The bands Diet Lite, Creeping Charlie and Why Not performed at the Chop Shop in Southeast Como, Minneapolis on July 8, providing music lovers and followers of the local independent scene with an exceptional house performance.
The concert cemented the Chop Shop’s status as a sanctuary for underground music by showcasing the great acts’ lively energy in a small-scale environment.
The Chop Shop is not your typical house event location. The snug basement-turned-venue became a gathering place for music enthusiasts looking for a genuine and immersive experience because of its commitment to supporting local acts.
The first act was Diet Lite. The band comprises Max Niemann (guitar and vocals), Evan Marsalli (drums) and Kelson Kuzdas (bass). They recently released an album called “Into The Pudding” in April. They have been playing many shows all over the Midwest and an eight-day East Coast tour since its release. On Oct. 12, they will return to Minneapolis, playing with Zippo Man and Basketball Divorce Court.
“The energy down there was crazy,” Niemann said. “We’d been looking forward to this show all summer and it did not disappoint.”
The next band to play was Creeping Charlie, made up of Julia Eubanks (guitar, vocals), her sister Esmé (bass), Harry Miles (guitar) and Jack Malone (drums). The crowd was enthralled with their brand of indie with a unique ‘90s rock influence. Creeping Charlie is currently recording an album in Chicago, which will be their second album following their 2021 release, “How to Kill Creeping Charlie”.
The last band to play was Why Not, a band that has been stagnant in the Twin Cities music scene for a few years now. The band is made up of Isaac Dell (guitar), Henry Breen (bass, vocals) and Joshua MacGregor (drums).
The atmosphere was transformed by the band’s pop songs and had everyone in the room jumping around. It was easy to get sucked into the pit as their guitar riffs shook the walls of the venue. Almost all of the songs they played were pre-COVID-19, including tracks like “Ding Dong,” and “Ready 4 the World.”
“It was a trip to play those songs again and I think reinvigorated our interest in those tunes,” Dell said. “There’s a really intense and immediate feeling of community at house shows like the one on Saturday.”
The Chop Shop’s compact environment made it possible for the audience to get close to the bands throughout the event, generating a sense of community in the Minneapolis neighborhood. Outside the house burned a bonfire where people gathered between sets and mingled.
“A house can get you up close and personal with show-goers;it feels less formal and more loosey-goosey,” said one member of the “Special Guest” band that was kept secret due to their contract obligations.
The unique atmosphere of the venue solidified the Chop Shop’s position as an important center for creative expression.
Diet Lite, Creeping Charlie and Why Not demonstrated the passion and spirit of local music with outstanding live sets. Because of the Chop Shop’s continuous role as a catalyst for raw talent, Minneapolis will continue to be a destination for music lovers looking for authentic experiences and cutting-edge sounds.
