Dance Band's Holiday Shakedown!

Everyone's favorite booty-shakin' Minneapolitans are generously giving away FREE holiday tracks to celebrate the season. The tracks are the product of an alum, The Perfect Beat, who moved to Duluth for a job earlier this year. Our thanks to The Perfect Beat and everyone in Dance Band for the killer tracks. Now go shake some ass!

Get it here.

Nada Surf Cures the Common Cold at the Fine Line

On the day after Thanksgiving, (I believe it to be known as Black Friday) I was tired and felt like a major cold was about to consume me. I had been in the car for 4 hours and was tired. What I needed was to go home, get in my p-jams, and down some Alka Seltzer Cold & Flu. What I got was--Plop, plop, fizz, fizz—a great set from Nada Surf at a semi-packed Fine Line Music Café.

I have been waiting to see Nada Surf since 2003, when they dropped their 3rd album, Let Go. (My schedule never matched up with theirs, until now.) It was worth the wait. Matthew Caws, Ira Elliot, and Daniel Lorcahe all hit the stage with great energy and excitement for the crowd assembled. (Matthew later declared The Fine Line as one of their favorite places to play.) I gladly followed the boys as their set ebbed and flowed through their melancholy softer tunes, like "Inside Of Love" and "Your Legs Grow" into their rocking melodic pop songs such as, "Whose Authority" and "Do It Again." Of course, a highlight for me was when they played their mid-90’s hit, "Popular." I was immediately taken back to my pubescent years in high school — a good visit down memory lane, but I’m glad I don’t have to go back. It is definitely not my favorite song in their library of tunes, but one I’m glad I got to hear live. The boys kept their momentum all the way through to the end when they finished their encore with "Blankest Year" — a song that was my anthem for a better part of a year in college.

It is always a bit of a gamble when you see a favorite band for the first time. Will they live up to what you expect, or will they disappoint? Luckily, Nada Surf didn’t let me down. They are an excellent live band who enjoys what they do. Ira even threw some comical comments out to us from behind his drum set, showing his enjoyment of the show. I’ve never really seen that from a drummer. Unfortunately, Matthew and Daniel didn’t really interact with each other. Was Life on the road getting to them or did one of them hog all the stuffing the day before? Who knows? Either way, they played a great show and I am very glad that I wasn’t a pansy who stayed home to nurse my approaching illness. In fact, Nada Surf was just what the doctor ordered (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). The next morning I felt great, as if the boys and their infectious music had cured me. Thank you Nada Surf for saving me a trip to the medicine isle at Walgreens.

As a side note, I unfortunately missed the first opening band, The Jealous Girlfriends. I did, however, catch Delta Spirit, the second in the line up, and I highly recommend this group from California. You should definitely check out their album Ode to Sunshine.

Review by guest writer Jake Lindgren.

Download mp3s by Nada Surf:
See These Bones
Do It Again
Blankest Year
Blonde on Blonde

Fleet Foxes at the Cedar Cultural Center

Fleet Foxes are a band that come along so rarely. My father and I can listen to the album together without either one wincing. For him, it brings back memories of The Kingston Trio or The Lettermen with the harmonies pouring forth from mouths. For me, it's 360 degrees of amazing musicianship. A beautifully updated version of the past. It brings the word pastoral to mind not because of any subject matter the songs use, but more because I imagine myself in rolling hills shepherding sheep. Relaxing under the moon. Breathing life.

This band connects with many, as evidenced by the mixed crowd at the Cedar Cultural Center on a warm fall night. The two sold-out shows were hot, sweaty, and wonderful. Lead singer Robin Pecknold peppered the crowd with quips and queries. The audience members had no problem responding to some odd looks Pecknold would assume at various points throughout the evening. The entire band was not only musically stunning, but almost as equally entertaining. They interacted with each other well, playing off comments about the Rock the Vote bus parked outside (their "Straight Talk Express"). They wondered aloud why anyone would be happy with a "Joe six-pack" in the White House... "who wants to be called the lowest common denominator?" They giggled while talking about Pecknold removing his shirt to ease the profuse sweat pouring down his face. They discussed the brand name "Celestial Seasonings," and joked about and with each other during their tenure on stage.

At one point during the show all band members save Pecknold left the stage. What occurred I can't explain, but maybe can be shown by a sub par You Tube video. The sound, of course, isn't the greatest, but it's not bad. Maybe it will give you a hint of what the audience enjoyed.

After this short solo set, the band rejoined Pecknold on the stage. They glided through the songs on their self-titled album, and the crowd was blissfully silent. It was a show that left me happily floating, ready to go out into the cool air and home to a loved one.

Full Photo Set here.

Download mp3:
White Winter Hymnal

Langhorne Slim at the 400 Bar: Free to Love Me, Love You

Sold at the 400 bar Wednesday night, Langhorne Slim quickly tops my list of "Acts I Would Rather See Perform Than Ryan Adams". Without the self-serious temperament of the Cardinals frontman, Langhorne's country sneer was leavened by his wholly light attitude; self-assurance mixed with self-deprecation. The fact that he can cut a mean rug, whipping around on his little pins and stomp it out just sweetens the deal.

It's not all just dancing and smiles though, the music itself is moving. The paroxysms of Langhorne's country-picked guitar coupled with seamless vocal switches between folk sweet, country grave, tender falsetto lift worn love stories and plain poetry from engaging to sublime. Coupled with the War Eagles, Paul Defiglia on bass and Malachi DeLorenzo on drums, they formed an unstoppable whirlwind with Defiglia's muscular solos and DeLorenzo's sensitive yet ebullient combination of brushes and bass kicks. There is a wonder in the coming together of incongruence and contradiction, manifesting itself all around, in Defiglia's Texas-shaped bling, the tattoo reading "you are alive" on his left bicep, DeLorenzo unabashedly coming out from the greenroom smoking a cigarette.

The confidence of the live show could not be doubted, nor could the excitement of the audience. People in attendance chattered about all the other times they had seen him, the blue-collar boys in hockey caps hooted out song requests whilst the alt-country hipsters kept their bulgy eyes fixed on stage. Their excitement paid off in rapport; everyone broke down in laughter when Langhorne crooned "I need your lovin' so bad", took a dramatic pause and some scallywag responded "Yoo-hoo". Unable to contain himself, Slim went on a tangent about his grandparents, and then back to playing, giggling. Ryan Adams would have stalked off.

Langhorne Slim official MySpace here.

Download free mp3s:
Rebel Side of Heaven
Daytrotter session here.
Photos by Alexa Jones

Kicking the Shit Out of My Expectations

Rodrigo y Gabriela, First Avenue Mainroom, 8/18/08

The first thing that popped into my head once Gabriela Quintero began playing her guitar was, "ow." The way she pounded out the percussive sound with her knuckles while attacking the strings on her guitar was one of the most amazing, yet painful-looking, things I'd ever seen. Sadly, I'm forced to admit I expected more stereotypical flamenco music, or even just some sort of Gypsy Kings redux. While that influence is certainly there, it cannot be used to define even the majority of the band's sound. Rodrigo y Gabriela pound out the most beautiful hard rock acoustic guitar my ears have ever absorbed. Of course, it should have told me something when the band's 'Links' page includes the websites for Metallica, Megadeath and Slipknot.

Rodrigo Sanchez began in the spotlight, and stayed there most of the night. Not undeserved, but most of the time it was Quintero's fingers of fire that kept me mesmerized. I haven't seen that sort of magic in a long time. After the second or third number, a large screen backlit the duo with a live video feed of hands on their guitars, or close ups of the strings being strummed by fingers that knew where to go without being told. The video accentuated the effortless fluttering of both players and energized the crowd. It was interesting to see people alternating thrusts of fists and the "rock on" symbol into the air, while others focused on some version of the salsa on the pit floor.

Rodrigo y Gabriela seem to have performed at every festival this summer, and I completely understand why. The pair are lovely and intriguing. They play rock music. Ok, not just rock music, but metal... on acoustic guitars! They mix it with traditional Mexican influences - and a bit of their now-home in Dublin, Ireland seeps in there too. Sounds like a melting pot, doesn't it? Well, it is, and it's amazing.

Download mp3:
Diablo Rojo

Good Bands/Last Shows

You know the kids these days, always going to school and getting educated, going off into the world. You think they'd have the courtesy to sit in my living room and just play for my entertainment, goldarnit. Not to be, however, and two local bands are advertising their last shows for a while.

Personal favorite City On The Make, the finest howlin' grandees north of the Mason-Dixon are bringing it home to their 400 Bar stomping grounds. They released their "A Million Bucks" EP there earlier this year, in what has to be one of my favorite nights of the summer. Axe-man Mischa Kegan heads off to grad school in Chicago this fall as front man Mike Massey wraps it up at the U, so look for them to trade the screams and rumbles, enough to cover a whole lot of ground.

It seems too soon to go for newcomers Capitol Jay- their Strangers in my House release and the couple shows they've played this summer were a tantalizing pop-rock flavor, a little sparky promise. Although they have just about sold out of their first printing of their disc, you can download the thing in its entirety from Limerick Records. Check it out and and then shuffle you feet as you wait for the youngsters to come back together.

Show info after the jump!


CITY ON THE MAKE Show info:

8pm Doors, 9pm Music, Friday, September 12th
18+
400 Bar- 400 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454
With Capitol City Soul Tones and Modern Fonts
Presale $7. $10 at the door.
Message Mike Massey at cityonthemake@gmail.com if you would like to buy tickets in advance.
You can also pick them up at the 400 Bar if youre in the area.
You can also order them online, but I warn you, there is a service fee.

CAPITOL JAY Show info:

7 pm, Saturday August 23rd
AA
The Beat-1414 W 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
$5 at the door.


Download mp3:
City on the Make - Ramona
Capitol Jay - Older Now pt. 1 (New Religion)

Bon Iver: Quiet Music in a Big Room

Bon Iver with AA Bondy, First Avenue Mainroom 8/15/2008

It's an ingenious device, the voice. We can use it to call out, to draw in, to make beautiful, uncomfortable motions. Justin Vernon, the now much lauded Bon Iver, does all these things, often simultaneously. Watching the crowd at First Ave there was a palpable desire to sing along; eyes were closed, words were mouthed- but Justin's voice and the delicacy of the songs demand a rapt silence that conveys audiences back to the bedrooms where they first heard the tracks, or to the first shows packed into smaller venues. It's a tightrope act of desire and reverence, and it's enthralling. When Bon Iver closed their set with an acoustic, near a cappella cover of Sarah Siskind's "Lovin's For Fools," cheers would rise up and then be be silenced by a chorus of "shhh" from other crowd members.

Not that Bon Iver has been particularly precious with the songs while they've been on tour- on the road almost constantly through 2008. With the live band rounded out by Mike Noyce on guitars and percussion and Sean Carey manning the skins, they've been having fun, adding new harmonizations, layering in some breakdowns, and giving each other room to play so that their catalog remains small, but not unvaried. Most impressive with the full lineup (including Mark Paulson of The Bowerbirds and Ben Lester) was the giant build-up to the end of "Creature Fear," a full band crasher that had Vernon hopping around his set-up, shaking at the others, and then cutting out to a hanging catharsis.

More after the jump...


Outside afterward, two conversations with strangers (just friends you haven't met yet, right?) brought out the two poles of the show. One man tried to articulate how strange it was to share the music he had made personal with other people. He was trying to make sense of the size of the venue (as were the band, all smiles at selling out the Mainroom). Another young woman was more succinct, "Just shut up and let the beautiful man play beautiful music."

Opener AA Bondy got similar respectful treatment, despite starting 45 minutes late to an anxious crowd. His dead-on early, topical-songwriting Dylan delivery was sharp, and his leavened, non sequitur wit a la Mitch Hedberg (Why is it the greatest Minnesotans are mumblers?) kept the crowd cheering and engaged. One of his songs opened with the first verse of "John the Revelator," a Blind Willie Johnson classic that courses with history. In a later chorus, Bondy cried out "Hey Man," that became a homonym for "Amen," a testament to the call, and praise, of the human voice.

Bon Iver Setlist
Flume
Lump Sum
Creature Fear
Blindsided
Blood Bank (new)
Skinny Love
I Believe in You (Talk Talk cover)
The Wolves (Act I and II)

Encore
For Emma
Lovin's For Fools (Sarah Siskind cover)


Download mp3:
Skinny Love

Jackpot o'rama

On a daily basis I receive numerous emails about music. One of these emails is a compilation of news headlines from "The Daily Chord" - a newsletter for the SXSW Music Festival. Today's headline from Wired magazine is about Cliff Bolling. Now, I realize you've probably never heard of Mr. Bolling. I hadn't either, but I'm sure glad I know him now.

Bolling has amassed a huge collection of vinyl 78s and has set about on a mission to create mp3s of all of this music. It's a vast collection, thousands of songs deep. "A lot of younger people go to the site, and it's amazing that they hear songs today that originally were recorded 75 years ago. It's pretty cool that people get to listen to this stuff."

All the mp3s are free and you can find them HERE.

You can read the entire Wired article HERE.

Props to Mr. Bolling. Now go listen to something from 1940, will ya?

A Kiss To Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
Bo Weevil - Teresa Brewer
When the Saints go Marchin' In - Castle Jazz Band

Above is a photo of Teresa Brewer.

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Last time White Rabbits were in town I was confused about the opener. Were there 2? 3? You couldn't really tell based on the poster which said, "with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson." My boyfriend Carl and I decided it had to be two openers and went to grab a quick pizza at the Bedlam Theatre. We were lucky enough to make it back for the ONE opener (after the obligatory local band) with the long name.

Carl was immediately drawn in. I wasn't so sure. As the set moved along I really loved the poppish beats and folky guitar work... but I couldn't understand a damn thing the lead singer was saying. Carl picked up the disc and we listened to it back at his place - on repeat.

The first track on the album, 'Buriedfed' is a masterpiece. Haunting, lovely, rockin' and sort of disturbing on all the right levels. You can understand the lyrics a bit more, but there's still that mumble and distortion overshadowing most of the tune. The album doesn't back down as it moves on either. It's definitely worth a listen, and 'Buriedfed' is worth the price of the entire album on its own. It's a perfect "slam your fists on the steering wheel" driving song, or one I throw on repeat while cleaning my apartment. It's a motivator.

Pitchfork Media has posted Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson's video for 'Buriedfed' and, yay!, lets me embed it here. Also look for the important download of my favorite track from the album at the bottom of this post.



Download mp3:
Buriedfed

Idigaragua relaunch and the new Massgraves!

One weekend left, boys and girls, to check out the fabulous Fort Wilson Riot composed Idigaragua. Idigaragua may be hard to pronounce, but it sure is fun to watch. The music is catchy and you'll find yourself humming once you've left the theater. Plus, there's pirates! Zombies! ...and journalists (oooo! scary)!

Idigaragua is complemented this time around by Lamb Lays with Lion's new show, Massgraves. Massgraves covers the Egyptian book of the dead, home mortgages, Nosferatu and the end of the world as we know it. Through it all is wonderful music by local band Kill the Vultures. Although a more heady play than the aforementioned Idigaragua, Massgraves is worth the extra $5 to check out.

Each show runs about an hour with a nice break in-between to grab a beer, a coffee, or some food at the wonderful Bedlam Theatre.

For more information on the shows, please check out the Bedlam's website.

Download mp3s by Fort Wilson Riot:
The Birds Turn Violent
An Imagined Civil State
What Was the Part I Played?

...and something for the non-applicants

So I've been busy the past few months while I've been ignoring my blog. Shot Bon Iver at the Turf for Pitchfork, Dean & Britta for Spin.com and of course numerous shows for HowWasTheShow.com and ReveilleMag.com. Basically, I've been a bit swamped.

However, the great month of March again rears its musical beast of a head, blessing me with access to the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, and a ridiculous St. Patrick's Day show from Gaelic Storm at the Guthrie. What to do!?

Well, I'll give you a few things to listen to, that's what!

Download mp3s:
Hang Them All - Tapes 'N Tapes
The Mountain Goats in Minneapolis from 6/6/03 - at the Triple Rock!

Yeah so most of you have that stuff, right?

Well here's something new for you:



The band is The Dodos and I've really been enjoying their music the past couple days. The band consists of two San Fran boys who play finely tuned folk-pop. It's a great pick me up when I've had a long day and want to relax, but remain upbeat. They're playing a few shows at SXSW as well, so I can't wait to check them out live.

Download mp3s:
Dodos songs from Daytrotter.com
Dodos on NPR Music's Second Stage

Dodos Official Website

Awww how nice!

Merry Christmas early to us!



Okkervil River recorded a bunch of cover songs while on tour this year, and they decided that these lovely songs should be put into a compilation. However, the also were kind enough to decide that they should be given free to their listening public!

Here's the track listing:
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES Mixtape
Recorded live on tour, 2006-2007
1. APRIL ANNE (John Phillips)
2. SIMON SMITH AND THE AMAZING DANCING BEAR (Randy Newman)
3. I WANT TO KNOW (Charles F. Olsen/Ed Sanders)
4. DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO (Jimmy Webb)
5. I CAME HERE TO SAY IM GOING AWAY (Serge Gainsbourg/Trans. by W. Sheff)
6. THE BLONDE IN THE BLEACHERS (Joni Mitchell)
7. ANTARCTICA STARTS HERE (John Cale)
8. LISTENING TO OTIS REDDING AT HOME DURING CHRISTMAS (Will Sheff)
9. SOLO (Sandy Denny)

Thanks to Okkervil River for the FREE album of cover songs. You can get the free album by clicking HERE.

Clapperclaw Festival Debuts in Minneapolis

Following in the footsteps of festivals like SXSW and Pitchfork, Minneapolitans Matt Perkins, Carl Atiya Swanson, Jeremey Catterton, Dom Davis and Jacob Mullins, along with many other spirited souls, decided this amazing city of music and art needed a helping hand. Hence the emergence this weekend of the First Annual Clapperclaw Festival.

The festival encompasses all the things I love about Minneapolis. Art, fashion, drama, and of course, music. The schedule is impressive for a start-up festival and includes more than just locals. Headlights, a band I've been repeatedly impressed with (most recently passing through Minneapolis with the awesome Page France), is from a 'burb in Illinois. Brighton, MA and Lacona are from Chicago,IL, Dearling Physique is coming to brave the recent blast of cold from Phoenix,AZ, and Screamin' Cyn Cyn & the Pons, along with Pale Young Gentlemen, hail from my nemesis city of Madison, WI (really, any city in WI is my nemesis after living there for a year).

Saturday features a dramatic edge, with "The Ongoing Saga of Clapperclaw" presented by Lambs Lays with Lion Company. You'll recognize quite a few faces from the successful run of local band Fort Wilson Riot's rock opera Idigaragua. Also on Friday and Saturday you can check out fashion shows by amazing local designers, including Jenny Olson of Pomije (Pomije.net), who you probably saw at this year's Voltage show at First Avenue. This, along with a bout of crazy art (photography, sketches and more), means that the boys really covered their bases when putting this thing together.

The best news is that tickets are reasonably cheap, with a 2-day pass retailing for only $20.

The Schedule:
Friday, November 9th (21+)
at The Sound Gallery - 414 Third Ave. N.

7-7:50 – SMAK 10,000
8-8:50 – Talk Radio
9-9:50 – Jonathan Ackerman
10-10:30 – The Guystorm
10:50-11:40 – Headlights (Champaign, IL)
12am-12:45am – Mystery Palace
1am-2am – Soviet Panda

Saturday, November 10th (18+)
at The Bedlam Theatre - 1501 S. 6th St. (west bank)

1:00 – 1:45 – We Became Actors
2:05 – 2:50 – Brothers Quetico
2:55 – 3:05 – Part I: The On Going Saga of Clapperclaw
3:10 – 3:40 – Dearling Physique (Phoenix, AZ)
4:00 – 4:40 – Kill The Vultures
5:00 – 5:45 – Pale Young Gentlemen (Madison, WI)
5:50 – 6:00 – Part II: The On Going Saga of Clapperclaw
6:05 – 6:50 – Spaghetti Western String Co.
7:10 – 7:55 – Mean Beap and Robot Skeleton
8:15 – 9:00 – Lacona (Chicago, IL)
9:20 – 10:05 – Screamin’ Cyn Cyn & The Pons (Madison, WI)
10:10 – 10:20 – Part III: The On Going Saga of Clapperclaw
10:25 – 10:55 – Estate
11:15 – 12:00am – Brighton, MA (Chicago, IL)
12:20am – 1:05am – Fort Wilson Riot

For more information:
Clapperclaw's Official Website

Download mp3s:
An Imagined Civil State - Fort Wilson Riot
TV - Headlights
The Cowboy Song - Screamin' Cyn Cyn & The Pons
Merton's Woods - Spaghetti Western String Company

You Love Stook!

It's ok to admit it, because it's a universal sentiment. You love Stook!, don't you? Stook! broke his way into your heart with the sing-along-ability of "A Song is More Than Just a Song" off his first release "The Soundtrack to My Minneapolis." He weaseled his way into your subconscious with his threats to sing AC/DC repeatedly at the Hootenanny if you didn't shut your pie hole... and that yellow hat, oh the yellow hat. Seriously tell me, how can you not love Stook!?

Lucky for all you Stook! lovers out there, Stook! has a new album out called "When The Needle Hits The Wax." It's a combination of good old school folk rock mixed with a country twang. It's a solid album and a good follow up to the first album, which you can't say of every band. Standout tracks like "Hennepin Avenue," "Diggin' On You," and "How Long We Gonna Dance?" make this one helluva enjoyable trip. Stook! sings from the heart and you can't have a Stook! album without a few heart wrenching lyrics. "Seasonal Affective Disorder" is one song I think everyone who lives in the land of winter can identify with, while "Sound of Lies" chronicles the situation some people seem to find themselves in when dealing with members of the opposite sex. Overall it's an enjoyable album and it's spun through my CD player more than a few times in the short time I've had it.

Stook!'s official CD release is slated for Friday, October 26th at the Varsity Theater. It's a joint CD release with Minneapolis favorite Dan Israel and promises to be a ton of fun. Come early and bring your friends!

Download mp3s from Stook!'s first album:
When It All Comes Crashing Down
Deliverance From Your Eyes

Buy the new album :

Stook!'s myspace for more information

Stook! on Minneapoliscast talking about the CD release & a live performance

Oh Brandi

Brandi Carlile is one talented woman, no doubt about it. It really doesn't matter if you like country, rock or pop, because you'll get a little bit of those and everything in-between. Carlile also packs a powerful punch of a voice in a tiny little body. She can wail (in a good way) like few singers I've seen. Her whole heart is out there for her audience, and it translates into hordes of screaming, singing, and weeping fans.

It also translates into a quickly sold out show at First Avenue tonight. Tickets bascially don't exist and I've heard more than one person begging anyone they can for entry to the show (including me). Carlile seems to be more underground than her rabid following would indicate, and I'm sure that those fans hold onto that like a closely guarded secret... while at the same time internally exploding for want to spread her music like wildfire to everyone.

You can hear streams of Carlile's most recent album "The Story" on her site at: BrandiCarlile.com She's also recently released a very cool acoustic EP that you can find supposedly at any indie record store. I'll have to pick one up tonight if they have any, or hit up the Electric Fetus soon.



Downloads/Streams:
Stream Brandi's May 2007 Concert in Boston
The Story mp3

Things Are What You Make of Them

It's official. This has become a monthly blog... or something. I've been overrun with work, school, and shows. It's truely ROCKtober here in Minneapolis and there's so much good music coming to town (or just did) that I gotta have a breakdown in responsibility somewhere. Unfortunately this blog has been the first thing to go.

Rocktober in Minneapolis brings bands like Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Girl Talk, White Rabbits (omgwhiterabbits!*&!), Tokyo Police Club, Spoon, Voxtrot, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Regina Spektor, Ted Leo, Final Fantasy, New Pornographers, Architecture in Helinski, Brandi Carlile, The Polyphonic Spree, and Bishop Allen. Oh, and that's just a smattering. Can you see why my head threatens to explode?

To give you a starter taste of my concert attendance, I decided to begin with a band I saw and fell in love with at SXSW this past March, and just again at The Entry on Monday.

Bishop Allen is one of those bands that most people don't love or hate. They're sort of in the middle somewhere. They make enjoyable music for all people. It's low key, it's intelligent, and it's poppy. It's great background music with a smattering of tracks that I have to have in my listening rotation. There's never been a Bishop Allen track I haven't liked, and there are a few I'm in love with. "Things Are What You Make of Them," "Click Click Click Click," "The News From Your Bed," and "Little Black Ache" are all must-haves for me. Luckily, I have a few of my favs, along with a few tracks from their newest album, Bishop Allen & The Broken String, for free downloading at the bottom of this post. Check it out... and keep going to shows!







Download mp3s:
Click Click Click Click
Things Are What You Make of Them
The Bullet and Big D
Calendar
Rain



Buy their new album!

Back to Beirut

On October 9, one of my favorite bands will release their new album "The Flying Club Cup." Beirut has that sort of sound that literally you can't wait to hear again, and so to make things a little easier on us all, they've graciously made a track off the new album available for free downloading. It's called "A Sunday Smile," and even though today is technically Monday, this Labor Day is feeling to me like Sunday (insert "Every Day Is Like Sunday" by Morrissey here)... I have the windows open, a warm breeze blowing through the house and I'm sitting here pretending to study, while I enjoy this wonderful track.

As usual, the sound comes straight from France, with visions of romance and simple times. However, if you want to see them live (which I HIGHLY recommend), you'll have to head to Chicago on October 4, because that's as close as they're getting to Minneapolis.

Here are a few more pics from when I saw them in March at SXSW and a beautifully shot video of "Elephant Gun." Enjoy and commence swaying along. You know you can't help it.







Download mp3s:
A Sunday Smile

An Unintentional Accident

So they've been around the Twin Cities scene for a while, so much so that they rarely play anymore, but how the hell did I miss Accident Clearinghouse? They slipped past my ears for far too long, and it's about time I remedy that. I also need to redeem myself by allowing these sweet alt-country boys to regale you with old-timey rock-tinged tunage.

I think you'll find your toes tappin' along even if you don't usually like this sort of thing. Believe me when I tell you that you will be singing along to these catchy lyrics in no time. Every person I know can relate to "That's The Way It Had To Go," in which lead Quillan Roe sings about someone he's currently obsessing over. She likes him too, but unfortunately, she's already taken. I was on you, like a vulture in the sky, hovering, waiting for your love to die. We were lovebirds, but our love could never fly. That's the way it had to go.

As I write this note, I see that Accident Clearinghouse is performing at Lee's Liquor Lounge in Minneapolis tonight. There are no other dates on their calendar, but keep your eyes peeled for future performances. If their recorded music is any indication, they are well worth seeing.

Download mp3s:
That's The Way It Had To Go
She'll Take Your Name
Pink, Not Blue
If I Said You Were A Nurse
Flamin' Hair

UPDATE (9/3/07): Accident Clearinghouse will be playing the Revival Show on September 16th at the Turf Club... Let's Go!

White Rabbits

Sometimes there are bands people rave about, but for some reason or another you brush them off. Why this happens I don't know. For me, I brushed off White Rabbits. I'd heard how great they were and blah blah, but didn't really make an effort to listen to their music.

Fate intervened, however, and White Rabbits played an afterparty I was lucky enough to attend at Lollapalooza this past weekend. I think my jaw literally hit the floor after about 30 seconds of watching this band perform. There are two drum kits, two guitarists, a bassist and a keyboard wielding madman... of course, none of the members of White Rabbit seem tethered to any one instrument so maybe it's pointless to tell you what they do - it might be easier to tell you what they don't do... accordion?

The best song they played was "Sea of Rum," which started with Steve Patterson hitting up a drum instead of piano keys. It continues with wonderfully free vocals by the other lead Greg Roberts. You can't help but be enthralled with the movement and the lyrics. My other favorite off their new album Fort Nightly, is "Kid on My Shoulders," which begins with a beat you can't help but feel the need to do some sort of ballroom partner dance to. It's reminicent of Beirut or We All Have Hooks for Hands. They boys are a joy to watch and when you get home from the show, you have their album to look forward to. Go pick it up now. DO IT.


Download mp3s:
The Plot
Kid On My Shoulders

Daytrotter Session - including 3 free downloads:
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Day of Fratellis

Yup. This past weekend found me rolling on the ground, swooning. Ok, that's not totally true... just mostly true. The boys that do this to me are again, from Glasgow, but they're a little more well known thanks to a commercial for a device called the iPod.

I was lucky enough to be able to see The Fratellis down at SXSW - in fact, that's one of the reasons I went to SXSW in the first place. They were ok, but I found them to be less than stellar as far as performers go. I was a bit disappointed. Music is easy to forgive, however, and I found myself getting more and more amp'd to see them play here in Minneapolis. They had two shows scheduled, one an in-store at The Electric Fetus, and the next a full concert at the Varsity Theater.

The in-store was what I was most excited about since I love the acoustic tracks I've been able to get from The Fratellis website and EPs. It's a bit easier to muscle through the accents and it shows that they actually have talent. The in-store was wonderful and they played some great versions of songs like "Ole Black 'n' Blue Eyes" and "Flathead." I got to meet the boys and had them sign a CD for me... I'm such a geek.

Next was the full-on rock 'n roll show and I found them to be much more (whew!) entertaining than I had in Austin. Probably because they played somewhere around 8000 shows in four days back then, and only had 2 today. One would think there's actually a bit more time for relaxation this go 'round. The set was tight, upbeat, and well choreographed. I don't say that to mean that it seemed stiff, because it didn't, but it did leave me wondering if they really meant it when they said "we haven't played this in a while" before "Creepin' Up the Backstairs." Regardless, it was an upbeat, Scot-pop (yup, new word) extravaganza and I can't wait to see them this weekend at Lollapalooza. Wheeee!!!

The rest of my photos from Sunday can be seen here:
Fratellis on my Flickr

For more information on the band:
Official Fratellis Website

Download for Windows (boo):
Flathead

If you sign up to be a member on The Fratellis website, there are nine free downloads - really great stuff:
Members Page (FREE)