Minneapolis, Minnesota band, Cloud Cult started off the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday.  They had a musician who for most of the set actually painted instead of played his trumpet.  It was of a blue and green woman who was mixed in with the forms around her and at the end there was a splash of red added.  The art work would be auctioned off at the end, so everyone was directed to the bidding sheets for the painting in the back by a female band member who jokingly added she had a bidding sheet too.  They apparently do a painting for every show they play.

The band is led by Craig Minowa who started the group around his solo recordings in 1995.  He created Earthology Records a couple years later at his organic farm where only recycled materials are used and his own band tours around in a biodiesel van.  The first song came out strong with some good indie pop and was followed by another with Minowa wearing some sort of sleep mask with eyes on them, though with it resting on his forehead.  On the next song the bassist's back up vocals could not be heard, but Minowa's own were very engaging.

The music finally took a dip on the fourth song, not being too interesting, but was saved as the strings came in.  The bass was heavy on this one until he put it down to play the glockenspiel which he impressively held in one hand while playing in the other.  Unfortunately, it was hard to hear.  The next one was more aggressive and the painter seemed to react along with the faced pace drive of the music in his painting speed.

Later through the set the sound samples were more noticeable but worked well with the music.  After given the ten minute warning during a song they were able to pull out a couple more good ones.  They played a quality set and it was too bad to see them leave the stage after their bow together.  Hopefully they will come around again soon.