More interactive than a band, more exciting than a DJ, more unique than dueling pianos, or so the duelers say. The String Showdown even as a duo is also faster than a speeding bullet and the playing of a rock group, and is intergalactic and cooler than that house band at the outpost bar in Star Wars where young Luke Skywalker got in a spot, (OK we’re kidding about that last part, except the cool component).
They are about to be your new favorite act for corporate events, fundraisers, festivals, and more, the pickers and grinners and more say. So check them out at next weekend’s St. Croix County Fair in Glenwood City to get the journey and party started. (And more on fests, Fun days could have been a bit more fun. See the Uncategorized department).
Multi-instrumentalists – and there are so many strings to choose from — Mike Lauer, affiliated with and having played with George Maurer and Bobby Vee, and Greg Byers, linked to Kat Perkins and even the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, collide like comets in The String Showdown! (There is a tenuous Hudson tie-in, as a man who frequents the Green Mill there recalls the days seeing Vee in their native Fargo, although not necessarily playing a V-neck guitar although that would be fitting, and when he spoke of the connection referred his wife as one of his faves, as if she knew him. And a man who frequents Dick’s Bar in Hudson and takes in music by guitar virtuoso Jeff Loven on a weekly basis, also is tight with Kat going back to the time she first reached fame beyond just the region, to the point that at places as far afield as Bogart’s in Apple Valley she’d pick him out in the crowd, even though mom, and hey she has sway, was uncertain about her right off the bat as when opening act, too many tattoos). So you can see the reach we are talking about in reference to the String Showcase.
More now to let them say it: “Get ready for a fun & fast-paced performance full of sweet licks and hilarious riffs! As a dueling string duo, they rock you with a mishmash of your favorite hits from radio, TV, and movies compelling your audience to clap, dance and sing along. You’ll be amazed at their instrumental prowess while you crack up at their irreverent, family-friendly humor.
“Each show is crafted to entertain; with the perfect blend of crowd engagement, comedy, and musical magic. Find out why The String Showdown is the Midwest’s hottest blend of musicianship and entertainment; book them today!” So you can see how in a crowd with the diverse tastes of a county fair, they are a perfect fit. The St. Croix County gang has done it again, bringing in a relatively new act to the region right when they are gaining prominence. They can look the part of either alt/rockers or a classical combo.
Here is some of their fast becoming a vast resume, again showing reach:
•Corporate events for Target (with Hudson and Twin Cities and beyond vibes), Boston Scientific (Out East vibes), Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis vibes), and The Dayton’s Project (Ohio and beyond).
•Paisley Park
•Dakota Jazz Club
•MGM Grand
•BBC2 (Later… with Jools Holland)