Bill Callahan plays charming solo show at Cedar Cultural Center

Bill Callahan, a Fender Stratocaster, a bass drum, a hi-hat, and a voice that could make an angry lion purr – that is all it took to create a memorable show at the sold-out Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on a beautiful fall evening. Meandering through songs from his 2026 release My Days of 58, as well as many of his older classics, Callahan charmed a seated capacity crowd in ways that only he can do.

“This is my first solo show in a couple years”, Callahan said early on, before strumming his electric guitar in slow-moving rhythm. The pace rarely changed through the night, as Bill tapped the bass drum and hi-hit pedals (sometimes awkwardly) with his feet in syncopation. The result was intimate and real, and Bill Callahan’s unique baritone voice came through and touched deeply in unexpected ways.

Songs like “Coyote” and “Riding for the Feeling” stood out, as well as the Smog classic “Let’s Move to the Country” that drew a huge applause. This was my first time seeing Bill Callahan live. After an hour and forty minutes of being serenaded by his artistry, I could see why he has such a ardent fanbase. Bill Callahan at The Cedar was a wonderful and charming show, and I will definitely be seeing him again when I can.

Rick Maguire