A.C. Newman Ticket Giveaway

*MP3: A.C. Newman - "There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve"

In conjunction with Matador Records, we are giving away two tickets to the A.C. Newman show tomorrow night at the 400 Bar. If you would to be entered to win these tickets, @Tweet us at twitter.com/MFRian about the show. We will announce the winner tomorrow morning.

MySpace

(Ian Anderson)

Ticket Giveaway: The Duke Spirit @ Fine Line

Any one who'd thought that Goo-era Sonic Youth didn't delve enough into the noir-ish musical narratives that it's cover promised should be delighted by the sounds of The Duke Spirit. Though they only have some stylistic commonalities (they both raise a considerable ruckus), tracks like "Into The Fold" and "The Step and The Walk" incorporate the sensual dynamics of Kim Gordon (especially on the former) while Sharin Foo fans should have their hearts pumping for "Echo Song," which is drenched in...ah, what's that guitar effect again? The repeat-y, chamber-y one? Apologies for the poor attempt in humor. (you know you love it).

There are two ways you can see The Duke Spirit for yourself. First, watch the group on the "Late Night With David Letterman" TONIGHT. The second way is catch the group at the Fine Line Music Cafe. And MFR is giving away Three pairs of tickets to the show. Email JON (look to the top right of the site), and we will pick 3 winners at random to receive one of the three pairs of tix for the show. Sounds good? Yes, it does. HAve and it, and good luck!

Ticket Giveaway: School of Seven Bells @ Triple Rock Social Club

Download: School of Seven Bells - "Connjur"
Download: School of Seven Bells - "Chain"

Update: Congrats to reader Sam, who was the first to email. Thanks to every one who entered.

MFR is giving away a pair of tickets to the M83/School of Seven Bells show at the Triple Rock this Saturday. All you have to do is write to Jon, and be the first one to do so. Simple yes? Yes. Good times.

School of Seven Bells MySpace Page

Ticket Giveaway: Matt and Kim @ Triple Rock

Download: Matt and Kim - "Daylight"

That photo above makes a Matt and Kim show look fun, doesn't it? You can find out for yourself if it is, because MFR is giving away a pair of tickets to the new-wave-cum-hip-hop duo's show at the Triple Rock on the 14th. That's this Friday. All you have to do is be the first to email jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com. Winner will be announced as soon as I can respond to the email. So simple, yet it's so profound.

That's jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com for the email. This contest will be going on until noon tomorrow. Thanks!

Update: The winner is Tracy Miller. Thanks to everyone who entered.



Matt and Kim MySpace Page

Ticket Giveaway: O'Death and Lucy Michelle and the Velvet LaPelles

Download: O'Death - "Lowtide"

7th street entry.
o'death
drakkar sauna
lucy michelle & the velvet lapelles
Monday Nov. 10th

MFR is giving away a pair of tickets to this Monday's O'Death/Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles show at the 7th Street. All you have to do is be the first person to write in for the tickets @ jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com. Simple yes? For sure.

Ticket Giveaway: Little Joy @ Station

MFR is giving away a pair of tickets to Friday's Little Joy show at Station on Friday. All you have to do to win them is be the first to write in to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com and tell us what your favorite simple pleasure in life is. You don't have to wax poetic, a simple "orange juice" or "reading a book" or "hobo murder." We won't judge.

For those of you who may not know, Little Joy is a trip named after a cocktail lounge in L.A. Such a detail might seem irrelevant, especially since the band's members have day jobs in groups like The Strokes and Los Hermanos. But like their namesake and name inspiration, the trio concoct compact music morsels that draw from lounge-pop, Tropicália, and Bacharach-esque pop songwriting. It makes for pleasant listening, and should make for a pleasant live show.

So write to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com and tell us what your little joy in life is.

Update: We have a winner! Thanks to all of you who have entered. Much appreciated.

Check out the band's music here.

Ticket Giveaway: Deerhoof @ First Avenue

Download: Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"

MFR is giving away two tickets to Deerhoof's show at First Ave. tomorrow, October 14th.. Here are the details: A Deerhoof fan must submit a short introduction about a friend who has never heard or currently isn't interested in Deerhoof's Music. The winner is the fan with the friend who is the most Unlikely Deerhoof Concert Attendee.

In order to enter, send your short introduction, with the subject line "Unlikely Deerhoof Concert Attendee" to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com by 2 p.m. tomorrow, October 14th. Once again, the rules are this: you, a Deerhoof fan, must write a brief intro about a friend who's never heard of, or isn't interested in, the band. The winner of the pair of tickets is the friend who is most unlikely to attend the show.

Send your responses to jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com by 2 p.m Central time tomorrow, October 14th. Good luck!

Speaking of Deerhoof, read Culture Bully's interview with the band's Greg Saunier here.

Deerhoof MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Reminder: Jennifer O' Connor Contest

Download: Jennifer O'Connor - "Today"

Hey there readers -

Just wanted to issue a quick reminder that our Jennifer O'Connor contest is still going on, and that you have until Wednesday to leave a comment, with your name and contact information (an email will suffice) on the J'OC post we did earlier last week. Or, if you'd like, you can leave your name and info in this post. Either way works fine. Deadline is tomorrow! Hop to it.

(Jonathan Graef)

New Jennifer O' Connor - "Here With Me" (Plus MFR Ticket Giveaway)

Jennifer O'Connor's fourth album, Here With Me, may not be out until August 19th, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some tastily legal MP3s from the record. Matablog recently released the second MP3 from the album, which also happens to be the record's title track. But before we give our take on the song, let's delve a little bit into O'Connor's background as a musician.

O'Connor released her first self-titled solo album in 2002, with follow-up effort, 2005's The Color and the Light drawing solid reviews and comparisons to everyone from Jenny Lewis, to Liz Phair, to Stephen Malkmus. Her first effort for Matador, 2006's Over The Mountain, Across The Valley and Back To The Stars, was inspired by the deaths of her two sisters, as well as the disintegration of a relationship before the album's start. But instead of releasing an album filled with woe-is-me laments filled with miserabilist anthems questioning God and life (which, given the events of her life, she very much had the right to do), Stars is filled with a simple, plaintive, and very matter-of-fact power. "God keeps us guessing/and I've been guessing hard" goes a key passage from "Century Estates" (it's also the song that contains the album's titular phrase). In the wrong hands, a line like that could sound hyperbolic and melodramatic, even if it came from an honest place. However, as stated in as simple and plain a fashion as possible, the line lands like the nugget of contemplative truth it deserves to be.

The Matador bio for O'Connor states that each record subsequent from her debut is better than the last. Listeners won't know for sure until Here With Me's release date, but based on the little bit that Matablog has floated out there that the album will be, at the very least, worthy of your time and effort.
"Valley Road '86" is the kind of intimate, gentle, and real folk song with the rawness that applied to fans of Pre-XO Elliot Smith, or those who first heard Liz Phair's experiments with girly sounds. The title track, by contrast, is a buoyant, but bittersweet blast of folk-pop that wryly address the miserably wonderful complications of love. "Misery loves the cool way you speak to yourself/and I love the cool way you talk to me" goes the first line. The chorus goes "I Want You/Here/With Me", suggesting that, in spite of all her suitor's flaws, she still kinds of digs him. Funny how life works out like that

O'Connor is about set out on a tour supporting Son, Ambulence. Dates are below.

Fri 7/11 Omaha, NE doors 9pm/18 The Slowdown
Sat 7/12 Lincoln, NE doors 9pm/ 18 Box Awesome
Sun 7/13 Kansas City, MO doors TBA Record Bar
Mon 7/14 Columbia, MO doors 9pm Mojo\'s
Fri 7/18 Minneapolis, MN doors 9pm/21 Uptown Bar and Cafe
Sat 7/19 Fargo, ND doors 9pm/21 Aquarium (Dempsey\'s Upstairs)
Sun 7/20 Sioux Falls, SD doors 9pm/18 Nutty\'s North

MFR is giving away tickets to see what should be an excellent show on the 18th! Just leave your name in the comments section, Culture Bully-style, and we will select a winner at random. You'll have until next Wednesday to do so. Sounds good? Sure it does.


Pre-order Here with Me, um, here. There's a chance you might win an autographed copy of the album from Jennifer, so hop to it!

Listen to more here

(Jonathan Graef)

New RZA (Feat. David Banner) - "Straight Up The Block"

Download: RZA - "Straight Up the Block"
Download: RZA - "You Can't Stop Me Now" (Feat. Inspectah Deck)

Not to be confused with Kidz In The Hall's "Drivin' Down The Block", "Straight Up The Block" is the new jam from Wu-Tang Clan's mastermind the RZA. The track is taken from his upcoming record Digi Snax, which is due for release on the 24th of July. In order to promote said release, Culture Bully and First Avenue are giving away a pair of tickets to the June 30th show that RZA and Stone Mecca are playing. Here are the details:

The contest (is) open to US residents only (sorry international friends!) - to enter simply leave a note in the comments section - maybe about how you’re cleaning your life up, or maybe about how you’re letting the randomness take over (don’t forget to enter your email address, which won’t be shown publicly, it’s so we can get in touch with you!). THREE winners will be chosen at random & the contest ends Thursday, June 26, 2008 so…if you see this post on Friday, June 27, 2008 and would like to enter…my friend, you are too late.

Leave a comment here. As stated, the contest ends on Thursday, June 26th, so get on it!

Digi Snax is out on July 24th.

RZA MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Love In October Gives Away Free Tickets to Tomorrow Night's Show at the Triple Rock

Download: Love In October - "A Day in the Life Of"

If you act quickly, you can score a shot at winning free tickets to tomorrow night's Love In October show at the Triple Rock. Here's how, via the band's MySpace blog:

We are playing a show with our friends The Hard Lessons this Wednesday, March 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis. We have free tickets and CDs to give away at the show. All you have to do is send an email with your full name and favorite flavor of popsicle to management@loveinoctober.com by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4th to qualify. One winner's name will be selected out of a hat for two tickets to the show and five others will be selected for a free CD. Winners must claim prize at the show. Can't wait to see you there!

There are about seven hours left in the day. Hop to it! After all, it could be the best day you'll ever have, circa 2008.

In the meantime, check out LiO on the MinneapolisCast Song of the Day

Love In October MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)