The Wake

The air surrounding First Avenue on Nov. 12 was filled with anticipation. As the lights dimmed and a photo montage graced the film screen, everyone in the crowded venue stood waiting in eager silence. The screen finally rose and a wave of excitement spread over the audience, and with good reason. It’s a familiar scene at First Avenue, but tonight Tina Schlieske performed for the first time in six years to celebrate the release of her first solo album, titled Slow Burn.

Though she was the front woman for Minneapolis-bred band Tina and the B-Sides for 12 years, many people are unfamiliar with Schlieske’s music. Prior to the concert, as I awaited the arrival of my companion outside the venue, I explained to a curious passerby who was performing that night. “Tina who?” they replied, “The what-sides?”

Selling nearly 100,000 albums, Tina and the B-Sides garnered their success mostly through word of mouth and their brazenly energetic live shows. Their popularity grew, especially in the Midwest, after signing with a major label. After putting out eight albums (six with the B-Sides and two with her side band, Lola and the Red Hots), Schlieske was more than willing to admit that she was a little burned out. Tina and the B-Sides hit the stage for the last time in 1999.

After the breakup of her original band, Schlieske finally put out the album Slow Burn in September. Released on her own label, Movement, the CD features songs that are described by her as,“essentially what comes out when it’s just me and my guitar.”

This wouldn’t appear to be the case, though, judging by the 14-piece band accompanying Schlieske for her album release show. In addition to standard rock instrumentation, the band included two keyboardists, a three-piece horn section, and a pedal steel player. The hefty lineup seemed overkill, considering Schlieske’s stage presence itself is monstrous. Which comes as no surprise in light of her notoriety as a show woman.

The band itself was competent, but Schlieske’s voice remains the real centerpiece to the music. Owing as much to Janis Joplin as she does to Aretha Franklin, Schlieske’s soulful vocals are impressively versatile. Her voice never seems out of place or over-the-top, whether she’s singing an acoustic ballad or simply rocking out.

It is the latter of these two styles that dominated the show’s set-list, with the band making full use of its 14-member capacity during almost every song. Schlieske lived up to her reputation as a lively performer, perhaps owing somewhat to the numerous shots of alcohol offered to her by fans between songs. Not once during two-hour set did her energy falter, though. “Now that soundcheck is over,” Schlieske announced more than halfway through the set, “Let’s turn this mother up!”

The real highlights of the show, however, were the few moments where Schlieske managed to slow things down. The emotional “Scars of a Slow Burn” and the aptly titled “Slow Down” both allowed Schlieske to really showcase her talent as a vocalist. Other songs were simply too cluttered with instrumentation to allow her breathing room to fully do so. Whether this is the case on the album as well or simply a result of the bloated lineup, I don’t know.

Even without the B-Sides, Schlieske has proved that she’s as prolific as ever. Her songwriting is strong and if the Slow Burn release show was any indication of her current fanbase, Schlieske’s following remains to be almost cult-like. Hopefully the singer will use her solo career to continue reinventing herself as a musician to achieve the same level of success that she did with the B-Sides.

Check out Tina Schlieske’s Thanksgiving show on November 24th at Bunker’s in Minneapolis.