By: Mike Minehart
When you follow a band for as long as I have, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect from them on any given night. Roster McCabe was one of the very first bands that got me into the Twin Cities local music scene, and to date I've attended more shows from them (22) than any other band. But not even a year's worth of gigs from these guys could have prepared me for what I was lucky enough to witness at the Fine Line Tuesday night.
Though originally a four-piece acoustic group, the departure of their former lead singer over the summer prompted moving percussionist Alex Steele from backing to lead vocals. The remaining trio, with Michael Daum (lead guitar) and Drew Preiner (acoustic guitar/backing vocals), decided to expand their sound by adding a drummer, bassist, and saxophone player to their lineup. Local singer/songwriter Ari Herstand also makes guest appearances on trumpet with them from time to time as well. The newly reborn Roster McCabe recorded their latest EP, Contradicting Gravity at the end of August and have been gigging hard around the Twin Cities ever since.
When I arrived at the Fine Line right at 9:15 p.m., Roster McCabe's scheduled starting time, I expected that the band would still be setting up for their set – from what I've seen, shows rarely ever seem to start on time no matter who is playing or where it's happening. To my surprise, they were midway through their first song, "See You Soon," and already had the crowd movin' and shakin' along to their smooth blend of funk rock and jam. Even more incredible to me was the fact that there was literally a crowd of about 200 people out for this show, and on a Tuesday night no less! I've been used to seeing these guys play more intimate shows for so long that I was amazed at how thick the crowd was, making it tricky to maneuver through the venue for good picture angles at times.
With their fan base out in full force, Roster McCabe gave the Fine Line yet another memorable performance on this night. Featuring the debut of lead singer/percussionist Steele performing on keys, the band put forth a heartfelt performance of songs from their EP mixed in with a few covers of artists such as Bob Marley and Matisyahu, which meshed in perfectly with their style of music. This was definitely helped by the fact that Steele is half-Jamaican, and he sported one of his custom hand-made T-shirts with the phrase "Just Be" in large, stenciled letters as his fashion statement for the night. Daum and Jason Parvey (saxophone) traded funky, smooth solos as Preiner and the rest of the band kept the crowd all in motion during their set. Herstand made an appearance at the end, pulling out his trumpet on "Constellations" and the fan favorite and final song of their set, "Last Call."
In the end, Roster McCabe is yet another local band on the rise, and on this night, they may have just taken the next step up on the proverbial ladder of the local music scene. Their set of jam/funk tunes, combined with a great crowd and a very colorful smoke and lighting setup made for something special this night at the Fine Line.
Photo by Mike Minehart.
Location Info:
Fine Line Music Café
Artist Info: Roster McCabe
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