Hi All!
I’m overflowing with gratitude as I reflect on the incredible gifts of friendship, support, and music that 2024 has brought me. Playing with my band has been an absolute joy, and I hope we’ve been able to share that joy with all of you. Here’s a shout-out to the amazing artists we had the honor of playing with this year:
RADIUM GIRLS, TEETH (WINONA), PARISHES, PORCUPINE, SIB (LACROSSE, WI), SPEAKEAZIE, JUNIPER FLY, BLOODLINE, THE VON TRAMPS, COURTESY OF TIM, LOCAL LEGENDS, VICTORY KID, TAKE THE REINS, KINZIE SIKS, MISUNDERSTOOD, BRUISER QUEEN (Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis, Bloomington, IL, St. Louis), THE CUSTOMERS, TIM CASEY, COLIN BRACEWELL, MARK MALLMAN (in Winona), MAD MOJO JETT, FRENCH IRISH COALITION (Green Bay), BOURBON MAN (Minsk, Belarus), LINNEA’S GARDEN, LOVEWHIP, THE DOGMATICS, GIRL WITH A HAWK (in Boston!), THE SILENT TREATMENT, THE SILVERTEENS, GOO GOO MUCKS, THE BLACK WIDOWS, EVERCLEAR, RICH MATTSON AND THE NORTHSTARS (Superior, WI), VIBROCHAMPS, MURF, DAIKAIJU, VACANT, MONICA LAPLANTE, LIFESTYLE SHAKES, THE UNNAMED, COLE DIAMOND, MARTIN DEVANEY, CORNBREAD HARRIS, WHISKEY ROCK AND ROLL CLUB, THE SCARLET GOODBYE, RUN WESTY RUN, THE BELFAST COWBOYS, de’LINDAS, DOUG COLLINS AND THE RECEPTIONISTS, SCOTT WOOLDRIDGE, DANGER BIRDS, KING KUSTOM AND THE CRUISERS, 5 CENT REALITY, MATT CAFLISCH, THROWN OUT BONES, HOLLY AND THE NICE LIONS, SEX RAYS, TINA AND THE B-SIDES. FRONT ROW PAUL, THE JINGLE BELLES, CLAIR LUGER, DRAGNET, LOOSE RAILS, THE SILVERTEENS, and
THE MIGHTY MOFOS!
A quick side note: We had to cancel our #smallbusinesssaturday show at Barely Brothers on 11/30, but HUGE props to M.A.Y. and MATT CAFLISCH for their incredible performances!
AND YES, WE PLAYED FESTIVALS!! 🎉
- Midwest Music Fest
- Pride
- Palmfest
- Rochester Riverside Music Series
- Basilica Block Party
Beyond the band, I had some extra special moments this year. In May, I had the honor of singing with RETROFIZZ at Crooner’s Supperclub for their Burt Bacharach tribute alongside incredible artists like CHAN POLING, JENNY RUSS, DAVE RUSS, PRUDENCE JOHNSON, and ARNE FOGEL. A huge thank you to CURTISS A, who invited me to join his band for the annual John Lennon Tribute at First Avenue on December 8th, where we rocked out to about 75 Beatles and Lennon songs in just five hours. What an honor!
And the cherry on top? We were slated to open for "This Is Spinal Tap" at the Parkway Theater in June! We had to learn “Big Bottom” (obviously). So, I brought in some of my favorite bass players—JENNY CASE, SALLY LINDA, ANGIE REED, GEORGIA CONLEY RAMIN, and awesome go-go dancers CINDY RUSSELL and JENNIFER DRAKSTEN-GROTTE to join us. The performance even got a mention from Chris Riemenschneider at the Star Tribune—and wait for it—MICHAEL MCKEAN, aka David St. Hubbins, retweeted us! 😱
We’re in the middle of recording some new tracks for 2025, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m beyond lucky to play with my ridiculously talented bandmates—JERRY LEFKOWITZ, DAVE RANDALL, and MARK DEVARAJ. I’m in awe every day that I get to make music with these brilliant, creative, and genuinely kind humans.
And to all of you—thank you. It’s been amazing seeing you and sharing these moments together. As we head into 2025 and the new administration, it’s more important than ever to support each other, stay strong, and look out for our communities. Our existence is an act of resistance, and I’m in this for the long haul. We’ll get through this together.
See you on the road,
xo Cindy