This Weekend In Minneapolis

(Faux Jean pic via How Was The Show?)

Download: Faux Jean - "The Ballad of Kim & Thurston"

Faux Jean plays a free show on Saturday at Salon D Pugh Art Opening. The reception takes place from 6 to 9 p.m.


Mel Gibson & The Pants

Download: Mel Gibson & The Pants - "Stress Fracture w/Mictlan"
Download: The Show Is The Rainbow - "School Is Cool"

Mystery Palace, Mel Gibson And The Pants and The Show Is The Rainbow play Saturday night at the Uptown. Doors are at 9 for a 21+ shop which will cost you $8.

Download: Happy Apple - "Calgon For Hetfield"

Happy Apple plays a show tonight at the Cedar Cultural Center. Details available over at the Cedar website and at More Cowbell. Show is all-ages and costs $15. Buy tickets here.

(Jonathan Graef)

Ladyfest Chicago 2007 (With A New Track From Unicorn Basement)

Download: Hey There Cowboy - "Beholden Foresaken"
Download: Hey There Cowboy - "XOXOXO" (Minneapolis pop-punk. Read the Star-Trib story about band member Kate McNulty here)
Download: Kitten Forever - "KITTEN FOREVER"
Download: Kitten Forever - "Fat Crush" (Minneapolis Riot-Grrl act with loads of charm and sass gearing up to record a new record at Pachyderm Studio)
Download: Unicorn Basement - "Oh God!" (MFR Exclusive, MPLS electro-punk duo)
Download: Aleks And The Drummer - "SZCZ" (Chicago Duo with Electronic Textures and utterly unique sound_
Download: Anni Rossi - "Wheelpusher" (Chicago Pop/Classical Violist Who Recently Signed To Too Pure)
Download: Condenada - "This Fight Is Ours" (Hardcore)
Download: Glass Candy - "Digital Versicolor" (Not an MPLS or Chicago band, but they are opening for Architecture in Helsinki at the 400 bar tonight. Show at 8, doors at 7)
Download: Sly Fox - "Worry Song" (Happy Salmon is ann offshoot of this band)
Download: Parsley Flakes - "Remember Forget" (Electro-punk trio from Chicago)
Download: The Pussy Pirates - "Stickboy Lullabye" (Chicago Post-punk/Free jazz)
Download: Slutbarf - "Get To Know Her" (Chicago Noise-Rock)
Download: The Wild Leopardz - "Heartbeat" (Chicago teenagers playing melodic punk well beyond their years)

Over the weekend, I had the great pleasure of attending LadyFest Chicago. For those of you who do not know what Ladyfest is "arts festival celebrating the achievements of women in music, film, visual arts, and spoken word." The very first Ladyfest was held in Olympia, Washington, back in 2000 and since then has been spread to over 50 cities. In addition, all of the proceeds of Ladyfest go to very worthwhile organizations. In this case, the proceeds went to the Chicago Women's Health Center and Rape Victim Advocates.

The festivities consist of events like showings at art galleries, short films and, relevant to this blog, music, music, music. In fact, Saturday, the 21st, was an all-day music extravaganza, with bands starting at 2 and then ending well into the night. Men and women were all united under the cause of helpin' a sista out, and it was pretty excellent.

And so, in honor of the occasion, I've decided to do a playlist of all the bands from Chicago and Minneapolis who participated in Ladyfest this year. The best part was that all of the bands involved were up-and-comers and seasoned veterans, with riot-grrls such as Hey There Cowboy and Kitten Forever and electro-punk duo/dear college friends of mine Unicorn Basement (who were kind enough to send me an exclusive, unreleased track titled "Oh God!") representing Minneapolis and post-punk electronic trio Parsley Flakes, bilingual hardcore feminist punk group Condenada and Electric Ukulele/Snare drum duo Happy Salmon (who don't officially have a website yet, so I posted a track from their other band, Sly Fox) doing Chicago proud.

I've written basic descriptions beside each MP3, so you know what you're getting into before you listen.

So what do you think, Minneapolis? Should Ladyfest 2008 be in your future? Based on this article from City Pages, I'd say yes.

(Jonathan Graef)

Andrew Bird To Play End-Of-The-Year Show(s) In MPLS

Download: Andrew Bird - "A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left"

In addition to opening Wilco for for a few dates (including one in Minneapolis), it looks like Andrew Bird will be playing one, or even multiple, show(s) in Minneapolis at the end of the year. According to the Andrew Bird newsletter, most of his next few solo shows will be exactly that - which is to say, that Bird will be playing with no band. However, for his Minneapolis show(s) scheduled for mid-December, Bird will have his full band. That's good news because he'll have the skills of one Martin Dosh (as well as, Jeremy Ylvisaker, who is no slouch) to help back him up.

Furthermore, having seen Bird both by his lonesome and with a full band, I have to say that the full band experience is much, much better. To be fair, I saw Bird by himself at Lollapalooza last year, where the sound crew somehow mistook his sound for that of Lil' Jon's. As a result, the bass was mixed way, way too loud. So the moral of this story is: definitely go to these shows.

Concrete information (that is, time/date/venue) will be announced in a couple of weeks, in the middle of October.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

The Thermals Return To Minneapolis

Download: The Thermals - "Here's Your Future"
Download: The Thermals - "No Cultural Icons"

In today's "Fuck Yes!" News: Bright Eyes may have forsaken MPLS on his next tour, but The Thermals haven't! And, I mean it when I say that you must go see the Thermals. After all, this isn't today's "Fuck Yes!" news because I'm feigning enthusiasm. The Thermals are one of the most explosively energetic, fun bands I've seen live, and I really do insist that you all go. And on top of it, when I saw them open for Cursive, Craig Finn was out in the crowd, screaming and pumping his beer-and-phone-filled fists in the air. He was sending a text message in between fist pumps. I have always kind of wondered what it said.

8.25 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheater (Download Festival)
9.08 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (Musicfest NW)
10.16 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
10.18 Calgary, Alberta - Broken City
10.19 Edmonton, Alberta - Velvet Underground
10.20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Amigo's
10.21 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Royal Albert
10.22 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
10.24 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
10.25 Pontiac, MI - The Eagle Theater
10.26 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
10.27 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
10.28 Montreal, Quebec - Club Lambi
10.30 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
11.02 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
11.03 Washington, DC - Black Cat

Did I mention that you really should go to this show?


("A Pillar Of Salt")

(April Wright)

Interpol Tour Dates

Download: Interpol - "Mammoth"
Download: Interpol - "Pioneer To the Falls"

Add Interpol to the mid-October tourstorm in Minnesota. The band is hitting MPLS for an all-ages show the exact same week as Spoon (playing two shows on the 10 & 11th) and Wilco (on the 10th). This can only mean one thing: My physics homework that week is going to be late.

9.12 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
9.14 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
9.15 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
9.16 Raleigh, NC - Disco Rodeo
9.18 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
9.19 Miami, FL - BankUnited Center
9.21 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
9.22 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
9.23 New Orleans, LA - Sugar Mill
9.25 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
9.26 Austin, TX - Stubb's Bar-B-Q
9.27 Dallas, TX - Palladium
10.10 Kansas City, KS - Uptown
10.11 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
10.12 Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre
10.14 Denver, CO - Fillmore
10.15 Salt Lake City, UT - McKay Center
10.16 Boise, ID - Big Easy
10.18 Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
10.19 Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum
10.20 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
10.23 Los Angeles, CA - The Forum

(April Wright)

Donations for Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Victims

Download: Lifter Puller - "Lake Street Is For Lovers"

Here's all the information I could gather:

Red Cross: 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
Memorial Blood Centers: 1-888-GIVE-BLD or (651) 332-7000
Red Cross Family Inquiry Line: 612-871-7676.

From the American Red Cross Twin Cities Chapter:

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the 35W bridge collapse tragedy.

The Twin Cities Red Cross is responding to the this disaster by providing mass care, mental health counseling and more to those affected.

Register as SAFE and WELL

To register yourself as SAFE and WELL or to search for information on a loved one - please visit www.safeandwell.org. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered.

Family Assistance Center
A family assistance center is located at:
Holiday-Inn Metrodome
1500 Washington Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454

The center will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 2.

Click here to make a financial donation or call 612-460-3700 or mail one to the following address:

American Red Cross - Twin Cities Area Chapter
National Disaster Relief Fund
NW 5597
P.O. Box 1450
Minneapolis, MN 55485-5597

I haven't heard anything about a benefit concert yet but as soon as I do, you'll know about it. Like many people, I was shocked and saddened by the news of the I-35W bridge collapse. Though I currently reside in Chicago, I went to school at St. Olaf College (about 45 minutes southeast of the cities) and have driven across that bridge countless number of times to visit friends, music venues, museams, etc, without even thinking about it. Because I have so many friends in the area, the Twin Cities have always felt like a second home for me. And to hear about something like this makes my heart break. I hope everyone is safe and sound and ok.

Chicago's thoughts and prayers are going out to Minneapolis today.

(Jonathan Graef)

So Many Dynamos - Flashlights

So Many Dynamos
Flashlights (Skrocki)
Grade: B+

Download: So Many Dynamos - "In Every Direction"

The first time I heard So Many Dynamos’ new record Flashlights, Ryan Wabash was shifting nervously on my couch trying to make himself comfortable.

“Remember, this is the unmastered version,” he assures me, again.

Norm, the drummer, is sitting with his legs crossed on the couch across from Ryan and I – he’s picking at his nails and air drumming. Griffin, the other guitar player with the boyish charm, is eating some macaroni and cheese with sliced up bits of tofu dogs that I found in my mother's fridge. I just pulled the hot pot off the stove as Ryan and I were ripping on Thunderbirds Are Now! Aaron Stovall, the singer and synth player, is up in my old bedroom already asleep.

I’m house sitting for my parents while they’re in Europe and, naturally, So Many Dynamos are spending the night.

So Many Dynamos’ first full-length album, When I Explode, was a gem of savvy pop, hidden in the guise of dueling guitars, thumping drums and chaotic arrangements. Flashlights is the same, but better.

Plagued with Dismemberment Plan comparisons for the past 40,000 years, Dynamos have yet to receive the critical acclaim they readily deserve – except for a very nice 7.8 provided by Pitchfork Media. Kudos. Yeah, I mean, so what if they're nerds, they write great songs.

Energetic as always, Flashlights expands on the standard Dynamos sound to incorporate horns, piano, large choral arrangements, and even a banjo.

Stepping into his own, Stovall is finding his voice. It's hard to be witty and not sound like an ass, lucky for us, Stovall has been able to crack the formula. Spinning line on top of line and laced with innuendo, there's never a dull moment. Not to mention that the guitars slay -- Wabash admitted to his attempts at ripping off Cinemechanica, which is not entirely true, Dynamos' riffs have always been killer, and dare I say, dynamic.

"In Every Direction" is my favorite beast off the disc. I am particularly fond of the line "Planes and trains and Auto-tuners" and the "Let me see that thong" melody line behind the chorus. This is by no means the catchiest song off Flashlights, which is saying something, but it definitely rocks.

MySpace Page
(Ian Anderson)