Article and Photos by Elizabeth Mann
On Friday night (New Years Eve Eve), Minnesotans of every breed gathered to rock out at First Avenue’s 7th Street Entry. A lineup of several local artists proved to be a major success as the cozy Minneapolis venue was packed corner to corner with an audience that was prepared to party all night.
The hype started early, with TYSM!, Creeping Charlie and DJ Qani absolutely heating up the stage. Aside from their ability to recruit a large group of big kids from all over the Twin Cities, these artists were all able to deeply engage their diverse group of fans. From hometown pals to Minny music scene regulars- everyone seemed to be having a stellar time.
By the time their surprise guest hit the stage, the stacked-level space had been filled to maximum capacity. Ber, a babe from Bemidji, performed several of her hit songs. Through time spent both at home in the midwest and abroad she writes songs that transform experiences into emotive melodies.
Her most notable claim to fame has been through viral bits from her music on Tik Tok, such as ‘Meant to Be’ and ‘Superspreader’, both of which were welcomed into her set. Songs “I’m not in love” and “Dead Deer” brought a warm fuzzy feeling to those feeling less than romantic as 2022 comes to a close. Although much of her work can be heard online, she has a unique stage presence which offers hope for a career of stardom off screen.
Selling out the show was the young and equally hyped headliner, Landon Conrath. Also fresh to the songwriting scene, Conrath’s first music came out to major streaming services in 2020. He has been in the industry for a while though, first as a drummer and working through several other instruments before finding the mic. On social media he claims that his now-bandmates are longtime best friends, which is apparent through their tight-knit energy on stage.
Described by a First Avenue publication as “hook-laden indie-pop”, their lyrics are both catchy and relatable. The beats of ‘2AM’ and ‘Trader Joes’ got the crowd moving, while the soft acoustics of ‘So,so’ slowed everyone down. Their instrumental talent and playful commentary electrified the stage and fostered a welcoming environment. While Landon rocked around, fans were also clearly drawn to lead guitarist Caleb Dee. His bright smile was cause for chatter amongst the crowd as I overheard several people talking about the awesome and sweet person he is.
Overall, the lineup created a nurturing environment for the spirit of the upcoming year. If you missed the show and are curious about the artists check out their socials..
Tik Tok:
@heythereitsBer
@landon.conrath.music
Instagram:
@its.tysm
@creepingcharlieband
@heythereitsber
@landonconrath
Stay tuned for new music as well. Ber recently released her first EP “Halfway” to streaming services, and Landon Conrath just dropped the deluxe version of their first album “Nothing Matters Anyway”. In fact, Friday night kicked off a tour for the band which will head to Wisconsin mid-January and out west the following weeks. Whether you’re able to catch them in person or through your car speakers, make sure you pay attention to these rising stars- I have a feeling they will be here for awhile.
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