The Honeydogs What Comes After release at First Avenue, 3/10/12
Categories: Last Night
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| Photo by Steve Cohen |
With Rogue Valley and Farewell Milwaukee
First Avenue Mainroom, Minnepolis
Saturday, March 10, 2012
View a slideshow from the concert here.
After everything the Honeydogs have endured in the past several months -- including the passing of frontman Adam Levy's son Daniel -- this was a night to put the focus squarely on the music. The seven-piece band -- joined by Aby Wolf and Andra Suchy on backup vocals -- was already playing as First Avenue raised the screen in front of the stage Saturday, and they wasted nary a moment of the What Comes After album release show.
In one of the few instances of banter, Levy introduced his cap-donning pal Ryan Paul Plewacki, who filled in on guitar for the absent Brian Halverson. It was thrilling to watch the Sleep Study principal, who had reportedly learned every song within the past 48 hours, swing his lanky body around his section of the stage. "He can install a water heater like nobody's business," Levy cracked before launching into the acoustic pleasure of "Always a Long Time."
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| Photo by Steve Cohen |
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| Photo by Steve Cohen |
Although various members of the band have expressed disdain for the ubiquitous hit "I Miss You," this song is an integral part of Twin Cities history. What was evident in the room, however, is that this crowd was charmed enough -- and knew the words for most everything -- that no one was holding their breath until the group's early alt country hit rolled out. Where lots of the more-recent material is more complex instrumentally -- "Devil We Do" and its trippy coda and scorching solos, we're looking at you -- Levy brought the song alive by scraping and clawing around his upper register, letting his eyebrows dance like a pair of caterpillars in heat, and making a song he's performed umpteen times a unique experience all over again.
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| Photo by Steve Cohen |
Critic's Notebook
The Crowd: A lot of people cheered when Farewell Milwaukee mentioned Cities 97, and plenty of folks who have been supporting the Honeydogs since their early days.
Personal bias: I always love "Broke It, Buy It" when the lyric refers to a devil not always having horns, and it being followed by a blast of trumpet and trombone.
Setlist
Sunshine Committee
Rumor Has It
Aubben
Particles or Waves
Too Close to the Sun
Red Dye #40
Always a Long Time
Everything in Its Place
Truth Serum
Broke It, Buy It
Panhandler's Serenade
Better Word
Blood is Blood
10,000 Years
Turned Around
I Miss You
Devil We Do
Fighting Weight
Miriam
What Comes After
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