Video: Low - "Santa's Coming Over"

Reminder: Radio K's 15th Anniversary Show

Download: Low - "Murderer"
Download: Dosh - "If You Want To, You Have To"
Download: Vampire Hands - "No Fun"

The University of Minnesota's radio station Radio K is a veritable underground institution, one deserving of all the celebration it can get, not only for introducing the world to many great, left-of-the-dial bands, but for the fact that, after 15 years, the station is still going strong. So, in order to celebrate, the station has put together some of Minnesota's best acts to play a show at First Avenue. Slow, steady hush-rockers Low, electronic collage-maker/god of multi-tasking Dosh, Doomtree member Sims, and house-of-mirrors psych-rockers Vampire Hands are all coming together tonight for an 18+ show to celebrate the station and, presumably, play some awesome music.

Here are the deets:

Low + Dosh + Sims + Vampire Hands
Wednesday, October 8
First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
8 pm | $12 | 18+.

Check out Radio K sessions featuring the artists playing tonight here:

Doomtree
Dosh
Vampire Hands

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Note: This post contains previously published content

Show Announcement: Radio K 15th Anniversary Party

The University of Minnesota's radio station Radio K is a veritable underground institution, one deserving of all the celebration it can get, not only for introducing the world to many great, left-of-the-dial bands, but for the fact that, after 15 years, the station is still going strong. So, in order to celebrate, the station has put together some of Minnesota's best acts to play a show at First Avenue. Slow, steady hush-rockers Low, electronic collage-maker/god of multi-tasking Dosh, Doomtree member Sims, and house-of-mirrors psych-rockers Vampire Hands are all coming together on October 8th for an 18+ show to celebrate the station and, presumably, play some awesome music.

Here are the deets:

Low + Dosh + Sims + Vampire Hands
Wednesday, October 8
First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
8 pm | $12 | 18+

In other Radio K news, the station will be holding its Fall Fund Drive from October 1st to October 10th. So, while you're celebrating the station, throw it some bones too.

Check out Radio K sessions featuring the artists playing on the 8th here:

Doomtree
Dosh
Vampire Hands

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Reminder: Eight is Enough Benefit Concert

Times via More Cowbell:

SKOAL KODIAK (1:15AM)
STNNNG (12:30AM)
POS (11:45PM)
LOW (10:30PM)
DOSH (9:30PM)
KILL THE VULTURES (8:45PM)
TAPE N TAPE (JOSH GRIER AND JEREMY HANSEN OF TAPES N TAPES) (8:00PM)

Tickets are sold-out, but if you bumrush the show, you might be able to get them at the door.

Live Review: Wilco, Low

Download: Wilco- "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart"

I've seen Wilco live four times, including Tuesday night in Duluth. And they were fantastic. They get better every time I see them. As I was watching the show, the thought "How can I write about this?" wandered through my head. I could list for you everything they did right, chastise the sound crew at the park and conclude that the evening was ultimately worthwhile. But honestly, no verbosity and emphatic hand-waving can really sum up how great the band was.

So, I'll make two observations:

1.) Wilco looks badass playing in the rain.
2.) There is no other band like Wilco. I have never been to a show (and I've been to hundreds), where everyone knew every word to every song. I've never seen an audience sing like they did in Duluth. I've never seen so many smiles on so many faces. Ever. Not at movies, not at shows, not at comedy shows. I think it's because Wilco is a band that really becomes a part of their audience. There's something so simple and transcendent about them that makes them incredibly engaging.

Low opened up the show. They were the perfect music for a 50-degree, foggy day. However, Alan Sparhawk doesn't know all the words to "California Stars," and I am therefore required to frown down on him. Just kidding. I've never been a huge Low fan, but I definitely recognize the epic, anthemic quality that their songs taken on live. They sounded much cooler than on album.

Wilco will be in town at the Northrop on October 10th. If you haven't seen them, go. If you have, go anyway. The new material sounds fantastic live.

(April Wright)

Low Drums Guns On Daytrotter

Download: Low - "Breaker" (Live Daytrotter Session)
Download: Low - "Violent Past" (Live Daytrotter Session)
Download: Low - "In Silence" (Live Daytrotter Session)
Download: Low - "Sandinista" (Live Daytrotter session)

By which I mean that Duluth-based slowcore band Low stopped by Daytrotter to record a four-song session. Download those songs here or just click above.. They're absolutely stunning. All four songs are taken from this year's Drums and Guns.

(Jonathan Graef)

Let Low eat cake!

I don't think I have to tell you how awesome this is.


(David Brusie)

Low, Drums and Guns

Low
Drums and Guns (Sub Pop)
Grade: B

Download: Low - "Violent Past"
Download: Low - "Pretty People"
Download: Low - "Hatchet"


In truth, I feel that Low are a band for whom I have great admiration, in terms of the creativity of their sound. However, I don't actually, actively listen to them when I want hear something for pure enjoyment. To put it more concisely, I find Low more intellectually stimulating than emotionally appealing.

So, while you will certainly find albums such as Things We Lost In The Fire in my record collection, you won't necessarily find me whipping it out at Friday night parties in order to impress friends (the record, you pervert).

Low are arguably slowcore's defining band, with Mimi Parker and Alan Sparhawk's haunting harmonies hanging like spectres above the most minimal of instrumental arrangements. When Low started experimenting with their sound on their last record, The Great Destroyer, mainly by turning up the volume and kicking up the temp, I finally found myself becoming more engaged with their music.

The Great Destroyer was the band's first record for Sub Pup. Maybe the changing of labels help give Low the kick in the pants that they needed, because Drums and Guns continues the evolution of the band's sound (with Dave Fridmann continuing his production duties). But they also retain the hymnal, austere quality of earlier works, so much so that I felt like I was listening to 21st century gospel music (with elements of folk intertwined at set at the pace of a dirge).

While music like that is amazing from time to time - particularly on the first track, "Pretty People" - after a few repeated listens, Drums and Guns sounds like the musical equivalent of wailing and the gnashing of the teeth. Again, it's something I don't necessarily listen to frequently. But it is also something I nonetheless find compelling.

As you might expect based on the title, Drums and Guns is all about war and violence, mainly the toll that war can take on the human spirit. Even the soft electronic drum touches that Low add sound like distant gunfire. The album is fulled with world weary resignation from the very first lines - Sparhawk intones that "All you soldiers/are all gonna die" - and on through psalm-invoking tracks like "In Silence" and the introspective examination of "Violent Past."

There is exactly one moment of levity on Drums and Guns, and that's "Hatchet," a song about seeking reconciliation "like The Beatles and The Stones." The song is comparatively upbeat to the rest of the album's material, and "Hatchet" serves as a nice contrast to the bleak nature that fits the rest of Drums and Guns.

Low continue to do an amazing job of expanding their minimal sound, but the bleak and repetitive nature of Drums and Guns makes listening to the album a frustrating mix of monotony and grand reward.

(Jonathan Graef)