Minnesota Remembers Vic Chesnutt
Minnesota Remembers Vic Chesnutt (Rock the Cause)
Reviewed by Jim Caligiuri, Fri., March 16, 2012
Minnesota Remembers Vic Chesnutt
(Rock the Cause)Although he was from Georgia, Vic Chesnutt impressed songwriters worldwide. If this 17-song benefit for health care nonprofits Lifeworks Services and Sweet Relief is any indication, he made quite an impression in Minnesota. Chesnutt, who died from an overdose in 2009 at the age of 45, possessed the songwriting impact of a Bob Dylan or Townes Van Zandt. That's made plain here throughout, with artists both recognizable – Dan Wilson of Semisonic is probably the biggest name – and obscure. Eliza Blue does a wonderful, rattling version of "Warm" while Trampled by Turtles' David Simonett sighs "Gravity of the Situation" with humbled grace and Austinite via Minneapolis Mike Nicolai contributes a sinister reading of "Iraq." Some might recognize names like Charlie Parr, Ben Weaver, and Haley Bonar, who make noteworthy appearances, but it's relative unknown Janey Winterbauer & Ryan Paul whose "Flirted With You All My Life" closes the disc with a moan filled by Chesnutt's troubled memory stealing the show. (Thu., 1am, Lamberts)
