State Fair - I live

State Fair - I live in the Midway, so the State Fair usually means snarled traffic (although as a resident, I know all the shortcuts that the madding mass of fairgoers don't) and endless lines of tired or drunk people at the gas station on Snelling.

And the concerts, with few exceptions, have been nothing to write home about. But I've always loved the Bandshell shows. I've seen a lot of people there, including a very young Alison Krauss and a hyperkinetic Doug Kershaw.

This year has its moments:

"Suzy Bogguss, who's leaning toward jazz these days, will also try to make up for the surprising paucity of country by holding forth from the Bandshell on Saturday and Sunday.

Bogguss was one of the higher points of working in country radio in the early nineties; a genuinely talented singer who visibly strained to break free of Music Row "Generic Female Country Product" ghetto. Worth a listen.

And next week?

Other headliners include pop-rockers of disparate resumes, rookie Franky Perez (next Friday and Aug. 30) and ageless Midwestern roadhouser Johnny Holm (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1).

"Ageless roadhouser" - that's one way of describing Holm, the midwest's answer to Sha Na Na (not to take anything away from Holm, a great showman).

I've already raved about Perez in this space. His CD is solid, with a little bit of filler - but he's the best live performer I've seen in years. I'll be there.

Posted by Mitch at August 22, 2003 10:34 AM