Kathy's Pubrules the roost this weekend with a Friday and Saturday lineup of high-quality alternative rock acts.
On Friday night, starting around 9, Minneapolis-based The Recklesswill kick off the weekend with their enticing mix of traditional and experimental rock. The group's latest album is available for free download on their Soundcloud page .
The Reckless recently put out a music video to go with their current single, "Keep it Together." The downcast, poppy-around-the-edges song shows off singer David Sandersfeld'sworld-weary vocals and heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics while also showcasing the band's penchant for crafting drifty, hypnotic soundscapes of rhythm.
The Reckless will be joined by openers Rat Pit , named for an unsavory form of entertainment from the 1800s. Their sound sits somewhere between alternative and psychedelic rock.
The alt-rock parade continues across the Kathy's stage on Saturday night, when Clockwork, a trio of carefully-dressed teenagers from St. Charles, Mo., will play their spirited, romantic brand of mild rock music.
ADVERTISEMENT
The band's latest album, "Out to Sea," is available for purchase online now on their website , where there is also a video of the trio promoting their group the old-fashioned way — by serenading women at their local mall.
"Fire," the first track of Clockwork's new record, is a primer on the group's sound — rumbling drums, harmonizing vocals, and quick-moving acoustic guitars come together in a union not unlike something Mumford & Sonsmight produce.
Clockwork isn't limited to acoustic numbers, though, as a handful of tracks on the album, like "Lock Eyes" and "What Makes You Think," include distorted guitars and hints of pop-punk leanings.
If alternative rock isn't quite what you're looking for this weekend, have no fear, as the Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association(SEMBA) is holding its annual bluegrass festival this weekend in Houston, Minn. The festival runs from 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday afternoon and features a schedule that includes acts like Copper Creek, Blue Wolf, The Martins,and more.
Tickets are $29 for all three days, $12 for Friday and Sunday, and $17 for Saturday. More information is available at SEMBA's website .
On Saturday night, Justin Ploof & The Throwbacks, a crew notorious for their carefully realized tributes to bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan, will pay homage to a true luminary of rock with "Runnin' Down a Dream," a tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
After last week's onslaught of cover bands, your ears might be wary of more recycled music, but an evening spent absorbing the lyrical wisdom of Tom Petty is never an evening misspent, especially when Justin Ploof & the Throwbacks are at the helm, peppering their performance with video clips and historical information about the legendary band.
The show is sponsored by Crossings at Carnegieand will take place at the Zumbrota State Theatreat 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door.
ADVERTISEMENT
For more information, head over to the Crossings at Carnegie website .
Bryan Lund is a Rochester freelance writer.
