The Cedar Cultural Center’s 35th Anniversary is happening on January 12 at the Cedar, featuring The Mubbla Buggs. It’s going to be a great show and we’re thankful to them for answering a few questions and sharing their video to get everyone in the mood.
Please tell us about the band. You’ve had an interesting lineup over the years from Michael Bland in the early years to newest addition, Jared Hemming.
Nathan Anderson, Pat Mavity & Eric Hohn have interwoven South Minneapolis histories, Nate & Pat are friends from Page Elementary school days, riding bikes and playing peewee baseball at Pearl Park. They had a “band” with a couple other second graders.
Pat & Eric met playing cello in Junior Symphony (the precursor to GTCYS). Eric & Nate were chums on the school bus to Field Elementary and at Minneapolis Central High School.
We all have lived, worked and continue to play music for all these years. Our lifelong friendships are solid and we truly enjoy the various gifts each member brings to the Buggs.
We have a long list of fantastic drummers who have filled in when MB was touring with NPG and other international acts. Jared Hemming is the newest member and has really stoked our collective fire with performances here and in Germany.
“Colouramic” is such a fun song and video – so danceable. The details are fantastic, such as the one-arm drum. How did you come up with and deploy the idea? It seems like the props alone would take weeks!
The song Colouramic originated from lyrics Nate wrote while watching TV Painter Bob Ross and inspiration while attending art school. The dance groove plays on the sound of keyboard-focused club music! There are influences from the Art of Noise’s “Beat Box” song intertwined with our Rock ‘n Roll guitar band flair.
We recently had an awesome opportunity for the band to perform a mini tour in Germany and needed a video to help broker the gig. After considering several original songs, we selected Colouramic. With creative guidance and direction from the stellar film maker & director Paul Irmiter (612im.com, 39 Seconds documentary) the video went into production.
We all pitched in to build the set and props. The overall design is a continuation of the original “Mubbla spiral style” that Nathan created – eventually evolving into the spiral font and drawing of mystical spiral creatures: frog, buggs, fish and bird. Eric brought in a backdrop that he had made over 30 years ago using the Mubbla spiral, a perfect touch for the vision Paul Irmiter had for the video. It was a lot of fun, it did take a few days to assemble.
The “one armed drummer” was the result of us frankly, being between drummers. We did however want to show that we are a 4-piece band. The “one arm” was a whimsical way of giving a nod to the ultimate importance of drums in our music.
You’re celebrating the Cedar Cultural Center’s 35 anniversary soon. What has the Cedar meant to the band and/or members individually over the years?
Eric: The Cedar has brought me music of all styles from all over the world, and kept my job as a sound tech there (since 1997), very interesting and fulfilling. I truly appreciate the variety and the broad path it cuts stylistically.
Pat: With the loss of the 400, Viking and other venues, the Cedar embodies the musical legacy of the West Bank while embracing the present.
Jared: The Cedar has given me a place to work (since 2016), a place to play music, and a place to hang and make community with my friends. I literally can’t imagine my life without it.
Nathan: The West Bank music scene has had an important role in Minneapolis music scene over the years. The Cedar Cultural Center is an amazing beloved treasure.
Do you have any favorite memories to share from the Cedar?
Pat: Hovan Droven’s cordless fiddle player going wild in the crowd. Oh and watching Rashad Eggelson (Crooked Still) playing cello wearing striped socks with knickers emanating the essence of Harpo Marx, whilst mocking flossing his teeth a strand from his bow.
Eric: The first time I ever saw and mixed Hung Hur Tu, a Touvan group with throat singing, really amazed me. The sounds they created with their voices was beyond what I imagined was humanly possible. Also Jared & I getting our picture taken with the Whalers Drum & Bass men.
Jared: I think it was Drone not Drones, 2017 the show opened with, like, 30 guitar players set up all around the performance hall. It was a raging guitar orchestra cacophony and I loved it!
Can you tell us more about the Anniversary party?
Jared: It’s a celebration of the CCC resident artists who’ve played here over the years and who’ve made the Cedar what it is.
Nathan: The Cedar Cultural Center has proven as a vital stop for so many great artists for three and a half decades. There are only a few venues in town with the staying power of The Cedar, none with the diversity. Great Job! Keep up the wonderful work CCC!
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