Music

Grant Hart Returns

former Hüsker Dü drummer brings guitar to Eau Claire

Leah Rule |

 
There’s a lot of rock beneath that hat.

I never saw Hüsker Dü. They were a little before my time. So although I’ve heard them on CD, I never had the privilege of witnessing a live show. Grant Hart, former Hüsker Dü drummer, is another story. I’ve been lucky to be at many of his solo shows. One of the last times I saw Grant, he left the music club we owned with a raw ribeye steak in his back pocket. He was gracious enough to come play and curious enough to want to see our kitchen. When he asked for a piece of steak, I cut a nice slice and wrapped it in plastic. Grant shoved it in his pocket and when I told him we could leave it in the fridge until the show was over, he said he preferred it that way and then explained to me what steak tartare was. He was going to tenderize it during his journey. A Grant Hart show always holds such experiences. Maybe not with raw meat, but always something new, unusual, perhaps unsettling, always magical, often funny. His voice transcends description. His stories and the way he engages the audience hold your attention and sometimes make you blush. He’ll go on a tirade about something in the paper, usually political and pity be the heckler who challenges his intelligence. Even if he is wrong, or you just disagree, his intelligence is born of wit. Witty banter aside, the best part is listening to that voice, whether he’s singing an old Hüsker Dü song, a newer original, a cover of a Dion song, or a round of BINGO.

Grant Hart • Sept. 26 • The Mousetrap, 311 S Barstow St., Eau Claire • 10pm • FREE • ages 21+