Semisonic brings it back home to First Avenue for the Current's 18th Anniversary
Review by: Andy Ellis, Writer @andysmileyjay
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Semisonic at First Avenue on January 28th, 2023.
“And they came to my fucking show.”
That was the quote singer-songwriter Chastity Brown used to highlight the 89.3 the Current’s reach around the world. She opened the acclaimed station’s 18th Birthday celebration at the famed First Avenue on Saturday, January 28th. With her soulful singer-songwriter style and had the task of holding the sold out crowd’s attention as they waited for headliner Semisonic. And hold it she did.
She did so with just her voice, keyboard, and some very attractive guitars. Her warm voice was a welcome change from the blistering Minnesota winter outside.
Chastity Brown started with a song she wrote with Dan Wilson that drew immediate cheers called “Wonderment.” Her folk-soul style entertained the audience for a little under an hour, including a part where she wanted to play a Jodeci-style song and asked the crowd to help. After about 30 seconds she acknowledged the make up of the room. “Look, I know there’s lot of white people in here,” she quipped, eliciting laughter from the crowd. After finishing the song she exited the stage to cheers from the audience. The crowd was sufficiently warmed up, next was the main event.
The way Semisonic walked on stage surprised me. They didn’t gather onstage behind the big projector screen. United States of Americana host Bill DeVille came onstage to talk about the Current and the band. Then shortly after, with the lights down, you could see the band members’ shadows make their way to the stage.
They started off with the classic “Great Divide” and just kept going. For any fans of alternative rock in the late 90s to early 2000s the show was a transport back to those days when CDs were keeping Best Buy in business. And the band sounded great.
The only evidence of Semisonic’s age was the gray in their hair and beards. The way they played was solid evidence of why they went so far as a band back in the 90s. And the deeper they got into the set, the more alive they became.
Songs like “Singing to Me in My Sleep,” “All About Chemistry,” and of course “Closing Time” spread a feeling of warm joy through the entire venue. The latter of course had one of the biggest responses as soon as the opening riff started. It’s like whenever Garth Brooks plays the opening chords to “Friends in Low Places” or when Prince would start “Purple Rain,” and finally hearing that song performed live by the actual band that made it famous is something I’ll never forget.
Semisonic at First Avenue on January 28th, 2023.
Wilson’s voice is still amazing, too. It’s one of warmth, thoughtfulness. And the memories that voice has provided me through those songs came rusing back to me as the night went on (and I tried to see the stage through all the tall people). All the road trips when I was younger with Feeling Strangely Fine blaring through my headphones and then the excitement when I learned later they were from Minnesota.
The surprise to me was how much bassist John Munson was involved as a singer, and this could very well be due to how little I really knew about the band aside from their music. They broke out some new songs including one that was called “If You Say So” and Munson took lead with a passionate performance. Before breaking into “This Will Be My Year” Wilson had to clarify it was drummer Jacob Slichter who wrote that song despite people continually giving Wilson credit for it.
The encore included a Munson-fronted tribute to Minneapolis favorites the Suburbs with “Cows.” Wilson then took to the piano for a very smooth “Secret Smile,” and rocked out with “Never You Mind.” They ended the night with the slower Slichter-penned “El Matador” and gave one last wave to the crowd before walking off stage.
It was Munson who gave one of the most memorable speeches about the night. Here they were in one of the most renowned stages in music. They’re a band from Minnesota that made it big, and were celebrating an acclaimed station that continually supports the local music scene with listeners all over the world.
“Keep coming out,” he said in regards to supporting the artists that make up the Twin Cities music scene and help it exist.
In the time I’ve been involved in the music scene, I can say there is plenty of top notch talent all over Minnesota. There’s artists like the amazing opener Chastity Brown, country-rockers the Devon Worley Band, The Jorgensens who flawlessly mix Americana with that full soul sound, and Hip-Hop artist Nur-D who packed First Avenue for his release show in August.
The talent is here. All that is needed is for people to simply keep coming out. If you’re not already — there’s no better time than now.
