Tonight: Medium Zach @ Last of the Record Buyers

Download: Big Quarters - "Barter System"

Those who don't know what Last of the Record Buyers is can click here for a video explanation from one of its participants. For those in the know, this is a chance to see Medium Zach of Big Quarters do his thing about a month-and-a-half before the new record drops. Still no word on a first single, or advance MP3, but you know we're on it.

Watch Medium Zach in the lab below, then click here for all other things Record Buyers related.



$3
18+
9 p.m.
Dinkytowner
Directions

Big Quarters MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

Tonight: Nomo at the 7th Street Entry

Download: Nomo - "Better Than That

Nomo, a nonet from Ann Arbor, Michigan (strange that they share a hometown with Borders) who are self-described as "post-afrobeat dance explosion", which the horns, mellow grooves, and adept jazz-like improvisation skills all but confirm that as being an apt description, play tonight at the 7th Street Entry. Their newest album, Ghost Rock, was released this year on Ubiquity Records.

Show information here. Solid Gold and Beatrix Jars open. Maps of Norway were to open, but, according to their MySpace, their drummer sustained an injury. So no MoN for a while. Sad.

Nomo MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight: Wye Oak at the 7th Street Entry

Download: Wye Oak - "Warning"
Download:
Download: Wye Oak - "Family Glue"

Formerly known as Monarch, the Baltimore-based duo Wye Oak perform a 90s-indebted form of jangle-pop, but with big explosions of distorted, expansionist choruses and dual male-female vocal harmonies that at times recall the time period when indie listeners could hear hearts beating as one. Conversely, the group is also capable of gentle folk lilt, reminiscent of an underground version of Simon and Garfunkel. There's plenty of both to be heard on If Children..., their debut album which was released last year, but then picked up by Merge records for a re-release this past Spring. The duo are currently on a tour behind the album, one which takes them to the 7th Street Entry tonight for an 18+ show.

Tickets are $6 and you can buy them here.

Local soundscapers Red Pens open.

Listen to more Wye Oak here. Buy their music here.

Wye Oak MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight: Big Jess, St. Paul Slim at the Dinkytowner

Tonight: Birthday Suits, Strut & Shock at the Clown Lounge

(Birthday Suits)

What is the Clown Lounge? No, it's not the student lounge at a prestigious Ivy League university. ("I'll thank you not to refer to Princeton that way"). Rather, it is the basement of the Turf Club, and its also the site of two of the most raucously rollicking bands in the Twin Cities. First off will be Struck & Shock, a 50/50 guy-girl quartet who fall somewhere between good old-fashioned garage-rock and the forward-thinking righteous anger of Riot-Grrl. They have a song called "Sexy Never Hurt Anyone". Who am I to disagree?

Next up will be Birthday Suits, a duo more in line with the aggressive tempos and guitar tones of punk (which, as we all know, is garage's unruly kid brother). Three years ago, BS released their debut album called Cherry Blue. There hasn't been much album-length activity since then, but the band has been keeping busy by touring with the likes of Dillenger Four, releasing free downloads via RCRD LBL, and putting out a split 7" inch with like-minded garage-punkers The Blind Shake. While there may not be a whole lot of word regarding a Blue follow-up, listeners can still expect a high-octane show from Birthday Suits.

Here are the set times:

Strut & Shock (10:30)
Birthday Suits (11:30)

Clown Lounge Website

Birthday Suits MySpace Page
Strut & Shock MySpace Page

Tonight in Minneapolis: Pride Parade, Dosh

Black Blondiewill be on from 7:30-8:00. The block party will be held on Bryant Avenue South between 29th St.
and Lake St. Info below, via the Black Blondie MySpace page:

Uptown Pride Block Party
Friday, June 27, 6-10:30pm
FREE! Rain or Shine
810 W Lake St, Mpls 55408

Foxy Tann - emcee
6:00-6:30 Rope Trick
6:45-7:15 Venus DeMars & All the Pretty Horses
7:30-8:00 Black Blondie
8:15-8:45 Dykes Do Drag
9:00-10:15 Tina Schlieske & Band

(Dosh - "Fireball" -Live at the Varsity Theater)

After getting reviewed by Pitchfork, and interviewed by the AV Club, the one thing left to do is to play live, and that's what Dosh is going to do tonight at First Ave. Show is 18+, and tickets are $12. P.O.S. and Kill The Vultures open.

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight: Building Better Bombs at the Uptown Bar

Download: Buildingbetterbombs - "Deathships

If you're a square who, for one reason or another, doesn't mind getting freaked out, then you should head on over to the Uptown Bar where hardcore punk/psychobilly group BuildingBetterBombs are playing. Show is 21+, starts at 9 p.m. and will cost you $5. Opening up are Mike Mictlan of MPLS rap collective Doomtree, Voyager and MPLS electronic hip-hop act Slapping Purses.

BuildingBetterBombs MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)