Shut Up & Listen 2024: Pale Ales Bluegrass Band

I shoot a familiar shape and say "the 'burbs wish they were the country."

"They used to be." my mom counters.

The road tells us a lot.

What we've been through.

Where we're headed.

Just the driveway into Isanti Spirits

is a meditation

of the world

at the center of my soul.

Familiar faces welcome us.

It's always great to see David.

Intruments litter the stage. A guitar

for Marty Marrone.

A mandolin

for Scott Stebbins.

A fiddle

for John Niemann.

A stand-up bass

for David Tousley.

And a Banjo for Heath Loy.

Many of whom are deep in conversation

with the audience,

As their sound guy gets them dialed in.

Then owner Rick Scheider greets the people

and performs

before introducing

The Pale Ales Bluegrass Band.

I thought I knew what to expect.

But the perfect vocal harmonies of these men

far exceeded my notions of how Bluegrass can sound.

After many songs they take a break. Everone mingles,

visits the bar,

or chats up old friends.

Me, I wander to find pictures.

Stage Right

Stage Left.

And am called back by their cover

of The Eagles "Seven Bridges Road."

Their voices combined are sublime.

And on it goes.

Good friends sit

and share truths

as the light slips away

well before they finish.

The road home