Tags
A Benefit For One Heartland, Chris Hawkeye, Don Smithmier, Epic, Hope in the Heartland, Hope in the Heartland: A Benefit for One Heartland, Indie, Indie Rock, James Morrison, Lissie, Minneapolis, MPLS, MPLSmusic, Rocket Club, The Brick, The Myth
Thursday night, May 10 was Hope in the Heartland: A Benefit for One Heartland at The Brick. Performing were James Morrison doing a onsite acoustic set, Lissie and Minneapolis’s own Rocket Club. I missed James Morrison but arrived in time to see Lissie open with a slow song, which surprised me. However, she picked up the pace and rocked out with her hit “When I’m Alone” for number two. She played a full set and was a fun, energetic performer who got on great with the crowd and they loved her. She gave it her all and they gave it right back. She alone was worth the price of the ticket.
Last up was Rocket Club, who is one of those bands that draws lots of loyal female fans, most of whom congregate in front of the stage. You can tell these guys are used to playing together and the happier the crowd is, the happier they are. They played a mixture of original and cover tunes like any good honky-tonk band and their anthem “North Country” lived up to its video. Chris Hawkeye occasionally switched lead vocals with keyboardist Don Smithmier, which kept things fresh and interesting. There was a bit of a microphone glitch but they handled it well and had the audience laughing while it was fixed. Over all, they put on a great show, the kind that hardcore fans stayed for even thought it was after 11:00 on a weeknight and they had to work the next day.
I enjoyed the show and appreciated the chance to see it. I have no problems with The Brick or its supposed viewing issues. As far as I’m concerned, it’s no different from Epic (hate it) and The Myth (hate it) but I will say that they need a much cushier set up downstairs in the bar area with seating and big screens like The Myth, not the sparse tables and small screen TVs they currently offer.
