Before the “talkies,” before Technicolor, before Shrek, people used to flock to music halls for their entertainment, and Vaudeville Theater was the “Guitar Hero” of its day. While this culture was largely obliterated by technological advances in theater and film, some true believers have kept the highly unique and very much American art form alive throughout the decades. Though these performances no longer draw the crowds that they used to, they seem to be enjoying a gentle resurgence in popular culture. No where does this seem to be more evident than at a Dreamland Faces show, one of which I enjoyed last Friday night at The Bryant Lake Bowl. While not a full Vaudeville act per se, the Faces are more like the musical accompaniment to what in the old days would have been dancing bears, acrobatics, silent film or any number of things.
The Dreamland Faces originated in Rochester NY, where Andy McCormick and Karen Majewicz started playing accordion (Majewicz) and Singing Saw (McCormick) together as a duet. Finding Minneapolis conducive to live music and bike-commuting, they moved here nearly three years ago. Shortly after they teamed up with Randall Throckmorton, Kristin Froebel, Steve Sandberg and Josef Evans to form the six-piece band, and they have since been wowing music fans of all stripes with their extraordinary live shows.
To describe a Dreamland Faces show one must resort to allusions long since forgotten in popular culture - carnival barkers, le accent de Belleville, The Palace Theater, men with waxed moustaches and women in intricate hats. There is no mistaking the early 20th century feel of the sound, and to experience a show is something akin to going back in time.
The band is led by McCormick whose slightly nasal voice sounds like it’s coming out of a gramophone circa 1929 (in a good way). He also has a showman’s flair that reminds me a bit of a circus sideshow caller, the guy who guesses people’s weights or introduces the freakshow: “Steeeeeep right up ladies and gentlemen and see the amazing two headed woman!” He is also extremely skilled on the Singing Saw, a saw blade that produces a theramin-like sound when its edge is played with a bow.
Sharing the frontman’s responsibilities are Throckmorton and Majewicz, who take the lead on different songs. On Friday Majewicz led “Tabu,” in a coquettish squeak, one of my favorite tunes of the evening. Throckmorton donned a pith helmet to sing the hilarious “I wish that I’d been born in Borneo” as well as deftly playing the ukulele on other tunes. While generally in the background the brass section, Froebel and Sandberg played important roles as well in the overall sound (Evans was missing from the lineup on this particular night).
Dreamland Faces - Photo by Jon Behm
Most of the Faces’ material is mined from ancient music hall recordings and forgotten pop tunes like Edith Piaf’s “Je Sais Comment” or the Jonny Long Band’s “Shantytown.” All of the instrumentals, however, are original songs. They include the music that they have developed to play for silent film showings, which they are well known for.
Though I have never seen the band accompany a silent film, I would like to. I think the true spirit of the age that the Dreamland Faces capture would be best heard along with scenes like Buster Keaton’s tumbling gags and ads for Chesterfield’s cigarettes. For now though I continue to enjoy the Dreamland Faces’ concerts, which easily stand on their own. They are one of the most unique, original and talented groups in the Twin Cities’ scene today. If you haven’t checked them out already I highly recommend doing so soon.
