Eleganza!

"I don’t know the reason, or even if there’s one,” sings Brian Vanderwerf in the opening track of Eleganza’s Water Valley High LP (Dial Back Sound, April 2022). Despite Brian’s undoubted place amongst underground rock’s singing MVPs, the past decade has given many in his position little reason to hustle. Love of the game? Fuck that! This is all they’ve got!

Water Valley High is the sound of a band punching its way out of a corner, once again finding ring center in a scene of royal outcasts. Vanderwuf’s vocal tenures in The Midnight Evils (Estrus Records) and Chooglin’ (Big Legal Mess) have long-established him as dirt-rock aristocracy. Bassist Tony Zaccarid is The Twin Cities’ Midnight Mayor. Tony not only doubles as bassist for St Paul’s Romantica, but also owns popular night spot and venue Palmer’s Bar in Minneapolis.

Chooglin’ grad Jeff Johnson has done more with what Chuck Berry taught Keith Richards than anyone since Chuck Berry. Think about it. Secret weapon Greg McAloon pins down the middle guitar with ruthless precision and the cold stare of 1,000 Minnesota winters. Tim Baumgart, as sweet as he is big, seems unaware that it’s actually really hard to play drums as well as he does. Ever wonder what Scott Asheton playing jazz grip would sound like? Buy the record. Latecomer (but gaining fast) Charlie Smith thinks a lot of Nicky Hopkins and puts that honky tonkin’, boogaloo shit on everything.

As a concept, it would suffice to say that the band has had their minds on what every American has these past five or six years: Exile On Main St. They have made their collective share of all-out hell-raising rock’n’roll albums over the past couple decades. With Eleganza, they have found a sound and rhythm where country and blue-eyed soul can coexist with the punk rock for which they’ve been known. And, with Water Valley High, Eleganza have hit their stride.

Past Shows


Jan
13
th
2024
Turf Club
Jan
13
th
2024
Turf Club

Arcwelder ⏤ New Music Release

Two Sets: New Material and The Hits

★ Local Show ★
with Eleganza!
Jun
16
th
2023
Turf Club
Jun
16
th
2023
Turf Club

Model Citizen

Featuring members of Drive-by Truckers
with Eleganza! and Big Salt
Mar
24
th
2023
Turf Club
Mar
24
th
2023
Turf Club
Jan
7
th
2023
Turf Club
Jan
7
th
2023
Turf Club

Eleganza! and LazyLightning420

with James Eugene Russell
May
12
th
2022
Turf Club
May
12
th
2022
Turf Club

Eleganza! On Main Street

featuring Eleganza! & Friends performing 'Exile on Main Street' in full on its 50th Anniversary
Apr
29
th
2022
7th St Entry
Apr
29
th
2022
7th St Entry

Eleganza!

Record Release Show for 'Water Valley High'
with Monica LaPlante and Mad Mojo Jett
Nov
13
th
2021
Turf Club
Nov
13
th
2021
Turf Club

The Unnamed and Eleganza!

with Mad Mojo Jett and BrassZilla
Sep
3
rd
2021
Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
Sep
3
rd
2021
Schell’s Stage at Schilling Amphitheater
Mar
21
st
2020
7th St Entry
Mar
21
st
2020
7th St Entry
Cancelled

The Entry's 40th Anniversary Party

with Eleganza!, The Mighty Mofos, Greg Grease and more!
Feb
16
th
2020
Turf Club
Feb
16
th
2020
Turf Club

DRIVIN’ N CRYIN’

with Eleganza!
Sep
27
th
2019
Mainroom
Sep
27
th
2019
Mainroom

Runnin’ Down A Dream

A Tribute to TOM PETTY
with Eleganza!, White Iron Band, Dan Israel and more!
Feb
9
th
2019
7th St Entry
Feb
9
th
2019
7th St Entry

Eleganza!

with The Bad Man, BrassZilla and Liquor Beats Winter
Dec
15
th
2018
7th St Entry
Dec
15
th
2018
7th St Entry

Eleganza!

with The Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs
Jun
8
th
2018
7th St Entry
Jun
8
th
2018
7th St Entry

Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires

with Eleganza! and Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band
Feb
2
nd
2018
Turf Club
Feb
2
nd
2018
Turf Club

Jackson and the Roosters, Eleganza!, Sam Cassidy and more!

with DAVE and RYAN from SOUL ASYLUM in the Clown Lounge
Dec
9
th
2017
Turf Club
Dec
9
th
2017
Turf Club

A Tribute to The Replacements and The Melismatics

with Eleganza!, Early Eyes, The Bad Man and more!
Nov
8
th
2017
Turf Club
Nov
8
th
2017
Turf Club

A NIGHT FOR NAGEL

Benefit Concert for Jason Nagel
with ADAM LEVY AND FRENEMIES, JOHN MUNSON AND CHAN POLING, John Swardson and more!
Aug
15
th
2017
7th St Entry
Aug
15
th
2017
7th St Entry

Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires

with Eleganza! and The Bad Man
Mar
14
th
2017
7th St Entry
Mar
14
th
2017
7th St Entry

THE REVENGE WEDDING

with North of Grand and Eleganza!
Nov
25
th
2016
Turf Club
Nov
25
th
2016
Turf Club

A Tribute to The Replacements

with The Melismatics, Eleganza!, TABAH and more!

More Shows

Jun
8
th
Turf Club

Arcwelder

with Products Band
Jun
19
th
7th St Entry

Queef Jerky

May
10
th
7th St Entry

Kash'd Out

with Dale and the ZDubs
Jun
23
rd
Turf Club

Chuck Prophet

with The Suitcase Junket