Cymande, the fabled British funk outfit that was widely sampled by hip-hop producers (including by the Fugees and De La Soul), hits the Varsity Theater Wednesday, topping Jam in the Stream’s short list of live music options in Minnesota this week.
So, even if you’ve never heard of them before, there’s a good chance you their music will be familiar to your ears.
Check out “Dove,” for instance.
But the band, formed in 1971, was no one-hit wonder. They have a story that is as interesting as their funky, soulful music, which, I should note, has a strong reggae/island vibe. The band has actual Caribbean connections.
If you’re interested in this band, I highly recommend checking out the recent New York Times article on them. Here’s a link to that story.
I’ve never had a good opportunity to see this band before since one of my oldest friends turned me on to them in the late 1990s, around the same time everyone from the RZA to Prince Paul was sampling them.
I knew at the time that the music was decades old, and I assumed they weren’t active. I wasn’t that far off. But read that Times piece to find out why.
Needless to say, I am beyond stoked for Wednesday’s show, which is part of a larger U.S. tour that kicked off in New York City on Feb. 13. The band hits Chicago Tuesday, Denver Friday and Seattle Saturday. Click here for official details on their entire tour. They also have another tour through Europe this fall.
The band is touring to support their first album in years, Renascence, which was just released this year.
I’m not gonna lie: They’ve still got the funk. You can stream it online.
Or check out the music video for “Coltrane” below.
What else is happening this week?
TONIGHT (Monday)
Well, I would be remiss to leave out Saltydog’s rebooted Monday night residency at Bent Paddle Brewing in Duluth during the month of February. I’m trying to catch tonight’s show. Campfire Tranarchists are the special guests tonight.
I’ll also mention that Saltydog, one of the funkiest jam bands we have in Minnesota, has a Thursday night residency at Minneapolis’ Zen Arcade (part of Hook and Ladder Theater) in March. I don’t plan on missing a single one of those, and you can purchase a month pass for all four shows for $30 here.
WEDNESDAY
After Cymande’’s show ends, I’m planning on heading to my normal Wednesday night spot of late, Bunkers, where TWINE has been jamming out hard at their residency the last few months. If you haven’t caught them here yet, do yourself a favor. Last week’s show was magical. The band recently moved their set up to 9 p.m., as opposed to 9:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
TWINE frontman Will Effertz brings his WE Collective monthly artist gathering to 56 Brewing Thursday. As always, that event is free and runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Up in Duluth, The Gemstones and The Yeah Scherz are part of the entertainment for Bent Paddle’s 218 Bash, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m.
Down in Winona, The People Brothers Band hits the No Name Bar with music starting at 8 p.m. There’s a $15 cover.
SATURDAY
JoJo Green plays a free show at Minneapolis’ Schooner Tavern at 8 p.m.
The Ryan Piccone Quartet, which features multi instrumentalist Matt Blake (Mae Simpson, Ginstrings) and Tessa Nichols-Meade (Mountain Fern) and Ian Stenland (Mississippi Hot Club), are doing a brunch set with music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Icehouse on Minneapolis’s Eat Street. There’s an $8 cover.
Meanwhile, the second week of Jon Miller’s Bluegrass Bingo/Brunch is happening at The Joint in Minneapolis. There’s no cover, and it’s both easy and free to play and potentially win prizes. The music is also 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Jon Miller’s Bluegrass Bingo was a fun time in it’s debut at The Joint Saturday. It’s going to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA
SUNDAY
Down in Rochester, Gregg Hall & The Wrecking Ball play Brothers Bar & Grill from 7 to 9 p.m. There’s a suggested $5 cover.
These are highlights this week, but go to my full calendar here for more options and more information, including ticket and event page links.