Hey,
If you haven’t noticed, it’s the end of August. I haven’t been in school for four years (omg), but there’s a lingering feeling that August equals the end of Summer and therefore we’ll soon return to a more demanding routine with less free time. But no, actually, nothing is ending! We had fun over the last few months, and we will continue to have fun! September will still likely be hot as hell, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start wishing Summer goodbye; I don’t want to see Summer recap posts on Instagram when it’s 92 degrees outside.
So anyway:
This is a local music only letter. I helped out with three shows as a production assistant for the Twin Cities PBS’ filming of “Stage,” a series showcasing Minnesota artists — veterans and new comers — by centering their stories at 7th St. Entry and giving people a chance to collaborate with those they admire. Season 4 is set to premier next Spring, but for now, here are brief recaps.
Kiss the Tiger - 7th St. Entry
What people around town say is true: You have to see Kiss the Tiger live to fully appreciate their music. My first time in front of the rock band was at the “Stage” filming, and they did not disappoint. Lead singer Meghan Kreidler, whose high kicks and boxing punches in the air embodied the essence of her rock & roll music, spoke about the band with the upmost affection. Her husband and long-time creative partner, guitarist Michael Tyler Anderson, stood quietly during the monologues and looked admirably at Kreidler. The the most energetic song — for those on and off stage — was “Motel Room” from Vicious Kid when everyone yelled “Hey!” with a pounding fist during the chorus.
I get up (hey!)
Oh, what’s the meaning of love?
You get up (hey!)
Know you’re not feelin’ enough
I get up (hey!)
Feels like you’re dragging me down
The band performed a few unreleased tracks, and when I spoke to Kreidler before the show, she told me, if everything stayed on schedule, they will be released by the time “Stage” airs. Her humble and kind nature off stage made her vicious spirit and high stamina on stage look even more magnetic. With a theater background, the singer knew how to command spectators and make sure her physical movement extrapolated the drums rhythms to create a more potent auditory experience. Beyond the “rock & roll” label Kiss the Tiger embraces, their music includes drops of alt-country and ‘70s punk, too. You have to bop around a little.
Miloe - Indeed Brewing
Headlining the second annual Flavor World Festival was Miloe, a local band with a frequently shifting line-up, fronted by guitarist Bobby Kabeya. At Indeed Brewing, RAWTWHYLAH (drums), Antoine (vocals), Decarlo Jackson (bass), and Jovon Williams (saxaphone) joined the singer to bring Kabey’s bouncy tunes to life.
I have to admit, I’m a Miloe fan. Two of his early singles “Motorola” and “Space and Time” landed as #1 and #2 on my 2020 Spotify Wrapped, and for good reason; the tracks’ infectious hooks exude hope and and a youthful innocence. The band played the former, and four years after its release, and song still provides a hit of optimism.
The singer has classified his music as “guitar-led pop,” and his 2020 Greenhouse EP showcased sunny, pop-oriented hooks. The soothly song “Winona” was remixed to include vocals from Jamila Woods and Vagabon in 2021. His next release, gaps EP stayed heavily syncopated and textured and added some acoustic segments. For the unreleased songs on stage, horns were essential for Miloe’s reggae-esque sounds — a style he listened to as a kid.
Showing up to a Miloe gig unlocks cherished memories for me. Kabeya joined the crowd with his guitar for the last song to jump around with the most enthusiastic people in the courtyard, and the hype reminded me of the basem*nt shows he used to play at Rowhouse (RIP). Seeing him on bigger stages, like when he opened for the 1975 at the Armory in 2022, makes me optimistic for Miloe’s future and excited for his next release — whenever that may be.
Gully Boys (feat. Soul Flower) - 7th St. Entry
It’s always fun when you can jump around to pop-rock hooks while on the clock. The local punk group was another guest on “Stage.” The local artists rocked their unique outfits, and each took a turn telling a story. Bassist Mariah Mercedes (they/them) told the story of their start in the band; in search of another guitarist, drummer Nadi McGill (they/them) asked them to try-out for the role. Mercedes began playing in the Winter of 2020, but luckily came back on board when quarantine ended.
McGill explained the song “Bad Day” is about a person who is always having a bad day. It’s not meant to dismiss someone’s mental health struggles, but to point how chronic gloomy energy can affect others — especially when the person in question doesn’t have time to listen to someone else who’s not doing well occasionally.
Bassist Natalie Klemond talked about recording the band’s EP in Carpet Booth Studios and shared gratitude for the band’s work with the producer Zach Zurn. Lead vocalist Kathy Callahan told a story about rice and beans: A man once approached her at a gas station and repeatedly offering rice and beans, and despite her hunger, she didn’t give in to the creepy dude. The unreleased song detailed the unwanted advances women and femme people from men, which are sometimes threatening, but also just… freaking weird sometimes.
A refreshing sentiment that emerged multiple times was the members’ insistence to honor the inner child within oneself. During “The Way,” Callahan’s request that the audience sing along to the lyrics, “I hate it here,” certainly exemplified the desire to unashamedly voice frustration and physically push people around in solidarity.
Led by vocalist and bassist Inayah El-Amin, SoulFlower opened the evening with their electro-soul tunes. Without many hooks, their music set an ambient tone and left listeners on edge to wait for the next riff. The band replayed one song after a guitarist missed a solo, but for those who don’t know the notes by heart (everyone), the mistake wasn’t noticeable. That’s the beauty of post-production editing, baby! El-Amin described songwriting as an act of self reflection and said writing music is easier than having one to one convos with people. She intentionally kept “sh*t” in the setlist and sang, “They can’t tell me sh*t,” even though the “swear word” is against FCC regulations. The FCC can NOT tell SoulFlower sh*t.
Cory Wong - 7th St. Entry
I didn’t know who Ben Folds was before I Googled him after Cory Wong said the musician once asked him, “Do you know Kenni Holmen”? The question regarded what people tend to ask Wong about Minneapolis. And I did, in fact, have to Google “Kenni Holmen,” too because I am not familiar with the jazz side of the music scene in the Cities. Wong answered Folds with something like, “Duh, I know him. Who wouldn’t know Kenni Holmen?????” Turns out Holmen was standing right behind Wong the whole night, using his sharp skills to make the songs come to life.
But with nine musicians on the Entry’s stage for the final “Stage” show, Holmen was far from the only captivating talent. A few other notable members were Kevin Gastonguay on a three tier keyboard and Sam Greenfield with multiple saxophone solos. Wong made sure the band got the credit they deserved. Trumpets, bass, drums, and of course, Wong on guitar created the funky jazz and R&B music.
Wong also made sure to note that friends and family always wanted him to pursue music. He was once a scientist, but when he told friends and family he would be entering music school, they said something like, “Thank god! You’re a guitar master!”
Because of the tight space, Wong had to make up for the lack of bodily movement with exaggerated facial expressions — like the smug tongue under the lower lip look. He wore sunglasses for the set’s entirety, which made it a bit more difficult to engage with the person behind the guitar. After all, he didn’t sing any words, so that aspect of performance personality was missing.
As far as name dropping, the most significant of the night was “Jon Batiste.” Wong explained how he and Batiste met at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and jammed out before they even said a word to each other. Their natural chemistry led them to work on the Grammy nominated Meditations album and more. Wong also got an invite from Batiste to play on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show many times…. Which brings me to the question: Is it “name dropping,” or do Wong’s friends and collaborators just happen to be kinda famous and so integral to his musical journey that he has to talk about them? Plus, with the producers’ request to include monologues about songs’ origins and band history, if the truth makes you look good, why not share it?
I’m listening to:
In September, I’ll be running across town to see quite a few shows and will probably report back. Who knows, though.
Thanks for stopping by!
