Review from "Downtown Key" Magazine
(fall 1999)

Billed as a Minnesota Music Memorabilia Cafe, one expects something similar to the worldwide chain of cafes featuring memorabilia. Except the music is not all hard rock, the displays are from musicians and bands with Minnesota connections, and there actually is live music seven nights a week.

Banners paying tribute to Minnesota artists both nationally and locally renowned hang high on the walls of the main stage area. Albums and record jackets from local bands are displayed above the bar. Memorabilia cases that adorn almost every wall in the club are filled with T-shirts, ticket stubs, reviews, concert billings and other mementos related to local musicians. While waiting for food or for the music to begin, browsing through the club's decor makes for an entertaining diversion.

Offering the full menu right up until last call is one feature that separates Minnesota Music Cafe from the pack. Many items on the menu are reminiscent of typical bar food but in addition to appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches, excellent Walleye and Shrimp baskets are available. Wings are a specialty with twelve different sauces ranging in spiciness from teriyaki to C.A.Y.O.R. --Consume At Your Own Risk. Signing a waiver isn't necessary to order them, but you may need to show proof of health insurance before being allowed to indulge in the hottest of hot wings.

Although the food is reason enough to visit, the main attraction every night is the live music. The layout of the club is such that you can enjoy your meal, listen to music, and still hold a conversation with your companion. Seating in the main concert area treats visitors to a direct view of the stage and full volume live music. Although the music can be felt as well as heard, the balance between hearing loss and fully experiencing the sound is carefully maintained. Music lovers sit at a long bar-like table a mere fifteen feet from the band without displaying any of the signs of discomfort usually associated with that type of close encounter with a good sound system.

Live music in a club setting is more personal than an arena concert with cramped seating, long lines, and 15,000 other people. Being able to see the musicians' facial expressions and the interaction with the audience are what make this venue more intimate. On Wednesday nights at Minnesota Music Cafe, that is exactly what visitors get. Hosted by blues master Joe Juliano, the band constantly changes, with Joe calling other musicians out of the audience to perform on stage. On the evening I attended the open blues jam, Joe started out with several blues classics before mixing in his original songs. The first set was scorching, with Juliano displaying his wide range of singing abilities while demonstrating his prowess on guitar. Fellow ax player Gerry Francis stepped up to the mike for several songs to add to the vocal variety.

Playing together like parts of a well-oiled blues machine, the band adapted quickly to lineup changes and, guest musicians. J.J. Johnson (the wife of keyboard player Dave "the Wiggler" Weigert) treated the audience to such classics as "Chain of Fools" with the power and range of a true Delta Queen. Wednesday may be open jam night, but with musicians as talented as J.J. appearing, would-be performers should have more experience than a few nights at the karaoke bar before stepping on stage.

Joe Juliano hosts the blues jam every Wednesday night at MMC, and about once a month he performs there with his regular band. Self described as rhythm and blues, Joe and his band can be caught in action all over the Twin Cities--they even played at Governor Ventura's Inauguration Party. Joe has been playing R & B for 35 years, and, after making Minnesota his home nearly twenty years ago, he's been adopted by the Twin Cities as a favorite local musician.

Opened just under two years ago, Minnesota Music Cafe showcases a surprising amount of regular talent. Tony Sims provides the Thursday night entertainment, and his band is incredibly tight for a young group--perhaps they started jamming together in grade school. Monday nights swing with Le Groove Thing while Tuesday brings on the MMC All Stars. Typically, bands in high demand play on Friday and Saturday nights. At the time this article was written, G.B. Leighton and Johnny Clueless were both on the roster. The club is also looking at the possibility of bringing in more national talent.

Owners Billy Larson and Karen Palm have been friends since junior high. Bill has been playing music for almost thirty years while Karen has been booking musicians for nearly twenty years at the Rockin' Eastside. Together their talents have merged to create a fine venue for live local music. Minnesota Music Cafe offers a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere to enjoy first-rate performances by local musicians while having a cocktail, talking to a companion, or getting a bite to eat.