Duluth’s Saltydog announces March residency at Hook & Ladder Theater in South Minneapolis
A couple of weeks ago, Mark Joseph had the foresight to book both TWINE and Duluth’s Saltydog for the Hotel Minnesnowta pre-party on a Thursday night; The two bands (already connected as friends) intermingled in each other’s sets and then there was an unplanned 5 a.m. Friday morning jam at the lobby piano of the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West involving members of both bands.
Members of Saltydog and TWINE mixed it up at the Hotel Minnesnowta Pre-Party and in the wee hours of the mornin’.
It foreshadowed epicness to come.
Guitarist Tom Alane fit in well with TWINE Wednesday at Bunker’s.
Fast forward to Wednesday night, and even though the two bands were on different stages miles apart, it was another incredible night of music from the two rising and high-powered Minnesota jam factories.
Saltydog’s set at 7th Street Entry was sandwiched by their friends Lighter Co., a high-energy “genre-fluid” band (formerly known as Zippo Man) , and Burning Blue Rain, which released their new EP, Blue Frame. Salty and Lighter Co shared the Icehouse stage last year.
Lund and Johnson are two names synonymous with Northwoods fishing — or Northwoods jam funk.
All three bands kept the attention of the fairly busy 7th Street Entry room.
Saltydog opened with “Slippery Dog,” one of the songs that’s slated for their upcoming LP. It’s an incredibly-comforting song written by the two Mahon brothers (guitarist/vocalist Jacob and drummer/vocalist Owen) but carried in large part by Gavin St. Clair’s soaring organ work and Cal(Zone) Lund’s bass.
Jacob Mahon said at Minnesnowta that the upcoming LP is the most Salty’ thing they’ve ever done, and if “Slippery Dog,” is any indication, he’s not overstating things; Their first two LPs, 2020’s Pecan, Pecon and last year’s Pepper have already delivered many gems and favorites to their live sets. For instance, “Barfly” and “Farmer Norm.”
Salty’ is deep, with two guitarists (including Sam Deters), a keyboardist, a singer/drummer, bassist and Bryan “Lefty” Johnson on percussion.
Gavin St. Clair, on keys, left, and Sam Deters, on guitar, reveled in the moment.
I’ve stated it before, but this band jams with experience beyond their years, they have a feel-good stage presence, and great instincts when it comes to improv.
All three bands at 7th Street Entry mingled and watched each others’ sets; I realize that musicians are humans with busy lives with important life commitments but it’s disheartening when bands (and their collective fans) sharing bills completely abandon each other once their sets are over.
The room might be dark here, but Lighter Co., lit up the 7th Street Entry ahead of Saltydog’s set.
The opposite happened last night — and everybody was richer for it. I thought I knew what to expect from Lighter Co., having seen them before, but they took things to a spacier level, showcasing their keyboardist and Stetson-donning guitarist Nolan.
After Salty’s set, I probably could have made it over to Bunker’s in time to catch most of TWINE’s opening Allman Brothers set. I hear it was quite the tribute. But I’m glad I got to see Burning Blue Rain, a band with a talented saxophonist.
Burning Blue Rain released their EP Blue Frame and closed out the function.
There were still many juicy jams left in store for the handful of us that wheeled over to Bunker’s from 7th Street.
One of those highlights was the jam I captured out of “Why Can’t I?” With Tom Alane sitting in on guitar this night, this song also features twin-sax power, with soundman Gage Schmitt joining Brian “Snowman” Powers. Schmitt has frequently joined TWINE the past few months, but he’s mainly been playing the flute on a song or two.
Then bassist Scott Yonke went on a funk-driven journey that had the band teasing Phish’s “First Tube” for an extended stretch before returning to :”Why Can’t I?”
Saltydog re-launches their Monday-night residency at Duluth’s Bent Paddle in February only, and then, in March, as mentioned, they will be doing a residency at Hook & Ladder Theater in South Minneapolis.
TWINE frontman Will Effertz was salivating about the possibilities when I mentioned the news to him last night.
March is going to jam a lot of residency magic into Wednesdays and Thursdays.