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The rarely seen Fractals at Thirsty Pagan. Photos by Jill Fisher.

This past week has been a strange and smoky time for outdoor music, resulting in several cancellations of concerts on my schedule.

Also, the planned drive up to Silver Bay on Friday, July 17, together with friends from the Twin Cities to see the Belfast Cowboys was aborted due to the dangerous air quality caused by wildfire smoke. This despite knowing that concert was to be moved indoors to Union Hall.

Ah well, there will be other opportunities to see that fabulous band in the future.

In the meantime, there is a full schedule of attractive music gigs up in Silver Bay produced by Rocky Wall’s Music in the Park Series on Friday evenings throughout the remainder of July and August. Check out the schedule for these free concerts at rockywallentertainment.org/events.

Nevertheless, the Curmudgeon and I were able to get out to a handful of indoor gigs. On Monday, July 13, it was off to Bent Paddle to see Jumpsuit once again. This seven-piece swingy, funky and sassy band is drawing quite the crowds these days. I was there only for the first set but got to hear their great covers of two songs: Ricky belted out “VooDoo” by Allen Stone and Madi took the lead singing Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).”

Jumpsuit

I’ve reviewed the group a couple times to date, so I’ll just say that I highly recommend getting out to see them wherever they are playing. Note that Monday the 27th, is the last day of Jumpsuit’s July residency at Bent Paddle. The music starts at 7 pm.

With the high temperatures on Tuesday, I decided to forego the City of Duluth’s Music in Lincoln Park, where Rory Van James was slated to play. Sorry Rory!

Then, with the really bad smoke on Wednesday, Glensheen’s Concert on the Pier was cancelled. I was disappointed to miss seeing Joyann Parker there, who I first encountered at the Silver Bay’s Music in the Park back on July 28, 2023 (reviewed in the Aug. 3 issue of the Reader). Parker also presents all-Patsy Cline concerts, which she did a few years back at the West Theatre (reviewed in Oct. 19, 2023 Reader).

But at last I found some tempting music on Thursday, July 16, when I got over to Barker’s Island Inn for the first time to see TC4 (TC=Tom Cawcutt Sr.). In addition to Cawcutt (keys), the group includes Bobby Purdy (electric guitar and saxophone), Jane Aleckson (bass guitar) and Rick Brunner (drums)  They usually play out on the patio, but on this evening they were relocated to inside the restaurant, again due to poor air quality. I hadn’t heard this group before, though I am familiar with each member individually, so it was interesting to witness them together.

I got there in time to hear their first number, “Moondance” by Van Morrison — now there’s a favorite tune! And they kept covering many other favorites, with lead vocals being shared by all. Tom sang Paul Simon’s “Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover.” It was followed by Jane’s vocal on “Love Me Like A Man,” which Bonnie Raitt recorded with a gender modification from Chris Smither’s original composition “Love You Like A Man.”

It was Bobby’s turn to the lead on the next number, “Love Me Two Times” by the Doors and released in 1967.

Tom sang lead on a few more numbers than the others with some nice harmonies provided by Jane. They included Boz Scaggs’ “Miss Sun,” the hit recording “Me and Mrs. Jones,” by Billy Paul,  “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)” by Billy Ocean and Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman.”

Rick was in fine voice for Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright,” written for his then-band Traffic. TC4’s first set was wrapped up by Bobby singing and playing sax for the Ray Charles tune “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”

TC4

There was an appreciative crowd, with several couples dancing to the music. The group will be playing here on most Thursdays through the rest of the summer. I imagine it would be a very enjoyable two hours on a lovely summer evening when they are able to play on the patio, so I plan to get over there again soon.

What drew me away from staying for the TC4’s second set was hearing that the Fractals were playing at Thirsty Pagan on that Thursday evening. Now this is a band I knew from way back when — the 1990s! They play out so rarely, that it’s always a “must-see” if only I hear about their gig. I think the last time saw them was at a benefit for their drummer Marvin Lee (formerly Marvin Pomeroy) back in November of 2024.

What was rather wonderful was the stage being set up at the rear of the main dining area rather than midway in the room. I’d love them to keep this arrangement, which provides greater separation from the bar section and better overall sound as well.

The Fractals members are Barry Pirkola (electric guitar), Jimi Cooper (electric guitar), Darryn Wallace (bass guitar) and Marvin Lee (drums).

These are a bunch of wild and crazy guys who can get a place rockin’ even if folks are basically there to eat dinner! The band’s free-ranging song selections showcase their incredible guitar licks and especially Barry’s high-voltage vocals.

The Curmudgeon and I arrived at the beginning of the second set, so we missed a lot, but got to hear some classic early rock and roll numbers. These included “Li’l Red Riding Hood” a 1966 hit by Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and Carl Perkins’ 1956 release “Honey Don’t” (on the B-side of the single “Blue Suede Shoes”). Then there was their rendition of The Castaways’ only hit, the 1965 “Liar, Liar.”

(It made it to number one in the Twin Cities along with other major markets). This number treated us to Barry’s fantastic falsetto. Before the night was over we also heard “Wristband” by Paul Simon, released in 2016. That one was new to me!

The Fractals play fairly sporadically, so one needs to be attuned to word-of-mouth information as well as the usual event listings to catch them. Until we hear of their next gig, you might be interested in attending one by Coop and the Kooks, a band that shares membership with the Fractals (sans Barry) and is very Fractal-like. That trio will be playing at Thirsty Pagan on Thursday, Aug.20.

Circumstances —  wildfire smoke — conspired to keep me from covering the Bayfront Reggae & World Music Fest this year. The need to move indoors to Symphony Hall at the DECC resulted in significant delays, so I missed seeing the star-studded lineup. I heard from fellow music fans that it was a great concert once it finally got going!

UPCOMING: Let’s keep our fingers crossed that smoke from the ongoing fires in northern Minnesota and Canada won’t result in more outdoor music events being cancelled. There are a bunch of good ones scheduled. Janie and The Spokes will be performing on the docked SS William Irvin on Thursday, July 23, to kick off the DECC’s Music on the Ship series that is scheduled for the next four weeks. (NOTE: this is not a handicapped accessible location.) They will also be playing at the Head of the Lakes Fair in Superior at 1pm on Saturday, July 25.

Then there’s a hard choice for this Friday, July 24, when Dan Scott and the Banjo Express will be playing at Cedar Lounge at 8 pm (while the first day of Metal Fest happens on Earth Rider’s festival grounds stage). Too bad that Banjo Express will conflict with Los Los Ghost (Blues) at Silver Bay Music in the Park that evening beginning at 7:30 pm.

Don’t forget the City’s Music in the Park series that takes place in Lincoln Park. The Peat Boggs will be playing there next Tuesday, July 28.

I’ll see you out there!