Bluegrass trio Squid City Slingers is the latest musical group to be featured on “The Warmup,” the music series produced by The Free Press.
The group, made up of bassist and lead singer Riki Olson, fiddler Sydney Wojszynski and guitarist Chris Cuellar, cook out three original songs. The group brings together sounds from several genres, countries and decades to leave a lasting musical impression. The pre-recorded performance is available on The Free Press’ YouTube channel: tinyurl.com/2r3xh662.
The band opens the performance with “Right Next to Me,” which is a tribute to the efforts regular people put in to simply make ends meet. When listening to the song, you might catch a whiff of the band’s own experiences from a life on the road as well as those wrought from the long hours they give to their jobs in health care. Haunting strings combine with three-tiered harmonies to create a contemplative but accessible ballad.
“The lyrics are supposed to kind of capture that feeling of you’re exhausted, but you’re keeping something in mind to keep you going,” Olson said during the interview portion of the production. “Obviously Sydney and I are engaged, so I like to think of her being ‘right next to me’ during all of the trials and tribulations life brings.”
While the song is deeply personal to the group, Olson said he hopes anyone listening can identify with its message.
Boasting Mankato roots with national experience, the group’s songs combine their ability to stomp, but also groove. “Like a Dog,” the trio’s second song, is the quintessential Bluegrass jam. It is their latest single and was released April 26 on Spotify and iTunes.
The group closes with “Quarantine” a humorous and satirical take on a time we’d all like to forget. Complete with key changes and stringed solos, the song promises to keep audiences on their literal and figurative toes.
The band is scheduled to play May 23 at Paddlefish Brewing in St. Peter.