I’m kicking off a list of a dozen very memorable shows I attended in 2024. I’ll be going through these shows with individual posts from now until the end of the year. I saw at least UPDATED 82 shows as of the latest count (I might still be missing a few).
Among those were 18 King Gizzard shows (I realize I’m obsessed with this Aussie psyche-rock-turned-jamband) and 9 Phish shows, but I’m going to limit myself to one mention per band. I had amazing travels chasing incredible music, jams and experiences through 17 states and one province, but some of my favorite shows were in my home state of Minnesota.
In no particular order (at least at this point in the process), I’m kicking off this list with Karina Rykman’s show at the small, subterranean 7th Street Entry, which I like to say is in First Ave’s basement, on Feb. 28
It was my first time seeing Karina, who I had known to be a young, intensely talented bass player. Rykman is only 30, but she’s already played music as a professional for more than a decade, and her resume is quite impressive. She was a backup bassist for the Late Night with Seth Meyers show.
Trey Anastasio recorded and co-produced her 2023 album Joyride at The Barn, Phish’s studio in Vermont. Long before that, her playing caught the attention of Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz, who in 2016 recommended her for his vacated spot in the trio Crescent Moon, which also features keyboardist Marco Benevento.
She brought an incredible amount of positive energy to the Entry that night, memorably taking her bass remotely into the center of the dance floor at one point in the show. Rykman brought the funk and her band had some solid jams. They covered British band Wet Leg’s hit “Chaise Longue,” which caught me by surprise but was fun to see. I’m hoping to see her perform again soon.