How Was The Show - Elvis Perkins in Dearland at 400 Bar

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Elvis Perkins at The Fine Line, Hootenany and at 400 Bar on 10/4/07

Elvis Perkins at the Fine Line - Photo by Stacy Schwartz

Elvis Perkins in Dearland mini-Minneapolis tour - Thursday, October 4th, 2007 at The Fine Line, Friday, October 5th at Java Jacks, and Friday, October 5th at The 400 Bar, Minneapolis

Back in April, on a whim, HowWasTheShow’s Andrea Myers, Jen Paulson and I headed over to The 400 Bar to see a band I’d heard was pretty decent, but had never actually listened to. The band was Elvis Perkins in Dearland. To be to the point, we were blown away. In early October, these new Perkins groupies would be lucky to catch him three different times over the course of two days. Perkins is currently on tour with indie darlings Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and that tour made a two-night stop in Minneapolis. Once I heard that, my mind started whirling. I emailed Hootenanny maestro Jim Walsh with my idea: Perkins would be here for two days… and would have nothing to do in-between shows. So how about a Hoot? Walsh’s response was, “make it happen.” “Oof. Me? Ok,” I thought, “I’ll give it a shot.” After a bit of finagling and some light pleading with a lovely manager in NYC, I was able to secure Elvis Perkins at the Hoot. I was so excited when I got that confirmation phone call I was shaking.

The mini-Minneapolis tour began with a show at the Fine Line on Thursday. This was my first chance since April (and my obsessive CD listening spree that’s never really ended) to see Perkins and his band live. They proved that my pleas to every and anyone to attend the show were not unfounded. Perkins and Dearland (his band) played all the tunes most Perkins fans are familiar with – “While You Were Sleeping,” (a lovely song that can literally make one weep on a moment’s notice) “All The Night Without Love,” “May Day” and a rollicking version of “Doomsday” - complete with a large bass drum reminiscent of the high school marching bands of my past. I overheard more than one person ask, “Who is this again? They’re really good!” Perkins and Dearland give it their all when they play. There’s a beautiful upright bass played by Brigham Brough, Wyndham Boylan-Garnett on keys, and Nicholas Kinsey on the aforementioned bass drum.

Elvis Perkins with Jim Walsh at the Mad Ripple Hootenany - Photo by David de Young

The second show proved to be my favorite and the most heart palpitation-inducing of the weekend, the Hoot. If you’re unfamiliar, the Hootenanny is a place for singer-songwriters to perform to a willing, quiet audience. Usually it’s a showcase for local acts, and I’ve seen some amazing musicians there. But this time was special for me, because Elvis Perkins was there! He started the show with a slower, moving version of “Doomsday,” which he said stemmed from the fact that he was always a bit nervous about his name when he had to introduce him self to someone new. As such, he would always remember faces, but never names. And while I forget your name/I won’t forget your sweet face. The room took a collective sigh as he finished. Perkins also played lovely versions of “Emile’s Vietnam in the Sky,” “Shampoo,” and “While You Were Sleeping.” I saw tears, smiles, laughter, and understanding on the faces of those in the room. Perkins added many fans that night and it was amazing to see him in such an intimate setting.

The last show of Perkins’ Minneapolis whirlwind tour found me at the 400 Bar, ready for music with a kick. Dearland was up to the challenge and burst forth onto the stage with versions of the same songs we’d heard earlier in sweet acoustic bliss. The night ended with a once again rollicking “Doomsday,” and it was fitting. Perkins has been touring steadily for the last 14 months, and is scheduled into mid-December. A man with no current home, he’s truly the epitome of the old-fashioned traveling troubadour.