At the center of Saturday’s show was Laurie Lindeen, founding member of Zuzu’s Petals, who has just published Petal Pusher: A Rock and Roll Cinderella Story.
Without a doubt, one of the best shows I’ve seen this year, the event (hosted by The Current's Mary Lucia) felt a lot like “Laurie Lindeen: this is your life;” but it felt as much like it was our collective life played out before our eyes and ears. The Replacements became an important part of my musical landscape about the same time as they did for Laurie; I moved to Minneapolis by Greyhound the same as she did; I worked odd jobs with multiple members of the Jayhawks; and seeing Babes in Toyland at the Uptown Bar in the 80s left an impression on me I will never forget.
Lindeen’s book is a tale of what it was like to come of age in the Minneapolis music scene, and what happened on the Fitzgerald stage Saturday night, when all is said and done, is what it's really been about to make music (and friends) in this town over the past 25 years. I cried during the final song, a cover of “Daydream Believer” as much out of joy as sadness when I think of the people this scene has lost over the years. Other show highlights were Dream Syndicate founder Steve Wynn performing “Still Holding Onto You” with an all-star band (a song Lindeen said was on every mix tape she ever made back in the day), Paul Westerberg’s all white outfit and attempt to remember all the words to the Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper.” It was all fun, and every piece of it was like a part of a puzzle, each one falling into place somehow by the end of the night.
This photo by Steve Cohen sums up the climax of the show: Laurie Lindeen leans into the mic to sing the chorus of "Daydream Believer" with Lori Barbero (back to the camera), Colleen Elwood (Lindeen's Zuzu’s Petals bandmate), and Jim Boquist. In the background can be seen Paul Westerberg of The Replacements (Lindeen's husband) and Marc Perlman of the Jayhawks.
See also: A photo gallery of the night by Steven Cohen, and a review of the show by Jen Paulson.
Share this photo:
