Let me first say that we are terribly disappointed we couldn't make it to Missouri these last two days. We made it about 25 miles out of Chicago when the catalytic converter on our van completely failed. It cost more money to fix than any of us have, so we're basically screwed... But hey, the next time you get a chance to see us live, this might give you an idea of what it's like (from Consequence Of Sound):
By
Chris DeSalvo on
January 28th, 2009
Jai Henry is a slight young man. A lanky, bespectacled creator of hum-along tunes that wouldn’t have been out of place on the Garden State
soundtrack had Zach Braff done more extensive digging for incendiary
talent. He is the co-creator of infectious little ditties that could
eventually wind-up giving James Mercer (The Shins) a run for his money
as best-bearded-and-lanky-songwriter-in-the universe.
All hailing from their native Minnesota, each member of The Minneapolis Henrys
strikes a pose without posing. It’s a refreshing display of honest
posture that reminds us why we go see terrific underground acts in the
first place. No supermodels. No guns. No Pete Doherty. Just three
gentleman-donning non-skinny-ties, and proportionally sized-clothing.
The lone female member in a quaint, modest party-dress. There were no
ironic cardigans, nor any pretentiously placed bandannas to mention.
They left all the statement-making up to the music. Oh, what a
sound. They don’t’ so much beat you to death with excellence as they
tantalize your ear drums with melodic homage’s to what alt-rock music
is capable of without a fashion guru modeling their on-stage garb.
With The Minneapolis Henrys, what you see is what you get. Four
simultaneously cadence-driven musicians whose collective talents enable
the four-piece to woo an audience without pushing any inward-thinking
art-rock tendencies on them. What they’ve created is a subtly brilliant
live show that hardly allows its audience members time to breathe. They
engage those in attendance by requesting even the most jaded of the
hipster set to approach the stage, and “get jiggy with it,” rather than
mug and pout in the distance. They’re about as personable a young band
as you’re likely to see in the area.
Jai himself is a living, vivaciously breathing representation of
what we’re all capable of if we (a) have talent, (b) undeniable spirit,
and (c) a willingness to let our innate awareness of how to carry a
tune rummage through our lanky-frames and dance to good music as we
create/perform it. If you haven’t yet seen, or heard of, The
Minneapolis Henrys, Friday night’s show at the refurbished Bottom
Lounge may have been just enough to win you over.
Oh, and not to discredit the opening act of the night, The New Loud
should be everyone’s favorite new band. They’re superfluous
interpretation of how to excel at the delivery of driving, surging
sonic testaments to how to woo an audience is a mesmerizing live
experience I would recommend to anyone willing to lend an ear to music
that sounds not only groundbreaking, but decadently powerful.
Set List:
The Ballad of Robert Murdoch
So Long Sophie
The Ballad of Sophia Green
Magnum
Tusk Wounds Rockets
The Black Rose of Santa Lucia
Ice Storms
Letters from Odysseus
Tumbleweeds
All’s Fair