They Don't Call Him "Sneaky" Pete Cuz He's Quiet

by Doug MacRostie

The effect that a "rhythm section" has on any piece of music is profound; if the music is the mood, the rhythm is the attitude (and vice versa), and we'll hear a few different approaches to rhythm tonight at 6 on Centerstage MN, ranging from pow wow drumming from the Red Lake Singers to the foot stompin' of "Sneaky" Pete Bauer.

"Sneaky" Pete Bauer is a back-to-basic blues, roots and Americana musician. He doesn't need much to set up; just a place to sit with his guitar and harmonica where can stomp on the floor and bellow out the music. With contemporary songwriting, Sneaky Pete brings old (and starting to fade away?) styles and sounds to the forefront of his songwriting and cover-selections. His first CD back in 2006 was called "Back Porch Sing Alones" and his latest CD from earlier this year is called "Songs to Drink By." I'll be talking with him about his music and just where he found his sound and style. Sneaky Pete will be performing this Sat. at the Crow Wing Food Co-op Extravaganza, a fundraiser for the Co-op happening all day at the Franklin Arts Center parking lot in Brainerd.

The Red Lake Singers produced the new CD "Old Times" to preserve and capture old songs and the "old-style" of singing of the Ojibwe people of Red Lake, one of the most traditional Indian communities in the country. The Red Lake Singers fathers, grandfathers and uncles taught the songs to them when they were young boys, as early as the 1920s. I'll be starting off Centerstage MN with two songs from the new CD, a pow wow song, and "Warrior Song," and I hope to work out an interview/feature with The Red lake Singers for a future episode of Centerstage MN.

We'll also hear a new song from the forthcoming Wookiefoot CD (which will be released at Harvestfest 2009, the trans-cosmic tribadelic space carnival in Geneva, MN Sept. 10th-13th), and another new song from Marcy Playground's "Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage," and more.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.