Photo by Sandlin Gaither

Archers of Loaf are the very definition of the '90s stalwart alt-rock band. They toiled in relative obscurity while many of their contemporaries made it big and ruled the airwaves for a good decade or so. Those who knew them loved them like a small child loves a puppy: with a bursting-at-the-seams excitement that refuses to be reigned in by any words or actions. Those who didn't -- and, sadly, there were many -- missed out on what was likely the hidden gem in the '90s alt-rock landscape.

More arty and obtuse the Big Three (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins) and even more underdoggy than the bands who deliberately positioned themselves as such (Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Superchunk, et al), AoL have seen all four of their studio albums re-released in the last year to higher praise than when they were first released -- impressive since they were critics' darlings from the beginning.

Listening to them now, away from the clatter of two decades ago, brings the realization that, in the end, much of their work had more in common with British bands like Gang of Four and Wire (their 1993 debut, Icky Mettle, in particular), with their vaguely angular hooks and noisy passages, than with the thunderous sludge being peddled out of the Pacific Northwest. It has aged approximately 342 times better, to boot. Sometimes vindication for your actions takes a little while. Ahead of Archers of Loaf's Saturday and Sunday gigs at 400 Bar, Gimme Noise talked with AoL's bassist Matt Gentling about cult status vs. widespread popularity, and a stabbing they witnessed in Florida.

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Photo by Erin Smith; MyTradingCards.com

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Photo Courtesy of Hüsker Düdes Facebook

​Every city seems to have their share of them--tribute cover bands who tackle the prodigious back catalogs of classic (and not so classic) rock bands who have long since fizzled out, or arena acts which people at dive bars refuse to pay top dollar to see. In the case of Chicago's cleverly named Hüsker Düdes, they faithfully recreate the music of one of the Twin Cities most beloved bands for fans who know that their chance to see Hüsker Dü play live has long since passed.

Spin reports that on Saturday night at Chicago's Quenchers Saloon, the Düdes, along with everyone else at the bar, received quite a treat (and the biggest accolade a tribute band could ever hope for), as Hüsker bassist Greg Norton dropped in to jam with them on a few boisterous numbers from his highly revered old band, "From the Gut," "Target," and "Blah, Blah, Blah."

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Photo by Reed Fischer

One of Pachyderm's forgotten classics: Gerardo's Mo' Ritmo

​Pachyderm Studio was once an ever-expanding source of rural Minnesota trivia. The complex, tucked away behind some trees on a quiet country road near Cannon Falls, hosted many legendary recording sessions. Lore surrounding Nirvana's In Utero, PJ Harvey's Rid of Me, and albums by local heroes including the Jayhawks and Soul Asylum all took place in this two-building country home that looks like it'd be the home of some killer barbecues.

In recent years, the profile of the studio lowered significantly. Several of my friends' jam bands have also recorded lengthy, psychedelic sessions there that certainly didn't make them stars. And when I visited there in late 2009 -- my father was tuning a piano in the "hallowed" space that day -- it was hosting an elderly couple laying down tracks for some classic hymns.

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​With the dust of the just-completed Woodstock festival still settling, Miles Davis was on his own idiosyncratic trip on this date in 1969, as he settled into Columbia Records' 30th Street Studio in Manhattan to begin the three-day recording sessions that would produce his groundbreaking jazz-rock record, Bitches Brew. The album features a stellar cast of musicians who came to the studio with little knowledge of what they were getting into or what songs they were going to play. Davis thrived on playing in the moment, giving very little direction to the players or demands for what directions he wanted the songs to go, while also knowing exactly what type of style and sound he was searching for. More »

​Three talented and fortunate Minnesota filmmakers have been chosen to create a new music video for the Foo Fighters. Director Justin Staggs and producers Ben Katz and Shane Nelson are currently in pre-production for a video for "Back And Forth," a song from the Foo's hotly anticipated forthcoming record Wasting Light. Filming is set to begin in the Minneapolis area on Sunday, March 20.
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​Those hoping to catch Tricky live at the Varsity Theater last night were saddened by the news yesterday afternoon that the trip-hop phenom would not be performing. Little reason was given for the cancellation beyond travel delays due to the inclement weather, but an article in the Toronto Star sheds a little light on what Tricky was up to yesterday.

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​(Now that's the kind of party we like to see)

We rarely find ourselves enthusiastic over merges. However, we just received a press release that these three companies are coming together like Voltron to create one mega-space. Yeah, we're genuinely excited.

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​(Photo by Lin Pernille Photography)

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