The first time I watched Ari Herstand execute his loop-heavy one man concert, it seemed more performance art than full-fledged music show. Throughout, Herstand carried the crowd, and his charisma prevented the five minutes of song building from dragging. Yet like all one man bands, the payoff does take some time to deliver.

When Herstand returns to the Warehouse this Saturday, he will be accompanied by a full band. He recently spent some time explaining how having a group steer his music changes his usual solo flights, as well as discussing those performances.

Second Supper: How long have you been playing with a full band?

Ari Herstand: I pick and choose the shows that I bring a full band to. I reserve playing with a band for bigger shows or shows that I know are going to have a good turnout. I primarily tour solo, but I knew that this show was going to be a more special show, so I decided to bring the band. This will be my fourth show for the past year in La Crosse, and La Crosse has always been kind to me in the past.

SS: Is there always a reserve band?

AH: Yeah. I have different players that I’ll call for the shows. My band currently consists of a drummer, a bassist, and an electric guitar player. The Minneapolis music scene is incredible, and there’s a large pool of players and bands that trade musicians for different shows if need be. I have the first guys that I’ll call when I have a band show lined up. If they can’t do it I’ll call a few players I know. It’s always a rotating cast.

SS: How do the band shows differ from when you play solo?

AH: I think that the overall sound is enhanced with the band. I just started working the band into my project a little differently from what I had done in the past. I keep the looping show completely intact and add the band on top of it to enhance the sound. My band used to play the role of accompanying me and my acoustic guitar or keyboard and keeping it more of a studio acoustic rock sound. As of late I have started to incorporate the full band with the looping show. Initially I was quite hesitant to do that, because it’s difficult to keep the band in time with the loop, but the players are extremely talented, and we’ve been able to make this work quite well.

SS: How do your solo performances differ from the full formed songs on your album?

AH: My whole project has been a work in progress. Most of the songs that are on my studio album, I wrote for a band. I didn’t have the Loop Station in mind when I was writing the songs; I used it more to compensate for not having a band. I guess I have grown into my looping show, and I’ve found that a lot of people have latched onto the unique elements of what the looping offers. Now, I’ve started writing songs for that element, with the band. I’m going to be performing four new songs at the Warehouse show, and all of them will be for the Loop Station with the band.

To answer your question, the solo looping show is more intimate than what you hear on the record. My solo shows have more of a connection with the audience, and I tend to interact more when it’s just me on stage. I definitely appreciate having a band with me, though. I love having that musical chemistry on stage.

SS: How much of your show is music, and how much of it is performance art? Is there a part of your audience that is more interested in the process than the result?

AH: I would hope that most people are coming because they like the music I am creating, and not just coming for the novelty of it all. I guess there is a bit of novelty to what I do in a live setting. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve always felt since the beginning that a live performance should be a show, not just presenting songs from an album. You’ll rarely hear me perform songs verbatim from the record. I feel very strongly that I want to create every live show as an experience, and part of the experience is watching me create the songs. Ultimately, people are going to latch on to what I do because of the songs.

SS: Are there times when you want to get right to the full song?

AH: That’s a constant struggle; I’m constantly trying to find ways to shorten the initial looping and recording process. That’s a never ending project, to find ways to keep all the musical elements that I feel the song deserves and also trying to create the shortest possible lead-in to the song. There are some songs that I do without the Loop Station, that I feel don’t call for extra elements. With about a quarter of my set I won’t use the Loop Station, and I’ll just play the songs with the band.

SS: How far off is a new album?

AH: I don’t have a recording date set; I would like to get into the studio sometime in the coming year. I recorded a solo live show back in March, and I’m going to release it as a DVD/CD package. On there will be some music videos I’ve been working on and some other special features. That’s the next release, coming out around the end of February. We’re going to prepare the next few months on the best way to release this. I’m also going to be touring quite a bit.

Ari Herstand will play the Warehouse on Saturday, November 21st.