Cloud Cult, Lincoln Hall, Chicago, Illinois

Music, Paint, and the Origins of the Universe

Cloud Cult filled the stage with half a dozen musicians, including from left to right, 1) a cellist, 2) a violinist, 3) front man and guitarist Chad Minowa, 4) a drummer who was one of the dorkiest looking people I’ve ever seen, 5) a bassist, trombonist, and occasional banjoist, and 6) a keyboardist and

occasional French horn player and trumpeter. We arrived fairly early and secured a great spot, about 6 rows back on the right side, though my left view of the stage was better. Most of their songs are quite catchy, even though many deal with spiritual themes related to self and universal discovery. Lead singer/front man Craig Minowa is talented and personable with a pronounced Minnesota accent. A good part of the audience, especially up front, was singing along for much of the show, even to songs from the new album which were released less than 2 months ago, which speaks to the loyalty and intensity of their fan base, especially when contemporary audiences listen to so many mixes and singles. Perhaps it stems from the tendency of their albums to be integrated stories, with one track seamlessly blending into another. Or perhaps I’m just projecting my own penchant for concept albums. The short encore break was also appreciated.

While I’m not intimately familiar with the entire Cloud Cult catalog, I was mostly pleased with the setlist, which included more songs from their new album, Love (2013), which I have listened to extensively, than anything else. They also pulled quite a few songs from Light Chasers (2010), the album that initially got me into the band in the first place. They also played a pair of songs, or parts of songs, from Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (2005), Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) [2008], and The Meaning of 8 (2007). I was however disappointed that they didn’t played my favorite song, “The Lessons: The Exploding People” from Light Chasers.

In addition to their full musical ensemble, they also included a pair of painters on stage with them, who each created an individual and unique piece of art on a rotating/spinning easel over the course of the set. At first it appeared as if the painters were just throwing paint on a canvas and spinning their artwork at high velocity. I initially assumed each would end up with a Jackson Pollack-esque

creation, but as time passed, each artist slowed down and the image on the canvas took shape. The man on the right painted a portrait of a woman with wavy hair, as if Medusa were a goddess instead of a monster. The woman on the left (who happened to be Craig Minowa’s wife) also painted a picture of a woman with wavy hair but sitting in a circular tub with birds over her head and connected to her hair. While I liked the one on the right more, I was more invested in the creation on the left because I had a better view. I don’t think I’ve ever watched someone paint a picture from start to finish before, at least nothing as detailed that it would take a few hours to create. Towards the end of the show as the painters were wrapping up their work, they joined the band as background vocalists on a few songs. They paintings were available for sale at the end of the show via silent auction. Unfortunately, within a few minutes, there were already bids approaching $1000, substantially more than I was interested in paying.

Setlist:
All the Things We Couldn’t See
Chain Reaction
The Escape: Running with the Wolves

Meet Me Where You're Going
Sleepwalker
The Baby: You Were Born/Transistor Radio
When Water Comes to Life/The Mission: Unexplainable Stories (Journey to the Light, Pt. 1)
1x1x1/It’s Your Decision
Chemicals Collide
Complicated Creation
Love & the First Law of Thermodynamics
Good Friend
You're the Only Thing in Your Way
The Invocation: Blessings (Invocation, Pt. 2)
The Calling
The Arrival: There's So Much Energy in Us
Fire/Clouds
Encore:
We Made Up Your Mind for You/Show Starts
The Invocation: You'll Be Bright (Invocation, Pt. 1)