Dark Dark Dark Gets Written Up In The Chicago Reader

Minneapolis-based Caberet-folk trio Dark Dark Dark played in the Windy City last night to an appreciative crowd of about 50 people. Here's what venerable alt-weekly the Chicago Reader said in Previewing last night's gig at the Heaven Gallery:

Minneapolis-based Dark Dark Dark makes lulling cabaret-folk with a chilly edge, floating haunting male and female vocals over an ocean tide of accordion, banjo, cello, and upright bass. On the quartet’s full-length debut, The Snow Magic (Blood Onion), front woman Nona Marie Invie engages her squeeze box in a lonely not-quite duet whenever she sings, as though she’d been separated from the rest of the band during a blizzard—the plinking banjo is like a radio beacon calling out to her through the storm. Fortunately the group’s gothic air is lightened by a touch of impishness, especially in Invie’s winkingly insidious vocals—imagine a mellower Dresden Dolls, with less fashion sense. -Monica Kendrick

I attended last night's show, and the band did a stellar job of playing material from their new twin releases, full-length The Snow Magic and EP Love You, Bye in the Gallery's intimate setting. By my estimation, the turnout for the show was not bad by any means, considering it was a Thursday night. The crowd was very enthusiastic for the most part, as Dark Cubed played several waltzes, including "Benefit Of The Doubt", in a row; the band even joked about that fact. The show also marked the start of a series of "Folk Music Nights" at the Heaven Gallery. Wonder what groups from MPLS could grace my beloved hometown with their presence...anyone up for The Parlour Suite?

Listen to a track from Magic at the top of the post. The song is called "Colors", and it's a very good representation of what the band's sound is like. Also, the track includes the memorable line "There's no ocean in Minneapolis." If you like that, buy the album here.

Dark Dark Dark MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)