Feats of strength: improv band finds humour in day-to-day issues

The musical improv group Mundane Problems didn’t start out with a Festivus-themed show.

But during the holiday season, the band’s shtick — taking suggestions of mundane problems from the audience and alchemizing them into musical gold — happens to sync with Frank Costanza’s Seinfeldian holiday in which the airing of grievances is a central tenet.

It’s a coincidence that should have holiday audiences exclaiming, “Serenity now!”

Mundane Problems features Christopher Dunn (vocals), Evan Miles (piano), Josh Bonneteau (drums) and Sam Fournier (bass and vocals).

Issues such as stubbing your toe more than once in the exact same place or having the lettuce go bad before you have a chance to eat it will have them singing the blues on your behalf, figuratively speaking. (They sing multi-genre pieces during the show including rock, opera and pop.)

The quartet met at the University of Manitoba, where they all studied music, and they have gigged over the past three years. Sometimes, they have had to pull off a feat of strength to conquer a long-distance relationship problem, since Dunn now lives in Edmonton.

But as the vocalist is currently appearing in the Sick + Twisted Theatre production Jax, the Beanstalk and the Emperor’s New Clothes: A Merry Crip-mas Panto at the West End Cultural Centre until Jan. 4, the timing is perfect.

“Winnipeg is my second home,” Dunn says. “After fostering such great friendships here over the course of my degree, it’s the best gift of all to come back and perform on such fun shows this month.”

Shows are Friday and Saturday at the Basement speakeasy at 3470 Portage Ave. in the Howard Johnson. The band takes the stage both nights at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 at basementwpg.com.

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