Basilica Block Party Day 1, 7/6/12

Photo by Tony Nelson

See Also:
Basilica Block Party Day 2, 7/7/12
Basilica Block Party Day 1: Slideshow
Basilica Block Party Day 2: Slideshow

Basilica Block Party Day 1
With Train, Cake, the Head and the Heart, Prissy Clerks, Tyrone Wells and more
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis
Friday, July 6, 2012

The first night of Basilica Block Party was a hot and stormy experience -- some coming from the stages, but mostly due to the temperamental weather. The grounds surrounding the Basilica of St. Mary still were peopled with fans dining on fried delights in their finest (slightly soggy) sundresses and polo shirts. Those who had the fortitude to stick through the occasional downpours were rewarded.

The Head and the Heart brought several folks galloping up to the main stage with their harmonious folk. "Ghosts" was among the spry and jolly moments from a collection of sweet melodies that occasionally leaned heavy.

Many of the day's other performers didn't enjoy the same sort of good fortune -- and the Vita.MN stage featuring local performers was plagued worst of all. After A. Wolf & Her Claws made it through a powerful set in the blistering sun of the late afternoon, the rain poured on the infectious melodies of Prissy Clerks, and soaked much of the equipment. The Clerks' Clara Salyer kept a good sense of humor about it all and offered, "Everyone go get a funnel cake, we'll be back in 15." Phantom Tails' set had to be pushed to Saturday after the waterlogged stage was shut down for good.

Photo by Tony Nelson

The finest of Friday by far was Cake, who have long since cornered the market on deadpan, brassy alt rock that offers nary a wink during their overwhelmingly funny sets. Of course, the head humorist is singer John McCrea, who kept the wisecracks flowing. "Any Mexican-Americans in the crowd?" he asked while introducing "Mexico." "Probably not. This song is for the one of you here."

The set consisted of a fair amount of the semi-ancient Cake material that put these guys in constant rotation on radio stations that Cities 97 has long outlasted at this point. The good-timing, exaggerated twang of "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" has lost none of its lustre in the past 16 years, and their cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" has certainly brightened up a bit.

Photo by Tony Nelson

Just in case it wasn't painfully obvious, there are a lot of devilish references amidst the Cake oeuvre. And McCrea seemed eager to pile them on while reminding the crowd that "You don't need to videotape me right now, just enjoy yourselves by this freeway and this beautiful church." "Satan is My Motor" and the repeated mantra from "Sheeps Go to Heaven" that notes that "goats go to hell." Fortunately for him, the prevalent lightning threatening towards the end of their set did not strike on stage.

Critic's Notebook

Personal Bias: All of the commotion of the weather and the multiple stages made it tough to get over to see Train, but I didn't feel too bad about it.

Photo by Tony Nelson

The Crowd:  The poncho-dress combo proved to be as winning as the "Vote No" sticker to T-shirt intersection. There was a guy in a Tool shirt too.

Photo by Tony Nelson

A beponchoed Clara Salyer.

Suggestion for Next Year: Get some water stations for thirsty fans, Basilica. You'll still make a lot of money on beer sales.

See Also:
Basilica Block Party Day 2, 7/7/12
Basilica Block Party Day 1: Slideshow
Basilica Block Party Day 2: Slideshow

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