|
At times it was a little busy but there were also times when there were less than a dozen people, belly'd up to the bar at the Snout Saloon. A very quiet night indeed. It is possible all the blues fans were up in Tilden where the Bear Creek Band was playing at Brazinas. Its possible everyone was sitting at home worried that the Cowboys couldn't womp the Vikings and avenge the Pack the next day. Who knows. Whatever the reason, Str8up did a great show.
According to Snout music director, Chad Kruger, Str8up has never drawn a crowd in the three times they have played the bar. A little surprising, because as far as bands go, Str8up isn't bad. I saw them last in March of 2008. At that time the lead guitar was quite new to the group. So they had some rough edges. Still though, despite those rough edges, Shelby Martin, lead singer provided me with my musical highpoint of 2008. She sang the Four Non Blondes Whats Up?. It was fantastic. Breath-taking really. I requested it (something I almost never do) this trip, knowing it could never reach that pinnacle. Before, it was so totally out of the blue, this time I would know it was coming. Shelby admitted when I talked to her, she hadn't sung it in a while. She did a good job. I was pleased. It's a great song, and a great song for Shelby's range.
Str8Up hails from the southern Minnesota town of Houston. Down very near where I grew up. A long drive to play a night of music. I wish they would have had a bigger crowd. The band is made up of Shawn Martin on bass, and vocals. Shelby Martin lead vocals. Ace Fricke on guitar and Tubs Pichner on drums. Their music is mostly around late 60s through the 70s. Well played. I thought the beginning of the second set, when I arrived, was a little rough. Third and fourth sets were very good. I don't think it had anything to do with my drinkin' .
Musical highpoint, was very clearcut for me. It was a better than the original Steve Earle version of Copperhead Road. Very, very, good version of a wonderful old song, I had forgotten about for years. What I had particularly forgotten is just how Irish the back beat is. The Steve Earle version is a little Irish. The Str8up version is seeping in Irish. I loved it.
A secondary highpoint had to be an a cappella cover of Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz by Shelby Martin. She sang it in the third set and got enough requests she sang it again in the fourth. It was well done.
Str8Up plays Marshall Tucker Band's Can't You See
It was a good night. I wish for the bar's sake there would have been more people out. But, hey, it was good for us sitting on the pool table.
Weekend recommendation? Friday night, Billy Krause at the Red Dragon Bar (formally Woo's Pagota). (correction, and bummer. Billy Krause was tonight, Thursday night, and I missed it. )
|
