Local Music

Reporter's Notebook: Dosh

Filed under: Local Music

Describing what Martin Dosh does and how it sounds is no simple matter. He's been in more than a dozen bands and shared the studio and stage with a dozen more. He draws on a vast field of musical touchstones. Want the full Dosh experience? We've created something of an online museum of Dosh. You'll find nothing like it anywhere else.

It all starts with a collection of videos, so you can see Dosh doing what he does. Then we have something we're calling Timeline (+ Sound): a look back at Dosh's bands--16 of them--complete with free MP3 downloads, some of them only available digitally here. Next we have a breakdown of what Dosh calls his "rig"--a tangle of instruments and effects pedals. Finally, we've created a sort of Dosh family tree, with bios and links for each of Dosh's recent collaborators. Enjoy! And if you want to see Dosh for yourself, the Walker just added a second World of Dosh show on May 3rd at 11 PM (the first show sold out). And he'll be headlining at First Avenue on June 27th.

The interweb is crawling with Dosh video. I've combed through it all and picked a few good ones. You can see more live footage (that we can't embed here) at the Schedule Two website.

VIDEO 1: Building Sound--A peek into Dosh's basement from the good people at the Minnesota Daily




VIDEO 2: Andrew Bird and Dosh at the 2006 Bonnaroo Festival doing "Simple Exercises"




VIDEO 3: A live video for "Call the Kettle Back" that breaks down the Dosh process





VIDEO 4: Dosh and Jeremy Ylvisaker with Andrew Bird on Late Night with David Letterman in 2007







Image by Cameron Wittig

Dosh keeps busy. This much is clear. Here we've put together a timeline of Dosh projects with free MP3 downloads we gathered with Dosh's help. Some of them have never been available in digital form. Make your own World of Dosh mix! To download, right click on the song title. To listen, simply click the "Listen" button.

2005-present: Andrew Bird

2003-2005: Redstart

Speechless, from the album So Far From Over (2004)

2002-present: Dosh

If You Want to, You Have To, from the not-yet-released album Wolves and Wishes (2008)

Um, Circles and Squares, from The Lost Take (2006)

2002-2007: Vicious Vicious

Here Come Tha Police, from the album Don't Look So Suprised (2004)

2002-2003: T

2002-2003: Captain Blasted

2001: Danny Commando y Los Guapos

Karmageddon, from the album Karmageddon (2002)

2000-2001: Iffy

2000-2005: Fog

High Mummy Road Movie, from the vinyl only EP Check Fraud (2002)

1999-2004: Lateduster (originally called Cropduster)

Gare De Lyon, from the album Lateduster (2001)

1999-2002: Greg Cardinal Band

1999-2002:: Animals Expert at Hankering

Improv Part 6 (2002)

1999-2001: Nasty Goat

Tipsy, from their Litmus EP (2000)

1997: Payload

1995-1997: King Lovell MD

1991-1997: Como Zoo

Salmonella, from the album Shivertown (1995)

Image by Cameron Wittig


Watching Dosh do what he does and trying to figure out exactly what is happening can be overwhelming. So to the extent that we can, we've broken it all down here: taking apart his "rig" piece by piece. Ever wondered what all that stuff is? Wonder no more.


THE AKAI HEADRUSH LOOPING PEDAL:

Once Dosh started playing with a looping pedal, says his longtime friend and collaborator Andrew Broder, "the rest was history."





THE ROLAND DIGITAL DELAY PEDAL
If you've made the mistake many have made and assumed Dosh is making all of those sounds with a computer, this pedal is part of the reason. He uses the DD-5.





THE BOSS DR. SAMPLE

Dosh mostly uses this machine to cue sounds he can't create on his live rig. A memory card like the one you have in your digital camera stores the data. Problem is, Dr. Sample was made just before the small cards it uses became obsolete, so Dosh trolls the internet and buys them whenever they pop up.





THE FENDER RHODES ELECTRIC PIANO






THE ELECTRO-HARMONIX "BIG MUFF" DISTORTION PEDAL






THE KORG EX800 SEQUENCER






THE ZVEX FUZZ FACTORY PEDAL






THE ROLAND JUNO 106 KEYBOARD






THE MACKIE 1402 MIXER

Every thing goes through this mixer and then out through Dosh's headphones. "I've gone through three or four over the years," Dosh says.





THE ALESIS MICRON

Dosh says he uses this "little guy" for "bass tones, and a few organ sounds."






Image by Cameron Wittig

If we went through all of Dosh's collaborations, we'd be here all day. And, well, we already kind of have. So we'll stick to a breakdown of the guests on his new record, Wolves and Wishes--and those who will be joining him on May 3rd at the Walker's World of Dosh event.

Here they are, with a little bit of info and maybe even a YouTube clip.

Erin Dosh
Best to start with Martin's wife, Erin. She's done the artwork for many of the Dosh releases--none more masterfully than his latest, which looks like this:

Andrew Bird
Bird met Dosh in 2005 and soon thereafter invited him to tour with him as a sort of two-man band. The two have been in an evolving collaboration ever since and are at work on Bird's next release now.

Andrew Broder
Broder is best known for his band Fog, which Dosh played in from 2000-2005. Before that, Broder and Dosh were in Lateduster, a band that started off with two drummers, two DJs and two guitars.

David King
King is best known as the drummer for Happy Apple and The Bad Plus. When Dosh moved back to Minneapolis in 1997, he studied for a bit with King.

Here's King on the telly with The Bad Plus:

Marshall Lacount
Lacount plays in Minneapolis' Woodcat and Dark Dark Dark.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Will Oldham probably needs no introduction. Not the case? Okay, here:

Bryan Olson
Olson might be best known for his time spent with The Sensational Joint Chiefs. He went on to form Lateduster with Dosh.

Odd Nosdam
A DJ and member of the anticon collective, it might be best to explain Odd Nosdom thusly:

Jeremy Ylvisaker
These days, Ylvisaker splits his time between shifts in Andrew Bird's touring band and his Minneapolis-based project, Alpha Consumer (which also features Happy Apple's Mike Lewis).

Mike Lewis
Lewis splits his time between Happy Apple, Alpha Consumer, and Dosh tours and god knows what else. He's a frighteningly talented...well...EVERYTHING player and, clearly, a good guy to have on your side.

Jel
Jel. Well, this is a perfectly respectable way to go out:

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at April 30, 2008 4:42 AM | Comments (1)

 

Web Extras: Twin Cities Battle League

Filed under: Local Music

Hip-hop is about creativity and freedom. When speaking with the organizers of the Twin Cities Battle League, these values came across loud and clear.

To get the best idea of what the event's all about -- after reading this week's music feature about it, of course -- you'd have to stop by the Blue Nile on the last Friday of the month. Until that day, though check out some MP3s from the rhymes of Illab, the champion from event two. Here's a short clip of one of the night's best disses, and this more complete rhyme where Illab takes on opponent Mike Starks' skinny frame and Lake Street roots.

Illab (left) battles Spy in the final. Visit the photo slideshow, where you can see most of the rappers referenced in the story.

You can also see videos at the Twin Cities Battle League MySpace page.

Battling is an impromptu art, and many who excel their flows are scripted have trouble in this format. "There are some MCs that are good on the mic, but they can't freestyle, they just write," Truthmaze told me. "Some popular MCs would get murdered in a battle."

So I asked him to name a few legendary Twin Cities battle rappers. Here's what he came up with.

Kel C, a.k.a. Kelly Crockett: "He was one of the main MCs that influenced a lot of local artists," says Truthmaze. Kel C is featured in Peter Scholtes' oral history of Twin Cities hip-hop, 1981-1996.

Derrick "Kid Delite" Stevens: Along with Smokey D, Kid Delite made up the Boys in Black. Stevens now works at Beat 96, but you might know him best as MC Skat Kat.

I Self Devine: Truthmaze's comrade in The Micranots, I Self Devine also is interviewed in Scholtes' hip-hop history.

Truthmaze also cited MC Sugar Free and MC Kool Aid (who I couldn't find more information about, and whose names are oddly concordant) as two of the leading voices during a previous era.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at April 8, 2008 7:50 PM | Comments (1)

 

At home with White Light Riot

Filed under: Local Music

I don't have a problem with the homemade music video. I'll go one step further: I salute the homemade music video. Our own White Light Riot has taken the genre back to its roots: the video made in your parents' home. At least I think it's a parents' home. The copper kettles and the indoor wind chimes are pretty compelling evidence.

One thing about the homemade music video though (and I'm talking about the genre as a whole here): it never fails to suck a song of its blood--in this case displacing the blood with a flood of public-access-grade schlock. But just as I salute the homemade music video, so must I salute that great sub-genre of the homemade: public access.

So while I stand here and salute, go ahead and watch the video:

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at April 8, 2008 9:54 AM | Comments (0)

 

Standing Your Ground: Cecile Cloutier interviews Treehouse Records owner Mark Trehus

Filed under: Local Music

Interview by Cecile Cloutier

Mark Trehus has been working at the corner of 26th Street and Lyndale Avenue for nearly 25 years, first as manager of Oarfolkjokeopus, and later buying the store and changing the name to Treehouse in 2001. It’s been a hard decade for record stores, but Treehouse managed to stick around and even catch a bit of a sales wave with the recent vinyl revival.

Treehouse Records has always reflected Trehus’s strong political beliefs: For years, there was a “Say No to War with Iraq” sign posted in the store’s window, and in 2004, Trehus teamed up with the Dillinger Four for a cover of “Masters of War” with the proceeds going to Iraqi refugee relief. This year, the store’s seventh annual anniversary benefit is dedicated to Common Ground Relief, an organization rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. The benefit show is this Friday, April 4, at the Turf Club.

City Pages: How did you get involved with Common Ground Relief?

Mark Trehus: Well, as you know New Orleans is near and dear to me. Ever since I set foot in that city I just, always, always, always felt a special connection and that I would someday want to live there. After [Hurricane Katrina], I was devastated and heartbroken. I have probably more friends in New Orleans than I do anywhere outside of the Twin Cities. Most of them haven’t been able to return due to various reasons, mostly financial.

CP: Now have you been back since Katrina?

MT: Yeah, I went back one time. It was for the Jazz and Heritage Festival last year.

CP: What was it like? I know you talked about your feelings after Katrina but what was it like to actually experience it?

MT: Alex Chilton drove me back there. The first couple of days I was there, it was “it looks like things are recovering”. Then he took me back [to the inner city] and I had this rotten, horrible, ugly feeling in my stomach. It must have been 15 minutes that I just …couldn’t… talk. One family, on the outside of their house they had spray-painted simply, “This was our home”. And there was nothing left but one wall, the foundation ... You do not get a sense looking at pictures of how vast the devastation is. It’s just mile after mile of utter devastation. Occasionally there will be somebody who’s braved it, who’s fixed up their home, who’s got a generator for their electricity and bottled water. It’s hard to believe it’s America. Two years on, the people who see [news items] on TV about the Superbowl or they’re watching Cops or something and seeing Bourbon Street, they think that New Orleans is back. It’s not.

CP: So why Common Ground Relief instead of another relief organization?

MT: I had heard of Common Ground and people going down there to volunteer. But until I saw [journalist Greg Palast’s film Big Easy to Big Empty] three months ago, I hadn’t really seen what the organization had done. When Alex had taken me to tour back there [last year], I had seen the Common Ground headquarters in the lower 9th Ward. It was the one place that was [still] standing in this [destroyed] area, but by no means in great shape. It’s this building that holds the volunteers and they’re sleeping 30 people to a room down there. So when I saw the video, I decided then and there that this was going to be my charity of choice until it ceases to be …

CP: Until they don’t need it any more.

MT: Which, sad to say, may never be. Or because they [Common Ground] burn out. God forbid: I hope they don’t. They are doing a wonderful grassroots job down there. They are building houses specifically for the poor people of New Orleans who can’t afford to move back. I think they definitely need more volunteers down there and they sure could use some more money. After seeing that film I decided I wanted to do something and I immediately wrote out a check for $1000. It’s not like I have a lot of extra money floating around, but compared to what these people have lost?

CP: This is the first year?

MT: This is it. I just started doing this because I want to think of Treehouse as more than just a record store, as a place where you’re making a political choice to shop there or work there, and in my case make some decisions in life based on politics and social conscience. As long as Treehouse is in business, every year there’s going to be a benefit for Common Ground.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at April 2, 2008 5:15 AM | Comments (0)

 

It happened at Oar Folkjokeopus...

Filed under: Local Music

There's a Bob Mould interview over at Gay.com that got me thinking: first, about how cheap it was of SPIN magazine to out Mould the way it did. Here's that exchange:

Back in the '90s, SPIN magazine threatened to out you. Did that piss you off because it's really no one else's business?

It was either "You can talk with us and we'll write about it, or you won't and we will," and I was like, "Well, that sort of sucks."

So I could either not talk to them and have them write about it their way, or talk to them and have them write about it their way [laughs]. Now it's just a funny story to talk about, I find it quite humorous. But at the time, it was a little unnerving -- in fact, it was upsetting. I felt like I had made a poor showing of myself through no fault of my own. The few attributable quotes were stretched a little outside the context in response to a simple question. The answer I gave appeared to be even more self-hating that I actually was. [Laughs.] I was like, "Wow -- how did I do that?"

Second--and there is no relation to the first item here--about how many incredible record stores we've had in the Twin Cities. Here's the relevant excerpt from the Gay.com interview:

When you met Grant Hart at a local record store, you guys formed Husker Du. Back then, the record store culture was a vital part of creativity for emerging musicians. Are you sad or nostalgic at the disappearance of the neighborhood record store, and the whole community and scene that surrounded it?

Oh, absolutely. It was a different culture and a different time. I think the sadness sets in for me when I consider the ritual of having to get a job to make money, to get on the bus to go to the record store, to spend time reading about music -- buy the right records, going to the counter and hoping they don't sneer at you when you bring the record up. That whole thing added value to the process and to the music, made it more valuable as an experience. You had to really work for it, and you had to study, and that's all gone.

It's kind of silly, but I always kind of liked the challenge of not making the counter clerk sneer at my purchases. It made me sharp--made me dig a little deeper. It never meant I didn't buy what I came for, but it did often mean I threw a little something extra in. To this day my record collection is full of those little somethings, and I'm glad for it.

You've got to make the snobbery work for you. That's the moral I suppose.

I digress. Constantly.

It's the record-store-as-community thing I'm interested in here. Let's get sentimental...

I'll start--here are four really good memories I've shoveled from the recesses of my tiny brain:

@ OAR FOLKJOKEOPUS: When I was in my early 20's and mowing lawns in the suburbs, I'd cash my paycheck each Thursday and take $50 to Oar Folk to buy records. All Thursday, which was usually the day I'd mow that Golden Valley shopping plaza (where Down in the Valley used to be) off of Olson Memorial Highway, I'd be thinking about what I wanted to get. Usually I'd just think in genre, sometimes just aesthetic: "I'm only getting blues albums with black & white jackets today." It was a delightful game.

@ GARAGE D'OR: Remember when the Melvins played there sometime around 1998? They still had Mark playing bass: the guy who always dressed sharp and wore a cowboy hat and, rumor had it, never cussed. That show was so packed I had to go outside and climb up on the window behind the makeshift stage to catch a glimpse.

I think they had just released Stoner Witch...

@ AARDVARK: Okay, nobody from the city ever went to Aardvark (the sister store to Roadrunner), but a counter job there was my ticket out of lawn mowing. And yes, I was a snob. I was playing The Residents one day when a middle-aged woman complained. "Play something normal she sneered." I asked her what that meant. "I don't know. Just play some R.E.M.!" I obliged, sort of. I put on an interview with R.E.M.--and she was out in a huff.

I also remember stealing the concrete brick we used to prop the door in the summer. I found a photo of Babes in Toyland playing at the store and that brick was keeping Lori Barbero's bass drum in place. In those days, as far as I was concerned, Lori had invented cool. She even had a cool drummer's face! So I took the brick and used it at home and on tour to hold my bass drum in place.

@ HYMIE'S: I discovered Tanya Tucker there. I was looking for a song I had heard over the First Avenue P.A. before a Golden Smog show back in like 1995 or something. All I knew was it was about New York City. I bought that record Tucker made when she was like 13 because it had a song with New York City in the title. It was the wrong song, but hell if I didn't spin that record at my wedding a decade later.

What about you? Is anybody out there? Get sentimental with me...

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at March 20, 2008 1:54 PM | Comments (11)

 

Homegrown Wake Celebrates More Than 10 Years of Music

Filed under: Local Music

The Turf Club hosted a memorial service for "Homegrown" on Friday night. After more than a decade on the air at a pair of stations (KQRS initially; then the-late Drive 105), the program hosted by Mei Young and David Campbell no longer has a home. The Turf Club wake was also a chance to pimp Silage: Foreclosure and Eviction, a collection of live performances from the program. The wonderful 21-track production features songs from such local heroes as Dosh, P.O.S., Jeremy Messersmith, and Haley Bonar.

There was a Homegrown coffin, complete with flowers and faux-corpse, set up in front of the stage.

Big Trouble played a largely instrumental set that included a cover of Neil Young's "Old Man," along with a rendition of the Twin Peaks theme. Martin Devaney joined them on vocals for one track.

Folk-pop charmer Ben Connelly then strummed through an acoustic set in the Clown Lounge that featured "Evangeline," one of the finest tracks from Silage. Unfortunately he was largely drowned out by the boisterous, drunken crowd.

Dan Israel rocked with an old-school three-piece outfit. "This is the happiest funeral I've been to, since the last one," he told the crowd. Highlights included another track from the Homegrown collection, "Sandbags," along with a blistering version of The Who's "The Seeker," with Dave Russ administering a punishing beatdown to the tom drums.

P.O.S. explained that he was late arriving because he'd been pulled over for speeding on his way to the Turf Club. The effortlessly charismatic Rhymesayers rapper performed solo, running through primarily new material. The set was brief because Stef was headed off to perform with his hardcore outfit Building Better Bombs at Big V's just down the road.

Haley Bonar was up next in the Clown Lounge. But it was closing in on 12:30 and I decided to call it a night.

Posted by Paul Demko at February 24, 2008 1:20 PM | Comments (0)

 

Surprise Tapes n Tapes Show Tonight

Filed under: Local Music

Tapes Inc. will be playing a surprise show at the Turf Club tonight, according to Big Hassle Media. They'll be performing songs from their new album, Walk It Off. Vampire Hands and the Blind Shake open, plus it's only 5 bucks. Doors at 9pm. Sounds awesome, yeah? Yeah, it really does.

Posted by Sarah Askari at February 21, 2008 11:09 AM | Comments (0)

 

Coming in April: Unreleased 'Mats Tracks

Filed under: Local Music

Rhino Records announced last week that it will be reissuing the Replacements Twin/Tone catalog this spring. Sorry Ma, Stink, Hootenanny, and Let it Be will be turbocharged and bedazzled with all sorts of extras: demos, cover songs, and alternate versions. Later in 2008, the label plans to give the same treatment to the 'Mats Sire releases. Inside, the complete expanded track listings.

SORRY MA, FORGOT TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH
1. "Takin A Ride"
2. "Careless"
3. "Customer"
4. "Hangin Downtown"
5. "Kick Your Door Down"
6. "Otto"
7. "I Bought A Headache"
8. "Rattlesnake"
9. "I Hate Music"
10. "Johnny's Gonna Die"
11. "Shiftless When Idle"
12. "More Cigarettes"
13. "Don't Ask Why"
14. "Somethin To Dü"
15. "I'm In Trouble"
16. "Love You Till Friday"
17. "Shutup"
18. "Raised In The City"
Bonus Material
19. "Raised In The City" ­ Live, 1980 - Demo*
20. "Shutup" ­ Live, 1980 - Demo*
21. "Don't Turn Me Down" ­ Live, 1980 - Demo*
22. "Shape Up" ­ Live, 1980 - Demo*
23. "You Ain't Gotta Dance" ­ Studio Demo*
24. "Get On The Stick" ­ Studio Demo*
25. "Oh Baby" ­ Studio Demo*
26. "Like You" ­ Outtake*
27. "Get Lost" ­ Outtake*
28. "A Toe Needs A Shoe" ­ Outtake*
29. "Customer" ­ Alternate Take*
30. "Basement Jam" ­ Rehearsal*
31. "If Only You Were Lonely"

STINK
1. "Kids Don't Follow"
2. "Fuck School"
3. "Stuck In The Middle"
4. "God Damn Job"
5. "White And Lazy"
6. "Dope Smokin Moron"
7. "Go"
8. "Gimme Noise"
Bonus Material
9. "Staples In Her Stomach" ­ Outtake*
10. "Hey, Good Lookin'" ­ Outtake*
11. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" ­ Outtake*
12. "You're Getting Married" ­ Solo Home Demo*

HOOTENANNY
1. "Hootenanny"
2. "Run It"
3. "Color Me Impressed"
4. "Willpower"
5. "Take Me Down To The Hospital"
6. "Mr. Whirly"
7. "Within Your Reach"
8. "Buck Hill"
9. "Lovelines"
10. "You Lose"
11. "Hayday"
12. "Treatment Bound"
Bonus Material
13. "Lookin' For Ya"
14. "Junior's Got A Gun" ­ Outtake - Rough Mix*
15. "Ain't No Crime" ­ Outtake*
16. "Johnny Fast" ­ Outtake - Rough Mix*
17. "Treatment Bound" ­ Alternate Version*
18. "Lovelines" ­ Alternate Vocal*
19. "Bad Worker" ­ Solo Home Demo*

LET IT BE
1. "I Will Dare"
2. "Favorite Thing"
3. "We're Comin' Out"
4. "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out"
5. "Androgynous"
6. "Black Diamond"
7. "Unsatisfied"
8. "Seen Your Video"
9. "Gary's Got A Boner"
10. "Sixteen Blue"
11. "Answering Machine"
Bonus Material
12. "20th Century Boy"
13. "Perfectly Lethal" ­ Outtake*
14. "Temptation Eyes" ­ Outtake*
15. "Answering Machine" ­ Solo Home Demo*
16. "Heartbeat ­ It's A Lovebeat" ­ Outtake, Rough Mix*
17. "Sixteen Blue" ­ Outtake - Alternate Vocal*

* previously unissued recording

Posted by Sarah Askari at February 16, 2008 2:25 PM | Comments (0)

 

The Blend: Outplaying Your Band

Filed under: Local Music

Toussaint Morrison thinks his band is better than yours. It's nothing personal.

That's just how the stars align in his view of local music cosmology. He's not hating on anybody in particular, but don't expect him to back off, either. Morrison is frustrated that The Blend, the five-piece live-band hip-hop ensemble Morrison fronts, seems to be attracting more attention nationally than it has at home.

"I think with the Blend, it's been an uphill battle – because there's nothing to define what we do," he says. "People have an idea of what hip-hop is, and an idea of what rock is, and sometimes we don't fit inside that circle. It's not deemed as 'Minneapolis cool' as we'd like it to be."

In response, they've begun churning out new material. Tonight at the Nomad World Pub, the band plays a release party for three new issues: a DVD and live CD recorded at the Varsity Theater, plus a live acoustic CD recorded at Manhattan Loft pizza place in Dec. '06. The package, Live Sessions 001, foreshadows another EP that will be released in April at the U of M's Spring Jam before the band's latest as-yet-untitled full length drops this fall.

This is a guy who is proud of what he's doing, and frustrated that his group will drive to North Carolina for shows, up to D.C., over to Ohio and then back to the town he's called home since the age of four ... and face a struggle for recognition. This isn't something he's shy about expressing. So stuff like this comes out, even if you didn't ask:

"I do think that the Blend is one of the most talented bands in the country, hands down, and I believe The Blend is the most talented band in the city of Minneapolis."

That's a bold claim.

"It is. One could say it's an outlandish claim," he acknowledges, "but for me it's nothing short of the truth."

Just ask him what he thinks about the local emo rock scene. I dare you.

The charismatic Morrison, who isn't necessarily as brash as these outspoken comments might suggest, got his start as an MC when a teacher at Minneapolis South High School introduced him to slam poetry at the age of 15. He started performing with the Minneapolis slam team in 2003, and in successive years placed highly at the national competition.

To him, the elements of slam incorporated into The Blend's music (they perform at least one poem during each show) add to the live experience.

"There's a lot of people that carry [shows] well. But how many people can survive onstage with no beat? For me, I think that's what it comes down to sometimes. If that guitar wasn't working, who would you be?"

This isn't to say that The Blend's instruments don't work. Musically, the tandem is at their best when finding a particular groove to explore. Take "July" (MP3) off 2005's After What Came Before long-player, which kicks off with a Ben Harper-ish rootsy vibe, and then goes into a hard rock riff. Toussaint describes himself singing on the chorus "like a male Alanis Morissette or some shit."

Though the group has been touring seriously for less than three years, The Blend been around in one form or another for more than five. The two more-or-less original members are Morrison and fellow Minneapolis South alum Linden Killam, who plays sax and piano. True to the name, they incorporate a fusion of styles into their sound, drawing on hip-hop, rock and spoken word.

Between touring, music production and promoting all those upcoming releases, Morrison's scrambling. "It's like a Tom & Jerry cartoon where Tom is trying catch all the cups before they hit the ground," he says.

Luckily, he's got more energy than Tom. Not to mention a better way with words.

The Blend play at the Nomad World Pub tonight, Friday Feb. 15 at 9 p.m.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at February 15, 2008 3:18 AM | Comments (3)

 

Endless Love for the Owls

Filed under: Local Music

Now that Peter is gone, it is my job to listen to the Owls new disc Daughters and Suns over and over again, to marvel at how awesome they are, and to fret over the possibility that there might yet be a member of the City Pages readership not yet exposed to their bright sweet wonderfulness.

So please, watch this new Owls video for their song Channel. Honest-to-god profesh director Phil Harder worked with the band on it. You can also download my current most-abused Owls song "All Those in Favor" at the beginning of Peter's fall article.

Posted by Sarah Askari at February 1, 2008 1:14 PM | Comments (1)

 

MN Folk: Big in Madrid?

Filed under: Local Music

I meant to post this awhile ago, but over on MNSpeak, local illustrator and occasional Electric Arc Radio Show performer Andy Sturdevant pointed out that some crazy cool Spanish art mag wrote up a big feature on Minnesota's current folk scene. Roma di Luna, Meg Ashling, the Floorbirds (who?) and Mike Gunther were all written about in a piece that begins on page 20 of the January 2008 issue. You can download a PDF of the whole thing on the Calle 20 website.

The press came as a surprise to some of the artists highlighted--"I didn't know anything about the article. They procured the photos through the Dutch Label that released our last record, Rosa Records. It was a cool article, though," Gunther wrote in an email. It's kind of awesome that Spanish people, who are better than us because they have mad scientist chefs and lunatic architecture and tapas and also got the Mexicans to speak their language even though we live right next door, have found something to admire over here! Okay France, now you say something about our scene that you like.

Posted by Sarah Askari at January 31, 2008 7:13 PM | Comments (3)

 

Parlour Suitehearts

Filed under: Local Music

Last night I snuggled into the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater for the Parlour Suite's CD release show. The place was close and crowded for openers Charlie Parr and Joanna James, but lost some patrons by the time this newish trio took the stage. They haven't quite got their sea-legs yet, these Parlour sweeties, even if they were born ready for their cover art photo shoot.

The dark-haired mademoiselle is tall and shy and averts her eyes from the audience as she bangs her tambourine. The fair one pounds out melodies on her keyboard, grinning like a meerkat the whole time. I think the guy standing between them with a guitar is slightly scared of her. (Later, I read that they're married.)

The three harmonize like a streetwise Carter family, with Inga Robert's voice, somewhere between Betty Boop and Bette Midler, setting the pace. When she sings "I'm so proud of my boys!" it kind of crystallizes for me: They grew up during the Depression and caught the country-folk acts that came through their little rural hamlet--but only the ones their parents deemed morally upright. Young adults now, they're living in a seaside town and playing sprightly ditties in a boardwalk bar for the WW2 troops who come in for a little R&R. Nothing dour, nothing that drags, please. Their debut album is called Rainmaker.

Posted by Sarah Askari at January 18, 2008 12:25 PM | Comments (0)

 

Spank Your Neighbor

Filed under: Local Music

YouTube is so the new MTV, right? But even better, 'cause you can watch it at work. Waste three minutes on this fresh video from His Mischief.

The trio ranked 10th in our most recent Picked to Click best-new-bands poll. Here, they give us a behind-closed-doors look at all the debauchery going on in their neighborhood. After you watch it, you'll say, "That was fancy! Was it really local?" Yes, and if you go to the Fearless Filmmakers "Music that Moves" event on January 30th at the Oak Street Cinema, you can see this video and 18 more Minnesota-grown cuts. Afterparty at the Kitty Cat Klub, with one free drink for all you wannabes who aren't yet raking in that insane Minnesota music video green.

This video is rated U. It contains an Updike-style geriatric key party.

Posted by Sarah Askari at January 14, 2008 2:27 PM | Comments (3)

 

The Week of Eyedea

Filed under: Local Music

It's a big week for local favorite Eyedea; he returns from tour tonight to play two shows with two different bands over the next three days. He spoke with us from the road home today.

City Pages: You've got two concerts this week, one an Eyedea & Abilities show and another with Face Candy. How do you go about transitioning from hip-hop to more rock-oriented music?

Eyedea: I just do whatever I want at the time, you know? I don't really think as much about how it's going to affect a career, or what it's going to mean. I just picked up a guitar and started writing songs on a guitar and that was that.

CP: Is there an adjustment from a performance perspective when you have two shows the same week on such different projects?

E: It's not that much of an adjustment. The way it breaks down, I have three different bands. I have Eyedea & Abilities, which is – whatever it is. It's the one that's been successful, that's been a staple in my life, thats helped take me all around the world. Then there's Face Candy, which is an all-improvised idea. There isn't much thought that goes into the actual preparation or anything, because it's all improvised music. Then there's Carbon Carousel, which are songs I write on guitar and piano, and then bring to the band, and we make a movement that way.

In each of their veins, they're so different as far as approach and aesthetic, it's easy to know what a Carbon Carousel show feels like, what a Face Candy show feels like, what an E&A show feels like. And they all for me fulfill different parts of what I want to do.

CP: Lots of people are wondering if there will be a new E&A record soon.

E: We're working on new music. It would be kind of premature to say when that would come out, but we're definitely working on new stuff. And there's some new stuff that we get into a little bit [on this tour].

CP: How do you think E&A as a band have evolved over the years?

E: We've matured so much individually that it's a lot more defined and deliberate than it used to be. When we were young, we were experimenting making records and desperately trying to find out identity, and I think that's very apparent on some of the stuff that we've done.

Now, we're a little bit more secure, and know a little more about what we don't want to present to the world – which helps us figure out what we do want to present.

CP:You have three bands already. Any new projects on the horizon?

E: Actually, I may have just started a fourth one – OK, I did start a fourth one, but we'll see how that evolves. It's a band with my girlfriend, where we write write comedic joke songs about a couple that hates each other.

That's one thing I was really lacking – a place to put some comedy. Carbon Carousel seems to border on being aggressive and dark and displays some of the more painful things in life. Face Candy is trying to do the exact opposite, and E&A is trying to do both. But I didn't have a place to be funny, to make songs that just make people laugh. So maybe you'll hear some of that sometime, too.

CP: I want to read a line Peter Scholtes wrote about you from a story we did in 2001. “He may even travel to India to study yoga. You never know how this hip-hop thing will pan out.”

E: That's hilarious.

CP: Is that pretty removed from your experience now?

E: I still do yoga. I definitely didn't move to India, though. [laughs]

I think that was just a young guy searching. These days I understand that it's part of human nature to want to become, and want to search. Rather than actually saying out loud, “I'm going to go do this,” I just sit down and understand that it's natural for the mind to want more.

Eyedea and Abilities play tonight at the Triple Rock Social Club (18+, $12, 9 p.m.). Face Candy plays on Saturday at Whiskey Junction (21+, $10, show starts at 8 p.m.)

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 20, 2007 12:44 PM | Comments (0)

 

Brother Ali Interview

Filed under: Local Music

Brother Ali opens for Rakim and Ghostface Killah on the "Hip-Hop Live" tour on Sunday at First Ave. The Aspen Times just published an interview with him, so check that out if you're going to the show Sunday (which promises to be epic).

I'd like the interview a lot more if the Times had spelled either "Melle Mel" or "Whodini" right, though. Kool Moe Dee would be rolling over in his grave, but fortunately for all of us, he isn't dead.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at November 9, 2007 9:44 AM | Comments (0)

 

The Owls (Expanded Web Content)

Filed under: Local Music

To go with Peter S. Scholtes' feature on local band The Owls, here are three songs from the band's new release, "Daughters and Suns." Also, check out our slideshow gallery with photos by Nick Vlcek. The group's CD release party is Thursday night at the Cedar Cultural Center.

SAMPLE MP3 FILES
"The Way On" (3:01)

Download MP3

"Peppermint Patty" (3:12)

Download MP3

"All Those In Favor" (2:23)

Download MP3

ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB

* The Owls' home page and MySpace

* Magic Marker Records, the band's label

* A previous City Pages profile on The Owls

* MPR profile on The Owls

* The Hang Ups' home page and MySpace

Posted by Jeff Shaw at November 6, 2007 4:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

Minneapolis Cable Access: We're Not Worthy?

Filed under: Local Music

Having already cut $50,000 from this year's operating budget of the Minneapolis Television Network (MTN 16, 17, 75), Mayor Rybak now proposes an additional $100,000 cut from the 2008 budget in order to redirect the funds to a new wireless portals project. The announcement sparked heated discussion recently at a televised hearing held by the MTN Study Commission, which brought Rybak face to face with hosts and crew of Somali programs, Drinking With Ian, and other shows.

"There's a real budget crisis in city hall," says MTN executive director Pam Colby. "But I think we're a vital community resource, and [this cut] would just devastate the organization. We were given no warning that we should prepare for a $100,000 hit."

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at November 5, 2007 6:42 PM | Comments (0)

 

MMAs Have Moved to March

Filed under: Local Music

Hey, what happened to the 2007 Minnesota Music Awards? Last year's were held on October 1, and hosted by Brian Oake and Mary Lucia at First avenue, when the whole shebang seemed to have regained what cred it lost from previous years' balloting mishaps and far-flung venues. Turns out the 27th Annual MMA's have moved to March of 2008--March 2, tentatively--under new Minnesota Music Academy president Lance Cunningham, a former VP for the academy who runs the Minneapolis-based Somnio Artist Group label (Far From Falling, A Verse Unsung).

"We moved back the award show to be more in sync with the calendar year," says Cunningham, who adds that nominations will be taken for anything Minnesotan from between mid-August of last year through December 2007. The only probable losers in this scenario, considering timetable confusion: Bands that released albums in mid-August of last year. Does Mark Mallman's last one count? Reached for comment, Mallman couldn't remember what month it was released.

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at October 26, 2007 11:36 AM | Comments (0)

 

Benefit for a rapper who broke his face

Filed under: Local Music

From our email (click image for larger flyer): "Hello everybody. A show this Wednesday at the Dinkytowner is a benefit for New MC. He was involved in a serious accident in which he may never be able to breathe properly again without surgery, which in turn would mean that he would not be able to rap again, something that's he been doing a better part of his life. I'm giving you heads up because this show is filled with Minneapolis hip-hop artists (Big Quarters, Ernie Rhodes, Trama, Ill Chemistry) who Zach Combs has helped throughout the years and will definitely be a show not to miss. It's just pure evidence on how big of an asset Zach Combs is and has been throughout the years.

"His story, in his own words is below and attached is the flyer. This show will probably be one of the most entertaining hip-hop shows this year, and it's for a good cause.

"Just giving you a friendly heads up.

"Zach's story:

"Yo this is kinda odd putting my personal problems on the internet but I just got a call from Unicus (of Kanser) and the Dinkytowner is putting a last minute fundraiser show on for me this Wednesday because I need to have emergency surgery on my face by next weekend, and so I can answer every body in the Hip Hop scenes questions at once I'll right what happend.

"Ya'll all know how I like to woof up stories and tell them at shows, well this one might be the most nuts thing that every happened to me. I would like every one to just laugh (with me or at me) and not feel sorry for me, the shits just life but its pretty funny I guess.

"Yesterday I was biking threw Uptown on some rap shit putting up posters headed to 5th Element to drop Kevin Beachum a CD. I stopped at the Wedge to put up some posters, then I got a phone call. Since I was on the phone I started biking real slow behind two half way homeless looking dudess. They moved to the left side of the side walk and ask me to go by them, I just shook my head at them cause I was on the phone and stayed to the right. So their on the left side and I'm on the right side. We go about 10 feet and looking down I see a bunch of dollar bills in the grass on the right side of the sidewalk. Since I was on the phone I said out loud 'Oh shit I just found a bunch a money!' I snacthed it up and put it in my pocket. The two dudes ahead of me heard me say it turned around and as I picked it up said 'Yo thats our money.' I was like 'Ya right, how it fall out your pocket and float across the side walk?' Neither of these dudes looked like a threat so I was basically like take it from me. They were babblen real fast saying they lost it like a half an hour ago and have been walking down Lyndale looking for it. I didnt believe them but I thought it is only money, these dudes look like they need it more than I do. I said 'If you can tell me how much it was I'll give it to you.'

"They said it was 60$ because they just sold 60$ worth of scrap metal to the junk yard. I pulled it out of my pocket we all looked at it and it was 80$. SO I was like fuck ya'll and just took off on my bike. They yelled 'Stop that guys he just robbed us!!.' and a couple Uptown Wedge shoppers tried to grab me off my bike like I was on some criminal shit. I was on my boy Treys GT bmx bike so I shook everybody quick and bent into the alley with Uptown people yelling at me. I dont think any hippy/hipster person in all of Uptown can accually beat me up but I was thinking this is so weird just get away from here fast. I mwas almost in the clear when this average nerdy white dude accross the street close lined me off my bike going full speed....and broke my nose and shattered my face. In the next 60 seconds the two dudes who tried to rob me, the dude who closed line me and every one else just started appologising as fast as they could, I wanted to fight everyone around me but dude to the fact I was losing blood out my face like a fossit I wasnt in the position to fight anyone.

"This whole event happened in less time than it just took ya'll to read it, like maybe 45-60 seconds tops. The police came, the ambulance came ...long story short I got to the hospital but I dont have medical insurance. My nose bleed all night and at about 8:30am this morning the doctors told me I need 4,000$ plus surgery by next weekend or I will never be able to breath right again .......That means no more rapping. Since my only income is rapping I kinda stuck in a spot. I feel weird asking for hand outs but Shiz & some of the other INTERLOCK homies have scraped up about 2,000$ in a day and are throwing a benefit show this weds oct 17th at the Dinkytowner. I think the DInkytowner has offered to throw in a free drink for anyone who pays. -NEW MC, aka Big Zach of Kanser

"Best,

Chris Cloud"

Discussion thread at DUNation

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at October 16, 2007 7:02 PM | Comments (1)

 

The Craig Finn Master Class

Filed under: Local Music

In 2005 a New Yorker piece about Craig Finn of The Hold Steady (and the sorely missed Lifter Puller) singled him out for writing songs "as though the point of making music is to communicate." It's a skill for which he has absorbed no shortage of recognition.

He traded verses with Bruce Springsteen at Carnegie Hall over the summer. And in recent weeks The Hold Steady has opened for the Rolling Stones, Iggy and The Stooges, Sonic Youth and the New York Dolls. This week Finn was the subject of a "Master Class" at his alma matter Boston College. Think the Twin Cities can't claim this guy anymore? Think again. Keep an eye out over at Kent Hrbeck Outdoors. Finn'll be showing up there soon. There has been some fishing and some taping with Herbie--because Springsteen isn't the only Boss.

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at September 27, 2007 10:36 AM | Comments (0)

 

Picked to Click XVII: complete links

Filed under: Local Music

Our 2007 best-new-band poll is live. Read the intro, then check out articles on the winners (linked below individually), along with a sobering and insightful piece on the Picked to Click Curse. (For reference, see all previous Picked to Click issues). The numbers following the band names represents how many points each got from the 84 voters (see our complete list of ballots). Thanks to all who participated, and help them spread the word on all the groups named in the ballots. Here's the final tally:

1. Mouthful of Bees, 68
2. Gay Witch Abortion, 34
3. First Communion Afterparty, 29.5
4. Skoal Kodiak, 28
5. Roma di Luna, 27
6. Dance Band, 26
7. MC/VL, 23
8. Baby Guts, 20.5
9. M.anifest, 18
10. His Mischief 17.5

Other artists that received 6 or more points:

Weaver at the Loom, 17
Black Audience, 16
City on the Make, 15
Jeremy Messersmith, 15
Private Dancer, 15
Big Quarters, 13
Pandemonium, 13
Mystery Palace, 12
Now, Now Every Children, 12
A Night in the Box, 11
Dark Dark Dark, 11
Switzerlind, 11
Bastard Saint, 10
The Evening Rig, 10
Beatrix Jar, 9
Dessa, 8
France Has the Bomb, 8
Ghost in the Water, 8
Joanna James, 8
To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie, 8
The Chosen Few, 7
City of Sound, 7
Death to our Enemies, 7
Sarah Johnson, 7
Togetherness, 7
Red Fox Grey Fox, 7
We All Have Hooks for Hands, 7
Abzorbr, 6
Meg Ashling, 6
Daughters of the Sun, 6
The Great Physician, 6
Murzik, 6
Painted Saints, 6
Rivet, 6
Ruby Isle, 6
X-Ray Hip, 6
ZibraZibra, 6

For reference, here's a complete list of artists named by voters in this year's poll, our favorite band names from this year's poll, the 2006 incarnation of this poll, the 2005 version, and links to (or results from) all previous Picked to Clicks, going back to 1991, when this madness began.

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 18, 2007 10:31 PM | Comments (0)

 

Picked to Click XVII: complete ballots

Filed under: Local Music

Here are the 84 ballots counted in this year's Picked to Click poll, alphabatized by the voters' names. Ballots without numbers attached, or without otherwise specifying an order of preference, were counted "in no particular order," with each choice getting 3 points. (First choices got 5 points, second choices 4, etc.) This year, we also accepted dual ties for 5th place, giving each choice .5 points. Spellings have been (mostly) corrected, and notes are in brackets. Thanks to all the voters! Add your own Top 5s in the comments:

Ian Anderson, Afternoon Records

1. Now, Now Every Children
2. Best Friends Forever
3. Tarlton
4. Rob Skoro
5. Kill the Vultures

Matt Axelson, booker for The Firewall venue in Stillwater

1. Cloud Cult
2. Red Fox Grey Fox
3. Weaver at the Loom
4. City of Sound
5. Now, Now Every Children

Chris Bahn, city editor, The Onion A.V. Club

(no particular order)
Mouthful Of Bees
International Espionage!
Big Quarters
Switzerlind
Pictures of Then

Jackie Becker, MN Soundtrack on KFAI-FM 90.3.

(no particular order)
Akai
Mouthful of Bees
Murzik
Baby Guts
Building Better Bombs

Eric Billiet, manager, the Garage

1. City of Sound
2. Sing It Loud
3. Now, Now Every Children
4. Ronny Cary
5. Joyce Ernst

Daniel Black, Say & Stay Said label owner, Everybell & Whistle musician, Landland graphic designer/illustrator

1. Skoal Kodiak
2. Les Ourses
3. Synchrocyclotron
4. The Yoleus
5. Charles de Gaulle

Jason Brazil, co-owner, Eclipse Records

(no particular order)
They The Down Low
Company Incorporated
Battle Royale
The Deaf
Brother Ali

David Campbell, temporary host of The Local Show /89.3. FM The Current, clerk at the Electric Fetus, "beardist" in E.L.nO.

1. Jeremy Messersmith
2. A Night in the Box
3. Daughters of the Sun
4. Roma di Luna
5. MC/VL

Tim Campbell, senior arts and entertainment editor, Star Tribune

1. First Communion Afterparty
2. Mouthful of Bees
3. Roma di Luna
4. Orange Mighty Trio
5. Baby Guts

Ron Carlson, president, Classic's Studio

(no particular order)
Mayhem
Gotti the Governor
Little Enfy
Swift
Unknown MC

Adam Case, consignment director at Cheapo

1. MC/VL
2. Pretty Boy Thorsen
3. His Mischief
4. France Has the Bomb
5. First Communion After Party

Cyn Collins, author of West Bank Boogie and freelance music writer

1. Black Audience
2. Nikki Matteson and Her Ruemates
3. Cadillac Kolstad Band
4. Dreamland Faces
5. Chokecherry

Brian Corner, publicist, Cedar Cultural Center

(no particular order)
Orange Mighty Trio
Roma Di Luna
The Pines
The Brass Kings
Ben Glaros

Daniel Corrigan, photographer

(no particular order)
Three Inches of Blood
Nap Nap
Failed Heroes
Baby Guts
The Rockford Mules

David de Young, founder, Howwastheshow.com

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. First Communion Afterparty
3. Dance Band
4. MC/VL
5. City on The Make

Desdamona, musician and promoter

1. M.anifest
2. Molly Dean
3. Just Live
4. Pavielle French
5. Ashley Gold

Ben Durrant, producer/engineer, Crazy Beast Studio, musician

1. Roma di Luna
2. Alpha Consumer
3. Mouthful of Bees
4. Night in the Box
5. Eliza Blue

Rainer Fronz, Learning Curve Records

1. Private Dancer
2. Death to Our Enemies
3. Holy Ghost Riders
4. Bastard Saint
5. Pretty Boy Thorson & the Falling Angels

Lisa Ganser, Homocore Minneapolis

1. Tough Tough Skin
2. Kitten Forever
3. Everybell and Whistle
4. Dark Dark Dark
[not counted: 5. Dark Dark Dark]

Michael Gaughan, promoter and performer

1. Rivet
2. Men of Leisure
3. The Chosen Few
4. bRat
5. Mux Mool

Sonia Grover, booker, First Avenue and 7th St. Entry

1. Gay Witch Abortion
2. Dark Dark Dark
3. Mouthful of Bees
4. Meg Ashling
5. (tie) His Mishief, Baby Guts [each given .5 points]

Tom Hallett, writer, Reveille Magazine

1. The Capitol Sons
2. The Red Flags
3. Hojas Rojas
4. Carp 18
5. Jim Soule

Daniel Henry, host, MN Soundtrack on KFAI-FM 90.3

(no particular order)
Straight A's
Gay Witch Abortion
Ghost In The Water
Baby Guts
DJ Snuggles

Joe Holland, Big V's booking/sound

1. Gay Witch Abortion

Christy Hunt, Stasiu's, Ouija Radio
1. Gay Witch Abortion
2. Dessa
3. Murzik
4. City on the Make
5. (tie) The Blackthorns, First Communion Afterparty [each given .5 points]

Christopher Matthew Jensen, writer, engineer, musician, radio personality

1. To Kill A Petty Bourgeosie
2. Skoal Kodiak
3. Gay Witch Abortion
4. Pandemonium
5. Sarah Johnson

Grant Johnson, musician and promoter

1. The Western Fifth
2. Bluebird
3. Norsemen
4. Calamity Jean
5. The Hard Left

Brian Kasoro, editor, Liberator Magazine

1. Sara White (solo)
2. Ceewhy
3. M.anifest
4. Quilombolas
5. Sha Cage

Kimberly King, the Fine Line

(no particular order)
The 757's
X-Ray Hip
The Great Physician

Kandis "Kandiapolis" Knight, journalist/publicist, Indie Street Magazine, Game Sports Magazine, Trendsetter Urban Monthly, Grip Magazine

1. Muja Messiah
2. I-Self Devine
3. Omaur Bliss
4. Chosen Few
5. Mercies May

Lars J. Larson, Fifth Element online manager

1. M.anifest
2. Knonam
3. Plain Ole Bill & Jimmy2Times
4. The Chosen Few
5. Ill Chemistry

Tom Loftus, Modern Radio

1. His Mischief
2. Private Dancer
3. Knife World
4. Togetherness (a.k.a. Bro Vs. Wade)
5. Sarah Johnson

Ted Lowell, booker, Acadia Cafe

(no particular order)
A Night in the Box
Gay Beast
Brent Floren
Painted Saints
Japhlet Bire Attias

Paul Lundrgren, writer, Duluth

1. Nordic Waste
2. The Bitter Spills
3. Southwire
4. Taconite
5. Haus Meeting

James "Taco" Martin, E Company Productions

(no particular order)
Dance Band
The Debu
The Great Physician
Wanttobe Hasbeens
X Ray Hip

Kyle Matteson, More Cowbell, Reveille Magazine

1. First Communion Afterparty
2. Mouthful of Bees
3. Seymore Saves The World
4. Spiritual Mansions
5. Jeremy Messersmith

Steve McPherson, associate editor, Reveille Magazine

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. Roma di Luna
3. City on the Make
4. MC/VL
5. Switzerlind

Jim Meyer, Minnesota Monthly

1. Weaver at the Loom
2. The Fantastic Merlins
3. Oondas Extra
4. Jay Walker and the Misdemeanors
5. The Soviet Machines

Peter Mielech, co-owner, Modern Radio

1. His Mischief
2. Skoal Kodiak
3. Private Dancer
4. Sarah Johnson
5. White Jazz

Keith Moran, Guilt Ridden Pop

1. Togetherness (body language)
2. MC/VL
3. First Communion Afterparty
4. White Nazz
5. (tie) The Vignettes, Finger Pressure [each given .5 points]

Andrea Myers, writer Howwastheshow.com, Managing Editor, Reveille Magazine

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. City on the Make
3. Abzorbr
4. Ladyslipper
5. Rivet

Mark Nelson, volunteer, Extreme Noise Records

1. Pandemonium
2. Bastard Saint
3. Question
4. Complete Waste
5. Loaded First

Tim Nelson, Spinout Records, Fitger's Brewhouse

(no particular order)
Charlie Parr
Sara Softich
Painted Saints
Sam Miltich and the Clear Water Hot Club
40 Watt Bulb

Pat O'Brien, writer

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. Dance Band
3. Estate
4. We All Have Hooks for Hands
5. SKIRT

Todd O'Dowd, publicist, Varsity Theater

1. Joanna James
2. Jeremy Messersmith
3. Sika
4. Alison Scott [written as tie with above; counted as #4]
5. First Communion Afterparty

Bobby Olson, The Vault

1. After the Burial
2. Write This Down
3. Moven' like the mountains
4. Gloria
5. Sing it Loud

Chris Olson, Triple Rock Social Club

1. The Evening Rig
2. Bastard Saint
3. The Blackthorns
4. Mouthful of Bees
5. (tie) Prairie Sons, Shoveldance [each given .5 points]

Neil Olstad, writer, Howwastheshow.com

1. Jayber Crow
2. Dessa
3. Sing It Loud
4. Zibra Zibra
5. Building Better Bombs

Nate Patrin, writer, City Pages

(no particular order)
Abzorbr
Big Quarters
Gay Witch Abortion
Mazta I
Sovietpanda

Jen Paulson, writer, HowWasTheShow.com & Reveille Magazine

1. Dance Band
2. MC/VL
3. Zibra Zibra
4. City on the Make
5. Best Friends Forever

Matt Perkins, Nomad World Pub booking manager

(no particular order)
Ice Palace
City on the Make
Mystery Palace
Black Audience
Mouthful of Bees

Ross Raihala, pop music critic, Pioneer Press

(no particular order)
Dance Band
First Communion Afterparty
Mother Banjo
Mouthful of Bees
Spiritual Mansions

Cory Ramsey, promoter

(no particular order)
Dead Dreams Awakening
Emiliana
Death Sentence
Venia
Charis

Ian Rans, host of TV's Drinking With Ian

1. Beatrix*Jar
2. France Has the Bomb
3. Parts For All Makes
4. the Jacobins
5. the Debut

Tommy Rehbein, promoter, musician

(no particular order)
Go Nutz!
Get Young
Sing It Loud!
Red Fox Grey Fox
Chris Shotlisf

Chris Riemenschneider, music critic, Star Tribune

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. First Communion After-Party
3. Roma di Luna
4. M.anifest
5. Baby Guts

Earl Root, host of KFAI-FM's Root of All Evil (90.3), guitarist for Aesma Daeva

(no particular order)
For Blood
Build or Burn
The Body Beneath
Sirens of Titan
K.U.R.T.

Amber Schadewald, music writer

1. Ghost in the Water
2. Baby Guts
3. Big Quarters
4. Indigo
5. Zibra Zibra

Scheduletwo.com

1. The Evening Rig
2. His Mischief
3. Skoal Kodiak
4. Total Fucking Blood
5. Breanne Durenberger

Christina Schmitt, Minnesota Public Radio

1. In Defense
2. The Sinks
3. Pandemonium
4. France Has the Bomb
5. Dance Band

Peter S. Scholtes, staff writer, City Pages

1. Isis
2. Big Quarters
3. Children 18:3
4. Baby Guts
5. Gumbi

Stacy Schwartz, photo editor, Howwastheshow.com

1. We All Have Hooks for Hands
2. A Night in the Box
3. Dance Band
4. Jonathan Delehanty
5. Estate

Jon Jon Scott, Black Corners Entertainment

(no particular order)
M.anifest
Mystery Palace
Indigo
Sha Cage
Hips Don't Lie

Danny Sigelman, DJ, the Current 89.3 FM

1. Dark Dark Dark
2. Gay Witch Abortion
3. Ponytails and Ivory
4. Poutums
5. Ari Robinson

Clint Simonson, Destijl Records

(no particular order)
Skoal Kodiak
Shahs
Vampire Hands
P Metzger
Old Colon

Rod Smith, writer

1. Mystery Palace
2. Dance Band
3. Skoal Kodiak
4. Black Days Down
5. Meg Ashling

Special Dark, host of The Session on KFAI-FM 90.3

1. New Congress

Jerry Steller, president, Vitriol Radio Promotion

1. Mouthful of Bees
2. Weaver at the Loom
3. We Became Actors

Jesse Stensby, vice president, Vitriol Radio Promotion

1. Weaver at the Loom
2. Elk
3. Mouthful of Bees
4. Spirit of '76
5. Boys and Girls

Alison Stolpa, ex-co-host Off the Record, Electric Fetus clerk

(no particular order)
Pandemonium
Gay Witch Abortion
Skoal Kodiak
To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie
Teenage Remains

Ollie Stench, Radio Riot on KFAI-FM 90.3, TV's Drinking With Ian

1. MC/VL
2. Beatrix Jar
3. Ruby Isle

Chris Strouth, Allied Chemical

1. HOF/Haze XXL-
2. Switzerland
3. Moon Maan
4. Gospel Gossip
5. The Nightinghales

Tom Sullivan, 400 Bar

(no particular order)
Nick Africano
Caroline Smith
Loud + 2
Andy Ulseth
Accelerated Love Affair

Chuck Terhark, writer

(no particular order)
Roma di Luna
Rope Trick
Mouthful of Bees
Seawhores
Tay Zonday

Rayna Terror, Palmfest coordinator

1. Black Audience
2. The Brass Kings
3. Hex
4. Thieves

Heidi Vader, board member, DEMO

(no particular order)
Mayda Miller
Skoal Kodiak
Roma di Luna
Charlz Newman
Jupiter/In/January

Rob van Alstyne, journalist, METRO, Reveille Magazine

1. Jeremy Messersmith
2. Mouthful of Bees
3. Mary Bue
4. Ice palace
5. Roma di Luna

Karrie Vrabel, SRO Productions

(no particular order)
Ruby Isle
Meg Ashling
Boys And Girls
Switzerlind
Now, Now Every Children

Jacques Wait, producer, engineer, musician

(no particular order)
The Haves Have It
National Bird
Eric & the Savages
Kill to Kill
Death to our Enemies

Jim Walsh, writer, columnist, Reveille magazine and the Southwest Journal

(no particular order)
Joanna James
Jonathan Delehanty
Brianna Lane
Stook! & The Jukes
Allison Rae

Scott Watson, live sound engineer

(no particular order)
First Communion Afterparty
Black Audience
Gay Witch Abortion
Daughters of the Sun
Sarah Johnson

Neil Weir, The Old Blackberry Way

(no particular order)
Private Dancer
Finger Pressure
The Sleaze
Baby Guts
The Talkers

Tim Wilson, owner, Urban Lights Music

1. Auburn

Toki Wright, president, Yo! the Movement

1. Toki Wright
2. Slim of G.O.B. (St. Paul Slim)
3. Mavin MC
4. FranzDiego.com
5. Trama

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 18, 2007 10:29 PM | Comments (7)

 

New publication: 'Twin Cities Radio Magazine'

Filed under: Local Music

Spreading its text thinly and in large type over 68 pages, the glossy debut issue of Twin Cities Radio Magazine is heavy with ads, and articles that look and read like ads, balancing puff pieces on local radio personalities such as Mary Lucia with celebrity Q&As featuring Carrie Underwood and Brother Ali. There's a news item or two here, but don't expect a critical word about the local airwaves--there's nothing that couldn't have been written by the station owners themselves. Sample sentence: "102.9 Lite FM brings you the Most Music all day every day including commercial free hours."

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at September 18, 2007 1:00 PM | Comments (1)

 

This year's Picked to Click winners!

Filed under: Local Music

In alphabetical order, here's a complete list of bands that showed up on ballots submitted to this year's City Pages Picked to Click "best new band" poll, which will be published this week:

40 Watt Bulb
A Night in the Box
Abzorbr
Accelerated Love Affair
After the Burial
Akai
Alison Scott
Allison Rae
Alpha Consumer
Andy Ulseth
Ari Robinson
Ashley Gold
Auburn

Baby Guts
Bastard Saint
Battle Royale
Beatrix Jar
Ben Glaros
Best Friends Forever
Big Quarters
Black Audience
Black Days Down
Bluebird
Boys and Girls
bRat
Breanne Durenberger
Brent Floren
Brianna Lane
Brother Ali
Build or Burn
Building Better Bombs
Cadillac Kolstad Band
Calamity Jean
Caroline Smith
Carp 18
Ceewhy
Charis
Charles de Gaulle
Charlie Parr
Charlz Newman
Children 18:3
Chokecherry
Chris Shotlisf
City of Sound
City on the Make
Cloud Cult
Company Incorporated
Complete Waste
Dance Band
Dark Dark Dark
Daughters of the Sun
Dead Dreams Awakening
Death Sentence
Death to our Enemies
Dessa
DJ Snuggles
Dreamland Faces
Eliza Blue
Elk
Emiliana
Eric & the Savages
Estate
Everybell and Whistle
Failed Heroes
Finger Pressure
First Communion Afterparty
For Blood
France Has the Bomb
FranzDiego.com
Gay Beast
Gay Witch Abortion
Get Young
Ghost In The Water
Gloria
Go Nutz!
Gospel Gossip
Gotti the Governor
Gumbi
Haus Meeting
Hex
Hips Don't Lie
His Mishief
HOF/Haze XXL
Hojas Rojas
Holy Ghost Riders
Ice Palace
Ill Chemistry
In Defense
Indigo
International Espionage!
I-Self Devine
Isis
Japhlet Bire Attias
Jay Walker and the Misdemeanors
Jayber Crow
Jeremy Messersmith
Jim Soule
Joanna James
Jonathan Delehanty
Joyce Ernst
Jupiter/In/January
Just Live
K.U.R.T.
Kill the Vultures
Kill to Kill
Kitten Forever
Knife World
Knonam
Ladyslipper
Les Ourses
Little Enfy
Loaded First
Loud + 2
M.anifest
Mary Bue
Mavin MC
Mayda Miller
Mayhem
Mazta I
MC/VL
Meg Ashling
Men of Leisure
Mercies May
Molly Dean
M