As the traditional Second Winter lingers on, you can rest easy knowing that Winona’s newest regiment of seasoned musicians will marshal in a proper Spring this week with sunshine and warmer temperatures among their ranks. The bluegrass super group, The Wide Awakes, break on to the scene this week with their inaugural show at Ed’s (no name) Bar playing with other Winona-bred powerhouses The Heavy Set and Mike Munson.
The Interview Part:
Northern or Midwestern bluegrass is all about the song, not as much about the “jamming” aspect of western mountain bluegrass and not as traditional as Eastern and southern bluegrass.
Roll call. Who’s in the band and what do you play?
Tanner Brethorst: The Wide Awakes is a group of musicians from all walks of life, who came from different musical backgrounds that came together for the love of bluegrass. It’s myself on clawhammer banjo. Alex Meine on rhythm and lead guitar. Chris Peters ripping it up on the mandolin. Ingrid Ogren playing that fiddle. Last but not least, Dave Casey thumping on the stand up bass.
I believe I’ve seen all of you play in another band or project or solo before. What might we know you from?
Tanner: As for groups, there are a lot of them. Myself, solo, Between Two Bluffs, Latsch Island Lunatics (Sam N’ Eye) and Alex Meine and myself had a duo going for a while. As for Alex, I know he was in Caitlin Jemma and The Long Gone String Band but not sure about any other projects. You’ll have to ask him. Chris Peters was in The Boys N’ The Barrels and has played along side some very talented and regional acts, such as Jake Ilika and The People Brothers Band to name a few. Dave Casey, he plays regularly with an awesome group called The Old Fashioneds (Dave: “Playing at Ed’s April 2nd!”) . Also, you’d have to ask him for his musical background and Ingrid… I’m not sure either but she is a very talented violin/fiddle player.
Chris Peters: I’ve been in the Winona bands, …In The Attic, Beet Root Stew, and Deep Sea Summit, as well as MPLS based Boys N’ The Barrels.
How did you all get together? Where were the threads tied together?
Chris: Tanner and I started talking about getting together and playing some old time music and bluegrass. At the time, I was really hoping to find an upright bass player. I remarked to Dave once at Ed’s bar that if he ever got another upright bass, we should play together. He texted me one day that he purchased one and I was ecstatic. Things rolled from there. I didn’t know Alex at the time, and Tanner was really pumped on trying to get him to play with us, as Alex had just come back from living in California. Once we got together, it felt really natural and organic between us. We were luckily able to find Ingrid in the great fiddle player search of 2015, and here we are.
How would you describe your sound to the novice ear?
Chris: Our music is good time bluegrass. We’re there to play upbeat music and supply a good time to those in need of some dancing. We’re currently writing original songs for a hopeful EP release by the end of the year or start of the next year.
How do you feel about paramilitary groups in the 19th century wearing capes and brandishing torches, such as The Wide Awakes?
Dave Casey: Here is the story behind the name: in the 19th century, presidential candidates did not campaign for themselves. They relied on the party and grassroots organizations to get out the word. One such organization that campaigned for Abraham Lincoln was the Wide Awakes. They were a group of young men that would hold rallies and parades while carrying oil lanterns on long poles telling people that they needed to “wake up” to what was going on in the country. They were for free speech, free men and free soil. They were against slavery and its spread into new states. When the South seceded and Lincoln called for a volunteer army, the Wide Awakes volunteered en masse and were enthusiastic to put down the rebellion and fight to free the slaves. I am a huge Lincoln nerd and always thought the Wide Awakes were bad-ass. Thus the name.
What is “Northern Bluegrass”? What distinguishes it?
Chris: Northern or Midwestern bluegrass is all about the song, not as much about the “jamming” aspect of western mountain bluegrass and not as traditional as Eastern and southern bluegrass. It’s more laid [back], and it’s for the newer generations of bluegrass listeners. It basically sounds like sex with a Sriracha burrito, then finding out you won the lottery as you finish.
If you could be a beard for a day, who’s face would you like to have sprouted from: Mike Munson’s or Jim Trouten’s?
Dave: I would have to pick Jim Trouten’s beard. So full, so red.
What’s in store for you all at Mid West Music Fest? Who are you excited to see?
Dave: I hope to see the Shook Twins again at Boats & Bluegrass again this year. I only caught the tail end of their set last year and really liked it. I am excited for Jillian Rae and her band at Chickentown because those people are so damn nice. I hope to see whatever I can at MWMF because I am the assistant director and I will be too busy to enjoy much.
And beyond? Boats ‘n’ Bluegrass? Chickentown? Gigging around the area?
Dave: We have a few more dates lined up after our Thursday debut at Ed’s: April 11 house concert at Sarah Johnson’s place, April 24 at MWMF Eagles Club Stage, May 29 opening for the Dead Horses at Leo and Leona’s, and June 27 at the Hei n Low on the back patio.