved into a singer-songwriter.

Lyrically, Baiman may have absorbed the views of her left-leaning parents, but musically she is all in on the country spirit of her adopted home. For example, the song “Shame” from her 2017 self-titled album is an ebullient affair even if the topic is about the corrosive nature of fundamental religion. Also, you can clap along to “Self Made Man” even if you don’t want to root for the protagonist.

Baiman is promoting her new album On Common Nation of Sorrow but don’t think it’s a lament, as Baiman told the Nashville Scene: “It’s not a protest album so much as a statement of solidarity.”

In between songs Baiman took the opportunity to converse with the audience with topics ranging from how many geologists were in the audience (3) to the correct term for the study of insects (entomology). And since it was a cold night, she asked if ice fishing was really a thing (it is) and how a seventeen hour road trip through a snowstorm ended up in Reno, Nevada (not fun in her opinion).

Cold or not, Baiman was having fun at the Cedar. And for an encore she brought out Barbaro to try an acoustic set. It gave the appearance of being a spontaneous moment as if the show was already over and the two bands had found a nice cozy campfire to pick away the evening on their string instruments.

Remaining tour dates:

Apr 16 Appleton, WI, US Appleton Beer Factory
Apr 18 Ann Arbor, MI, US The Ark Stage
Apr 19 Columbus, OH, US Rambling House
Apr 20 Newport, KY, US Revival Room
Apr 22 Lexington, KY, US The Raven House
May 2 Pittsburgh, PA, US Club Café
May 3 Wayne, PA, US 118 North
May 4 Washington, DC, US Pearl Street Warehouse
May 5 Cambridge, MA, US Club Passim
May 6 Brooklyn, NY, US The Owl Music Parlour
May 8 Northampton, MA, US The Parlor Room
May 11 Seattle, WA, US Tractor Tavern
May 12 Prosser, WA, US Brewminatti
May 13 Portland, OR, US Polaris Hall
May 19 Outdoor Monticello, KY, US Sleeping in the Woods
May 24 Pueblo, CO, US Brues Alehouse Brewing Co.
May 25 Denver, CO, US Swallow Hill Music
May 26 Carbondale, CO, US Steve's Guitars
May 26 Colorado Springs, CO, US MeadowGrass Festival
Jun 6 Lafayette, IN, US People's Brewing Company
Jun 9 Chattanooga, TN, US The Woodshop
Jun 23 Greenfield, MA, US Green River Festival

Barbaro

Barbaro

Barbaro

Rachel Baiman and Barbaro

Rachel Baiman

Rachel Baiman

Rachel Baiman

Rachel Baiman at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (15 Apr 2023)

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Black Belt Eagle Scout at Cedar Cultural Center (04/07/2023)

Black Belt Eagle Scout Setlist My Blood Runs Through This Land Sedna Fancy Dance Nobody Sčičudᶻ (A Narrow Place) On the River Salmon Stinta Blue Treeline Spaces Don’t Give Up My Heart Dreams Soft Stud -- Encore -- Indians Never Die Sam, a Dream Read More Black Belt Eagle Scout Black Belt Eagle Scout (the project led by multi-instrumentalist Katherine Paul) will be releasing their sophomore album At the Party With My Brown Friends on August 30th via Saddle Creek. … Mother Falcon Sollee left the stage to let Mother Falcon to play a few of their songs. The large band (consisting of keys, accordion, two violinists, two cellists, upright bassist, two saxophonists, trumpeter, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and drummer) …

Katherine Paul who performs under the most-cool name Black Belt Eagle Scout played at Cedar Cultural Center on Friday night with her opening acts being her bandmates.

Claire Puckett who performs under Claire Glass opened the evening with a solo set, starting off with “Body” from her debut album Dust.

From Austin, TX and playing in the bands, Hikes and Mother Falcon, Puckett told the crowd that this was her first tour and she was happy to be on the road with Paul.

Nay Mapalo who performs under Adobo next took the stage. Mapalo also has played with Puckett in Hikes and recently released Backdrop, a collaboration with The Kraken Quartet.

Where Puckett mostly played acoustic guitar, Mapalo worked foot pedals, samplers and even a drum kit to create a more experimental sound with a highlight being “Will I Ever Learn to Fail” in which Mapalo looped vocals and drum beats to create a backdrop for nuanced guitar work.

After a brief intermission, Katherine Paul aka KP took the stage with Puckett on guitar, Mapalo on bass and Camas Logue on drums.

KP said she was looking forward to the Cedar show for she had friends in the crowd. Also the Cedar is close to a significant indigenous population at Little Earth Community Center, which made KP feel welcome since she is a member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community outside of Seattle, Washington.

Most of Black Belt Eagle Scout’s music is influenced by KP’s ancestral land that overlooks the Puget Sound. Her latest album The Land, the Water, the Sky is even dedicated to the place.

KP grew up around music with her dad a powwow singer and her participating as a jingle dress dancer. She was also influenced by the Northwest sounds of Nirvana and Hole, teaching herself to play guitar and drums by watching bootleg VHS tapes of the bands.

KP demonstrated with “My Blood Runs Through This Land” that she can play a howling guitar, but many of her songs harbored a contemplative state like “Sčičudᶻ (A Narrow Place)” a song inspired by long walks through cedar forests during the pandemic. With “Salmon Stinta” KP and Puckett created a nice dynamic between their guitars with Puckett playing the calm waters and KP the salmon moving upstream.

A crowd favorite was “Treeline”. A personal favorite was “Spaces”, a song that KP held dear for her parents sang backup vocals on the track.

KP finished the evening with “Soft Stud”, but was encouraged to come back and play a two song encore, the last being “Sam, a Dream” which again led her into a soulful guitar solo, a highlight of the evening.

“We’ll most definitely be back,” KP said to the crowd.

Hopefully, it will be soon.

Remaining tour dates:

Apr. 8 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean*
April 11 - Toronto, ON @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern*
Apr. 12 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B.*
Apr. 14 - Cambridge, MA @ Elk’s Club*
Apr. 15 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right*
Apr. 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s*
Apr. 18 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd*
Apr. 19 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook*
Apr. 20 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor*
Apr. 21 - Atlanta, GA @ 529 Club*
Apr. 22 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa*
Apr. 24 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger*
Apr. 25 - Austin, TX @ The Parish*
Apr. 27 - Norman, OK @ Norman Music Festival
Apr. 28 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister*
May 1 - Mesa, AZ @ The Underground at The Nile Theater*
May 2 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah*
May 4 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo*
May 5 - Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s*
May 6 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop*
May 8 - Tacoma, WA @ ALMA*

*with support from Claire Glass and Adobo

Claire Glass

Adobo

Black Belt Eagle Scout

Black Belt Eagle Scout at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (07 Apr 2023)

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Foy Vance, Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop at the Cedar Cultural Center (5/20/22)

Tour Dates May 21, 2022 - Chicago, IL - Athenaeum Theatre May 26, 2022 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre May 27, 2022 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater May 31, 2022 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater With special guests Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop Read More Foy Vance Award-winning Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has sold out the upcoming Cedar Cultural Center appearance on May 20th. We’ve seen Vance a few times, the last time at the Skyway Theatre … Lee Rogers The two opening bands came highly recommended: Lee Rogers is an award winning tattoo artist, a former MMA trainer and martial arts enthusiast, and beloved singer with his hit song “Love, Love, Love.” … Gareth Dunlop While Gareth Dunlop, tipped as “one to watch” by the BBC. His music can be heard on shows like Nashville, Lucifer, This Is Us, Bones, etc. …

“We’re here to have fun.  What are you here for?”  A question Foy Vance posed to the crowd before he launched into a song that broke two of his strings on his acoustic guitar.  Vance, an energetic performer, looked to have as much fun as those in the sold out crowd that came to see him and two fellow Northern Irish musicians, Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop. 

The video for Rogers “Life and Lies” takes place in a pub and the concert at the Cedar had the feel of being such a place.  Thirty songs over three hours that started with Vance hanging out before the show, taking selfies and mixing with the crowd before the lights began to dim.  Then after a brief introduction, Dunlop unassumingly took the stage with a five song-set.

Dunlop jokingly said that he had been called a lot of things over the years but never “Gareth Reynolds” which was how he was incorrectly introduced. 

Dunlop used his acoustic guitar as a percussive instrument with a pizzicato style with “My Kind of Paradise” and a ticking clock with “Can’t Stand Myself.” He probably didn’t want to overshadow what is a rather quiet, comforting voice, the kind of soothing voice an understanding father might have when he says everything is going to be alright even though you crashed his vintage Ford Thunderbird.

Dunlop and his reassuring voice have been featured in many movies, commercials and TV and he sang “Devil Like You” which aptly found its way in the TV show Lucifer. 

For his last song “Look Back Smiling” Dunlop switched to the keyboard.  He stated that during the pandemic he worked on quitting cigarettes and learned how to play the piano which he said he was now “certified as below average.” 

After a brief intermission, Rogers sauntered onto stage and surprised the crowd with a brief “Hello!” and off he went with “Rest of My Life.”

Where Dunlop may have the voice of a caring parent, Rogers’ voice has a full-throated, deep reservoir like a man who has seen quite a bit over the years and is lucky to survive it.  And he is funny, saying that his song “Ada” has never been on a TV show.

Even though Rogers looks like a guy who would work on your vintage Ford Thunderbird, there is a more reflective, thoughtful presence behind the gruff veneer with lyrics like “I fell in the water. I drown in your eyes.” (Life and Lies)  And “The road to heaven runs through hell.”  (Silent Song)

Foy Vance then took the stage at first by himself.  He said that his debut album Hope was now fifteen years old and he started off the set from a song from that album “Treading Water.”

Then Vance went on and on with a 21 song set with an energy that seemed to increase with more and more energy as the evening went on.

Vance’s dad was a preacher and uprooted his family from their Northern Ireland home to work the Southern Black churches in America when Vance was all of four years old.  It was there that he fell in love with the musical traditions of gospel, blues and soul.   

“A showman of the first order, he is a generous mentor, championing the works of his opening acts…”

Vance doesn’t have much love for traditional religion, but those formative years in America had instilled in him a revival sprit.  A showman of the first order, he is a generous mentor, championing the works of his opening acts, his influence filtering through Dunlop and Rogers.

Vance highlighted songs from his six studio albums, moving from the guitar to drums to the piano, back to the drums and guitar, letting individual band mates takes center stage, even inviting his daughter onto stage to sing. 

The set ended with a stirring rendition of “It Ain’t Over” from his latest album Signs of Life.  But as quickly as he and the band left, he was back on stage with six more songs that included “Indiscriminate Acts of Kindness” and “Shed a Little Light” from Hope. 

Vance ended the evening with “Guiding Light” from Joy of Nothing, a song that Ed Sheeran would sing to close his set when he and Vance were on tour together.  Vance said that a lot of people misinterpreted the song as having a religious tone.  He said that his guiding light was not God but you.  He then pointed to the audience and jumped into the crowd encouraging them to sing along. 

dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

At the Cedar: Foy Vance, Jens Lekman, Kassa Overall

Read more Cedar Cultural Center and Minneapolis Music Guide

Read More Foy Vance The uniquely outspoken Northern Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance, opens in support of Joy of Nothing (Glassnote Records), who hyptotized us last fall opening for Little Green Cars …

05/20/2022 Friday

Foy Vance
with Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop
at the Cedar Cultural Center
thecedar.org

Award-winning Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has sold out the upcoming Cedar Cultural Center appearance on May 20th.

We’ve seen Vance a few times, the last time at the Skyway Theatre in Jun 2014 and said, “Northern Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance opened the evening with a heartfelt solo set of working class songs, mixed with his unique and directly honest hilarious stories and commentary. Joy of Nothing (Glassnote Records) is Vance’s latest and second full-length and was well represented during his 45 min. set, starting with the set and album opener, ‘Closed Hand, Full of Friends’. Vance must have been told to curb some language, as he had to hold himself back with his stories, vs. the no-holds-barred tales we heard, when we heard him last fall.”

The two opening bands came highly recommended: Lee Rogers is an award winning tattoo artist, a former MMA trainer and martial arts enthusiast, and beloved singer with his hit song “Love, Love, Love.”

While Gareth Dunlop, tipped as “one to watch” by the BBC. His music can be heard on shows like Nashville, Lucifer, This Is Us, Bones, etc.

Tour Dates:

May 06, 2022 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios
May 07, 2022 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios
May 08, 2022 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
May 10, 2022 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
May 11, 2022 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
May 13, 2022 - Boston, MA - Royale
May 14, 2022 - Homer, NY - Center for the Arts of Homer
May 15, 2022 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
May 17, 2022 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall
May 18, 2022 - Nashville, TN - James K. Polk Theater
May 20, 2022 - Minneapolis, MN - The Cedar Cultural Center
May 21, 2022 - Chicago, IL - Athenaeum Theatre
May 26, 2022 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
May 27, 2022 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
May 31, 2022 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater

With special guests Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop

05/14 Jens Lekman at The Cedar Read More Jens Lekman Sweden’s Jens Lekman is currently touring the USA in support of his new album Life Will See You Now (Secretly Canadian). Lekman is known for writing songs about heartache, and with …

05/14/2022 Saturday

Jens Lekman
& Youth Orchestras Across the USA
featuring Leslie DeShazor
The Cedar Cultural Center
thecedar.org

Beloved Swedish musician Jens Lekman is returning to the Twin Cities this May 14th. His new touring project is called Youth Orchestras Across the USA, and for Minneapolis, it will feature Leslie DeShazor.

We caught Lekman in Mar 2017 and wrote, “Jens Lekman is one of the best songwriters working today; his work is often compared to Stephin Merritt. Fortunately, Lekman’s singing style are more forgiving (especially if you’re not into baritone vocals). With Life Will See You Now, the theme seems to be little stories based on people’s lives. Lekman liken it to something of a psychiatrist as he listens and analyzes a patient’s story....”

Jens Lekman & Youth Orchestras Across The USA

April 30 - Los Angeles , Ca- Aratani Theatre
May 2 - San Francisco, Ca - Great American Music Hall
May 5 - Portland, Or - Aladdin Theater
May 6 - Tacoma, Wa - Alma
May 7 - Seattle, Wa - Neumos
May 9 - Salt Lake City, Ut - Urban
May 11 - Denver, Co - Bluebird Theater
May 13 - Milwaukee, Wi - Backroom
May 14 - Minneapolis, Mn - Cedar
May 16 - Chicago, Il - Thalia Hall
May 18 - Pittsburgh, Pa - The Andy Warhol Museum
May 20 - Philadelphia, Pa - Union Transfer
May 22 - Brooklyn, Ny - Music Hall Of Williamsburg
May 23 - Brooklyn, Ny - Music Hall Of Williamsburg
May 25 - Washington Dc - 930 Club

Read More Madlib ^ with Andy Stott, Ben UFO % with Anthony Naples *** with Madlib, Daphni, Floating Points, Ben UFO …

05/06/2022 Friday

Kassa Overall
with Sarah Maricha White
at the Cedar Cultural Center
thecedar.org

Singer, producer, emcee, drummer, and jazz musician Kassa Overall is playing the Cedar this May 6th.

In just two short years, Overall released four critically acclaimed projects: Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz (2019), I THINK I’M GOOD (February 2020), SHADES OF FLU (May 2020) and the companion SHADES OF FLU 2 (April 2021) (both inspired by Madlib’s Shades of Blue).

Sarah Maricha White to open.

Tour dates:

Apr 29 Creative Alliance Baltimore, MD
Apr 30 The Pinhook Durham, NC
May 2 529 Atlanta, GA
May 3 Third Man Records Nashville, TN
May 5 Schubas Chicago, IL
May 6 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
May 7 Arts + Literature Laboratory Madison, WI
Jul 8 North Sea Jazz Festival Rotterdam
Jul 9 Theater of the Sea Sète, France
Jul 16 Teatro Principal Antzokia Gasteiz, Spain
Jul 28 Black Cat San Francisco, CA
Jul 29 Black Cat San Francisco, CA
Jul 30 Black Cat San Francisco, CA
Jul 31 Black Cat San Francisco, CA

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to [email protected] with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Dar Williams at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (2021-10-28)

Read More Dar Williams Singer/songwriter Dar Williams will be headlining the Cedar Cultural Center this October 28th. Her latest album I’ll Meet You Here will be out October 1st, on BMG’s recently launched Renew label. …

This is a placeholder for Dar Williams and Heather Maloney at Cedar Cultural Center, in Minneapolis, on October 28th.

>>>
10/28/2021 THURSDAY

DAR WILLIAMS
with Heather Maloney
at the Cedar Cultural Center
thecedar.org

Singer/songwriter Dar Williams will be headlining the Cedar Cultural Center this October 28th. Her latest album I’ll Meet You Here will be out October 1st, on BMG’s recently launched Renew label.

We like Williams and have seen her a few times, noting that “she had stories about all of her songs. These songs were all true stories... and, of course, very few of them are about love - which Dar admitted confessed that she is not a fan of love songs…”

Heather Maloney to open.

Tour dates

10/28 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
10/29 Mineral Point, WI Mineral Point Opera House
10/30 Chicago, IL Old Town School Music Store
11/09 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
11/10 Portland, OR Alberta Rose Theatre
11/12 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
11/13 Berkeley, CA Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
11/14 Sacremento, CA Sofia Center
11/16 Los Angeles, CA The Hotel Cafe
11/17 Los Angeles, CA The Hotel Cafe
11/19 Phoenix, AZ MIM
12/04 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
12/05 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
12/07 Richmond, VA The Tin Pan
12/08 Charlottesville, VA The Southern Cafe
12/10 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
12/11 Newark, OH Thirty One West
12/12 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
12/13 Spring Lake, MI Seven Steps Up

Heather Maloney (with Dar Williams)

Dar Williams at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (2021-10-28)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Mdou Moctar at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (2021-09-18)

Read More Mdou Moctar Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar (currently based in based in Agadez) is coming back to Minneapolis, at the Cedar Cultural Center on September 18, 2021, to support Afrique Victime (Matador Records). …

Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar is currently touring in support of their album Afrique Victime. The group stopped by the Cedar Cultural Center, in Minneapolis, on September 18th, 2021.

Brooklyn’s Pure Adult opened the show. The group had a DIY punk style, incorporating slam poetry/spoken word in songs like “Cam Girls” and their energetic, often animated, performance is a stark contrast to Mdou Moctar’s guitar-driven style.

While different in both music style and performance, the band was a good choice for this tour, as it does offer something new and different for the unexpected fans.

It’s the third time that Mdou Moctar had stopped in Minneapolis. The singer mentioned on stage that he loves Prince and is always honored to come back. While talking about his influences, he also mentioned the next song is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, which you can hear some similar notes from “Purple Haze” in the song. If all this sounds familiar, that’s because Mdou Moctar star in the musical Rain the Color of Blue with A Little Red In It film, which homages Prince’s Purple Rain and Jimi Hendrix.

Mdou Moctar’s Afrique Victime is out now on Matador Records.

Remaining Tour Dates

09/20/2021 Globe Hall Denver, CO
09/21/2021 Globe Hall Denver, CO
09/22/2021 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
09/23/2021 Treefort Music Fest
09/24/2021 The Crocodile Seattle, WA
09/25/2021 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
09/26/2021 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
09/28/2021 The Chapel San Francisco, CA
09/29/2021 Starline Social Club Oakland, CA
10/01/2021 Desert Daze Pre-Party
10/02/2021 Lodge Room Los Angeles, CA

Pure Adult

Pure Adult

Pure Adult

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (2021-09-18)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

News: First Avenue now requires proof of vaccination

Read More Waxahatchee Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this coming week, First Avenue & 7th St. Entry have been the heart of the Minnesota music scene since its first show (featuring Joe Cocker) in a converted bus station originally called The Depot, then Sam's ...

With rising COVID-19 cases, due to the delta variant, First Avenue (which also includes 7th Street Entry, Turf Club, Fine Line Music Café, Palace Theatre, and Fitzgerald) announced that they are requiring all guests and patrons to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours, according to the Star Tribune .

The sudden announcement came out on Monday, so those who already paid for a concert, but don’t meet the requirements… you can ask for a refund.

We’ve attended a few shows last month, and can say that most fans in attendance did not wear masks or had a care in the world. Will full, or near capacity, of my recent shows, I can easily see that someone with the virus could easily infect everyone in the room.

With the new rules announced, local venue Hook & Ladder announced they’ll also follow suit. Once all the other local Minnesota venues open back up again, it would probably make sense that they’ll also have the same requirements.

The Cedar Cultural Center announced that they’ve just recently re-opened August 3rd, 2021, but made no mentioning of the vaccine requirements.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com

News: Mark Johnson and Michael Lord leaves the Cedar Cultural Center and Mni Sota Native Music Series

Read More Cedar Cultural Center The special day-day Global Roots Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center starts on Monday, September 17, with Gambia’s Sona Jobarteh and Turkey’s Aynur. The event is FREE and outdoor stage starts at 5pm and indoor shows starts at 7:30pm …

Local non-profit The Cedar Cultural Center recently announced that longtime directors of events/organizers Mark Johnson and Michael Lord will be stepping down.

If you’ve attended any Cedar shows in the past, you have probably seen one of these guys at a show. They are very approachable and friendly, so it’s sad to imagine not seeing them at a future show.

The decision to step down seems amicable, as the two will the subject of an interview to be released by The Cedar's Box Office and Office Manager, MJ Gilmore.

As the Cedar prepares to re-open to the public, they are presenting a virtual Mni Sota Native Music Series (curated by former Cedar Artist Collective member Alex Buffalohead) this summer on The Cedar Public Access Channel. From July 8th to the 29th, every Thursday at 7:30 pm CT, you can tune in on The Cedar's Facebook page or YouTube channel.

July 8 - Keith Secola

July 15 - The Wake Singers

July 22 - Corey Medina & Brothers

July 29 - Artist showcase hosted by Keith Secola

The first in-person show at the Cedar will be for progressive folk and bluegrass band The Arcadian Wild this August 3rd.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Flashback: KaiserCartel at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (09 May 2009)

Read More KaiserCartel KaiserCartel, the couple-duo that that we love here at W♥M just celebrated their CD-releasing party at the Cedar in Minneapolis, on June 17th. …

Lara went out to see Minnesota-loving KaiserCartel (Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel) on May 9, 2009, at the Cedar Cultural Center.

I’m almost certain KaiserCartel (or sometime spelled as Kaiser Cartel) is no more. However, Benjamin Cartel, continues performing as himself in 2014. The last time I heard from him was via his second solo album Flickering Light in 2018.

>>>
NOTE: This event was organized by Minnesota music blog, Culture Bully. They have photos of the show here.

KaiserCartel - Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel’s history reads like a perfect twee memoir: both are elementary school teachers, both play a handful of instruments (guitar, drums, xylophone, accordion-thing-that-I-am-unable-to-identify, whistling), both dress like gothic country ball guests, both are obviously in love (with each other). It’s almost too darling to digest. If this were an episode of Sesame Street, I would say “Tonight’s concert is brought to you by the letter ‘A’ for ADORABLE.”

I’m getting nauseous with whimsy glee just writing this out.

Saturday’s show at the Cedar was a generation-fest of sorts. The ambience was chill and the crowd was soft, pleasant, malleable…like a delicious loaf of Wonder Bread (ifyouknowwhatI’msaying*). Hip, art school wannabes mingled with real-life senior citizens, sweatshirted couples were seated next to teenagers and their parents; the average age was probably mid-20s to early 30s, but the maturity level was at least a decade wiser. Maybe it was the style of music—a less frenetic brand of folk-pop, tame for children and the elderly—or it could’ve been the venue (the Cedar’s layout is seating room only), or even that the musicians appeared unassuming and also currently clean. Whatever the reason, KaiserCartel’s gentle-cum-hand clap cheer suited the Cedar’s intimate space.

Being only minimally in the know, I wasn’t familiar with KaiserCartel’s interesting use of multiple instruments. The duo may be primarily guitar and percussion, but if their musical bag of tricks is any indication, I’m 99% certain that the goal is amusement as much as it is creative conception (on one song Kaiser pulled out a comically small xylophone and proceeded to play it with an electric drink frother). Besides being adorable, Kaiser’s vocal chops call to mind the iconic female folk singers of past (a less warbled Joan Baez or Judy Collins), by way of “adult contemporary” mellow rockers Cowboy Junkies—the same rich confidence steeped in pop melodies. To be honest, it’s a tad strange hearing a Brooklyn band that doesn’t harness the brash fury of cynical youth and is, instead, somewhat old-timey in their adorations. Live, standout tracks included “Okay” (a semi-sweet duet that touches on imperfect love), “Season Song” (whistling! In key!), and “Shira,” the latter performed acoustic, stripped down, and amongst the audience (complete with the kind of uncomfortable eye contact that unearths years of repressed campfire memories).

As Vu mentioned in his review of March Forth, KaiserCartel loooove Minnesota. They opened for local indie looker/Trekkie/Jeremy Messersmith, who has a beard, a guitar, an Andy, and a fondness for Minneapolis—“Franklin Ave.,” “Light Rail” (yes, we have a light rail; it only has three destinations). More about Messersmith later. Promise.

KaiserCartel is on tour. Check their Myspace or website for information. Their debut LP, March Forth, released in June of last year, is available for purchase through their website or iTunes/Amazon/various e-consumerist hubs.

* Although the Cedar boasts an eclectic mixing of genres, like Irish folk and world beats, the clientele generally veers due White.

KaiserCartel at Cedar Cultural, Minneapolis (09 May 2009) photo by Jon Behm

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Flashback: Eleni Mandell at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (27 Mar 2009)

Setlist My Twin Artificial Fire Little Foot Personal Tiny Waist Cracked Bigger Burn Front Door I Love Planet Earth It Wasn't the Time (It Was the Color) Needle and Thread Pauline Two Faces Read More Eleni Mandell In stark contrast, Eleni Mandell took the stage with nothing but a blue dress and her small guitar. The last time I saw Mandell at the Cedar, she had a full band. Do I prefer a full backing band? There are pros and cons. … Haley Bonar Since 2003 The Size of Planets, Haley Bonar has been the staple Minneapolis singer/songwriter for years, even when she moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2009! … Daniel Martin Moore Golden Age is the new album from Daniel Martin Moore. The Jim James* produced album will come out October 9th via Sofaburn Records. We last saw DMM at the Cedar Cultural Center …

The Eleni Mandell show at the Cedar Cultural Center on March 27, 2009, was the first post-SXSW show… so we were still trying to recover from the massive music festival. It didn’t help that Minneapolis was very cold and expecting a bad blizzard… it’s a very different environment from perfect weather Austin, Texas.

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It's a chilly night. Come on Minnesota, it's very late March, why am I still wearing a jacket? Even Eleni Mandell admitted that she hoped to survive her travel through the midwest due to a possible upcoming blizzard (tomorrow).

We'll get to Mandell later, first up was folkster Daniel Martin Moore with his acoustic guitar and collection of friends (including the world's quietest drums). Highlight from his set is his cover of "Smile" - originally composed by Charlie "The Tramp" Chaplin song, but made famous by Nat King Cole in the mid-50s. Moore's version features a piano, played by his brother, who apparently lives in Minnesota.

The other highlight was a secret appearance by Haley Bonar who showed up to sing backup. People may remember that I personally chose Bonar's song, "The Queen Of Everything", to represent a bunch of wonderful Minnesota bands and singers.

The thing about the Cedar Culture Center is that every time I go here, it seems the audience are all NPR members. Sometime there are young people, but not tonight. This is not a knock against the Cedar, it's just a warning for you to expect a pretty low-key, sit-down night. The benefit is that instead of a noisy bar atmosphere, the venue is perfect for actually listening to the band as they play. And every noise and note can be heard... So yeah, a wonderful place to hear the band.

Setlist

Eleni Mandell took the stage with her guitar and played two songs solo (which are actually not listed on the official set list), before being joined on stage by the rest of the band.

Half way into "Artificial Fire", Nigel had problems with his bass... which lead to about 10 minutes of awkwardness as the Cedar sound guy ran backstage to get another bass guitar. This led to Mandell talking about how they've been on the road since 7am from Chicago, Illinois.

Mandell remained talkative at certain songs, explaining how she tried to kiss this man, who pulled back and had no idea she was in love with him. She called the song "Tiny Waist", after something he had said to her.

They mostly stuck to new songs (because she loved them so much), with a few exceptions. I thought "Pauline" (from her 2000 album Thrill) sounded amazing towards the end.

It should also be noted that Jeremy Drake is a very excellent guitarist, with his wonderful guitar-playing and foot pedals and warped/spacey sounds.

Eleni Mandell at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (27 Mar 2009)

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