Last night at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, MN, a group of four bands and a few tap-dancers celebrated the release of the Young Dudes self-titled LP, a vinyl-only release with a free digital version for everyone who got rid of their turntables. While it wasn’t the greatest show to ever bless the Entry, much fun was had by all. And why not? Four bands and a tap-dancing trio titillating the crowd between sets could turn anyone.

First up came Togetherness. Togetherness has a sound and look to make you think you’re in Manchester in the 1970s. This is partly because the guitarist has his Ian Curtis dance-moves down, but mostly because they’re on the edge of something new and exciting. It’s still raw, and I don’t expect them to be chart-toppers any time, but don’t count them out. It’s girl-driven dance music with a heavy synth backdrop, not something I’m usually particularly partial to, but good music is good music. Give them time and practice and they may turn dance music into an art form again.

Mid-setup for the next band came the tap-dancers. Who doesn’t love three attractive young women in tight 1970s disco outfits dancing? Enough said.

Next came Castle. I’d really love to say something nice about these guys. They were technically very good and they’ve got a nice heavy-metal sound with a little Black Flag influence thrown in the mix. It’s the kind of sound that can really get an audience excited, and the audience was excited. The trouble is the juvenile attitude intrinsic to their stage show. This was pretty well summed up by the drummer vomiting on stage while the leas-singer/guitarist grinned and pointed it out to the audience. For now, I’ll stick to listening to them on my hi-fi and avoid their shows.

Even after another bout of tap-dancing, I have to admit I was pretty negative when the next band, Knight in the Box, got up on stage, but they won me back with the first song. Not since the Blues Brothers have two white boys in fedoras been able to play R&B with such heart. They’re unstoppable! I knew they were good when, during their second song, they broke a string and finished the song without missing a beat. I knew they were fantastic when they did the same after a guitar actually lost a chunk. If you have a chance, go see these guys no matter what plans you may have already made.

But, in the end, it was the headliners that truly shone. Never turn your back on a rock band that has the guts to invite their parents to the show and point them out mid-set. They have a classic rock feel with it’s own originality. It’s the kind of quiet musical revolution that the New York Dolls and the Velvet Underground brought about. It’s taking the existing standards and stretching them, shaping them into something new. For such a young band to already have such a great rapport with the audience, fantastic stage presence, and a tight performance is something you rarely see. Plus they were the second band that night to break a string and keep going without missing a beat. Expect great things from these guys. I look forward to reviewing their album.

So, to sum it all up, one good band, one band that needs more practice, two band that can knock you on your ass, and three gorgeous tap-dancing ladies. All in all, while it may not have been history in the making, I’ll remember it.