Sound engineer, band member reflects on three decades with the Cedar Cultural Center
The Cedar Cultural Center, one of Minneapolis' longtime mainstays for live music.
Courtesy of the Cedar Cultural Center
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The long-running band the Mubbla Buggs will join a host of other Minneapolis favorites Friday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic Cedar Cultural Center. Since it opened in the city’s Cedar Riverside neighborhood in 1989, the Cedar has hosted musicians from hundreds of countries.
Eric Hohn has been a sound tech at the Cedar for the past 27 years and he is a founding member of the Mubbla Buggs, who are headlining the anniversary show. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to tell some stories of the band and the venue.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.
Audio transcript
[MUBBLA BUGGS, "SAD PET FISH"] MUBBLA BUGGS: (SINGING) I'm a sad pet fish not swimming in your love. I'm a sad pet fish--
CATHY WURZER: A longrunning Minneapolis band Mubbla Buggs. They're joining a host of Minneapolis favorites on Friday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic Cedar Cultural Center in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.
For the past 35 years, the Cedar has hosted musicians from hundreds of countries. Eric Hohn has been a sound tech at the Cedar for the past 27 years, and he's a founding member of the Mubbla Buggs, who are headlining the anniversary show. Eric, it's my pleasure. Welcome to the program.
ERIC HOHN: Hello. How are you?
CATHY WURZER: I am great. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Oh, my gosh, you've been at the Cedar for 27 years?
ERIC HOHN: That's right.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. How did you get a job at the Cedar to begin with?
ERIC HOHN: Well, it was kind of a fluke in that my friend, Chris Frymire, who's been there even longer than I have, was a sound engineer-- is a sound engineer there, still. And he was kind of at wit's end. He had a show to do and didn't have a sound tech.
And knowing that I was a musician and knowing that I'd done sound for my own band at the 400, like running sound off the stage, he knew I could handle it. And honestly, it really changed my life because up until that point, I hadn't ever thought about being a sound tech. And I feel like it's really suited me well.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. I tell you, I have nothing but respect for sound engineers. What are the secrets to a good audio mix for bands in a fairly intimate venue like the Cedar?
ERIC HOHN: I'd say the most important thing is to care about what you're doing and to-- it might sound heavy, but to love the people you're working with, to embrace what they're trying to get across and to do your best to interpret it and bring the absolute best out in the performer.
It's like if they can hear well on stage and they like what they're hearing, they're going to be engulfed in their music. And it's going to work for them. And that's going to make them happy performing. And that's going to pass on to the audience. And if it sounds good in the house, it's a big vicious circle, where everyone wins.
CATHY WURZER: It's a big delightful circle. I love that. I can only imagine the number of bands that you have helped put on some of their best performances at the Cedar. And I'm sure you've got a ton of stories. Do you have a favorite band, something that just-- a mental picture or something that just pops up in your head and you're like, god, that was great?
ERIC HOHN: Well, there is a group called [INAUDIBLE], and they're ethnically Tuvan, sort of around that area of Mongolia, if I'm not mistaken. And they're a nomadic herding culture that has horses. And they play stringed instruments. And they've got like horse heads carved in their headstocks, and their rhythms are very horse-like, cantering. And they also do this throat singing.
And the first time I saw that, I was just blown away. I didn't think it was humanly possible to make those sounds. And I've had the pleasure of working with them at least a half a dozen times over the years. And they didn't speak very much English, you know. But we still managed to communicate and get a good show across.
CATHY WURZER: Now for listeners who've never heard Tuvan throat singing, I'm just going to say to you, google Tuvan throat singing and just listen. That's all we want you to do. Just do that when we get off the air. I want to ask about you and your music. I want to get back to the song we opened with, with that segment. It's called "Sad Pet Fish." Tell me about writing it.
ERIC HOHN: Well, it's kind of a personal story. It's a breakup song or feeling sad. And I put these lyrics out with my bandmate, Nate, who was just playing a rhythm. This is one of the very first times we played together and had decided we wanted to be a band. And it just ended up being a perfect teamwork kind of thing where his rhythms and he added lyrics to the song. And I just really liked the way it came together. And I embraced the friendship and the teamwork part of it.
CATHY WURZER: I know that your band's been together since the '80s. Oh, my gosh. That goes back a little bit. We're going to listen to another song of yours if that's OK. It's called "Colouramic," right? Here it is.
ERIC HOHN: Yep.
[MUBBLA BUGGS, "COLOURAMIC"]
MUBBLA BUGGS: (SINGING) Well, I made it look so easy, [INAUDIBLE] to these images [INAUDIBLE] goes right through you. Colouramic.
CATHY WURZER: I love this. I love this. How would you describe your music, if you had to try to describe it to somebody?
ERIC HOHN: Well, our influences come from all over the place. But when you really boil it down, we're just a good old rock and roll band. Pat Mavety played in Machinery Hill, kind of a bluegrass type band, for many years. And I played in an R&B soul band and still do.
And it's like so on the ends of this spectrum, we fall somewhere in the middle. And then Nate has spent some time in the Caribbean and brought back a bunch of influences there. And so you get like southern rock and blues and punk and a lot of different influences. But still, it's just a rock and roll band.
CATHY WURZER: Rock and roll guitar band, of course. I'm sure you've been asked this a ton of times here, Eric, but every time I say your band's name, I get a big smile on my face. Mubbla Buggs-- I love that. Where did it come from?
ERIC HOHN: It's kind of a secret. [LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: Oh. [LAUGHS]
ERIC HOHN: And it's fun to say. I don't believe there are any other words in the English language that start M-U-B-B. And part of it was just visual, looking at the two B's and the two G's of Mubbla and Bugg. And it just was fun. It's not a heavy name. It's just a fun name.
CATHY WURZER: No, it's a fun name. You are right.
ERIC HOHN: I'll say there's a secret in it somewhere.
CATHY WURZER: Ah.
ERIC HOHN: And if you guys figure it out, that's fine.
CATHY WURZER: OK, all right, we'll have to put our heads together on that one. Say, I got to ask you about the lineup on Friday. It looks great. You're going to be playing with some other guys that night, too, one other band. Is that right?
ERIC HOHN: Yes, Joel Roberto and Poverty Hash, that's the name of the opening group. And he's a West Bank stalwart, a transplant from Connecticut. I love his music. A quick story, I went up to Madeline Island to hear another friend's band. And Joel was on stage. I barely knew him, and he was playing solo.
And I was sitting with his girlfriend, Robin, and I was going, oh, God, I just want to get up there and play bass with him. It's just every song he plays, I feel like I hear a bass line. And she goes, well, why don't you? He wouldn't mind. And so I did. And it started just a great friendship. And we've been playing together for quite some time.
CATHY WURZER: That sounds great.
ERIC HOHN: Also, yeah, Kathleen Johnson with the kAt Band Project, she and I have worked together in Soul Tight Committee for around 20 years. She's a singer, and I really admire her. And she's just this amazing talent. And I've been dying to hear her do her own material. So selfishly, I asked her to join us just so I could hear her-- what comes out of her, you know? She does a lot of tribute shows like Etta James and Greats Gone 2 Soon, different things like that. But I just wanted to hear her music.
CATHY WURZER: Now tell me you're not going to do the sound for this big show. You're just going to concentrate on the music, right?
ERIC HOHN: Yes, I'm going to concentrate on performing. Yeah, that would be-- I used to try to mix from stage. And I just realized I'm doing neither one justice. And so Chris Frymire will be at the board that night.
CATHY WURZER: Great. I hope y'all have a great time. Eric, it's been just a pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much.
ERIC HOHN: You're welcome. Thanks for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Eric Hohn is with the band, the Mubbla Buggs. He's also a sound tech for the Cedar Cultural Center, which is celebrating their 35th anniversary with a concert this coming Friday. You got to go. Mubbla Buggs, Poverty Hash, the kAt Band Project will be playing at that show.
Tickets are available. Go to the Cedar Cultural Center's website for more information and buy tickets. All right, that's it for Minnesota Now. I'm so happy you were with us today. If you missed the show, check out the podcast. This is MPR News.
CATHY WURZER: A longrunning Minneapolis band Mubbla Buggs. They're joining a host of Minneapolis favorites on Friday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic Cedar Cultural Center in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.
For the past 35 years, the Cedar has hosted musicians from hundreds of countries. Eric Hohn has been a sound tech at the Cedar for the past 27 years, and he's a founding member of the Mubbla Buggs, who are headlining the anniversary show. Eric, it's my pleasure. Welcome to the program.
ERIC HOHN: Hello. How are you?
CATHY WURZER: I am great. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Oh, my gosh, you've been at the Cedar for 27 years?
ERIC HOHN: That's right.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. How did you get a job at the Cedar to begin with?
ERIC HOHN: Well, it was kind of a fluke in that my friend, Chris Frymire, who's been there even longer than I have, was a sound engineer-- is a sound engineer there, still. And he was kind of at wit's end. He had a show to do and didn't have a sound tech.
And knowing that I was a musician and knowing that I'd done sound for my own band at the 400, like running sound off the stage, he knew I could handle it. And honestly, it really changed my life because up until that point, I hadn't ever thought about being a sound tech. And I feel like it's really suited me well.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. I tell you, I have nothing but respect for sound engineers. What are the secrets to a good audio mix for bands in a fairly intimate venue like the Cedar?
ERIC HOHN: I'd say the most important thing is to care about what you're doing and to-- it might sound heavy, but to love the people you're working with, to embrace what they're trying to get across and to do your best to interpret it and bring the absolute best out in the performer.
It's like if they can hear well on stage and they like what they're hearing, they're going to be engulfed in their music. And it's going to work for them. And that's going to make them happy performing. And that's going to pass on to the audience. And if it sounds good in the house, it's a big vicious circle, where everyone wins.
CATHY WURZER: It's a big delightful circle. I love that. I can only imagine the number of bands that you have helped put on some of their best performances at the Cedar. And I'm sure you've got a ton of stories. Do you have a favorite band, something that just-- a mental picture or something that just pops up in your head and you're like, god, that was great?
ERIC HOHN: Well, there is a group called [INAUDIBLE], and they're ethnically Tuvan, sort of around that area of Mongolia, if I'm not mistaken. And they're a nomadic herding culture that has horses. And they play stringed instruments. And they've got like horse heads carved in their headstocks, and their rhythms are very horse-like, cantering. And they also do this throat singing.
And the first time I saw that, I was just blown away. I didn't think it was humanly possible to make those sounds. And I've had the pleasure of working with them at least a half a dozen times over the years. And they didn't speak very much English, you know. But we still managed to communicate and get a good show across.
CATHY WURZER: Now for listeners who've never heard Tuvan throat singing, I'm just going to say to you, google Tuvan throat singing and just listen. That's all we want you to do. Just do that when we get off the air. I want to ask about you and your music. I want to get back to the song we opened with, with that segment. It's called "Sad Pet Fish." Tell me about writing it.
ERIC HOHN: Well, it's kind of a personal story. It's a breakup song or feeling sad. And I put these lyrics out with my bandmate, Nate, who was just playing a rhythm. This is one of the very first times we played together and had decided we wanted to be a band. And it just ended up being a perfect teamwork kind of thing where his rhythms and he added lyrics to the song. And I just really liked the way it came together. And I embraced the friendship and the teamwork part of it.
CATHY WURZER: I know that your band's been together since the '80s. Oh, my gosh. That goes back a little bit. We're going to listen to another song of yours if that's OK. It's called "Colouramic," right? Here it is.
ERIC HOHN: Yep.
[MUBBLA BUGGS, "COLOURAMIC"]
MUBBLA BUGGS: (SINGING) Well, I made it look so easy, [INAUDIBLE] to these images [INAUDIBLE] goes right through you. Colouramic.
CATHY WURZER: I love this. I love this. How would you describe your music, if you had to try to describe it to somebody?
ERIC HOHN: Well, our influences come from all over the place. But when you really boil it down, we're just a good old rock and roll band. Pat Mavety played in Machinery Hill, kind of a bluegrass type band, for many years. And I played in an R&B soul band and still do.
And it's like so on the ends of this spectrum, we fall somewhere in the middle. And then Nate has spent some time in the Caribbean and brought back a bunch of influences there. And so you get like southern rock and blues and punk and a lot of different influences. But still, it's just a rock and roll band.
CATHY WURZER: Rock and roll guitar band, of course. I'm sure you've been asked this a ton of times here, Eric, but every time I say your band's name, I get a big smile on my face. Mubbla Buggs-- I love that. Where did it come from?
ERIC HOHN: It's kind of a secret. [LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: Oh. [LAUGHS]
ERIC HOHN: And it's fun to say. I don't believe there are any other words in the English language that start M-U-B-B. And part of it was just visual, looking at the two B's and the two G's of Mubbla and Bugg. And it just was fun. It's not a heavy name. It's just a fun name.
CATHY WURZER: No, it's a fun name. You are right.
ERIC HOHN: I'll say there's a secret in it somewhere.
CATHY WURZER: Ah.
ERIC HOHN: And if you guys figure it out, that's fine.
CATHY WURZER: OK, all right, we'll have to put our heads together on that one. Say, I got to ask you about the lineup on Friday. It looks great. You're going to be playing with some other guys that night, too, one other band. Is that right?
ERIC HOHN: Yes, Joel Roberto and Poverty Hash, that's the name of the opening group. And he's a West Bank stalwart, a transplant from Connecticut. I love his music. A quick story, I went up to Madeline Island to hear another friend's band. And Joel was on stage. I barely knew him, and he was playing solo.
And I was sitting with his girlfriend, Robin, and I was going, oh, God, I just want to get up there and play bass with him. It's just every song he plays, I feel like I hear a bass line. And she goes, well, why don't you? He wouldn't mind. And so I did. And it started just a great friendship. And we've been playing together for quite some time.
CATHY WURZER: That sounds great.
ERIC HOHN: Also, yeah, Kathleen Johnson with the kAt Band Project, she and I have worked together in Soul Tight Committee for around 20 years. She's a singer, and I really admire her. And she's just this amazing talent. And I've been dying to hear her do her own material. So selfishly, I asked her to join us just so I could hear her-- what comes out of her, you know? She does a lot of tribute shows like Etta James and Greats Gone 2 Soon, different things like that. But I just wanted to hear her music.
CATHY WURZER: Now tell me you're not going to do the sound for this big show. You're just going to concentrate on the music, right?
ERIC HOHN: Yes, I'm going to concentrate on performing. Yeah, that would be-- I used to try to mix from stage. And I just realized I'm doing neither one justice. And so Chris Frymire will be at the board that night.
CATHY WURZER: Great. I hope y'all have a great time. Eric, it's been just a pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much.
ERIC HOHN: You're welcome. Thanks for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Eric Hohn is with the band, the Mubbla Buggs. He's also a sound tech for the Cedar Cultural Center, which is celebrating their 35th anniversary with a concert this coming Friday. You got to go. Mubbla Buggs, Poverty Hash, the kAt Band Project will be playing at that show.
Tickets are available. Go to the Cedar Cultural Center's website for more information and buy tickets. All right, that's it for Minnesota Now. I'm so happy you were with us today. If you missed the show, check out the podcast. This is MPR News.
Download transcript (PDF)
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.