January 2026 Recap

Karl Denson, Saltydog, Trampled By Turtles, 6 Grateful Dead Tributes, and more! Plus, RIP Bobby Weir. RIP Renee Good. RIP Alex Pretti. The Battle of Minneapolis and "Streets Of Minneapolis"

From 1.10 protest in Powderhorn Park:

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe at Dakota Jazz Club 1.2

I caught the early show from the renowned saxophonist who got his big break playing with Lenny Kravitz on his album Let Love Rule in 1989. Since then, Denson has become a stalwart of the jam and jazz scenes, and sits at the nexus of the two. KDTU features electric guitar, keys and drums, and there was a backup singer for a few songs. In addition to tracks from his new album, we were treated to a surprise cover of “Hang Me Out To Dry”, the Cold War Kids song. I most recently saw Karl D playing with the Rolling Stones at 2024’s New Orleans Jazzfest but had seen him as far back as the 10,000 Lakes Festival in 2008.

1.2 Greater Goods at Shaw’s

With special guest Jason Fladager! The night including skilled jamming from all three guitarists -Jason, Aaron and Kevin and included the following:

Funky Bitch
No Expectations
I'll Play The Blues For You
Hotlanta

1.3 Dead Days of Winter at Icehouse

Another excellent evening of music with local all-stars! This time the band featured Art Hoffman, Chris Castino, Joe Dunn, JT Bates, Robert Eubanks, and Elizabeth of Elour on vox. Hannah Rose joined as backup vox on “Black Throated Wind” with Art.

Cold Rain and Snow CC

Black Throated Wind w Hannah R AH

Sugaree JD

Beat It On Down The Line AH

Roses JD

MS Half Step CC/all

Lazy River w Shining Star quotes

Big River CC

Stella Blue JD

Promised Land AH

II

Scarlett Begonias JD

Eyes CC>

Scarlett outro

El Paso AH

Ship of Fools AH

Morning Dew CC

Playin’ AH

Casey Jones CC/All

“Morning Dew”:

1.7 Saltydog at Turf Club

The Dogs’ first headlining show at a First Ave owned venue, and they sold it out! An impressive achievement for any band, let alone a band that lives 150 miles away. They’ve certainly been putting in some time on the road all over Minnesota and Wisconsin the last couple years. They played at least 8 shows in Minneapolis last year (that’s how many I attended) and have another Thursdays in March residency lined up at the Hook and Ladder. This was the album release show for Runnin’ Again, and had support from Hot Like Mars, a jam/funk band from Chicago who I saw open for Andy Frasco a couple years back, and fellow Northlanders Ren and Nick Howl, the married couple known as Between Howls. Jacob Mahon of Saltydog joined Between Howls for a song in their set, and Hot Like Mars tore through a fierce “All Along The Watchtower”.

Hot Like Mars - “All Along The Watchtower”:

1.10 EFMI and Greater Goods at Terminal Bar

It’d been ages since I was at The Terminal and luckily, it didn’t change a bit. Travis and Co met the moment with a sincere rendition of “For What It’s Worth”.

EFMI:

Greater Goods:

1.11 Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood

It was a lovely tribute to Bob Weir, who passed away the previous day at age 78. The emotion in the room, and the city at large, was raw - pain and shock following the killing of Renee Good just a couple miles from the Driftwood a few days earlier. Renee Good was an American hero, a fearless freedom fighter trying to protect her neighbors from angry, misguided men with guns.

The bar was packed and there were lots of hugs. Brad Ray and Art Hoffman joined the band to take lead vocals on a song apiece. Some of the best Bobby Weir/Jon Barlow songs made an appearance. Bob was a legend and a vessel of music. Rest easy, cowboy.

Jack Straw

Here Comes Sunshine

CC Rider

Mexicali Blues w BR on vox

Black Throated Wind w AH and Hannah on vox

Saint of Circumstance

II

Music Never Stopped

Sugar Magnolia

Estimated

Eyes

Drums

Space

LL Rain

Throwing Stones>

Not Fade Away

“Looks Like Rain”:

1.17 Terrapin Flyer at Turf Club

The Chicago based quintet returned to the Turf almost exactly after their last performance there (1.25.25), and a couple days after an impromptu two night stand celebrating the life of Bob Weir at Garcia’s, the Chicago music venue/restaurant owned by Peter Shapiro and Trixie Garcia, daughter of Jerry, that opened last spring. “Playing” was a nice choice to open the night with some Bobby vibes, and “Big River” is a must play in St. Paul, Minnesota. The show was heavy with Bobby’s songs throughout the night and it was a comfort to hear so many songs that have become part of all Deadheads’ lives - for me for the last 30 years and for some up to 60 years. ”Corrina” was my favorite part of the night in a second set that provided plenty of highlights and a masterclass in segueing from one song to the next. With all the trauma and injustice facing Twin Cities communities these days, the lyric and notion that “One way or another, this darkness got to give” in “New Speedway Boogie” was universally welcomed. That song was of course written by Robert Hunter in another turbulent and confusing time, about the tragic events at the mega concert at Altamont. A lovely “Unbroken Chain” and a climactic “Morning Dew” also were memorable.

I

Playing In The Band
Big River
Lazy Lightning
Friend Of The Devil
Let It Grow
II
Help>Slipknot>Franklin’s>Estimated>New Speedway Boogie>Corrina>Drums>Space>Unbroken>Morning Dew>Throwing Stones>NFA

E

One More Saturday Night

It’s All Over Now Baby Blue

I saw things getting out of hand
I guess they always will
Now I don’t know but I been told
If the horse don’t pull you’ve got to carry that load
I don’t know whose back’s that strong
Maybe find out before too long

One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
This darkness got to give

“New Speedway Boogie”:

1.18 Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood

Dominic sat in on trombone.

Masterpiece

Dark Hollow

Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again

Sisters and Brothers

II

Scarlett>Fire

Bird Song>

Truckin’

Drums and Space

Stella Blue

GDTRFB

Black Muddy River

Tore Up

1.24 Thunderheads at Tuttle’s

It was another traumatic day in Minneapolis as ICU nurse, peaceful protester, and legal, constitutional observer Alex Pretti was gunned down in South Minneapolis by overzealous, undertrained and unwelcome invaders. Rest In Power, Alex, and thank you for your bravery. I had tickets to see a show at Icehouse that evening, which is less than a block from where Pretti was murdered. Obviously that show was cancelled in light of the day’s events.

The lead singer of The Thunderheads also plays in Our House, a CSNY tribute band, so it was not surprising to hear some Neil, who of course has always been outspoken and unafraid to speak truth to power. Seeing Neil play “Ohio” and “Big Crime” last summer in Chicago was among the most powerful moments in recent memory. I was struck when Thunderheads played “My City Of Ruins” from Bruce Springsteen. That tune was written in 1999 but took on new significance after 9/11. All this got me thinking about how artists lead the way in confusing times, Bruce has consistently spoken out against the various atrocities the Trump administration is committing daily. Of course Bruce would go on to release “Streets Of Minneapolis” a few days later, which was immediately the top song in 19 countries across the world. In this moment noone knew that Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine would be visiting Minneapolis the following week to perform on the First Ave stage, and bring along Bruce for one of the most powerful displays of solidarity imaginable. Morello recently shared a 67 song playlist on Spotify, which can be found here:

Powderfinger

(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle

Good Lovin’

Friend Of The Devil

Statesboro Blues

Like A Hurricane

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

Cinnamon Girl w guest singer

My City Of Ruins

Comfortably Numb

II

Pretzel Logic

Bertha

When It Come To You (John Anderson)

Southern Man

1.25 Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood

The High Rev aka Daryn C on drums tonight, and the show featured:

China Cat
Rider
TN Jed
El Paso
Brown Eyed Women
Row Jimmy
II
UJB
When Push Come To Shove
I'll Take A Melody

1.29 Terrapin Stallion, The Jones Gang, and Majoon Travelers - Acid Test Reunion at Turf Club

Majoon Travelers opened the night with some heavy psychedelic explorations including The Airplane’s “White Rabbit” before The Jones Gang performed a set of tunes from the Acid Test era of the mid to late ‘60s, including:

Viola Lee Blues

Midnight Hour

Cream Puff War

Beat It On Down The Line

Dancin’

Then Terrapin Stallion kicked off their set with a cosmic “Dark Star”. Their set, also featuring “The Other One”, continued the evening’s theme with trippy saxophone amidst the swirling liquid light show.

Majoon Travelers:

The Jones Gang:

“Cream Puff War”:

Terrapin Stallion:

1.30 Trampled By Turtles at Turf Club

This benefit show was announced and instantly sold out Wednesday afternoon. I was thrilled to see that one of the most prolific and popular Minnesota bands of our generation was taking a stand on behalf of our immigrant neighbors. I was then doubly thrilled when I secured a ticket to the event, which happened to be the first time in over 20 years that TBT had played the 350 person capacity Turf Club. Proceeds from the show as well as donations of baby formula, diapers and related items would be going to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund. It’s not easy for any band to be an outspoken advocate for much of anything today, since half the country doesn’t seem to believe in American principles such as equal justice under the law, due process, and basic civil liberties such as freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience.

Minnesota and Minneapolis in particular have been the center of the world for weeks. The amount of love and support we’ve seen from all over the country, and indeed all over the world, has been inspiring, heartening, and humbling. We are a modest people, but obviously the tens of thousands who have peacefully but forcefully protested this brutal regime’s immoral and unconstitutional policies time and time again have shown that we’re not afraid to stand up for what’s right. And our music scene has been right there on the front lines, with drums, singing, organizing, and fundraising.

Before bringing out guest Erik Koskinen, Dave S remarked that Koskinen and his wife have been “putting up a formidable resistance to ICE”. You may have seen a viral video of a woman in the passenger seat of a car asking ICE agents if she can assist them in finding a specific person as they appeared to be getting ready to go after random residents based on their perceived ethnicity. That was Ms. Koskinen. Erik joined TBT for a rendition of “Six Pack Of Beer And A Pack of Cigarettes” which perhaps not coincidentally was played by Koskinen with Simonett’s electric side project Dead Man Winter on the very same stage three years ago to the day. A second surprise guest was MN singer/songwriter Mason Jennings, who sang his touching 2004 tribute to the Wellstones - “The Ballad Of Paul and Sheila”.

Other highlights of the show were the always fantastic “Codeine”, “Alone”, Banjo Dave’s driving instrumental “Truck”, and a brand new instrumental from mandolinist Erik Berry and bassist Tim Saxhaug singing Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart”.

Kudos to Trampled By Turtles, First Ave and Turf Club (and their staff who volunteered their time to work the event) and all the people who donated to this righteous happening!

Opening act Bathtub Cig performed a poignant new song “We Are Not Afraid” with the lines “They took the gardener from his bed, the shot the poet in her head” and “We’ve got whistles, they’ve got bombs, I’m so sick of writing protest songs”:

“Never Let Down”:

“Codeine”:

TBT with Erik Koskinen:

“Duluth”:

TBT with Mason Jennings:

“Alone”:

“Keep My In Your Heart For Awhile”:

1.30 Cole Diamond at Schuller’s

I’d never been to or even heard of this venue, located in Golden Valley. It has a distinct old school roadhouse vibe to it, and has been around since 1929 according to a sign outside. There were tables with seating for at least a hundred people and a small area in front of the stage for dancing, with a banister separating the slightly elevated stage from the audience. This evening’s show featured a couple sets with some classic country hits from 90’s country stars like Clint Black, Alan Jackson, George Strait, The Mavericks, Dwight Yoakum and more. The night’s setlist included:

Digging Up Bones

Make A Living Out Of Loving You

Watermelon Crawl

John Deere Green

Take This Job and Shove It

All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down

Drinkin’ Problem

There Ain’t Nuthin’ Wrong with the Radio

Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)

Seminole Wind

Guitars, Cadillacs

Fireman

Fishing in the Dark

Small Town Saturday Night

Mercury Blues

Chattahoochee

Well I’m sure glad that month is over. It will surely go down as one of the most eventful and historic months in our city and state’s history. I’m proud to live here and eternally grateful for all my fellow Americans who have spoken out against ICE and in support of our community. Minneapolis has shown what we’re made of and despite all the damage to our collective sense of security and the economy, I can say with confidence that the Battle Of Minneapolis was won by the people. The oppressors have been exposed as the Anti-American, law breaking bunch of sad goons they are and they will forever have to live with the shame of being associated with ICE. The people of Minneapolis will forever be celebrated as defenders of the rights bestowed onto us all by our nation’s Constitution. Citizens and journalists were harassed, assaulted and detained for engaging in constitutionally protected activities, but continued to show up in the street and record the misdeeds of federal agents.

What happened in Minneapolis in January 2026, both the illegal and immoral tactics on display from federal agents and the resilient peaceful resistance from citizens, will be studied for years to come, and has been immortalized in “Streets Of Minneapolis”, a surprise protest song and instant anthem from Bruce Springsteen. It was released in the days following the death of Alex Pretti to worldwide acclaim and resonance. In it, Alex Pretti and Renee Good are deservedly hailed as heroes of the moment, while Krisi Noem and Steven Miller are forever cast as Anti-American villains. The fact that Bruce showed up to play the song live for the first time ever in downtown Minneapolis on our most revered stage at First Avenue meant the world to me and countless others.

It sounds like the worst of it may be over and the campaign of terror may be winding down. This is not because the administration has seen the error in its methods or aims, but because public opinion is so deeply anti-ICE that it’s started to affect the pathetic president himself and hurt him politically. Dystopia Don has even admitted himself that perhaps they could stand to use a ‘lighter touch’ - a ‘kinder, gentler machine gun hand’ if you will. So, Viva Minneapolis. Viva the Constitution.

Jim Walsh’s photo from downtown Minneapolis of a protester with a sign that reads “all you favorite bands hate fascism” has been used by Billy Bragg in his outstanding protest song “City Of Heroes” as well as on REM’s socials. Simple but undeniably true sentiments such as this have been seen all over Minneapolis and all over the world. I’ll conclude by shouting out Jim’s excellent work compiling 32 songs of resistance for MinnPost:

https://www.minnpost.com/arts-culture/2026/01/streets-of-minneapolis-32-protest-songs-inspired-by-the-twin-cities-ice-resistance/