Grant Hart Tribute Night. Cloudland Theater 03/15/2024.
Reviews by: Dan Michener. @insomniac199
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, owner/editor @PlaylistTC
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Cloudland Theater
“If there was no Hüsker Dü, there’d be no Foo Fighters.” Dave Grohl.
March 15th 2024 at the very cool Cloudland Theater in Minneapolis, local musician Dylan Ritchie hosted the annual Grant Hart Tribute Night. Grant Hart was part of the legendary Minnesota Punk-Rock Trio, Hüsker Dü. Spearheading the Minnesota punk/hardcore sound of the 1980s, the band rose to prominence as college radio and alternative rock was making inroads into the mainstream. The band burned brightly but all-too briefly. In its wake, however, Hüsker Dü carved out a spot in music history. Influencing legions of bands, helping shape the 1990s rock scene.
Grant Hart went on to form Nova Mob and release solo records. Sadly, he passed in 2017 of cancer. Tributes flowed. As Covid lifted in the fall of 2021, I caught the famous Patti Smith at Surly Brewing Field in Minneapolis. Her long-time guitarist, Lenny Kaye, who has been a powerful voice in the music industry for decades (I think he’s credited with coining the phrase, “Punk Rock,”) gave a special shoutout to Grant Hart and Hüsker Dü.
Grant’s music speaks for itself. He left a mark on Minnesota Music that will outlive all of us. In fact, the next time you venture to downtown St Paul and catch live music at the Palace Theater, check out Grant’s glass sculptures, handing on the west side of the building.
Dylan Ritchie, hosting the Cloudland Event, has held similar tributes since Mr. Hart passed. He does a really nice job bringing together local talent, people who worked along side Grant in one form or the other, to cover Grant’s music while bringing their own originality to the music. Something I think Grant would’ve loved. I don’t think he would advocate for carbon copies of his music. Take what he did and give it you’re own feel and heart.
Dylan Ritchie and Teenage Strangler. Starting off the night, with a reading from Naked Lunch. Grant would approve.
Girless Moms featuring Minneapolis Rock n Roll Gate Keeper, Curtiss A. A lot of experimentation in their performance, which was all Grant Hart all day.
False Agave, featuring members of Grant’s post-Hüsker Dü band, Nova Mob. Fantastic playing. Focused and direct. Lots of good drive.
Brian Herb and the Outstanding Achievements in Excellence. They did a really cool cover of Hüsker Dü’s, “Books About UFOs,” but with a unique, down-tempo sludge feel. Lots of snarl. Mr. Herb is also the long-time guitar tech for Jerry Cantrell/Alice in Chains and worked for Bush.
Ryan Smith of Soul Asylum, Melismatics, Ryan and Pony and his own solo work. I’m biased as I am a HUGE Soul Asylum fan. Ryan always delivers solid solo performances around the Twin Cities. Ryan worked with Grant on music and there is a song or two out there that haven’t been released; but Ryan will play as part of his solo sets. Hopefully those tunes see the light of day at some point.
Ending the night was Rank Strangers. If there is truly an identifiable sound in the Twin Cities its them. Really solid playing. Lots of good energy and direction giving Grant’s music a punch. I can’t think of a better way to end the night.
I first heard Hüsker Dü around 1986/1987. I was 12-13ish. MTV had a wonderful show on Sunday Nights called, “120 Minutes.” They played alternative, punk, hardcore and art rock. I remember watching video for Hüsker Dü’s, “Makes No Sense At All,” and being blown away. This was a Bob Mould song so it has his hooks and melodic temperament…but Mr. Hart is there as the backbone on drums. Grant and Bob shared a contentious relationship—-I think its fair to say you had two very talented people disagreeing on direction; but their shared passion for what they were doing was their bond. Regardless, Grant’s songwriting and style is just as much apart of the Hüsker Dü sound as Mr. Mould’s. Both should be enjoyed equally. Just blast some Hüsker Dü in your home while you’re cleaning—-you’ll get it.
So back in the day, we had cassette tapes, and we made each other mix-tapes. If I were to make a Hüsker Dü, Grant Hart, Nova Mob mix tape, hand it to you and say, “Dude, you gotta check this out,” here’s what you might been jamming to in your 1989 Mercury Tracer hatchback or, “Boombox.”
1. Hüsker Dü, “Books About UFOs”
2. Hüsker Dü, “Don’t Want to Know if You Are Loney.”
3. Nova Mob, “Last Days of Pompeii”
4. Nova Mob, “Old Empire” (Not on Spotify)
5. Grant Hart, “2541”
6. Grant Hart, “Think it Over Now.”
7. Grant Hart, “A Letter from Anne Marie”
8. Hüsker Dü, “Sorry Somehow.”
9. Grant Hart, “You’re the Reflection of the Moon on the Water.”
10. Nova Mob, “Admiral of the Sea.”
Play it loud, and play it often.
