Mpls. Outside/In Volume II: Little Lizard; Kevin Kling + Gaelynn Lea; Metzger, with Seru/Kinney/Cartwright at Resource.
A continuing series on off-beat events and odd venues in TC music. (Revised 2.23.25)
I was honored to write a full-length feature on Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard for my new Substack series, Best Old Bands – Minnesota. But the footnotes on each band member were becoming as long as a main feature. So here is an expanded and more visually appealing version of those bonus tags as a separate post.
But that gave me the idea to make calendar mentions a second regular feature of my burgeoning Substack. I never dreamed I’d return to my days at City Pages as calendar page editor tracking down creative events and the minutiae of gig details, but love is strange so here we are.
Future posts will include notes on other leaders in what I call the Outside/In Minneapolis Scene; unconventional combos, ultra-modern jazz, global groove and world folk, experimental soul, electronic or expansive soft pop, and cool sounds and events from any other brilliant corners of our towns. Send your innovative gig tips to meyerforhire@yahoo.com. Don’t be shy: Contort yourself. Promote yourself.
Without further ado, a hybrid debut version of Best Old Bands vs. Outside/In:
Best Old Band(members)s Volume IV:
Marc Anderson, Jacqueline Ultan, Jeremy Ylvisaker
A little more about the members of Little Lizard:
I hope to someday write the whole story about the wonderful musical life of cellist Jacqueline Ultan. In the meantime, learn more about some of her many works at any of these links:
I’m also following her involvement with Chris Lynch and the Dust of Suns Ensemble. I wish I could attend their show Sunday, Feb 23 at the exquisite Berlin in North Loop, a fave new venue of mine. It may have sold out anyway. The Dust of Suns — Berlin. Details about Dust of Suns Ensemble at Facebook
Trust me, it’s the Dust of Suns Ensemble, in a totally unamplified performance at Woman’s Club of Minneapolis: Chris Lynch (hidden), Phela Tracy (obscured), Jacqueline Ultan, John Munson, Erica Burton. They’ll be at Berlin Sunday, 2/23.
Ultan will also be somewhere on the crowded stage when the `Fab 12’ or so members of Beatles celebration band Shabby Road Orchestra perform Best of the Beatles, 1966-1970 for two shows at Crooners, Sunday March 2. Events from Feb 28 – Mar 7 – Crooners Supper Club – croonersmn.com.
Shabby Road Orchestra: https://www.facebook.com/TheShabbyRoadOrchestra
Ultan is also a member of the long-running Laurels Quartet. They perform their own concerts and often as the special guests of the area’s notable indie singers and songwriters. The next show is May 18 at Indeed Brewing Art-a-Whirl with Aby Wolf.
I probably spend too much time on Facebook, but I must say it’s helpful to follow Ultan there for news about many group gigs, special accompaniments, commissions, and some delightful emergency bookings that often arise. I recommend you do the same for Czech guitarist Pavel Jany, her creative partner in the pan-global, multi-style Duo CORDA. They perform Sunday May 4, 3-4 pm as part of the Lakewood Chapel Series. Laamar kicks off the season April 6. Full schedule here. Music in the Chapel - Lakewood Cemetery
Duo CORDA:
https://pjanymusic.com/duo-corda
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551505825498
Photo Jane Jany
Purple Orange Plus: Jacqueline Ultan, Michelle Kinney, John Croarkin, Pavel Jany, Greg Schutte
Finally regarding ``Jacq’’ : After a COVID hiatus and a name change, double-cello quartet Purple Orange (ex-Jelloslave) may be more visible in the year ahead. They were sensational last week at Berlin. Guitarist Pavel Jany and muti-reeds artist John Croarkin opened. Ultan then joined them for one number before the rest of Purple Orange took the stage, trapping Jany and Croarkin on the back row in ``Purple Orange jail,’’ where the walls are painted a soothing reddish blue, presumably. Pavel and John were on good behavior, spontaneously joining in to form a one-time supergroup. Congrats to the cat who sprung his marriage proposal on a lucky lady. Good taste, all around, young man. You can keep up with them – Purple Orange that is, not the lovebirds -- at (2) Facebook.
Now that’s improvising: Then Purple Orange played Bartok’s `Wedding Song.’ Neither was pre-planned. You never know what can go when attending live music in mighty Minneapolis.
Marc Anderson and a small sample of the Sound Baths.
By day percussionist Marc Anderson is an instructor at the Macalester College Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and a private teacher in the contemplative arts. He presents monthly Sound Bath Meditation happenings. Most of them are solos, but he does add special guests for performances at Cedar Cultural Center. The next concert special is Friday April 11 with cellist Ultan, drummer Davu Seru, and bassist Natalie Nowytski from chamber pop trio Follow the Firefly. That Cedar event may not even be public yet. Watch for it and move fast; they sell out.
Learn more on Marc and RSVP to future Sound Baths at about | Marc Anderson
Alpha Consumer: J.T. Bates, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Michael Lewis
Jeremy Ylvisaker has toured with Andrew Bird and Grace Potter, recorded with everyone from Bruce Hornsby and Bon Iver to John Prine, Jenny Lewis, and Swamp Dogg, as well as creating music for film and dance.
He was last seen in the backing group at the joyous February 16 concert at Parkway Theater by local singer-songwriter spiritualist Mary Bue for the release of her latest, The Wildness of Living and Dying. She moves in a disciplinary multi-verse I’ll be trying to learn more about in due time.
Ylvisaker will be part of a must-see creation at Open Eye Theater in south Minneapolis. Playwright Kevin Kling and violinist Gaelynn Lea tell their stories of overcoming accessibility adversity in the original new work Invisible Fences. Ylvisaker has a musical role and theatrical part. INVISIBLE FENCES — Open Eye Theatre opens March 6.
Among his pop and rock involvements, Ylvisaker performs with Alpha Consumer at Lutsen Mountains, (formerly Papa Charlie’s) in Grand Marais March 19, and the Suburbs at First Avenue April 4. He’s also recording young artists such as L.A. transplant Misty Boyce, Courtney Collins of Madison, and Mickey Mahoney.
Besides the main feature on the musical life of Barbara Cohen -- Best Old Bands Volume III: Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard – learn much more at her artist site: www.barbaracohenmusic.com
A few additional items added 2/22/25:
I wish I’d started this Outside/In Substack a few weeks earlier so I could have given more forewarning that Crystal Myslajek (ex-Brute Heart) is thrilled to reunite with old friend Suzanne Vallie, who toured with Adrianne Lenker (of Big Thief) out east last year. Sunday Feb 23rd 3-5 pm at Bella Luna Studios at the Wolf House. 3359 NE Tyler St, Mpls Still some tickets at this press time [It sold out. Sorry.] Eventbrite details at Suzanne Vallie and Crystal Myslajek house concert at the Wolf House | Facebook
The next in the ongoing series of experimental and improvised music at Resource is this Thursday. Two sets, with Paul Metzger & Kyle Motl, and Davu Seru/Michelle Kinney/George Cartwright 7-9 PM, $10 (NOTAFLOF), 512 E 24th St, Minneapolis (next to Open Eye). Details at Music at Resource: Paul Metzger / Davu Seru & Michelle Kinney & George Cartwright | Facebook
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. Say hi at my Facebook, Jim Meyer: https://www.facebook.com/sketchesofspam