To prime yourself for the big Sussedtacular! bash at the Varsity at the end of the month, check out these live Polara vids from one of the many block parties that pop up like weeds during the all too short Minnesota summer. In this case, these are from the Chiang Banger Block Party, put on by nearby Chiang Mai Tai restaurant. This was the first Chiang Banger asphalt fete – and possibly the last, since this parking lot no longer exists thanks to the advent of the long-rumored expansion/redesign of the Calhoun Square shopping area.
The video quality is a bit shaky (it was actually shot by a 60>0 intern) but the audio is quite nice thanks to Knobby over at Susstones, who expertly cleaned up and mixed in a soundboard audio feed. Fortunately, there weren’t too many punters walking in front of the camera (probably had something to with the incredible volume being generated by musicians on stage!), although somebody who suspiciously looks like Phil Solem makes a “cameo” appearance at the end of a scorching if not thrilling version of Polara’s classic set opener, “Can’t Get Over You.”
Other than the stage being ridiculously cramped, this turned out to be a very successful day of great music. It was a hot, rockin’ afternoon that featured a line-up of acts who weren’t afraid to turn it up to 11 and kick ass (yes, The Mood Swings were also on the bill). It was so loud, in fact, that the beautiful people drinking and dining on the swanky rooftop of Stella’s kitty-corner across the street no doubt had some difficulty carrying on their Appletini-fueled conversations.
Polara - “Can’t Get Over You” (Chiang Bianger Block Party – Mpls – 7/20/08)
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Polara - “Scorched Youth Policy” (Chiang Bianger Block Party – Mpls – 7/20/08)
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More Susstones videos here.
