Worriers, Kali Masa
The Garage
Burnsville, MN
October 5, 2023
I hadn’t been to The Garage in probably 10 years, a youth center turned all ages venue in suburban Minneapolis. In the past it was more of a stage in the corner, but it’s grown into a real venue with two stages, proper sound systems, and an n/a bar for refreshments. In short, it’s a nice looking space and it feels personal, with a young staff where you can feel the energy instead of people going through the motions for a paycheck.
But this isn’t about the venue, other than to set the tone. This was a small and intimate show. I was surprised at the lower turnout, but not shocked this it was also a relocated show and those tend to have some publicity issues. But the setting affects the spirit of the show. Openers Kali Masa later remarked how it was nice to see a crowd responding to a quieter song without talking over it. That statement is probably half about alcohol (and its effects), but it’s also entirely accurate. Every set of eyes in The Garage was tuned to the stage through a two band lineup.
I was unfamiliar with Chicago’s Kali Masi going into the show. Live it was fun, energetic, and layered. At heart they’re a punk band, but with loaded pedalboards, rainbow guitar straps and sweaters. Live, I’d call their sound melodic post-hardcore. Listening on Bandcamp as I write this, I’m going to keep that description but with a little more emphasis on the vocals and a little more oomph. If you like your punk a little more complex and a little more groove-driven (but in different time signatures), check them out. Live it was a powerful, joyful set. The music may be complex but its delivered with a smile and a good back-and-forth between band members and audience.
While I’ve followed Lauren Denitzio’s career for the better part of 15 years, I’ve only seen Worriers once or twice. As they noted, the band hadn’t played Minneapolis (region) in a long time. Besides that, Denitzio relocated to the West Coast and the lineup has shifted in response. While the words are undoubtedly Denetzio’s and their voice sets the worldweary tone, seeing Worriers proves that it’s a full band and not a solo project. There is a lot of energy between members and it feels [i]full[/i]. In many ways the song structures are designed to emphasize a personal intimacy (there’s that word again), but they were never meant to be the singer-songwriter thing. There’s more punch and volume to it, which fits the boisterous energy that underlies some of the pain and reflection.
This set leaned heavy on the new Trust Your Gut, pulling from Warm Blanket released earlier this year, and some deep cuts too – mostly from the Survival Pop and beyond era. There was time at the end for a solo encore and audience requests, adding to the small room vibe. Sure, the venue is a drive from most of the city’s hubs, but once inside the room none of that matters. The room was warm, intimate, and a world to itself. It was perfect for the band’s vibe.
