Vasen

Vasen rocks with such maniacal glee that the recently painted walls of the Cedar might peel back a layer when these enthusiastic Swedes take the stage. This is a folk band, mind you, but the Vasen gang sees no need to give up modern conveniences like running water and electricity. You can bet that if the ancient inventors of the nyckelharpa had had access to an amp, they’d surely have used it. Vasen takes such a progressive approach to bawdy and beautiful traditional numbers that the folk community could have directed them over to Ozzfest headquarters–but the genuine love these guys exhibit for the songs can win over even the classicist folk-rock old-timers. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-2674; www.thecedar.org