Andrew Callaghan Is A Maestro: All Gas No Brakes x Channel 5 Carnival At The Fitzgerald
And now for something different.
Love me a concert, of course, but when I was watching a Channel 5 Exclusive documentary on YouTube saw that they would be touring. Not sure what I would be in for, looked up the dates and spied St. Paul’s The Fitzgerald as one of the lucky theaters hosting. So this would be a bit of a different animal than the typical show I shoot, but could not pass up the chance to find out what this night would entail. Marketed as part talent show part documentary screening, knew it would be all fun.
Since it was in Minnesota’s beautiful state capital St. Paul, wanted to hit up another brewery before the show. See I’m a meter gal. Love to be able to escape when desired, also tends to be cheaper. Oh boy, have I got a tip for you. Right across the Street on 7th by Dark Horse there is an outdoor surface pay lot called Kat Keys. $3 weekdays, $5 WEEKENDS. Five bucks. Can’t beat that for all night parking, even if about a ten or so minute walk from the theater. Slid right in there, of course. Brought a tasty Jersey Mike’s sub to Barrel Theory and got myself a pint of Fame Is Subjective, which felt fitting for the night ahead. Hoppy with a backbone of pure pine, make sure you have one of their IPAs if that is your fancy. Dang they make hella good beer.
After a brisk but quick walk in the temperamental windy Twin Cities, arrived at the Fitzgerald about 15 about doors. It was actually my first time at The Fitzgerald, formerly ther Sam S. Schubert Theater when built in 1910. It was then renamed a few times throughout different ownerships, including World Theater when owned and renovated by Minnesota Public Radio for Prairie Home Companion in 1980, and renamed yet again to its current Fitzgerald Theater after Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 2019 it was purchased by First Avenue and think it fits well into their arsenal of unique venues. Went to snag my credentials from the box office, and who do I run into but THE guy himself, Andrew Callaghan. Said a quick “Oh hello” while on my way out the door, he was meeting up with a friend to give him some tickets. What a fun little introduction to the night ahead.
Old school cool, the floor the ceiling glass entrance welcomes you into a toasty and intimate lobby with a few beverage offerings and snacks. You know this gal had to get a Summit EPA while waiting for the show. Once past the lobby entrance cove, you go through doors to the inside waiting area where the friendly staff (seriously, so nice and jovial) guide you to your seat. The sloping floors assure each person can see the stage from wherever they are, plush deep red chairs decorated with metal and wood accents. The sides of the theater are delicately adorned, peppered with boxes for more exclusive above viewing as well as the horseshow balcony above. For 1000 seats, it feels comfortable and spacious. Other than the bottlenecking that occurred during intermission, the flow was pretty decent. Easy to navigate and get to where you need to go, the bathrooms are upstairs on the second floor.
Andrew started the show by pulling an audience member up to spin the wheel of how the night would begin. The lucky fellow won a free shirt on his first spin, and the second deemed it was time to launch into our first unseen documentary. The film followed the trials and tribulations of Ric Shore beginning with Andrew’s assistance in helping him find his lost parrot. Wow was that a wild ride. Not only reflective and deeply intimate with the subject, it kept evolving consistently. You think it will be about a single curmudgeonly older man and the trappings that has along with it, but that just scratched the surface of what the film was really about. Excited for it to be widely released and see how it is recieved, there are a few large plot twists so gotta keep it brief. It was funny as well as emotional, weird and wonderful.
Next was the talent show. Andrew came back on stage to invite audience members to join in and show off their secret talents. Though the crowd was a bit shy at first, he got about 15 or so to line up. Greeting everyone and assuring the talent wasn’t too risqué (being an all ages show and all) before we all got a custom tailored Minnesota show. A few comedians, an inebriated dancing banana, a gal who could recite Joseph Smith in Albanian, some contortionist action. Shakespeare recited in a spot on Brooklyn accent. Pretty fantastic. Plenty of “royalty free hiphop” beats for the DJ to spin as each contestant took their turn on stage. Ending with a hip hop duo that was part of Callaghan’s crew made up of a rapper and a beat box guy who was straight out of a computer. So much hidden story and talent everywhere. I see you, Andrew. I’m liking this theme. What a way to weave. Who won? Well it was up to a decibel meter that the audience would vote by their cheers. Twas a triple tie, the hip hop music duo and a very talented dancer named Tycho (yes, his real name, and yes, named after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.)
Now for the main event I came for, not that a talent show isn’t amusing. All Gas No Breaks, a series that has been on hiatus due to some copyright name discrepancies, was going to be launched again. Filmed in earnest and zaney gonzo-street style, these documentary pieces all focus around different subcultures and events around the country. Not to spoil it for future shows since the tour isn’t complete yet, I’ll give you some sneaky details. It involved a very controversial lifestyle and fetish that is demonized in almost every context it’s shown in. I was also pleasantly surprised when I spotted one of my favorite guys ever to be in Vice (now they have left and started their own channel) and king of One Star Reviews, Taji. Though a bit shocking, as many of his subjects tend to be in this series, Callaghan has a bewitching quality that cannot be learned. He feels safe to talk to, and a genuine curious ear to those who may not be listened to often, or just in jest. Ending the night was a brief Q and A with MSP Magazine asking about his journey and how he approaches film making.
Though he has been producing fascinating content for years, feel this type of interactive performance alongside screenings of short films is just right for Channel 5 and the gang. A penchant for virality, a venting net, a mirror to our own wild environment. Andrew Callaghan is creating content that teaches and explores versus distracts and objectifies.
5 Stars for Channel 5.
