Trampled by Turtles stomps on the Bottleneck

The Bottleneck has a display showing off the talented bands of all genres that have played the venue. If talent and fame mean anything, Trampled by Turtles has earned a place on the wall. But if a crowd's satisfaction is part of the measurement, Trampled by Turtles should go right to the top.

The folk, bluegrass band from Duluth, Minnesota filled the Bottleneck with an adoring crowd that could barely keep its volume to a dull roar. We were just having too much fun! The five-piece band played nonstop from 11 to 1:30, with a collective harmony most jam bands could only dream of. Trampled by Turtles impressed with their group's brilliant performance and stage presence.

From left to right, the band members sat in a line, with the man with the largest beard on the left, with their facial hair progressively diminishing to the clean-shaven guy on the right, which I thought was a weird coincidence. Or maybe I'm just weird for noticing that.

The mandolin, violin, banjo, guitar and acoustic bass guitar all added their own voices to every song with different melodies, beats and rhythms, that come together in a delicious mix like some epic home-skillet meal. Every song held its own as a brilliant piece of dance-able, party tune. Aside from the slow song the band started their encore with, the crowd could never stop its jig once the music began. Essentially there was nothing lacking, missing, or unfulfilled about the concert. It was pure folk, bluegrass heaven.

Although the crowd included a good dose of younger bluegrass enthusiasts (my crew, and associates), there were also a great many adults and older couples in the audience, all drinking, laughing and cheering. The crowd's energy could only be matched by the band itself, which calmly sat, jamming out with heavy bluegrass hits of a particular form, that feels familiar, even if you've never heard it before. As a friend once eloquently put it: "I feel like I've known this song all my life."

The opening acts The Calamity Cubes, and John Henry and the Engine, played with reasonable skill, but for a significantly smaller, less excited audience. Once Trampled by Turtles took the stage, the Bottleneck went from half-empty to half-over-flowing, and the crowd never left until after the encore.

According to a friend, and close follower of the band, Trampled by Turtles usually plays larger venues and sells out shows when they're closer to home in Minnesota. Obviously Lawrence hasn't completely heard of them yet, but they still showed the Bottleneck to be a venue they can fill with happy ears. Hopefully they will play here again soon.