The Cidizens are led by 24 year old singer-songwriter Reina del Cid, described by Minneapolis’ Secrets of the City as “the way-more-talented-than-you girl next door.” Channeling storytelling greats like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, del Cid serves up heartache, complex romance, and sharp-eyed social commentary with the effortlessness of an artist many decades her senior. Posting her music online during college in 2007, Reina del Cid’s honest, unfiltered songs touched millions of listeners on social media sites like YouTube and Facebook, winning her a devoted international following before she teamed up with the Cidizens. But don’t let the old school band name formula of “So & So and the Such & Such” fool you. Reina del Cid & the Cidizens are much more than their sweet rhyming frontwoman. Along with infectious rock/blues drummer Clay Whitney (Absolute Gruv) and accomplished classical/jazz bassist Chris Wiberg, lead guitarist Toni Lindgren (The Hillside Ramblers) adds a layer of musical virtuosity, deftly moving between traditional bluegrass styles and Hendrix-esque rock shredding. At only 22, Lindgren is one of the youngest female lead guitarists on the scene, but her playing showcases her years spent behind a guitar: she picked it up at age 6, and it shows. Lindgren’s ripping solos and skillful soundscaping keep people talking long after the band leaves the stage. Formed in March 2011, these newcomers have already made a splash in the Twin Cities music scene, playing shows and taking up residencies at the most beloved local bars (Triple Rock, 331 Club, the Aster, and now the 400 Bar and 7th St Entry this fall), and sharing the stage with local names like Haley Bonar. Beyond their celebrated live sets, the hard hitting combination of del Cid’s powerful lyrics and blues/rock-infused music from the Cidizens, the band’s debut full-length album blueprints, plans (slated for release this September) is well poised to take Minneapolis by storm and win over the hearts of fans all over the globe.