Patches and Gretchen

Big Beautiful Review …..
Patches And Gretchen
Sugar Head Pie
Sandpaper Tongue Records

On her second, Rich Mattson-produced outing, Sugar Head Pie, Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Gretchen Seichrist drops a bevy of alternatingly bouncy and bittersweet musical bombshells. Kicking off with with the razor-sharp cut “Time Of The Lilacs,” Seichrist plies her plucky, dusky pipes to her dazzling wordplay and positively smokin’ band (featuring, this time ’round, the likes of Terry Eason, Derek Rolando, David Loy, Mattson himself, and more talented local artists than we have room here to list) with all the inherent chutzpah of some of her main influences- Patti Smith, Dylan, and “sister Golden Hair” Aimee Mann. Standout cuts here include the above-mentioned opener, the blazing punk gem “Crying States,” the country-fried confessional “Big Things,” the cut-n’-run classic-to-be title track, and the smoky opus “Sweet Wolves,” but frankly, there’s simply not a bad song in this batch. Seichrist champions the little beauties in life, laments the loss of humanity and compassion in a world growing ever colder, and celebrates the simple joys of family, friends, and community. Which leaves us with one burning question- who is Patches? I am. She is. Her ever-evolving band is. Her family and friends are. Most importantly, you are. Don’t miss your chance to fill in your blank square this Thursday, March 11th, when Patches And Gretchen perform at The Varsity Theater. For more info and a taste of this sweet Sugar Pie, head on over to www.sugarheadpie.com or www.patchesandgretchen.com