Music On-A-Stick: Manchester Orchestra and Bad Bad Hats rocked before storm rolled in
by Macie Rasmussen and Darin Kamnetz
August 29, 2022
At the end of each summer, people attending the Minnesota State Fair love to search for the newest, unconventional food on a stick. Saturday's Music-On-A-Stick concert at the Grandstand served up some tasty surprises, as well. I assumed that I’d be one of the first people who could say that they’d walked past herds of sheep, hot dogs, root beer floats, and mini donuts in order to arrive at a Portugal. The Man concert. That expectation didn’t fully come to fruition, though, because a thunderstorm swept over St. Paul, resulting in the cancellation of the headliner.
Before rain began pouring, the evening began on a calmer note with Minneapolis indie-rockers, Bad Bad Hats. The trio of Kerry Alexander, Chris Hoge, and Connor Davison didn't take up much physical space on the expansive stage, yet their charisma filled the plaza. The band’s lighthearted melodies provided a grounding feeling within the State Fair’s energetic environment.
Vocalist-guitarist Alexander gave detailed descriptions of a few songs’ meanings. She introduced “Nothing Gets Me High” with the idea that falling in love later in life never feels as intense as the first time you experience the sensation. Before “Detroit Basketball,” Alexander talked about how she always tried to match with the celebrity sports star in teen magazine quizzes, then later realized that she was the sports star all along. The track told a story of discovering that who you want isn’t necessarily who’s best for you — a journey that leads to self-love and acceptance.
Aside from sharing life-lessons, Alexander emphasized that it was a “pleasure and honor” to play at the venue. “It feels exciting to be playing at the Grandstand … something you cross off your bucket list, your Sweet Martha's bucket list.”
The assigned seating at the Grandstand made for an ambivalent atmosphere. A showgoer might wonder, “Do I sit down? Do I stand up? Do I subtly dance in place? Is clapping in my seat enough to show the band that I'm enjoying the show?” For Bad Bad Hats, most remained seated, but around half the crowd hopped to their feet for the second act.
Manchester Orchestra followed with rock music created at the intersection of hard alt pop and light emo. Sticking with their more upbeat songs, the band steered toward sonic abundance matched with maximalist movement. Bassist Andy Prince aggressively shook his head to the rhythm in a deep lunge. In synchronous motion, drummer Tim Very slammed his sticks as Brooks Tipton threw his hands down, hunched over the keyboard.
Before the set was cut short, lead vocalist and guitarist Andy Hull announced that the show might pause soon. “I’m being told a storm is coming. I know what you’re thinking. There’s a storm of rock and roll. We rock too hard, and the gods get angry,” he said. Lighting struck in the sky, and security ushered the crowd into shelter. An hour later, the remainder of the show was canceled.
Fireworks blasted as people splashed through large pools on the fairgrounds later that night. It was easy to imagine Portugal. The Man playing their Grammy-winning song, “Feel It Still,” to the scene of children soaking head to toe, running through water up to their knees.
Note: Because the show was not completed due to severe weather, the Minnesota State Fair has made refunds available. If you purchased your tickets using a credit card through etix or the Minnesota State Fair, your credit card will be automatically credited. If you purchased your tickets using cash or check, please contact tickets@mnstatefair.org or call 651-288-4427.
