Music Review: Brent Fuqua, ‘Brent Fuqua & Friends’
The in-demand Minneapolis supporting musician returns to center stage with a warmhearted, foot-stomping EP of originals and covers.
Brent Fuqua & Friends EP cover
Brent Fuqua has been a fixture of the Minneapolis Americana scene for years, playing mandolin for some of the best folk and bluegrass bands in the Midwest: Tony Rook, Mother Banjo, The International Treasures, Becky Schlegel, Steam Machine and more.
But before that, he was a songwriter in his own right. And all those artists he’s worked with for the past decade eventually inspired him to put out a new EP (coming this Saturday Nov. 1) that turns his focus back to his own music—but in a collaborative spirit that gives ample credit to (and shines a spotlight on) his friends’ talents and camaraderie.
Brent Fuqua & Friends, in other words, is a perfect title for this collection, which features an all-star lineup of local Americana musicians and singers from groups such as Steam Machine, Honky Tonk Ranch, Blue Groove and Lake Monsters Bluegrass Band.
Fuqua’s four originals (the EP also includes two covers) are like a mini-tour through his life in the Midwest, celebrating good times he’s had and friends and memories made along the way. “Walnut Valley Wind,” inspired by a beloved Kansas music festival, paints a picture of the community created at the event:
We’re all brought together by the gift of our song
Let the circle stay unbroken
May no harsh words be spoken
May the people that you meet become the friends you know
“Mile From Here” is a homey, nostalgia-drenched romp through an old familiar neighborhood. The playful melody and singalong refrain (“I used to live about a mile from here”) keep it far from maudlin or overly sentimental; in fact, it ends with a lighthearted but important reminder that, while reminiscing is fun, it’s important to keep moving and not get stuck in the past:
Ain’t it funny how them memories still hangin’ around
Well it’s time to leave the way I came and leave them sittin’ here
…
You can travel down whichever road you choose
Take a look behind you, well you ain’t got much to lose
But you better get your head on straight boy, when you try to steer
The next track is a great addition to a popular topic for Minnesota songwriters: the Mississippi River. “Mississippi Rollin’,” a fast tune about road-tripping south along the mighty river, captures what the fabled body of water means to us northern folkies: freedom, adventure, and a connection to the South. (Even on a decidedly bluegrass-inflected record, there’s something especially Southern about the fiddle parts on this track.)
Brent Fuqua. Photo courtesy of the artist.
“Kansas City Stomp” (as rollicking as the title suggests) celebrates Fuqua’s old hometown. The song could serve as an introduction to the city’s way of life for out-of-towners, hitting on the cultural highlights of music, food and maybe a more straightforward way of communicating than we Minnesotans are used to (according to the tongue-in-cheek lines “No such thing as Minnesota nice / tell you something once we won’t tell ya twice”).
The 6-song EP is a zippy breeze for the most part, with uptempo songs and the added momentum of fast bluegrass picking and bowing. Fuqua slows it down for one song, an earnest and loving rendition of John Prine’s “One Red Rose.” To close out the record, he brings the tempo and playfulness back with a cover of Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter’s “Talkin’ Money Tree.”
From start to finish, Brent Fuqua’s new EP is a shining example of the stellar musicianship and strong community that the Minneapolis Americana scene has in spades—both of which he’s made vital contributions to. Brent Fuqua & Friends is a warm and whimsical celebration of the places and people Fuqua loves, brought to life by many of the incredibly talented artists he’s befriended along the way of his musical journey through the Midwest.
Brent Fuqua celebrates his new EP this Saturday, November 1 with a show at the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis, featuring an all-star band of friends! The music starts at 8:30 but you can book a table early for dinner too.
“Mississippi Rollin’” (live at the Hook & Ladder, Minneapolis)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Adventures in Americana co-founder Carol Roth is a novelist who publishes both under her name and the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley in a range of genres, from horror to thriller to YA. She loves to play guitar, sing and occasionally write songs. Her wide-ranging passions also include vegan cooking, personal finance, watching queer romance TV/movies and learning to speak Thai. By day she’s a marketing writer/brand strategist.
