Best Old Bands Vol 2.1: Our House, Taming the Tiger live at the Fitzgerald Theater
An impromptu review of the cities' finest CSNY celebration, with special guest Brianna Tagg-Jorgensen (Taming the Tiger). Fitzgerald Theater, February 22, 2025.
Photo: Scott Burns
By Jim Meyer, 2/26/25
I really wasn’t planning to review Our House at downtown St. Paul’s elegant Fitzgerald Theater. I felt I’d said enough in my Substack post of 2/7/25. Best Old Bands Vol. II: Our House - Tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. And I don’t often go to gigs before my job on third shift. But I also figured, ``when would I get to see these old friends — and new acquaintances — perform at such a grand venue ever again?’’
Well, it may not be that long based on this strong performance. Maybe it won’t be a three-tiered 1,000-seat palace like the Fitz, but Our House did prove ready for prime time and primo stages during their mellow but very moving 70-minute set. A few days later, they broke the news they may take the show on the road, and I’m not surprised.
I didn’t arrive there in note-taker mode, but a few things were unforgettable, including one spine-tingling moment of crowd reaction that only live music delivers.
Though the group expressed their delight about the elite surroundings many times, they maintained a precision and calm composure these intricate songs demand. Mark O’Day is a longtime drummer and instructor in the area. I met him after the show to express my appreciation at his admirable skill to both move the groove yet stay out of the way of five lead and harmony singers. Heads were nodding, feet swaying to the smooth moves of O’Day and bassist Xenia Sandstrom-McGuire, proving that a swing can be strong without undue raw power. The pair totally understood the assignment and built a solid platform on which many others could shine.
In my interview with the band in January, main vocalist Kurt Jorgensen and others answered that they were not necessarily trying to reignite the social protest power of the original outspoken band. Not that they don’t have social conscience, it’s just not their focus in this format. But Our House stumbled on to the truth during ``Long Time Gone.’’ When guitarist Fred Anderson sang David Crosby’s plea to ``Speak out, you gotta speak out against the madness,’’ a strong cheer rose mid-song like you seldom see at local shows.
Not to overstate it but in the weeks between my band chat and Saturday night, you can feel a sea change in society, and many members of the crowd seemed relieved and elated that someone in any small way was publicly expressing some kind of resistance to a nation coming unglued, the NATO alliance fraying and the imminent loss of basic freedoms, both for visible minorities (obviously), and maybe for far more of us if this democracy destruction party gets totally out of hand.
From that stirring moment, Our House seemed to have the crowd in its palms with sure shots such as ``Teach Your Children,’’ ``Carry On’’ and ``Woodstock,’’ plus an unexpected, beautiful breakdown for Neil Young’s ``Harvest Moon’’ featuring Craig Paquette. I assumed the Thunderheads guitarist would be taking most of the guitar solos, but he has the crucial double role as the Neil Young vocalist, and high harmony singer. Anderson handles more leads but those two and/or Jorgensen also mesh on key twin-guitar exchanges. I’d say ``Cinnamon Girl’’ was the only tune of the night that didn’t seem to outshine or innovate against the classic. But let’s be honest; Nobody plays a four-bar same-note guitar solo quite like Neil Young.
The set didn’t fade for long since the rousing next selection was the last. ``Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’’ had a large part of the seated crowd on their feet and in the aisles. You don’t need perfect pitch to join in on that famous, fun-filled coda, with or without Stephen Stills’ mysterious Spanish incantations. The song’s dramatic cold stop put an exclamation point on a wonderfully tight night for the players and their supporters.
Apologies to finishing set co-headliners Free Fallin. I had to be leaving, but the group with almost 20 years of touring shows is a serious operation, with a full-on merch stand, and many fans or show runners decked out in the gear. Another time I hope.
Photo: Mark Walentiny
Just a word before I go about the opening cameo by Our House member Brianna Tagg-Jorgensen, a.k.a., Taming the Tiger. It was my first time seeing the longtime performer in any setting. I was almost peering through shielded eyes, a little fearful that a one-woman live tribute to Joni Mitchell might be too much to match. No worry.
Though she’s mastered the challenging guitar lines, vocally she eschews mere imitation in favor of a slower-paced intimacy and attention to Joni’s lyrical gifts to make the show satisfying for fanatics, yet very much her own on essentials such as ``Chelsea Morning,’’ ``A Case of You,’’ and the deadly sweet ``The Circle Game,’’ the chorus of which is going ``round and round and round’’ my head days later. With her highly personable stage presence, I’m fine there was not an overabundance of the vocal skywriting and falsetto loop-de-loops of Mitchell’s early records, but Brianna proved she could, exhibiting fearless top range in just the right measure. I’m curious to see and hear more if she does solo sets of her own material, or definitely for her part in The Jorgensens large band with Kurt or the duo sets the couple plays in town.
Special kudos to soundperson Zach Thayer, more commonly a technical director at Crooner’s Supper Club and music rooms. The group’s musical demands are so vast I’d consider any mixer they employ as a ``Seventh House.’’ Nice touch whoever developed the historical slideshow backdrop that added ambience without intruding. But don’t believe everything you see on the internet; Many of the good-natured but badly balanced camera-phone videos that flowered up online this week don’t seem to catch quite the same clear sparkle as heard in that luscious main hall.
Compare for yourself at the next Our House confirmed bookings: Saturday April 25 at Crooners, and Sunday April 27 at Brianno’s Chart House, Lakeville.
The Jorgensens Acoustic Duo is Thursday February 27, The Tilted Tiki Tropical Bar & Restaurant, 324 Main St S., Stillwater.
Thunderheads upcoming shows: Friday March 7 at Shaws, 1528 University Avenue, Minneapolis; March 29 Schooner Tavern, 2901 27th Avenue, Minneapolis.
Minneapolis native Jim Meyer was a music reporter at City Pages, Star Tribune, and Sam Goody/Best Buy a century ago. He’s a willing patron of the arts but won’t turn down gig invites, free demos or story ideas at meyerforhire@yahoo.com.
Encores: Zeppo, Em and the Gems
Two other reasons I almost didn’t make the gig is that another tribute was playing just down my street at Parkway Theater. As the name Zeppo – Stairway to Eleven might imply, this Zeppelin tribute is not overly concerned with theatrical re-creation perfection, just having a blast. I’ve followed lead singer John Eller for decades and he never disappoints in any project. Noah Levy (Brian Setzer, Honeydogs) has been gonzo for Bonzo since whenever I first met him in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s. Singers Tina Schlieske and Katie McMahon were featured special guests I would love to have seen. Paul Boblett (Faith Boblett), Terrance J. Fisher (Run Westy Run), and Mark Mraz (Raggs) complete the group that I’ll try not to miss when new shows post. (3/5/25 Update. They play Friday, April 25 at Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis.)
Also that night was only the second gig by Em and the Gems at the Driftwood. The `Em’’ in question broke out in the lovable Interstate Judy long ago on the 7th Street Entry/Uptown Bar/Turf Club circuit, then went a whole new route, making some groovy electro pop and soul discs on her own as alias Emmaline Muchmore. I reviewed her favorably for Minnesota Monthly, but the discs became rarities I felt deserved better play. More gigs expected for Em and the Gems, and I’ll be watching.