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Paul Metsa with Macie Orr and Oliver Jane at Alhambra Lounge. Photos by Jill Fisher.

That’s Metsa and Matinee Musicale, which all happened this past weekend.

The legendary Paul Metsa put together a program at the Alhambra Lounge on Saturday afternoon, Jan.30. He played songs from his most recently released album, Songs of Resistance & Resolve 1984-2025, that speak to the troubled and tragic times being experienced throughout the U.S. but especially Minneapolis.

Paul’s first set began a little after 2 pm. The lounge was packed and, despite the early hour, the two bartenders were super busy filling the customers’ beverage orders.

The first song after taking the low-rise stage was “Virginia” from his 1984 album Paper Tigers. We’ve heard him sing this plaintive tune before, both solo and with the backup band, Tilt Town Titans. This time he had two excellent backup singers, Oliver Jane (Emma Gregory) and Macie Orr, introduced as the “Titanettes.” The ladies, with their sweet harmonies, enhanced this rendition of the song.

The second number of the set was “Honeymoon in Drag Alley” with the key lyric “love is like a hurricane.” This one was from Paul’s Texas In The Twilight album, a recording of a live solo performance at the Mars studio in Austin, Texas, back in 1990.

Several of the compositions performed this afternoon were from Metsa’s earlier albums and included on his latest. For example, the third number performed was “59 Coal Mines,” which was first recorded on Paper Tigers, later on Texas, and on Songs.

Next up was a cover “Man Smart, Women Smarter,” a catchy tune first recorded in 1936 and subsequently by many well-known artists, including Harry Belafonte in 1956. It was written by Norman Span, AKA King Radio, a Trinidadian, with others credited.

Although I loved the calypso rhythm and melody of this song, I rail against any lyrics that suggest that one sex is “smarter” (or more moral or whatever) than the other. One need only look around to see that women have access to positions of power now and are nearly as likely to abuse it. Just sayin’.

Interspersed with his original compositions were covers of other songs. Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” was fifth on the playlist. This was an apt tune given the events of this past week.

More so was Metsa’s “Slow Justice,” which he dedicated to “the late, great Paul Wellstone.” This too is a song that was recorded on four of Paul’s earliest albums.

After a break, the second set opened with the tune “Walkin’ in a Woman’s World;” a feminist tune if there ever was one. The Titanettes were a nice addition to this tune.

Sonny Earl with Paul Metsa

By this point blues harpist Sonny Earl, a long-time collaborator with Paul, had arrived from the Twin Cities for the gig. He’s always impressive and a positive addition; his harmonica belt says it all: he’s ready for any key a particular song requires. So in response to “Woman’s World,” Sonny was a tour de force as lead singer on the bluesy “Low Down Woman,” a song released by the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1980. I was surprised to learn of its release date since it sounded like a traditional blues number from the early 20th century.

Metsa followed with another Dylan tune, “I Shall Be Released,” which he invited folks to sing along to on the chorus. The song resonated with the theme of the gig.

And then came what many in the crowd were waiting for: Paul’s latest composition in collaboration with Alan Sparhawk, “No Kings (No Crown).” This is a searingly political song that is a clear delineation of the federal government’s unacceptable and anti-democratic policies under the Trump administration. The chorus provides a  direct repudiation of those policies and actions: “NO KINGS, NO CROWN, NOT EVER, NOT NOW!”

It was an appropriate finale to a meaningful afternoon of protest songs.

On a completely different note, the Curmudgeon and I were off to a presentation by Matinee Musicale on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1.

For those who aren’t familiar with this august organization, suffice to say that it has been bringing musicians who “are on the brink of fame” to the Twin Ports community for more than 125 years!

Such performers have included the likes of Pablo Casals (in 1918) and Paul Robeson (in 1931), along with many others of similar reknown. Even the Trapp Family Singers performed here in the fall of 1940! (Check out the history of MM online at matineemusicale.org.)

But this volunteer not-for-profit organization doesn’t just bring elite musicians to our region. Within a couple decades of its founding MM began offering scholarships annually to local music students chosen by musical faculty at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Wisconsin-Superior and the College of St. Scholastica. This year there are 12 recipients.

MM Board member Tiss Underdahl noted that a recital concert by this year’s award winners will be on Tuesday, March 24, at the Weber Music Hall on the UMD campus. It begins at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public.

She enthused “it is so much fun, and I am always blown away by the caliber of talent we have right here.”

Underdahl also reported that “audiences continue to grow; last year we averaged 249 tickets a concert, and this year we’re up to 260. That’s marvelous, but ticket sales alone don’t sustain us. It’s important to maintain donors, but the bulk of our funding comes from many grant proposals submitted each year.”

But on to the fabulous MM concert this past Sunday. Two young Chinese men, Teng-Yue “TY” Zhang (acoustic and electric guitars) and Strauss Shi (violinist, traditional Chinese instruments) now known as ArcoStrum performed 10 plus pieces for a highly appreciative audience.

Strauss Shi and Teng-Yue Zhang

Remarkably, all but one of these were arranged by the duo, transforming the original/traditional arrangements (piano, string quartets) for their unique combination of instruments.

The two played an improvised opening of short movie soundtracks before beginning the program with Astor Piazzolla’s “Primavera Porteña (Buenos Aires Spring)” and following it with “Invierno Porteña (Buenos Aires Winter). These were wonderfully evocative numbers that sounded to my ears just like the titular seasons, particularly, the winter piece that ended with pizzicato on the violin that replicated the sound of falling sleet and snow.

ArcoStrum’s third number was “Ink Orchid Pavilion,” in which the Chinese instruments Erhu (pronounced “R who”), a two-stringed fiddle, and bamboo flutes were combined with electric guitar.

As Strauss explained, the piece was inspired by the ancient Chinese ink and brush drawings of a landscape with lake and pavilion. This was my favorite piece of all the wonderful compositions performed as it effectively transported me to another place and time.

Inspiration for “Ink Orchid Pavilion”

That was followed by another Chinese composition “Horse Racing.” Here too, the music served to convey all the excitement and tension inherent in the sport.

After a break, the duo launched into their version of “Keyboard Sonata, K. 141” by Domenico Scarlatti, followed by the “Theme from Shindler’s List” by John Williams, demonstrating their range of musical interests.

After three other more traditional pieces, including Antonio Vivaldi’s “Winter from The Four Seasons,” which Strauss asserted was “the most over-played composition ever!” they performed a version of “Michael Jackson meets Scarlatti” by Katona Twins This unusual pairing of pop and classical music provided ample space for improvisation, which TY and Strauss showcased, including snippets of Allman Brothers Band music as well as Jackson melodies.

After a standing ovation, ArcoStrum performed its first encore, the gypsy jazz number “Minor Swing” by Django Reinhardt (very swingy and cool!).

A second encore was demanded by the audience for which they played something called “Watermelon” in which the violin was played and strummed like a guitar. I can’t say enough about how enjoyable this concert was and what a wonderful venue Pilgrim Congregational Church is for such performances.

I urge folks to check out the remaining three concerts of the 2025-26 MM season.

UPCOMING: One music event scheduled for this weekend I am interested in is the Bob Marley Birthday Party at Wussow’s on Friday, Feb. 6, beginning at 6 pm (I do love Reggae!). Another is Armchair Boogie’s gig at Cedar Lounge the next day, Saturday, Feb. 7. It begins at 8 pm. See Earth Rider’s website for details.