BECCA MARX: Hoot Review from Harriet Brewing, July 30, 2015 — The Hoot is like a family, swelling in size as the years go by. Any given hoot, there’ll probably be more musicians offstage than on, visiting with old friends and new. Players become the audience, and audience members often find their way onstage. There’s a real nice full-circle feeling about the Hoot, and cheers to Jim Walsh for creating that energy. An energy that is similar to a family reunion, but only with people that you want to see, and hear from. Read more…

BECCA MARX: July 23rd Hoot Preview — I’m shaking my head mirthfully while I write this preview because of the fact that one of the Hoot talents lined up for this Thursday was invisible on the worldwide web. I contacted Hoot boss Jim Walsh to inquire if he was testing me, and he replied, “Ha! He’s…I met …” What? Walsh promised that he’d fill me in later…in actuality there are a few question marks that I have in regards to the players this week. So, pull on your boots, and wade into the unknown with me! Read more…

BECCA MARX: Hoot Review from Harriet Brewing, July 16, 2015 — Even before the Hoot happened on Thursday night at Harriet Brewing, I had an idea that it’d be a memorable one. Hoot patriarch Jim Walsh had written a piece about his affection for Hoot veteran Jeaneen Gauthier (Jan), and it occurred to me once more that Walsh doesn’t randomly pick these players. This particular line-up was one that I wasn’t familiar with, but as Walsh himself said, there was a “wealth of talent” onstage, a fact strikingly evident as all the players collaborated on Walsh’s own beauty of a song, “Homebodies (Don’t Be Careful With Your Love).” Read more…

BECCA MARX: July 16th Hoot Preview — A Mad Ripple Hootenanny first: Thursday night’s players are all brand new to me. They’re quite a musically distinguished group, so it reflects more on me, than on them. What an exciting prospect: all new sounds and all new faces. It’ll be fun, never a dull moment at the Hoot! If you’re a fan of the band Swallows, then you’ll recognize the name Jeff Crandall. The dark roots band was formed in 2008, and in 2012, the City Page’s staff honored their album “Witching & Divining” by including it on their “Best Local Albums” list. Read more…

BECCA MARX: Hoot Review from Harriet Brewing, July 9, 2015 — Hope that I didn’t put you off with my Hoot preview rant, post Hoot I can say that I am satiated and chill. My frustration with the lack of appreciation for local artists evaporated as Harriet Brewing welcomed in the best Hoot audience that those onstage could desire. Read more…

BECCA MARX: July 9th Hoot Preview — It’s really about the love of music; live music is the spark to my flame. Over the years I’ve experienced another emotion when it comes to music: frustration. It goes like this…”Have you seen (insert local artist name here)?” Eighty percent of the time I get a blank stare in reply, and someone starts talking about how Madonna kissed some guy onstage somewhere…Old news people! She’ll kiss a toad if it keeps her in front of your face. Take offense if you want, but you know that it’s true. Read more…

BECCA MARX: July 2nd Hoot Preview — July 4th, 1776, a date ingrained into our brains as Independence Day, but what does independence mean to you? The freedom to vote, to marry whom you want, to have access to contraceptives, to live in a desegregated society, to not be enslaved? That’s the rub isn’t it? No two individuals value independence as the same exact thing. Read more…

BECCA MARX: Hoot Review from Harriet Brewing, June 25, 2015 — In this week’s Hoot preview, I wrote to the fact that art can be like a compulsion, a passion that can poison, or liberate. I encouraged the audience to free themselves, and let the music lead them wherever they let it. Arriving late, and rushed after a think tank reception with state Rep. John Lesch regarding the real issue of revenge porn, I found myself torn between tough reality, and musical escapism. I’ll write about both, but telling perhaps, that I write about music first? Read more…

BECCA MARX: June 25th Hoot Preview — Sometimes we get carried away, we do too much, and play too hard, work more than we should. A universal human condition that we can all relate to. In many of us there lives a fire that can’t be put out, a passion that may run hot or cold, but down deep drives us in a way nothing else can. The artists of the Hoot on Thursday will delve into that space, and I’d like you to join the players in that place, no matter who or what you are. That’s the thing with music, if you allow it, it can take you anywhere. Read more…

BECCA MARX: Hoot Review from Harriet Brewing, June 18, 2015 — In Minneapolis, summer is the season of abundance, and like beasts awakening from hibernation, we must climb out into the sunlight and use it up! Pick the berries, drink in the lilac’s rich scent, and open our arms wide to one another. That last part isn’t always easy for native Minnesotans, but this time of year brings out the best in us. Read more…