Tuesday night I had a gig with my acoustic duo, called Monkeys In A Zoo (MIAZ). My guitarist, Phil Lawrence, and I decided to play Neisen's new Acoustic Tuesday Sessions, down in Savage. The gig wasn't well attended; just 10-15 regulars that would've been there anyhow.
But we captured them with our song choices, and were proud of how things went; it was a good night overall.
So after two sets there, I raced over to downtown Minneapolis, for a stop at Gluek's Bar & Restaurant to see the weekly, Tuesday jam by Dan Ristrom & The Big Throwdown (DR&TBTD); an incredible 4-piece of really talented musicians that cover a HUGE variety of songs, as well as sprinkling-in an original or two. Dan and the guys are always so gracious, inviting and welcoming fellow musicians from the scene, to come up and join the band for a song or two.
DR&TBTD comes from the Dr. Mambo's Combo tradition of world-class musicians, giving you WAY more value for the cover you paid at the door, than the live music you get back from the band that night. It's an incredible standard, for musicians to do that, when there's exactly ZERO dollars being collected at the door on an average Tuesday night!
Besides the joy my wallet felt paying nothing at the door, walking into Gluek's for me, has turned into a real treat. After bringing two (2) different bands of my own there, for two+ years, (The Soul Shack and Hot Brockoli), I've built a little cache with the staff. So it felt BOSS walking in and having a another warm greeting from Matt, always working the door and keeping us safe. Then, the band shouted out to me from the stage, mid-song; always a great honor.
Then I grabbed the corner spot at the bar for a whiskey-ginger, getting attention from bartenders Cody and Kirk whom were their usual, stalwart selves, taking good care of every thirsty patron that decides to belly-up! My pal Carl was doing sound. With all this friendly warmth, (and as always...), Gluek's offered a convivial spirit that made me so glad I'd come.
Eventually, during a gap between songs, Dan called me out, and asked me if I knew "What Is Hip" by Tower of Power.
I did, but was hoping to just chill and observe for the night.
I'd been drinking a bit, and a few puffs, so from that and singing two (2) sets already, I thought I'd just take the rest of the night off. I smiled and waved, and Dan went back into his thang!
So things continued on-stage, and that's when their guest vocalist Faye Lewis came into focus for me.
She's beautiful and has an INCREDIBLE high-alto.
Not only can she get up and offer beautifully sung, contemporary covers, but she's also collaborating with DR&TBTD on their self-penned Christmas show called Who Brought The Humbug...a show being featured at The Lab Theatre in the Northloop of Mpls. that the band previewed for us. It's fun and funky, and if you're a stubborn Scrooge like me, it's nice to get pounded with holiday tidings, but finally in a fresh vehicle that you've never had a ride in before, rather than another ride in dad's beat-up jalopy like "Silent Night" or "Oh Tannenbaum".
See, tonight… Dan Ristrom & The Big Throwdown (DR&TBTD) were absolutely sensational in my mind.
But I believe that to the band? It was just another Tuesday night, in the sense that they can make the extraordinary look so easy, week in and week out. The band is full of virtuosos like Josh Alfaro on drums, Cory Blanchard on keys, Dave Feily on guitar, and Dan Ristrom on bass and lead vocals.
All night long, Josh Alfaro on drums was EXACTLY how a drummer should be; pocket 1st, and always letting the rest of the band and soloists shine. It's not that he can't get to some creative smashy-smashy, but that's just not his approach. He's there to provide the foundation for the entire night.
They did "Some Kind Of Wonderful", but as the Joss Stone cover...and might I add, better than Joss Stone. Take out the rock elements, and make that bass groove. Here's Joss' version:
The harmonies were super-tight, and though my drunken ears heard it was "St. Louis" on vocals, it was really Faye Lewis!
The band also did "Midnight In Harlem" a favorite tune of mine, by Susan Tedeschi & The Tedeschi & Trucks Band, on which guitarist Dave Feily did an incredible solo...a solo that literally moved me off my seat and onto my feet!
...and that was AFTER Cornell "Cory" Blanchard completely SMOKED a soulful keyboard solo. I wish I'd captured The Throwdown's version, but here's the original, in case you're unfamiliar...
Then one of those live and unplanned moments happened, which gets to the core of why I go to live performances; to experience the unexpected as it's executed with as much precision as if it had been rehearsed. THAT, if nothing else, speaks to how incredible DR&TBTD are.
Somehow the term "Joy" came up, I'm guessing in the holiday context, and then somebody on stage started to riff "Joy To The World". As a performer myself, it's one of those moments that I love, where there's a chance to create unplanned magic, on-the-spot. The question is always "how far do we go with this moment?". In this instance it was 100% ALL IN; stunning for both the depth of their commitment, AND the fact they could make a song like "Joy To The World", musically interesting...one of those "happy accidents" that happens on stage. Once it starts to bubble and boil, a band can either turn the stove off, or turn the flame up, and as far as covering this Three Dog Night classic bit of low-hanging fruit, Dan Ristrom & The Big Throwdown turned the flame to a Towering Inferno!!
And let’s not forget the terrific Janice Joplin work done by Faye and the boys, after the Three Dog Night foray.
And then, before I knew it, I was face-to-face with Dave Rodriguez; compared to me, a singer with real talent. He came up and did something as potentially mundane as a local funk band doing "Use Me", and sang it with such soul and precision incredible control and timber. It was the kind of thing people that love music and love Bill Withers and love funk and soul, would otherwise love to hear. Just a different caliber of musician and singer. In fact, when given the chance, I later told Dave, that despite being twice his age, when I finally grow up, I want to be Dave Rodriguez.
Then, one more time, the clarion call went out to invite me onstage to perform Tower of Power with Dan & The Boys, and foolishly, I accepted the invitation and challenge of following an incredible singer, walking up to the stage like I had any business doing so.
But I knew better than to do it....even BEFORE Dan Rodriguez got up there and was #SofaKing good, that the WRONG thing to do was to try and level-up at that moment.
Unfortunately, ambition and ego got the better of me, and I strolled right onto that stage, only to make a fool of myself with a rich opportunity that I’ve worked so hard to earn at Gluek's, my "home base"; a music venue where I’ve worked so hard to make inroads.
Foolish how, you ask? Well, for starters, my voice was ragged already. Additionally, Dan had even offered me access to the Ipad, in case I need help with the lyrics; an offer I declined.
So of course what happened? I completely forgot the 2nd verse of "What Is Hip"... which is shameful because I've done it previously with my own band, #TheSoulShack (as seen here):
For Christ sake... I’ve done everything I can for two+ years to put two different bands in there once or twice a month, and I had the gall to think I belong on stage with a guy and his band that does it weekly? Just. Plain. DUMB. #Hubris
But of course, the band couldn't have been more gracious and forgiving about my gaffes. Real pros that don't let anything send the moment too far pear-shaped.
In summation... Faye Lewis was a revelation.
As was Dan Rodriguez!
And Dan Ristrom as a band leader? Conductor? Mid-song Communicator? 100% what I want to be someday, as I continue growing my own musical career and ambitions.
Dave Feily continues to quietly earn his rep as one of the most gifted musicians on the entire Minnesota Music Scene.
Cory Blanchard is as a vocalist/keyboardist combo you'll find, and Josh Alfaro is what you point to, for how you want your drummer to approach each show.
It dawned on me that I need seven people, to get anywhere near the sounds that DR&TBTD get from FOUR?!!
Just as I've written at the top of this blog, in the COMBO tradition of giving you MORE than what you paid at the door.
Dan Ristrom gives you more for even LESS!
And the Gluek's staff feels like, and treats you like family, especially and even more so when you've given your blood, sweat, and tears to the venue and it's success.
If you haven't ever given yourself the pleasure of experiencing THE BIG THROWDOWN on a Tuesday night at Gluek's in downtown Minneapolis, then I'd suggest you put it on your list of things to do!
Maybe give me a holler when you go, and I'll meet you down there.
Post Script-
I listened to that second verse from "What Is Hip", IMMEDIATELY when I got to my car to drive home. Needless to say, that misstep won't happen again, if I'm given another chance to jam!
Thanks for reading. Feel free to share if you liked it.
Regards-
Lippy
I listened to that second verse from "What Is Hip", IMMEDIATELY when I got to my car to drive home. Needless to say, that misstep won't happen again, if I'm given another chance to jam!
Thanks for reading. Feel free to share if you liked it.
Regards-
Lippy
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