NFV Song Spotlight: Mineral King's Threadbare

Hotel Ziggy was packed throughout the night for a recent WFNM night. This isn't always the case. Sometimes for a particular singer, friends show up in mass and then quickly disappear into the night. There was potentially a rotation of fans throughout this particular night, but it just meant that every act was a draw. The size of the crowd might have surprised the opener, Maxie Mandel, or she was just being modest. During the set she made a couple deferential comments. "You all must be here for Mineral King." "You all must be here for Menea." 

Mineral King at Hotel Ziggy

The audience perhaps peaked for Mineral King. The band played most of the songs off of their recent EP Rotating. Though interestingly, I don't believe they played the title track. The band did open with the first track of the EP, which is amusingly called "Epilogue." The song highlighted the great vocals by Kasey Klar. I swear that song had me thinking back to seeing Charlie Overbey at Americana West Fest.  (If that gets your interest, you can read my US Rocker interview with Overbey here.) 

The song "On and On" had soaring power vocals that was interspersed with moments where lyrics were given a spoken word polish. Afterwards, Klar mentioned to the audience, "This night has been really f*cking cool. Everybody's so cool. Yes, good ass music." Sometimes bands just say that by default, but on this particular night it felt sincere as it was so true. He also told the audience that he recently moved to Colorado, but that his band didn't even "bat an eye" when he did so. That was the introduction to the background of the rocker "Still Around."   

Mineral King at Hotel Ziggy

A brief break was taken after that particular song. "I visited my nephew yesterday and he drew this for me," there was a drawing that was proudly taped to the wall behind the drummer, "so that I could take him with me when I went places." Taking out his phone camera, he asked the audience, "Can you all say, 'Hi, Calvin?'" The audience was more than glad to particulate and a video was taken. The song "This Time" followed and is about not meeting expectations and not being too hard on yourself.

Their most played Spotify song is "Threadbare." They did an attempt, that no one bought into,  to tell the audience that they weren't going to play the song. Of course, they were going to play it. The song has a fun playful instrumental opening that transitions to an alternative rock song.

Mineral King at Hotel Ziggy

It is a song about about a relationship that at least one individual in the relationship can see is nearing an end. It isn't necessarily due to a major fight or just falling out of love. It is more about one partner wanting to explore the world in a different way than the other.

You had to find what you were looking for
While I lie and miss you on the floor

. . . . 

With all the love that we′re sending
Over distance that we can′t stand
The fabric starts to tear

The set ended with the anthem 70's rocker "Never Enough." 

Mineral King at Hotel Ziggy

This is a band that doesn't feel constrained to stick to a particular musical style. Why should they? The band knows how to craft their music no matter the direction they wish to take. 

Just has to be mentioned: Klar was having problems with both his glasses sliding down the ridge of his nose and the mic stand deciding to get shorter. 

Setlist: Epilogue, On and On, Still Around, This Time, Threadbare, Never Enough

The band plays Genghis Cohen on April 28th.