Best Old Bands Vol 3.1: Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard, live at the Hook.
Hook and Ladder Theater, Minneapolis, 3/1/25 with special guests Adam and Ava Levy.
(An impromptu review, an addendum to the 2/20/25 Substack Best Old Bands Volume III: Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard)
Full house, full heart: Barbara Cohen with Little Lizard, Hook and Ladder, 3/1/25
By Jim Meyer, March 6, 2025.
Once again, I did not arrive at a show in reviewer mode. After having written an extensive feature on Barbara Cohen and the group, I wanted to give myself a night off to just enjoy, and give the musicians some space for one of their infrequent shows. This was only their fourth booking since the 27-year reunion two years ago, their first in 10 months after their 12/28/24 show caught the flu and postponed to now.
But after just one song it was clear this was going to be a special night no matter how it sounded critically or analytically, not that there was any doubt anyway. When the applause died down after the bright arching choruses of opening number ``Swimming Life,’’ Cohen exhaled to say to the band and the crowd, `I needed this.’’
I can’t be sure what Cohen meant by that for herself, but I think she speaks for a lot of us, who, now more than usual, cherish breaking out of our gloom bunkers, gathering in warm creative spaces and hearing any expressions of joy we can get.
She and the band warmed up on four numbers from her new-century rebirth period out in Los Angeles. It was interesting to hear songs that were multi-layered on her 2003 CD California played live, simpler and stronger in many ways. When Cohen switched to mandolin she seemed to enter a new comfort zone, playing two songs recorded on the 1997 Black Lake CD by tonight’s musicians, the original LL quartet with Marc Anderson, Jacqueline Ultan and Jeremy Ylvisaker.
To me, mandolins don’t look fun to play and I’ve heard they’re really fun to tune, but Cohen always shines. She plays for its bright melodic power of accompaniment, not lightning-fast bluegrass-style runs. She added mando on two Little Lizard signatures, the haunting `Walk Like a Boy’ and the always-reliable `Julie Bell.’ Cohen has released the latter on three of her CDs. Until recently, I assumed it was some legendary `Trad arr. Cohen’ Irish story song, but — checks liner notes — it’s actually her own and she’s rightly proud. It would fit nicely in one of her television or movie scores if the right setting arose.
Then it was a new-song set. ``Undertow’’ stood out to me among the brand new songs, with Ultan playing cello plucked more like upright bass. Others said they were thrilled by ``A Million Stars.’’ Most special of all was when Cohen called for her longtime musical and real-life friend Wendy Lewis to join on the recent feature single, ``Let it Out.’’
Lewis (Rhea Valentine, Red Start, The Bad Plus, Steve Tibbetts) has been on a performing hiatus, but there was no better time for re-entry than here since she sang on the recorded track. Seeing Cohen smiling across the stage to her harmony partner just added warmth to the rousing pop song. Lewis has low-key plans and high hopes for more appearances. Sorry if I’m smarmy but ``if you know you know’’ how momentous this was for the two soul sisters to reunite on stage.
One charming quirk of the Hook and Ladder is that artists often enter and leave from the apron of the stage, not the back nor the wings. Saturday the players were effectively kidnapped by the kindness of an appreciative crowd who would not take `no more’ for an answer on a set that really seemed too short to stop, so the show wound down with a sort of double-encore, ending with Willie Nelson’s tearjerker `Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.’’
Little Lizard live shows may still be rare for a while, but recording plans are formulating, and I’m really looking forward based on tonight, and knowing how far Cohen has advanced in writing, arranging, sound engineering and more during her time away in LA. And though she’s busy, and songwriting can actually become harder the longer you do it, I don’t think she’ll lack for inspiration after so much time passed and in these strange days.
Adam and Ava Levy
If Little Lizard and their longtime fans felt like family, the opening artists truly are family. Honeydogs and Turn Turn Turn creative force Adam Levy and daughter Ava were Barb’s invited guests for one of their special-occasional appearances. The duo traded songs they wrote individually, but they’ve developed new arrangements with splendid harmonies like only families can.
Both played seated, side-by-side in a relaxed but strong set. Proud papa Adam admits he’s biased about Ava’s gifts, but he’s not wrong. I grew up in a time of the riot grrrls. Today it’s more about the quiet grrrls [or gender of choice]. Softer is often harder to bring forth effectively, but Ava is keenly expressive, impressively unafraid at a young age, with an effortlessly wide vocal range and beautiful touch on acoustic guitar. Both of the singers have their solo and/or group ambitions, but watch for any of their rare reappearances together. I don’t know their next gig but I don’t think this is the last.
In the Crowd:
By the way, Turn Turn Turn just released a second lead-single, ``Hungry Ghosts’’ from their upcoming third album All Hat, No Cattle. They may be low low-profile in the cities until heading to Spain for three shows in mid-June. Their mini-tour includes a show on the middle day of the Islasonica Festival in Isla Cristina.
I was lucky to be seated behind Steve Tibbetts at the concert. I re-introduced myself on the break. He’s just about ready to present his next album for production. Fingers crossed. More later.
Charlie `Chuck Love’ Erickson was in attendance. He DJs at Twin Cities Skaters Studio at 31st and Hennepin in Uptown. I declare winter season over when this snow melts and I’m not sure learning ice skating would have been wise on my new knee anyway. Maybe I’ll pick up roller skating at TCS Studio this year.
Also in attendance were playwright Kevin Kling and violinist Gaelynn Lea. Their new stage work Invisible Fences opened Thursday March 6. Friends on my Facebook were raving, and first-week tickets are almost gone. Ylvisaker has a musical role and acting part. Book ahead at Open Eye Figure Theatre
And lastly about Wendy Lewis, her son-in-law is the rising local star Laamar. In a prior post I warned that his show at Lakewood Cemetery’s in The Chapel Series might sell out. At this press time there are only 11 tickets remaining for the season opener. Music in the Chapel: LAAMAR Tickets, Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite
Minneapolis native Jim Meyer was a music reporter at City Pages, Star Tribune, and Sam Goody/Best Buy a century ago, now re-entering the artistic atmosphere before it’s too late. meyerforhire@yahoo.com. Best Old Bands Minnesota | Jim Meyer, LPN | Substack