May 11, 2005 | Posted by David B. at 10:00 PM

Like a mirrorball covered in dust

Spaghetti WesternWhen I saw Michael Penn a few weeks ago, you may recall it was in a relatively small venue - a restaurant with high ceilings, strung lights and mirrorballs. Opening for Penn was Spaghetti Western String Co., consisting of Michael on guitar and banjo, Denise on violin, Nicholas on mandolin and Ethan on cello. Dressed in classy outfits that fall somewhere between Butch Cassidy and Woodrow Wilson, Spaghetti Western plays music that's part country, part classical, part jazz. (I've clearly been practicing my inane comparisons today.) It's all hard to explain, so I won't.

Spaghetti Western String Co. - Claus & Lucas

They're from Minneapolis, and there's something inherently midwestern about them. Quiet and subtly funny onstage, they especially shone when opening for Penn; surrounded by candles, wine and Italian food, they seemed to be right at home.

If you live in the Twin Cities area, you can catch Spaghetti Western quite often. Their May/June schedule isn't posted yet, but if their April schedule is any indication, they're the hardest jazz/blugrass/country band in show business.

Pick up their debut album, Do Right By People, here.

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