Deuce 7 is a different breed of gallery artist. He's too busy to get his picture taken, and he'd rather hop trains across the West. Or head to Vancouver to meet women, or spend an afternoon getting chased around San Francisco by obese pimps or drop DMT in the Mojave desert -- all in a week's time.

Our local South Side kid -- who listens to '90s rap, Norwegian black metal, and outlaw country while he creates -- has gained a national following over the years for his bright, detailed work that demands attention on a canvas or the side of a bridge. He's done collaborations with local poster and design house Burlesque, and could be working with rapper Aesop Rock in the future. Still he remains camera-shy to avoid obnoxious art groupies and law enforcement.

Deuce 7 spends most of his days on the rails or working out of Northern California, but for now he's sitting outside an Uptown coffee shop. While meeting with Gimme Noise, he has a backpack full of Miller High Life, and he finishes a can every five minutes. A catfish is tattooed swimming around his neck, and the rest of his body is marked up from the hard life of being a trainspotter and street artist. Ahead of his curated Art-A-Whirl show at Abstracted Gallery -- its title, "It Was All a Dream," recalls the opening line of Notorious B.I.G's "Juicy" -- we discuss his life, his inspiration, and his fascination with trains.

See Also:
The 331 Club's music lineup at Art-A-Whirl
Art-A-Whirl 2013 music lineups at 612Brew and Indeed Brewing announced
STNNNG and ft (the Shadow Government) to debut STNNNGVRNMNT at Art-A-Whirl
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Photo by Steve Cohen

The rock particles have merged and a new element is being added to the periodic table. STNNNGVRNMNT, as Modern Radio Record Label has lovingly dubbed the new creation, will soon release a limited edition 12" (only 100 copies) to the general public. The ten-member big band collaboration between STNNNG and ft (the Shadow Government) will make their public debut this weekend with a release party and celebration of the annual Northeast Art-A-Whirl at the 331 Club.

Whenever two bands pull together into one it's an intriguing prospect. STNNNG have long been purveyor's of forceful local rock -- the type that bowls over the audience and leaves audience members either broken and lying in the gutter, or cheerfully marking another "X" on the scoreboard. Teaming up with Iowa City's ft (the Shadow Government) though, has added a new dynamic. ft (the Shadow Government) are a noise group based in multiple cities, including local ties. The two bands have been friends for some time, but pulling their differing musical styles into one cohesive project is a new ordeal -- especially when considering the difficulties of getting just a few of the members into the same room at the same time.

To catch up on how the record was made and what it will sound like, Gimme Noise reached out to ft (the Shadow Government) ringleader Luke Tweedy for a rundown on how the collaboration works.

See Also:
The 331 Club's lineup during Art-A-Whirl 2013: Night Moves, Jaill, STNNNG, and more
Slideshow: STNNNG at the Turf Club & Big V's, 2/23/13
STNNNG: All real, no frills: Local music vets work with the legendary Steve Albini on Empire Inward

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Photo by Jeff Henrikson

It's hard to believe that this month marks a decade since Rhymesayers released Brother Ali's proper debut Shadows on the Sun. Produced entirely by Ant of Atmosphere, the album was an immediate statement of the aesthetic that Ali has since shared far and wide. (Technically, the cassette Rites of Passage preceded it, but that was released with very limited circulation.)

Ahead of his taping of an episode of The Lowertown Line this week and a slot at Soundset later this month, Gimme Noise spoke to Ali about Shadows' development, and how he's grown since its release.

See Also:
Brother Ali to perform on The Lowertown Line's second episode
Soundset 2013 lineup: Atmosphere, Snoop Dogg, Mac Miller & more
Brother Ali: My fans are kicking the sh*t out of me over Trayvon Martin

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On Saturday, Detroit's Insane Clown Posse return to the Twin Cities as part of their Mighty Death Pop tour.

While the Faygo-soaked show will be at the Myth in St. Paul, members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have been coming to Minnesota for almost 20 years with generations of loyal Juggalos witnessing the carnage. We spoke to Shaggy 2 Dope on bringing their unique live show on the road, what his first concert was, and the time they visited Paisley Park.

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Insane Clown Posse and their fans terrorize First Avenue

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Cherie Currie may have initially made her mark as the voracious teen vixen of a lead singer for the Runaways, but what stands the test of time even more so than groundbreaking rock 'n' roll, is the strength of a woman who has overcome a lot. It's no secret that the Runaways had such a short run because the rock star lifestyle forced upon teenage girls didn't yield the most positive results. But whether it a tell-all memoir Neon Angel, its major motion picture adaptation, or simply being a mother, Currie has taken command of her experience in every possible way. And fortunately, it still rocks.

Gimme Noise chatted with the punk legend preceding her performance at Girls Got Rhythm Fest this Saturday.

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Girls Got Rhythm Fest returns: The festival comes back for a second year, ruled by punk

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Photo by Dave Eckblad

By Bobby Kahn

One would likely have to travel far and wide, and across many different scenes to find someone as universally liked and respected as Steve Seuling, better known to most Twin Cities techno fans simply as Centrific. While Steve has been DJing and throwing parties in the Twin Cities and around the Midwest for over 15 years, he is just as likely to be seen up front "speaker freaking" at someone else's party.

Steve and some friends threw their first "real" party back in the late '90s, using the name Intellephunk. The crew has been active since then, some years more than others, and this is a special year for them as they are celebrating their 15th anniversary of their very first party, thrown in March of 1998.

Gimme Noise connected with Steve via e-mail to discuss Intellephunk, his memories over these past 15 years, and more.

See Also:
Centrific talks techno, raves, and his Record Room birthday party
Centrific at Black in Record Room

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Photo by Matt Barnes

Canadian artist Lights, born Valerie Anne Poxleitner, is not someone who has shot straight to stardom. The young singer has been slowly building her audience around her talent and ability to write catchy pop songs, most often in electronic landscapes riveted with dubstep breakdowns. Lights has reimagined her certified gold album Siberia into an acoustic version set to release around the time of her short-run acoustic tour. The reproduction of the record is surprisingly well done, allowing her to showcase her stunning voice and depth; the album reinvents the driving, delicate melodies, awash with bittersweet glee, yet allow her lyrics to shine through.

Known for a big production, she will be touring with a stripped down crew -- merely Lights on guitar and a cellist -- for an intimate tour that will last only two weeks, with Minneapolis being one of the select cities. Ahead of her show at the Varsity, Gimme Noise caught up with Lights as she was taking a day off to write from her home in Toronto.

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photo by Bonnie Schiffman

The Replacements in 1989, with Tommy Stinson at front right.

Tommy Stinson learned to play bass at age 11, and just a year later started strumming with the musicians, including his brother Bob, who would make up the Replacements. For this week's cover story on the CC Club, Stinson -- who now juggles multiple projects, including solo albums like 2011's "One Man Mutiny," the recent "Songs for Slim" release, and a "day job" as the bassist with Guns N' Roses -- shared some of his memories about the days and nights he spent inside the bar.

For all the Stinson fans out there, here's the full conversation Gimme Noise had with the lifelong bassist about his years as a CC Club regular.

Gimme Noise: The French Meadow's owners are taking over the CC Club on May 1, so we figured it was a good time to look back.
Tommy Stinson: Yeah, what's the deal with that, they're going to turn it into another bakery?

See Also:
- COVER: Here Comes a Regular: An Oral History of the CC Club
- Contest: We want your best CC Club stories
- An oral history of the CC Club jukebox
- Slideshow: Tommy Stinson at First Avenue
- Tommy Stinson and Paul Westerberg plan studio time later this year

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Originally from Golden Valley, Minnesota, jazz pianist Craig Taborn isn't just a local boy done good. Taborn is considered one of the foremost pianist and jazz composers of our time. Since leaving for study at the University of Michigan he eventually graduated to the big leagues of modern jazz, and maintains status as a heavyweight in New York City.

Dropping just this week, his latest recording, Chants, on German imprint ECM Records, finds Taborn and his piano trio delivering a gratifying mix that hovers between ruminative baroque style improvisations and abrupt structured composition. Coinciding with an extra special homecoming to the Walker Art Center this Friday a return to the local stage seems all the more overdue and the perfect occasion for Taborn to showcase the immeasurable depth of his career as he'll perform solo and with two quite disparate ensembles.

Gimme Noise caught Taborn by phone at his apartment in New York. We discussed the new record and the numerous inspirations he witnessed as a young jazz student on the very stage where he'll perform on Friday.

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Photo courtesy of Life or Death PR & Managment

Most people can't imagine venturing into a career with their sibling, but it's safe to say that California sisters Jessica and Jennifer Clavin have what it takes. From growing up in Los Angeles, to playing in their former band Mika Miko, to branching off and touring the world as Bleached, they've been through quite a bit. Often clad in denim jackets, Doc Martens, punk rock attitude, and occasionally cat socks, the duo (often accompanied by a backing band) have gained quite a following prior to the release of their first full-length, Ride Your Heart, earlier this month. These girls are tough enough sound like the Misfits, fashionable enough dress like the Shangri-Las, and talented enough to get away with it.

Gimme Noise caught up with guitarist Jessica Clavin ahead of Sunday's gig at the Turf Club.

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