Music News

Take that, grownups

Filed under: Music News

Eclipse Records announced that their Headlights show next Tuesday will be open to youngsters ages 20 and under only. The Champaign, Illinois indie-pop band will be playing a 21+ show later in the evening Tuesday at the Turf Club, and Eclipse wanted to provide this unique opportunity for underage kids "upset at all the shows you can't get in without that precious 21+ drivers license."

"Here is your chance for sweet vengeance," reads the press release.

Continue reading "Take that, grownups"

Posted by Andrea Myers at June 17, 2008 2:50 PM | Comments (1)

 

Free Hold Steady

Filed under: Music News

In anticipation of the release of their latest album, Stay Positive, on July 15, the Hold Steady are offering a free stream of the album on their MySpace page.

First impression? No huge surprises, but a solid album all the way through. As with most Hold Steady albums, it usually takes me a few times through to start picking up on the nuances and lyrical passages, which is something I've always loved about their music. It'll be nice to have some time to get acquainted with the album prior to their show at First Ave, which takes place Tuesday, July 22.

Posted by Andrea Myers at June 11, 2008 1:40 PM | Comments (0)

 

Gnarls Barkley added to State Fair lineup

Filed under: Music News

The Minnesota State Fair concert schedule has been finalized with the addition of Gnarls Barkley -- surprisingly hip fare for the Grandstand crowd, which usually caters to big name commercial acts who are teetering on the edge of hasbeen status. See the complete Grandstand schedule at the State Fair website, including the Black Crowes, Toby Keith, the Backstreet Boys, 3 Doors Down, and Staind.

Local music fans might be more interested in the music offered on the free stages this year. In addition to heavy-hitting R&B phenom Sharon Jones, pop songstress Brandi Carlile, and '70s funk group War (!), State Fair attendees can catch free sets by Trampled by Turtles, Molly Maher, Tim O'Reagan, Cafe Accordion Orchestra, and many more local acts.

Posted by Andrea Myers at June 3, 2008 1:02 PM | Comments (1)

 

I think the internet just ate itself

Filed under: Music News

If all of the characters in the most popular YouTube videos were members of a high school class, then Weezer just made them a graduation video. The video for Weezer's new single, "Pork and Beans," features every internet phenomenon of the past 10 years, including "Oh my god, shoez," Miss South Carolina, the Numa Numa kid and, of course, our very own Tay Zonday.

Praise the internet gods! We have so much to be thankful for.

[via: Blogumentary]

Posted by Andrea Myers at May 23, 2008 2:06 PM | Comments (0)

 

Pop Mogul Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

Filed under: Music News

Remember Lou Pearlman? You know, the pop star mogul who created ‘N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, the guy who was indicted last year on three counts of bank fraud, one count of mail fraud, with another count of wire fraud thrown in for good measure?

The man allegedly swindled some $300 million from investors, including $28.5 from St. Paul-based American Bank. (For the full account, peep Peter S. Scholtes’s detailed story from last year here.)

This morning in Orlando, the doughy gent was sentenced to a quarter century in federal prison. “I’m truly sorry to those I victimized,” he reportedly told the judge. “I’m sorry to those I victimized. I’m working hard to recover whatever money I can. I’m truly sorry. I apologize for what happened.”

Pearlman was also charged with two counts of spawning shitty bands, though those charges were later dismissed.

Channel 2 WESH out of Orlando has the story.

Posted by Matt Snyders at May 22, 2008 2:09 PM | Comments (2)

 

Are home tapers ripping off musicians?

Filed under: Music News , Music News

Remember Jammie Thomas, the Minnesota woman ordered to pay $220,000 as repentance for sharing 24 songs on Kazaa? According to the Duluth News Tribune, Thomas may get another shot at a trial.

In an order filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis wrote that he’s contemplating granting a new trial on the grounds that he may have given the jury instructions “contrary to binding 8th Circuit precedent.” Davis told jurors that the act of making copyrighted sound recordings available for electronic distribution on a peer-to-peer network violated the owners’ copyright regardless of whether actual distribution was shown. But in Thursday’s order, Davis wrote that he found a 1993 ruling from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Minnesota, that infringement requires “an actual dissemination of either copies or phonorecords.”

Which, of course, brings us to that dusty old demon: home taping. If all the apoplectic and apocalyptic death-of-the-record-industry talk of the Thomas case sounds familiar, it's because you're old. We dredged up a 1982 City Pages news piece called "Getting a cut: Are home tapers ripping off musicians?"

Continue reading "Are home tapers ripping off musicians?"

Posted by Jeff Severns Guntzel at May 16, 2008 9:37 AM

 

Tou Saiko Lee, Cloud Cult make national news

Filed under: Music News

Hmong rapper Tou Saiko Lee was recently profiled on the New York Times Magazine site in a mini-documentary about his art and his work with the community. The video provides a glimpse into Lee's personal life and shows him performing at Malina's Sports Bar in St. Paul.

One of the most intriguing parts of the video shows Lee collaborating with his grandmother, Youa Chang, on a project he calls "Fresh Traditions." The two take turns reciting their own style of spoken word, with Lee rapping and Chang chanting kwv txhiaj, an ancient style of Hmong poetry.

Continue reading "Tou Saiko Lee, Cloud Cult make national news"

Posted by Andrea Myers at May 13, 2008 1:43 PM | Comments (3)

 

Job Opening: Artistic Director at the Cedar Cultural Center

Filed under: Music News

Ever since seeing my first show at the Cedar Cultural Center on the West Bank, I have held it in high regard as one of my favorite non-rock venues in the Twin Cities. In addition to providing audiences with impeccable sound, the venue has a longstanding tradition of showcasing an eclectic array of highly talented and renowned musicians from around the world.

Much of the Cedar's history and reputation can be attributed to Artistic Director Bill Kubeczko, who has worked at the venue for a large portion of its almost 20-year existence. Yesterday, the Cedar announced that Kubeczko has resigned from his position.

Continue reading "Job Opening: Artistic Director at the Cedar Cultural Center"

Posted by Andrea Myers at May 13, 2008 5:00 AM | Comments (0)

 

Atmosphere Paints that Billboard Shit Gold

Filed under: Music News

Atmosphere's latest album, When Life Gives You Lemons..., has debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 charts. In its first week, Lemons clocked in at an impressive 36,526 copies sold, behind Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Flight of the Conchords, and Ashlee Simpson. Well, at least two out of the top five are cool.

This is the first time Atmosphere has had an album on the Billboard charts, and it's a record high for any release on Rhymesayers Entertainment.

See also: Pete Scholtes's feature on Atmosphere, including an interview with Slug.

Posted by Andrea Myers at May 1, 2008 3:58 PM | Comments (0)

 

Local songwriter Dan Israel reviewed in Uncut

Filed under: Music News

Longtime local troubadour Dan Israel has received his first major international press with a 4-star review of his most recent album, Turning, in the May issue of UK music mag Uncut. After nine studio albums and decades spent playing coffee shops and small-scale venues in the Twin Cities, Israel is elated by the sudden large-scale recognition.

"This is a moment to savor," Israel said in an e-mail. "Pretty big stuff for a small potatoes guy like myself." Israel joins the ranks of a handful of fellow local musicians who have received national and international attention this month (see: my previous blog post about local bands-made-good in the month of April).

Continue reading "Local songwriter Dan Israel reviewed in Uncut"

Posted by Andrea Myers at April 24, 2008 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

 

Minnesota music kicks ass, takes names in April

Filed under: Music News

It's a good time to be a band from the Twin Cities. This month, some of our heaviest hitters have released albums nationally to an onslaught of mixed reviews, including Tapes 'n Tapes, Cloud Cult, The Plastic Constellations and Atmosphere. All of these big releases make me wonder -- are we entering another heyday for Minneapolis music? Is it possible that those fabled 'Mats and Prince-fueled glory days might soon be relived by today's successful local acts, who can seemingly sell out First Avenue in a heartbeat?

Continue reading "Minnesota music kicks ass, takes names in April"

Posted by Andrea Myers at April 23, 2008 5:00 AM | Comments (0)

 

Will B-Girl Be? Not in 2008

Filed under: Music News

Where have all the b-girls gone? The annual B-Girl Be summit for women in hip-hop will not be taking place this year, as the organizers have decided to go on a one-year hiatus. Hosted by Intermedia Arts in Uptown, the event has become a touchstone for hip-hop ladies from around the world, culminating each summer with a four day summit that includes live performances, exhibitions, workshops and discussions for b-girls of all ages.

Continue reading "Will B-Girl Be? Not in 2008"

Posted by Andrea Myers at April 18, 2008 5:15 AM | Comments (1)