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Minnesota State Fair

Photos: Lake Street Dive and Kiss the Tiger rock the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand

Akie Bermiss and Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive performing at The Current's Music on a Stick at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.
Akie Bermiss and Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive performing at The Current's Music on a Stick at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.Steven Cohen for MPR

by Jay Gabler

August 30, 2021

"The rain has subsided," said Meghan Kreidler of Kiss the Tiger at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Saturday night, "and I have a feeling it's gonna be an awesome night."

That was welcome news for fans like me who, while mindful that our state definitely needs all the rain it can get right now, were hoping to avoid another situation like Thursday night at the Grandstand, where rain forced the cancellation of the planned performance by Miranda Lambert's opener Lindsay Ell.

It was a big leap to one of Minnesota's biggest stages for the local rock band who've been tearing up smaller stages for the past few years, but on Saturday they exploded onto the Grandstand stage with fervor, Kreidler front and center wearing sequined shorts and top under a black jacket with tails appropriate to the occasion (not to mention the band's name).

Rockers from the band's new LP Vicious Kid sounded appropriately huge, but the set's highlight might have been the smoldering ballad "Grown Ass Woman," which Kreidler dedicated to all the grown ass women in the audience. She also acknowledged backing vocalist Diane Miller, a frequent Kiss the Tiger collaborator who joined the band for several songs; Miller, who also has a solo music project under the name of, simply, Diane, was just named host of The Current's Local Show.

Lake Street Dive brought their signature multi-genre blend of rock, pop, and soul to the night's headlining slot, after making the most of their time in town by stopping at Willie's Guitars in St. Paul. Vocalist Rachael Price wowed a crowd that refused to let occasional rain scatters dampen their enthusiasm. "Rain or shine," tweeted one fan, "we're doin' FINE!"