Semisonic reunion happening 'by chance'

The word is out, ticket sales are blooming, the weather forecast looks promising and the opening band is pretty warm and sunny, too. Now all that Semisonic needs to ensure the high quality of its rare reunion gig Saturday at the OLL Blast Block Party in Mound is for its singer to get his busy, bad self back home.

"Anyone walking by the door of our space might wonder why a drummer and bass player have donkeys in the rehearsal space with them," John Munson cracked, referring to his and Jacob Slichter's attempts to practice (and sing) this week without Dan Wilson, who of course is on his way. This is the group's first big gig since the Grammy-winning frontman permanently moved to Los Angeles, leaving the bassist as the lone Minneapolitan in the band these days. (The drummer long ago relocated to New York.)

That geographic challenge -- along with Wilson's anarchic schedule these days -- is the main explanation for how the group wound up picking the Blast party for its latest reunion slot, along with the fact that it's a fundraiser for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School.

"What shows we accept is dictated by chance, quite honestly," Munson said. "It requires a break in everyone's schedule occurring at the same point that an offer comes in. It worked out well this year."

Munson said that Wilson's recent projects have been so high-profile since he co-wrote much of Adele's mega-hit album that "I'm pretty sure that I'm not allowed to talk about [them]."

Munson, too, has been busy as the music director of Minnesota Public Radio's popular "Wits" series, which had Wilson as a guest last month alongside comic genius Fred Willard. The bassist is also gigging regularly with the New Standards, whose co-leader Chan Poling is also reuniting with his old band the Suburbs on Saturday at First Avenue. Munson also plays in one of the Blast party's two opening bands, the Twilight Hours, led by Dan's brother, Matt.