Last night at the Hook and Ladder, the room was filled with a powerful, bittersweet warmth as old friends, family, and fellow musicians gathered to celebrate the life of our friend Steve Almaas. Among shared memories and the echoes of the historic music scene he helped ignite here and elsewhere, the gathering carried the heavy, poignant weight of time moving forward.
For me and for Stevie B, there was a profound awareness that as the years slip by, the community is losing the legendary figures who defined an era. Sitting there, my take away during the event was while the steady advance of time colors our hair silver, we remain defiant, joyful, and deeply rooted in a lifetime of experiences... we meet the passing years not with defeat, but with a fierce, enduring vitality that refuses to be dimmed. This is the energy of the Minneapolis music scene.
In the tears, music, hugs, laughter, and collective storytelling, a sacred passing of the torch took place. Those left behind embrace their role as the keepers of his flame, ensuring that Steve's vibrant spirit, kindness, and foundational legacy will be fiercely remembered and passed down to future generations.
Bless us one and all. 🩵M
