Long Mama's Poor Pretender Delivers On All Levels

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

“I love it when a plan comes together.” This line, famously attributed to fictional character Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (played by actor George Peppad) on the iconic ‘80’s television action/drama The A-Team, in many ways embodies the spirit of Milwaukee’s folk/country/rock band “Long Mama.” Comprised of a true “A-Team” of some of the midwest’s finest Americana musicians: Andrew Koening (electric guitar), Nick Lang (drums), Samuel Oden (upright bass) and  Kat Wodtke (guitar and vocals), “Long Mama” is a band whose collective sound creates a beautiful tapestry of sonic storytelling. 

Poor Pretender, Long Mama’s debut record is an album that sticks to the ribs and grows in the soul with each and every listen. Composed of 10 aurally unique tracks, Poor Pretender gives its listeners an adventure-laden narrative drawing on singer/songwriter Kat Wodtke’s travels and worldly experiences. With beautifully whimsical wordplay that would make a high school English teacher radiate with etymological joy, Wodtke draws her listeners into her emotions through her lyrics and gorgeously earnest vocal delivery. “This phoenix is drinking fire, holding court in the ashes,” a stand-out line from the band’s title track “Poor Pretender” exemplifies this sentiment.

Guitarist Andrew Koening’s work on Poor Pretender stands out and serves as a perfect compliment to Wodtke’s storytelling. Koening has honed his craft a lot in recent years. He seamlessly can go from a fast picking western swing style of playing on “Badlands Honeymoon,” to a full-out jam groove on “The Narrows,” (my personal favorite track on Poor Pretender), where his guitar work evokes the spirit of the late Jerry Garcia. Likewise, Nick Lang’s well nuanced percussion and Samuel Oden’s deep grooves on upright bass serve as a backbone for a band who have all the makings of a stellar midwestern Americana group for years to come. Seeing Long Mama perform live is something even more special as these four great musicians and people clearly love playing together and exude joy and energy from the stage.

Photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Rucksack Revolution, Linneman's Riverwest Inn 2/20/22

A palpable sense of passion and warmth emanated from the stage of a jam-packed Lindemann's Riverwest Inn on a windy winter's eve.  The capacity crowd, which included an all-star cast of some of the midwest's finest Americana artists, was treated to a performance by Rucksack Revolution, that not only stuck to the ribs, but nestled in the soul.

Rucksack Revolution is the dynamic folk duo featuring two longtime friends, Sarah Vos (Dead Horses) and Adam Gruel (Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, High Hawks).  Vos and Gruel are two master songwriters and storytellers who are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic on the top of their game.  Gruel emits an aura of childlike joy on stage every time he performs with any of his musical projects. Vos is one of the most honest and reflective songwriters around, and has the voice of an angel. Together they delivered a gorgeous evening of songs that were filled with themes of nature, travel, longing and hope, all performed with a pure sense of earnestness, warmth, and compassion.

Vos and Gruel seemed effortlessly in synch with one another on stage, allowing their voices and guitars to weave together a rich tapestry of musical goodness. The duo performed most of their debut record, 2022's Rucksack Revolution, along with a few well-placed covers, Dead Horses songs, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades tunes, and some of Gruel's solo work.  The evening started with a gorgeously harmonized version of "On and On," a standout track from Dead Horses's 2018 release, My Mother the Moon. Horseshoes and Hand Grenades's "Breathing," a deep cut from their 2015 Middle Western record, had a sincere tenderness especially with the singers' vocals meshing together on the refrain.   Other highlights included the classic traveling song, "Across the Great Divide," by Kate Wolf, a striking take on Neil Young's "Harvest Moon," and a gently rousing "Knocking on Heaven's Door," a nice nod to Bob Dylan in a venue known for its Bob Dylan tribute night shows over Thanksgiving weekend.  

All of that aside, the real treat of the evening was hearing the majority of the Rucksack Revolution record, peppered across the band's two stellar sets. In one word, Rucksack Revolution is heartwarming. The record works so well performed live.  "Trying to Find a Better Way," is a reflective opus that hints at the struggle that many of us are feeling at this time with anxiety and worry. "Winona," an homage to Winona, Minnesota, is packed with gorgeous imagery of the beauty of the great northern midwest. "Winding Heavens" features fabulous vocal interplay between the singers over a uniquely simple and catchy guitar lick.  The jangly "Make Believer," is a song that makes you grin from ear-to-ear with its fun and bouncy feel.  Top to bottom, Rucksack Revolution is an album that hooks its listeners like latching on to a big billy bass in a northern Wisconsin lake.  It is challenging, joyful, and above all unbelievably satisfying.

thanks to Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch for the photos