We've Moved!

If you notice this site hasn't been updated in a while, it's because we've moved to Wordpress.

You can catch us at www.CakeIn15.com!

Cheers -
Staciaann

R.I.P. Ron Asheton (1949-2009)

Ron Asheton at Lollapalooza, 2007

The Stooges guitarist was found dead today at his home in Michigan.

From Iggy Pop's website:
We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed.

For all that knew him behind the façade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.

As a musician Ron was The Guitar God, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him.

Iggy, Scott, Steve, Mike and Crew

-----------------------------------------

I am in shock. He was my best friend.

Iggy Pop

Staciaann's 2008 Show List

Yup, I go to a lot of live music. I keep track of it so I remember when I saw it. I started doing this in late 2006, and my list has grown each year. Each year I vow to see more new bands, more local music, and continue to keep up with what's going on in the world around me. 2008 kept me fairly busy, although I really missed attending and shooting the Pitchfork Music Festival and Lollapalooza this year. I definitely look forward to SXSW 2009, which is coming up fast.

Keep in mind that I finished and graduated law school, took the bar exam, sold my house in St. Paul and moved to Minneapolis, quit my job of 8 1/2 years and started my career over. Even with these distractions, I saw over 120 shows in 2008. So don't give me any excuses about why YOU can't get out there and do the same.

Here's to a great 2009!

2008's List of Shows
*My favorites are in bold type, and photos of many of these shows can be seen on my Flickr page.

1/3/08 Big Game, Eddy Burke & the Consequences @ Lee's Liquor Lounge
1/7/08 Nada Surf, Eric Lovold (solo), The Glad Version @ The Nomad
1/11/08 Titus Andronicus @ Bedlam Theater
1/12/08 We All Have Hooks for Hands, Windmills @ The Varsity Theater
1/12/08 Dragich @ Hexagon
1/12/08 City on the Make @ The Entry
1/17/08 Roma di Luna, Bon Iver @ Turf Club
1/18/08 White Denim, White Rabbits @ Turner Hall, Milwaukee
1/19/08 White Denim, White Rabbits @ High Noon Saloon, Madison
1/25/08 Fort Wilson Riot, Fine Young Gentlemen @ Nomad World Pub
2/1/08 ExerciseEXORCISE with Vampire Hands @ Bottling House Theatre
2/7/08 The Battle Royale, Yeasayer, MGMT @ The Entry
2/8/08 ExerciseEXORCISE with Roma di Luna @ Bottling House Theatre
2/9/08 Fat Kid Wednesdays, Deviated Septet, Spaghetti Western String Co. (CD Release) @ Cedar Cultural Center
2/10/08 God Save Gertrude @ The Playwright's Center
2/11/08 Keren Ann, Dean & Britta @ Cedar Cultural Center
2/13/08 Bon Iver @ The Electric Fetus
2/19/08 Mike Doughty @ The Electric Fetus
2/22/08 Hoot! Jim Walsh, Janeen, Dan Wilson, The Tropicals, Brianna Lane @ Java Jacks
2/22/08 Foreign Born, St. Vincent @ Cedar Cultural Center
2/22/08 ExerciseEXORCISE with Plastic Chord @ Bottling House Theatre
2/23/08 Gary Louris @ The Electric Fetus
2/23/08 The Falls @ North Star Rollergirls Halftime
2/23/08 The XYZ Affair @ Nomad World Pub
2/29/08 ExerciseEXORCISE with Burlingham Children @ Bottling House Theatre
3/2/08 You're My Favorite Kind of Pretty @ The Southern Theatre
3/12/08 These United States, Radar Brothers, Evangelicals, These New Puritans, Spinto Band, R.E.M., Bon Iver @ SXSW, Austin, TX
3/13/08 Lou Reed, The Alarmists, MC/VL, Jeseca Hoop, DeVotchka, Tapes 'N Tapes, XYZ Affair, Liam Finn @ SXSW, Austin, TX
3/14/08 High Places, Atlas Sound, White Williams, A Place to Bury Strangers, Fuck Buttons, Times New Viking, Cloud Cult, Carbon/Silicon, Basia Bulat, Foreign Born, Vampire Weekend, White Rabbits @ SXSW, Austin, TX
3/15/08 Headlights, Big Ditch Road, Cloud Cult, Kid Dakota, Doomtree @ SXSW, Austin, TX
3/29/08 ARENA Bikini @ Sound Bar
3/31/08 The Hotel Café Tour: Cary Brothers, Ingrid Michaelson, Dan Wilson, Joshua Radin @ The Fine Line
4/3/08 Sea Wolf, Nada Surf @ First Avenue
4/4/08 Jeremy Messersmith, The Wars of 1812 @ The Varsity Theater
4/5/08 Idigaragua / Massgraves @ Bedlam Theater
4/8/08 Cloud Cult @ The Electric Fetus
4/10/08 Birthday Suits, White Denim, Tapes 'N Tapes @ First Avenue
4/10/08 The Hold Steady @ Northrup Auditorium
4/12/08 Idigaragua / Massgraves @ Bedlam Theater
4/13/08 Wars of 1812, Bon Iver @ Turf Club
4/15/08 The Plastic Constellations @ The Electric Fetus
4/18/08 Yeasayer, Man Man @ The Varsity Theater
4/19/08 The Floorbirds, Jayber Crow, Spider John Koerner @ Nomad World Pub
4/26/08 The Forms, Cloud Cult @ First Avenue
5/3/08 Jenny Dalton @ Dakota
5/7/08 Basia Bulat, DeVotchKa @ First Avenue
5/15/08 "I Fought The Law" with The Sweet Colleens, Brad Senne, Eric Lovold, Jeremy Messersmith, The Mad Ripple, Stook!, Koo Koo Kanga Roo & City on the Make @ The Varsity Theater
5/21/08 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, White Rabbits @ 400 Bar
5/24/08 Snowden @ The Varsity Theater
5/24/08 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Entry
5/27/08 A Night in the Box @ The Electric Fetus
5/28/08 Bedlam 7th Annual 10-minute play festival @ Bedlam Theater
5/30/08 Mike Mangione, Jeremy Messersmith, Roma di Luna @ The Entry
6/6/08 Dallas Orbiter (HWTS Anniversary Party) @ Turf Club
6/6/08 Sea Wolf @ The Entry
6/7/08 Chris Koza @ First Avenue
6/7/08 Dragons Power Up, City on the Make @ The 400 Bar
6/8/08 Bitch 'n Brown, Plastic Chord, A Night in the Box @ The Entry
6/10/08 Atmosphere & Brother Ali @ The Electric Fetus
6/12/08 Gogol Bordello @ The Cabooze
6/14/08 Stone Arch Festival of the Arts @ St. Anthony Main
6/15/08 Stone Arch Festival of the Arts @ St. Anthony Main
6/20/08 Farewell Milwaukee, Meg Ashling, Murzik @ Kitty Kat Club
6/24/08 Now Now Every Children, One for the Team, Headlights @ Eclipse Records
6/26/08 The Hopefuls @ Peavey Plaza
6/27/08 Kill the Vultures, P.O.S., Dosh @ First Avenue
6/27/08 Brass Messengers, Eddie Burke & The Consequences @ Candleabra Studio
7/3/08 Tiny Moving Parts, The Battle Royale, We All Have Hooks for Hands @ Minnesota Museum of American Art
7/5/08 Artery 24 @ Soap Factory
7/8/08 The Absent Arch, The Dodos @ Triple Rock
7/9/08 Capitol Jay @ Stevens Square Park
7/10/08 The Bloodsugars @ Nomad World Pub
7/13/08 Kaiser Cartel, Romantica @ Bryant Lake Bowl
7/14/08 Summer Movies & Music in the Park: The Alarmists @ Loring Park
7/20/08 Yer Cronies, The Dutchess & The Duke, Fleet Foxes @ The Entry
7/22/08 The Loved Ones, The Hold Steady @ First Avenue
7/26/08 The XYZ Affair @ The Nomad
7/30/08 Yeasayer @ Urban Outfitters (Yr Free Radio)
7/31/08 Harry & The Potters @ Triple Rock
8/15/08 AA Bondy, Bon Iver @ First Avenue
8/18/08 The Lovers Duo, Rodrigo y Gabriella @ First Avenue
8/21/08 Mighty Fairly, Storyhill @ Minnesota Museum of American Art
8/29/08 Chris Koza, The Alarmists @ The Varsity Theater
9/2/08 Ripple(Effect): Michael Franti, Anti-Flag, Rage Against the Machine (via bullhorn) @ State Capitol Grounds
9/2/08 RNC Hoot: Jim Walsh, Eliza Blue, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, & Ike Reilly @ The Parkway Theater
9/6/08 Murzik, Jenny Dalton @ The Ritz Theater
9/10/08 Langhorne Slim @ 400 Bar
9/11/08 The Airborne Toxic Event, The Fratellis @ First Avenue
9/16/08 Jeremy Messersmith @ The Electric Fetus
9/20/08 The Alarmists, Heiruspecs, The Roots @ McNally Smith River Rocks Festival
9/20/08 A Story Too Long to Write Down… (Carl), Tenebrism @ The Sound Factory
9/20/08 Mr. Gnome, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir @ The Nomad
9/22/08 Vinegar Tom (Frank Theatre Company) @ The Ritz Theater
9/25/08 Rachael Reis, The Owls, Jeremy Messersmith @ The Varsity Theater
9/30/08 MGMT, Beck @ Roy Wilkins
10/2/08 E.L.nO., Chuck Klosterman @ Triple Rock
10/10/08 AA Bondy, Cold War Kids @ The Fine Line
10/11/08 Frank Fitzgerald, Fleet Foxes @ Cedar Cultural Center
10/14/08 Death Cab for Cutie @ Xcel Energy Center
10/16/08 Future of the Left, Ted Leo @ First Avenue
10/21/08 The Dirtbombs, TV on the Radio @ First Avenue
10/22/08 Dan Israel, Yael Naim @ Cedar Cultural Center
10/23/08 Marvelle, Birdmonster, The Rumble Strips @ The Entry
10/25/08 Of Montreal @ First Avenue
10/25/08 Caroline & the Good Night Sleeps, Frightened Rabbit, Spinto Band @ The Entry
10/29/08 Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ First Avenue
11/1/08 Tenacious D @ Roy Wilkins
11/3/08 Alexa's Burlesque @ Bryant Lake Bowl
11/4/08 Shadowlands @ Guthrie
11/8/08 Eagles of Death Metal @ The Electric Fetus
11/8/08 Lookbook, The XYZ Affair, Cecil Otter @ Clapperclaw Festival - Sound Gallery
11/11/08 Tom Morello @ The Electric Fetus
11/16/08 Drive By Truckers, The Hold Steady @ First Avenue
11/20/08 Lamb Lays with Lion: The Little Skelton that Could @ Hexagon
11/21/08 Cloud Cult @ The Whole
11/26/08 The Alarmists, Ike Reilly @ First Avenue
11/28/08 Delta Spirit, Nada Surf @ The Fine Line
12/12/08 Kubla Khan @ Private Party
12/13/08 Dan Wilson @ Pantages Theater
12/20/08 Chris Koza, The Hopefuls @ First Avenue
12/23/08 Chastity Brown, Roma di Luna @ Cedar Cultural Center

Goodbye JPG Magazine... I will miss you

I have Queen running through my head. Of course, it's "Another One Bites the Dust." I am saddened to report that JPG Magazine is shutting their site down and discontinuing the magazine. I'm especially sad because I just finally got a new subscription from C.A.S. for Christmas.

We've spent the last few months trying to make the business behind JPG sustain itself, and we've reached the end of the line. We all deeply believe in everything JPG represents, but we just weren't able to raise the money needed to keep JPG alive in these extraordinary economic times. We sought out buyers, spoke with numerous potential investors, and pitched several last-ditch creative efforts, all without success. As a result, jpgmag.com will shut down on Monday, January 5, 2009.

If you haven't checked out jpgmag.com before, now's your chance. You have two days to soak in its goodness. The print issues I've had are treasured and kept. There's a whole issue on Noir! An issue on live music! An issue on shattered things... and so many more.

Almost 200,000 people logged onto jpgmag.com at some point during their existence, and that's pretty swell. Thousands of amateur and pro photogs together on one site sharing their art. That's going to be gone on Monday, and it makes me a little sick.

Before the bell tolls its last, check out these suggestions from Editor-In-Chief Laura Brunow Miner, and enjoy.

Download the PDFs of back issues, outtakes, and photo challenge selections. We'll always have the memories!

Make note of your favorite photographers. You may want to flip through your favorites list and jot down names and URLs of some of the people you'd like to stay in touch with. You may even want to cut and paste your contacts page into a personal record.

This Just In!

From Nikki Schultz:
2009 greetings, friends!

Looking for something to do? I'm playing a last minute acoustic set tonight:
Nomad World Pub (Mpls)
501 Cedar Ave S
$3, 21+, Music starts at 9pm


Sarah Woolever is also playing, plus 10 or so other musicians. We'll play short sets starting at 9pm.

We don't know when we'll be playing, so come out and have a drink or two with us while we enjoy some local talent!
Should be a folkin' good time.
Come on down!

Nikki

Nikki's great - she recently podcasted with David de Young of HowWasTheShow, played a fundraiser for Lamb Lays with Lion, and works for Free Arts Minnesota, a wonderful non-profit that brings art to kids in need.

Go out for a surprise night of round-robin rambunctiousness.

'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime When all the Birds Had Fled: Spirits of the Red City

Things to do in the New Year:
1)Make the house feel like a home.
2)Be better about deadlines.
3)Keep on engaging with active, vital culture.

I can take care of a couple of those things by getting this post up, and by going to see Spirits of the Red City at the Bryant-Lake Bowl this Sunday.

Photographer Staciaann and I tried to catch up with a couple of their members a couple Sundays ago- ‘Twas in the bleak midwinter, or so the song goes- but we were at the wrong apartment. After getting a promo copy of their upcoming release Hunter Moon and thoroughly enjoying it, these seemed like good people to talk to in frozen hush of the season. But through a series of mixups, I was on a snowy street in Uptown, at the wrong address, and they all seem to have fluttered away. Fortunately, we live in the digital age, and I do not need to rely upon my paltry scouting skills- they have left cairns in the form of friendly girlfriends to direct us to the CC Club, a damn fine place if there ever was one to kill a winters' evening.

Upon entering, we are greeted by the impish smile of Will Garrison, lead vocalist, guitars and the writer in the group. Around the table were Anthony Poretti, drums & percussion, and Jason Overby; banjo, accordion and guitars. And we hadn’t even met half the band. See, there are 9 of them, two sets of three siblings, some from Alaska, some from here, and some here-by-way-of any other number of continental stops, all wandering American musicians, folkloric harmonizers, peculiar ladies & gents. We talked about the disc and the band for about half an hour, my tape recorder didn’t work, I half-remember things anyway and left with a warm feeling of solidarity. Here are some pieced together snippets:

-I don’t know what their band name means. When I asked, Garrison demurred and Poretti and Overby backed him up. The title of the disc though, comes from the autumn moon, the large blood red moon whose bloated presence could be seen as a sun. This duality, and the blurring of the line there carried weight for Garrison and the group in the writing and construction of the disc.

-Despite that Hunter Moon sounds like it was a single basement recording session, full of organic immediacy and warmth, the disc was recorded around the schedules of the band members flowing though the Twin Cities. Poretti talked about James Waldo, the cellist, coming back from New York City where he studies to lay down the cello tracks, and then the other members listening to those tracks as a high-water mark to build and re-visit their own performance. This process and the constant communication between band members edged together the best possible sound for the disc, and kept a light touch.

-Of the size of the band and their closeness, Garrison said that they would be more likely to figure out how to play a song without a band member before asking someone to step in to play for them. This may explain why, with such far-flung members, they have only a handful of shows under their belts, but why those shows are special.

-Of the song “Focus & Blur”, Garrison said, “it is a drinking song. We were having a party and we wanted to see if we could get that party sound, so we brought the people down to the basement and had them sing along and have a good time while we recorded.” It worked- the song charges forward, raises a glass and chuckles.

-The song “Passing” is a jarring break, a collection of heaving chords and skittering percussion. When asked why, in the middle of this lush disc, there was this noise experiment, they pointed out that in the arc of a story, this is the third-act breakdown, a challenge to the listener not simply sit passively through, but to re-open and re-examine before the fourth act finish. And the last four tracks draw the disc to from a roar to a quaver, pulling full circle the warm humanity, the essence of good people and companionship that this music brings.

It was a loveley evening, the essence of good people. Starting off guarded, opening up, the music is life as lived. As Garrison sings on “Pride”, “And if they find us, her voice will disarm you.” Go and find, and be disarmed. Stay warm in the cold season.

Hunter Moon CD Release with Nona & Marshall (of Dark Dark Dark)
Bryant-Lake Bowl
Sunday January 4 at 9:00 pm (8:30 doors)
$8 in advance / $10 day of show

Spirits of the Red City is:
Will Garrison: guitars, lyrics, vocals
James Waldo: cello
Jason Overby: banjo, accordion, guitars
Brian Voerding: trumpet, box bass
Anthony Poretti: drums, percussion
Ben Waldo: mandolin, viola
Alyssa Overby: vocals
Rachel Overby: vocals
Will Markwardt: vocals, shaker
Jonathan Waldo: viola

Here's to 2009!