Standing on the Corner, Waiting for a BusWhen I moved to Minneapolis, I started working downtown and realized that many people opted to take public transportation rather than driving. A few years later, I also moved not far from the light rail train, so for a solid decade, I took the morning train, worked from 9-5 and then I took the train back home again. As job possibilities presented themselves, one of my ongoing requirements was being able to continue my easy train commute.  Lightrail train in downtwn Minneapolis, Photo by John Watne On a Downtown TrainAfter my position was eliminated at the end of last year, I started a new job, and for the first time in 12 years, I am driving daily to and from work. I was reticent to make this change, but I also received an offer for a job that was a perfect fit for me, so driving to and from work seemed a small price to pay for a great career opportunity. The other day, I took the train downtown to meet a friend for coffee. It reminded me of the good, the bad, and the ugly about commuting to work my train.  Here' s a post-election protest I saw at Government Plaza in November of 2016. This is the best sign ever. Why I Usually Loved My Train CommuteFor me, taking the train was quicker, safer, cheaper, easier and enabled me to have a smaller carbon footprint. What’s not to love?
 Here is photographic proof of the lawnmower on the train. Why I Occasionally Disliked My Train CommuteLower cost? Easier? What's not to like? Well, there are a few things...
 Riding the train on a consistent basis gets you up close and personal with the elements. What Do You Think?What are the good and bad parts of commuting to and from work using public transportation? Include your thoughts in the comments. Learn More
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My Taste in MusicMy musical tastes are often a little off the beaten path. Since a couple of years ago, when my household started watching Ditty TV on our Roku, I've really enjoyed listening to Americana music. Shawn James (with or without his band, The Shapeshifters) has been one of my favorites. Shawn James, along with fiddle player Sage Cornelius, recently played their first Minnesota gig at the Turf Club in St Paul, and I got to see him play live. Here are three of my favorite songs featuring Shawn James for your listening pleasure.  Shawn James and Sage Cornelius performing at Turf Club in St Paul on 3/19/2018. "Hellhound" by Shawn JamesThis is the first song by Shawn James I ever heard. In this video, it's amazing to me that this larger than life song is generated by one guy playing at least 3 instruments and singing in room full of weird stuff. Cover of John Legend's "Who Did That to You?" by Shawn James with Sage CorneliusI've heard the John Legend song (featured in the movie D'jango Unchained). Here, Shawn James does the song the way he thought it should have been done in that scene--a little angrier. Fiddle player Sage Cornelius is also ridiculously good. "The Bear" by Shawn James and The ShapeshiftersI love this video. It has great music, fire and moonshine, so what's not to like? Near the end, as the lot of them are dancing around the fire, the guy on the left is jamming harder than perhaps anyone else has jammed in the history of playing an instrument while dancing. This song and video feature not only Shawn James, but The Shapeshifters as well. Bonus: "John the Revelator" by Shawn JamesHere is my fan filmed, poor lighting video of Shawn James singing an a cappella version of "John the Revelator" with the audience stomping and clapping along. Mad props to Sage Cornelius who is microphoneless, but jamming his heart out onstage. Video taken at The Turf Club in St Paul on 3/19/2018. The Obligatory Nerd Girl Fan PhotoMy husband, and extrovert, struck up a conversation with Shawn James before the concert, and took my picture with him. Now my daughter, who is particularly fond of "The Bear" video, will definitely think I'm super cool.  Nerd fan girl Brenda Peterson (yup, that's me) with Shawn James, whose music I absolutely love. Now my daughter thinks I'm super cool. Learn More
Weatherman by WillisI first heard Willis during a performance at Circus Juventas at St. Paul. This song, Weatherman, is from the album Uncle Treacle. Willis is a combination of Lady Gaga's amazing voice with a vaudeville flair. she is well known for her costumers and theatrical makeup. Weatherman by Daphne WillisYes, there is a song entitled "Weatherman" by two artists who have Willis as part of their name. Here is a live version of Weatherman by Daphne Willis. Her vocal range demonstrated in this song is impressive, and she performs music in multiple styles including country, blues and electronica. Weatherman by Dead Sara...and now for somethign completely different (and much harder). Dead Sara's is fronted by Emily Armstrong and Siouxsie Medley. The band describes themselves as "an electrifying four-piece rock band whose supercharged music is propelled by Medley’s exhilarating, monster guitar riffs and Armstrong’s powerful, wailing vocals." Learn More Since it's raining in at least 2/3 of these songs, this seems like the right image. I remember in college, watching Nirvana perform Smells Like Teen Spirit on MTV. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. I also remember them publishing a version of the video clarifying what the sometimes mumbled words were, and then seeing the video again interspersed with a grieving Courtney Love lamenting Kurt Cobain's untimely death. Fast forward many, many years. My daughter's junior high school band covered this song at a recent concert, which inspired me to find new, different covers of this now retro song. Smells Like Teen Spirit: It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That SwingThis version features a starlet Robyn Adele Anderson covering the song with a 1940's swing style. Smells Like Teen Spirit: Full Orchestra and ChoirMore instruments! More vocals! Even more smelling like Teen Spirit! Smells Like Teen Spirit: A Capella...and now for something completely different. This time, no instruments at all are needed. Instead, it's four guys, Maybebop, with microphones in a hallway doing amazing things with only their voices. Learn More Nirvana! I live in South Minneapolis, just blocks from the house used as Prince's home in the movie Purple Rain. I also work in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis down the street from First Avenue, where much of Purple Rain was filmed. Minnesota loves Prince. Upon his untimely death, many artists started adding Prince covers to their sets. While amazing covers of "Purple Rain" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" abound, here are three amazing covers of 'When Doves Cry."  Prince's gold star near the entrance of First Avenue in Minneapolis, where parts of Purple Rain were shot. Choir! of 1999 Voices Sings Prince "When Doves Cry"See this amazing chorus of 1999 people pay tribute to Prince by singing "When Doves Cry." This event took place on May 2, 2016 and was recorded live in Toronto at Massey Hall. These people were given a couple hours of rehearsal just prior to this moving performance. Greensky Bluegrass: When Doves Cry (Prince Cover)When I think of "When Doves Cry", I think of electric guitars and moaning. Or, in this case, guitars, banjos and string basses. Jack Black (of Tenacious D) Sings "When Doves Cry"It's Tenacious D, and its' time for Jack Black's solo. Hear "When Doves Cry" as only he can sing it. If you never knew Jack Black could sing, prepare to be delighted. Note it's not a "Tribute," but the actual song. Learn MoreI'm not a huge AC/DC fan, but being from a small town with a bowling alley, I have heard a fair amount of AC/DC in my time. Regardless, I do love a good cover, though--the more unexpected, the better. Check out these three fun covers of the song "Thunderstruck" as I'm guessing AC/DC never imagined it could be. Steve'n'SeagullsTurns out there are actual words to "Thunderstruck." In this version, you can even tell what they are--although there is no guarantee that all of these words align completely up with the original lyrics. It's even better when played by a Finnish band and features a banjo, an accordion, an anvil and a set of spoons. Church CoverThis guy does covers of popular songs on a piano in a church. It's surreal hearing Thunderstruck sound beautiful. 2CellosMy high school orchestra (who I swear could not play any song quite SLOW enough) would have been way more fun with these two. It's not everyday you see an intriguing Creation cello duo. I wonder how many bows these guys go through in a show. The Louis XVI era dress makes this rendition even better. Learn More I know. It's lightening. But the thunder, and the whole Thunderstruck part, would happen right after this picture took place. Finding New MusicA while ago, my husband and I stumbled upon a channel on our Roku called DittyTV. This station features videos by Americana musicians. Here are videos by three of my favorite groups that I've found recently. Shawn James & the ShapeshiftersThis video features Shawn James without the Shapeshifters. He's just a guy, in a room full of weird stuff singing an amazing song and playing all of the instruments by himself. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night SweatsAny guy whose band is called The Night Sweats has to be okay. The song is fun and the video has a Blues Brothers movie feel. The Dead SouthI love these 4 Canadians dressed like Amish guys in this quirky video where they are playing in multiple atypical concert locations. Learn More Banjo! |