December 2024 Recap
After Rocktober and Showvember comes Deep Depresshcember, but the tunes provided some welcome positivity and sunshiney vibes. Highlights were Twine, Shotgun Ragtime Band, The Big Wu and Subaquabi!
The Big Wu at First Ave, 12.21:
12.1 Dr. Mambo’s Combo at Bunker’s
My bro Kevin and I were at the Driftwood earlier in the night for the traditional Shotgun Ragtime Band show, but alas I have no photos from that. We did make it down to the funky Bunk for the Combo afterwards though, and I got a few snaps.
“Tell Me Something Good”:
12.4 Twine at Bunker’s
With Art Begley as the evening’s guest guitarist.
Lou and Luna
Born Under A Bad Sign
Renewal
Sissy Strut
They Call Me The Breeze
Rescue
Cajun Moon
Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley
Mark Joseph of The Big Wu joined for a spirited take on “Call Me The Breeze”:
12.7 Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Palace Theater
In what was one of the most hotly anticipated shows of the year, the acclaimed all-star quintet made its first stop in the Twin Cities since playing First Ave in 2015.
Prior to JRAD, drummer Joe Russo was perhaps best known as half of the Benevento/Russo Duo, with keyboardist extraordinaire Marco Benevento. The pair rose to such prominence in the aughts that were known simply as “The Duo”. They also raised their profiles when they joined Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon of Phish to form G.R.A.B., who would tour in 2006.
JRAD consists of the aforementioned duo, Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz, guitarists Scott Metzger, and Tom Hamilton of Ghost Light and American Babies. They are considered top tier interpreters of the legendary Grateful Dead songbook, with some fans expressing that they’d prefer to see JRAD than Dead and Co, aka Slow and Co. They do occasionally mix in some other bands’ material as well though, hence the Almost Dead designation. They’re known to cover The Band, Dylan, Allman Bros Band and more, but on this evening the only non GD song was Johnny Cash’s “Big River”, which was my guess for an opening song. That song ended up being played second, with its line “I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota…”.
My second set highlight was the “Help>Slipknot>The Eleven>Throwing Stones” stanza, and the encore was a lovely “Stella Blue”. It was a fantastic show and I hope they don’t take another ten years to get back to town!
12.11 Twine at Bunker’s
with Joe Dunn guesting on geet and the sound guy Gage on flute. Surprise appearance by the sax player from the California Honeydrops, Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig!
Widespread Panic’s “Fishwater”:
“Them Changes”:
12.14 The Last Revel at First Avenue
Banjo, guitar, fiddle and upright bass is always a winning combination for me! I’d seen this band a time or two at Blue Ox Music festival and enjoyed their four part harmonies.
Neil Young’s “Out On The Weekend”:
12.15 Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood
There’s now a plaque memorializing the late, great Steve Fine that everyone touches during Drums to pay tribute to his memory! Such a warm gesture, emblematic of the community we are lucky to be a part of. Some of the night’s were:
My Brother Esau
Hard to Handle
Row Jimmy
Don't Ease Me In
Help
Slipknot
Franklin's Tower w Joe the guest drummer
Lost Sailor
Saint of Circumstance
Crazy Fingers
Truckin'
12.18 Twine at Bunker’s
with Jon Sullivan guesting on vox, Alex Gelking on guitar and John Reinhart on keys, all from the Jon Sullivan Band. Things got spacey and funky!
12.21 The Big Wu at First Ave
The Wu were joined by Doug Christianson of Twine on percussion, and The People Brothers Band from Wisconsin opened the show. The night included Wu favorites like “Shantytown”, “Rhode Island Red”, “Red Sky”, and “Southern Energy”. Drummer Terry VandeWalker sang The Clash’s “Train In Vain” for the first time, to go along with debuts of Wu songs “MN Fats” and “Prime Time”.
The Wu are one of my favorite bands and I’ve been seeing them since 1997, when they played the Kirby Student Center, adjacent to my dorm at UMD. This band is the heart of the Minnesota jam scene and I am always among a lot of family at their shows.
“Tell Me Something Good” (second time seeing this song played this month!) with Mama T and the sax player from PBB:
The People Brothers Band:
12.22 Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood
Whole show with guest drummer Martin Dosh!
Cold Rain and Snow
Me and My Uncle
Mexicali Blues
Masterpiece w/ Brad Ray
Run Run Rudolph w Brad Ray
TN Jed
Scarlet Begonias
II
Ramble on Rose
Friend of the Devil
Estimated Prophet>
Eyes of the World
Drums
Dear Mr Fantasy>
GDTRFB
Shakedown Street
“Eyes Of The World”:
“Shakedown Street”:
12.26 WE Collective at 56 Brewing
Will was joined by Scott Yonke on bass, Jon Ross on drums, and Jon Miller on acoustic guitar.
12.26 Mossenello at Driftwood
Mike Corcoran’s band was back with Ryan Stainiger on guitar, Robert Eubanks on bass, a guy playing drums and a new keyboardist.
12.27 Twine at Dayblock Brewing
including jams such as:
Sissy Strut
John The Revelator
It Ain't No Use
Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley
Fishwater
Honeybee
12.28 Sunsquabi at The Cabooze
The electro-jam trio Sunsquabi from Denver played to a full house. Drums, bass, and guitar and keys/synthesizers produce their funky sound.
That’s a wrap on December and the outrageous year of 2024! Total number of shows = 225. Thanks to all the musicians and friends who make going out on the town and traveling the country uplifting, surprising and fun! And thanks for following along on this crazy odyssey that was my 2024. Stay tuned up and tuned in, and I’ll see you out there!