I hit my 200-show milestone on Thursday night. Although that number may seem impressive, it's far from where I wanted to be at this point in the year. That said, 200 is still a feat, and I know it, so I was in the mood to celebrate, and that's exactly what I got at The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis.
The opening act, Kid Sistr, was very pop-based, which isn't typically my thing, but they ushered me into the Thursday night show so perfectly. Named after the fact that all three members are the eldest children in sister-only families, Kid Sistr has infectious energy. That energy comes from their hooky, pop-based tracks, but also from them. Although they were the first band on a three-band lineup and took the stage promptly at 6:30 PM (which, if you ask me, is ridiculously early), they started the crowd warm-up for what was to come. They didn't seem to care that they were the first on the bill or that they were playing as people were still streaming into the venue; they only cared that they were playing on a stage in front of people who had probably never heard of them before, and it was obvious that they were not about to let this opportunity pass them by.
Everything about Kid Sistr's set sounded and felt perfect. From the tone to the volume, I felt like these ladies really had things on lock, but an overwhelming sense of grit shone through it all in such a beautiful way. Some of their songs seemed to explore the complexity of being a woman today; others addressed the stress of friendship and queer romance, and they definitely spent time talking about mental health. All of these subjects are raw and intimate, so it makes sense that you could feel that overwhelming sense of intimacy throughout their set. It was just the icing on the cake. Beautiful, talented, and honest-- Kid Sistr does it all, and they do it flawlessly. This is absolutely an act to keep your eyes on as we shift into a new year.
Following Kid Sistr, Chicago-based Worry Club was the final opening act of the night. I first saw this band in 2024, when I caught them at this same venue opening for Spanish Love Songs. Unfortunately, they didn't stand a chance with me that night. I remember they were good, but I don't remember much else from that night because Spanish Love Songs was, and still is, my obsession. That said, seeing them on a lineup that didn't feature an act I wasn't as obsessed with showed me everything I needed to know about this band; as the kids say, they slap. With a unique blend of emo, pop-punk, and, at times, something a bit more lo-fi and chill, but with moments of sheer punk edge that dazzle, Worry Club got the young fans all worked up into a beautiful tizzy.
Although I wouldn't call Worry Club a straight-up pop-punk band, I feel like they leaned into that vibe on Thursday night. They played infectious beats that got the first couple of crowd surfers of the night, and they did it with a spastic energy that, at times, reminded me a bit of Blink-182. Maybe it was their energy, or maybe it was some of the jokes that the band was throwing out to the audience and how they didn't always stick, but, regardless, Worry Club made the club feel like a straight-up party, and that's what I needed as I celebrated my 200th show of the year. Chicago isn't that far away, yet I feel like I haven't seen Worry Club's name pop up on many bills here in the Twin Cities. I hope that changes, because I would love to see this band a bit more and get to know them a little better.
I wouldn't say I chose to cover this show on a whim, but I will say that when I walked into the Varsity Theater on Thursday night, I didn't feel like I knew much about the headlining act, The Wrecks. I thought I had heard some of their songs before and enjoyed them, but I couldn't tell you what songs they sang or anything like that. That's what I was thinking about as the stage was set for them to take it over, but within the first three songs, I realized I knew exactly who this band was. "Freaking Out", "Always, Everytime", and "Split Lip"- those were the first three songs of the set, and I found myself singing along to each of them because, apparently, I have been listening to this band for years and didn't really know it. I'm not proud of it, and I don't mean this as a diss to The Wrecks, but they're one of those bands I have always enjoyed but never really dug into. That changes now.
Like the two bands before them, The Wrecks brought insane energy to the Varsity Theater stage, with a charm that would make even the most stoic frowner smile, at least a little. There was something almost quirky about their set. Okay, maybe quirky isn't quite the right word, but they radiated this feeling of doing what you want and being who you were. I know I talk about how you could either get involved in the little push pit that had formed in the middle of the ground or could stand on the sides and in the back and take in the music without judgment at various shows, but this seemed to take it to another level. Somehow, without saying it, The Wrecks gave you a good time and encouraged you to express it however you wanted. For most of the audience, it was this giant, cheesy smile stretched from ear to ear. Even if you couldn't sing along to their infectious indie-punk anthems or didn't have the energy to tap your toes to their songs, you still had a smile on your face because, at the end of the day, The Wrecks are joy. There's really no other way to put it.
The Wrecks powered through their eighteen-song set, closing out with "Favorite Liar," which is definitely the track that put them on the radar for many people. I loved that, although they did the standard thing of closing out with their "hit, everything else during their set felt organic. Sure, they had a setlist, but it felt all over the map, with popular songs mixed with more B-side-rated tracks, and fast, punky songs alongside tender, emotionally drenched ones. The set didn't seem to have a real direction, and I loved that because you got to see every side of this band, and each one sparkled the same. On top of all of that, you got to see the sheer musicianship that this band has. Fast or slow, loud or soft, this band was locked in, and that's what made this a standout set during a standout show.
