Solid Gold Announce Headlining First Ave. Mainroom Show

First Avenue and bound for a national breakthrough electro-pop trio Solid Gold have announced a mainroom show which will take place on Friday, May 15th. No doubt the show represents the culmination of a successful year for Solid Gold, as 2008 saw the release of their excellent Bodies of Water, dates at SXSW, and an earlier stop at First Ave. opening up for Tapes N Tapes. But now, Solid Gold be headliners. DJ Real Jaguar will open the 18+ show.

Friday, May 15
Mainroom / 8:00 pm / 18+
SOLID GOLD
with DJ REAL JAGUAR
$8.00 adv | $10.00 door

Solid Gold MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

Solid Gold Release New Mixtape, Get Written Up In The Guardian

*MP3: Download: Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To"

We were a bit surprised when Decider Minneapolis said that synth-pop trio Solid Gold was a "bigger success overseas than in its hometown," but a recent write-up in UK newspaper The Guardian seems to serve as a coincidental back-up for said claim. UK critic Paul Lester has been writing about a new band every day for the past 455 days straight. Band 454? You guessed it: Solid Gold. I bet you had to strain your brain figuring out that one.

About the band, Lester says:

It may be late in the year, the time when record companies slow down, but there will be no drop in quality round these parts. Solid Gold are as good as anything we've heard in a while. They make downbeat dance music, sad synth-pop, melancholy club tracks, which might sound like a contradiction in terms but not to those of you who have, over the past 25 years, appreciated artists from Pet Shop Boys to Junior Boys.

Pretty apt comparisons, I should say. You can read more of Lester's write-up here.

Additionally, the band has posted the DJ Mix from its November gig at the Nomad World Pub over at its MySpace Blog. In addition to local talent like Mystery Palace, the mix also features nationally known acts. Check it out there.

Bodies of Water is out now. Listen to "Who You Gonna Run To?" at the top of the post.

Solid Gold MySpace Page

New Year's Eve In Minneapolis

Pert' Near Sandstone and Trampled By Turtles play at the Orpheum Theater. Tickets are $25 for an 8 p.m. all-ages show. Al Franken will M.C. the New Year's Countdown.

Buy tickets here.

Download: Pert Near Sandstone - "Fly Around"
Download: Trampled By Turtles - "Arming Of Infants"

Pert' Near Sandstone
Trampled By Turtles MySpace Page




Brother Ali

Brother Ali rings in 2008 at the 7th Street Entry for a 9 p.m., 21+, sold out show. Opening are Ali's tour DJ BK One and Toki Wright.

Download: Brother Ali - "Original King"
Download: Toki Wright - "Kyendi Kyendi"

Brother Ali MySpace Page
BK One MySpace Page
Toki Wright MySpace Page




Vampire Hands


STNNNG

Vampire Hands, who will be performing at the concert as Fun House-era Stooges and STNNNG, who will be doing their best ZZ Top, are playing a 21+, 9 p.m. show at the Turf Club. Thunder In The Valley, playing as themselves, open the show. Definitely the most unique way to celebrate 2007 leaving and 2008 arriving. Tickets at the venue.

Download: Vampire Hands - "Opium Typhoon"
STNNNG - "Manic Mechanic" (ZZ Top Cover)
Download: Thunder In The Valley - "So The Story Goes"

STNNNG MySpace Page
Vampire Hands
Thunder In The Valley MySpace Page




Solid Gold

Solid Gold, Mark Mallman and The Alarmists* all play at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown. Tickets are $18 dollars for the 8 p.m. 18+ show. Buy tickets here.

Stream Solid Gold's music at their MySpace Page
Download: Mark Mallman - "Deathwish"
Download: The Alarmists - "Hired Gun"

Solid Gold MySpace Page
Mark Mallman MySpace Page
The Alarmists MySpace Page

Happy New Year From MFR!

PS - For another New Year's related goodie, check out Casiotone For The Painfully Alone's just-released 4-track version of his song, "New Year's Kiss", here.

(Jonathan Graef)

*Full Disclosure: A writer for this blog has recently worked publicity for The Alarmists. Their mention in this blog is in no way due to favoritism, nor should be viewed as an endorsement, per se.

New Video: Solid Gold - "Bible Thumper"

Solid Gold - Bible Thumper


Filmed and directed by John Carlucci, with some additional effects work by Suzanne Dyer

Solid Gold MySpace Page

New Solid Gold - "Neon Rose"

Download: Solid Gold - "Neon Rose" (via)

Rift Magazine debuted this track from the synth-psych trio's just-released debut LP Bodies of Water. "Neon Rose" blends different influences and sounds (modern psychedelia and mariachi-style horns are the most prevalent examples) to create catchy, tight pop. Listen to it at the top of the post.

Solid Gold MySpace Page

New Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To" (Mel Gibson and the Pants Remix)

Download: Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To" (Mel Gibson and the Pants Remix)

(via SV)

Lots of unique band names in this one, and, like the TVOTR Nat King Cole Cover, it comes courtesy of Sound Verite. It's a remix of "Who You Gonna Run To," a track that both appears on the EP of the same name, as well as their Best-Of 2008 release Bodies of Water, done by fellow distinctively monikered MPLS band Mel Gibson and the Pants. Check it out at the top of the post.

Solid Gold MySpace Page
Mel Gibson and the Pants MySpace Page

MFR's Top Ten Best Local Records of 2008

2008 was a boundless year for creativity in the MPLS local music scene, with hip-hop and electronic-leaning groups being responsible for most of the sonic highlights throughout the year. However, there was plenty of room leftover for folk-gypsy wanderings, epic nouveau-psychedelia, and a gloriously righteous exercise in lo-fi punk. But number one belongs to a veteran who set forth another variation of a consistent sound--with thrilling results. Here's MFR's list of the top ten local records of 2008:

1) Dosh - Wolves and Wishes

Download: Dosh - "If You Want To, You Have To"
Download: Dosh - "Capture the Flag"

2) Jeremy Messersmith - The Silver City

Download: Jeremy Messersmith - "Miracles"
Download: Jeremy Messersmith - "Virginia"

3) Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic

Download: Dark Dark Dark - "Ashes"

4) Muja Messiah - Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy

Download: Muja Messiah - "Patriot Act" (feat. I Self Devine)
Download: Muja Messiah - "At All Cost (My Economics)"


5) Kitten Forever - Born Ready

Download: Kitten Forever - "Warpath"
Download: Kitten Forever - "Fat Crush"

6) Vampire Hands - Me and You Cherry Red

Download: Vampire Hands - "Statuette"


7) Kristoff Krane – This Will Work For Now

Download: Kristoff Krane - "Little Willy"***
Download: Kristoff Krane - "Easy Way Out"

8) Unicorn Basement – We Are The Mages of Beauty*

Download: Unicorn Basement - "Oh God!"


9) First Communion Afterparty - Sorry For All The Mondays...

Download: First Communion Afterparty - "Green Turns To Gold"


10) Solid Gold – Bodies of Water**

Download: Solid Gold - "Bible Thumper"

Honorable Mentions:
Atmosphere – Strictly Leakage (released Dec. 2007)
Dallas Orbiter - Motorcycle Diagrams

*Max and Deanna are friends of the writer
**One of the writers on this blog has a business interest in this band
***Incidentally, this is the best song about the ignorance of gender roles--and homophobia--since The Replacements' "Androgynous"

Show Announcement: Solid Gold at the Hexagon

Deets via More Cowbell:

Solid Gold + “Secret Special Guests”*
Saturday, August 23
Hexagon Bar
Minneapolis, MN
10 pm | FREE | 21

In order to celebrate the release of issue #25 (considering how the print business is floundering these days, any issue successfully printed is cause of celebration), Rift Magazine is holding a party that doubles as a birthday get-together for Robyn, who is turning the big 30. Sounds like "All My Friends" will be on the playlist for this one. The details for the event are above. As to who the surprise guests are? (Well, you probably know this already, but just play along. It's Wednesday.) If you're doomed to know, then you've figured out that this event won't be a P.O.S.. It's in the hands of Vampires.

Did you see what I did there?

In other Vamp Hands news, the experimental quartet will be playing before a screening of Bits, a local independent film. The viewing takes place at the Uptown on Friday, August 22nd. Doors are at 11:30 pm, with the band playing from 11:45-12:30. Then the film screens.

Check out more here.

(Jonathan Graef)

Show Announcement: Solid Gold, First Communion Afterparty @ Club Jager

Saturday, Sept. 27
6-10pm bands
10pm-2am Attitude City DJs
Solid Gold
First Communion Afterparty
Bella Koshka
Beatrix Jar
$5, includes Summit Octoberfest
@ Club Jager

Playlist of Minnesotan Bands Playing South By Southwest

(via STNNNG's MySpace Page)

Even though the flier at the top of the post is for one specific show only, the name of it seems apt for all of the Minnesota bands headed to SXSW this week. In order to help SXSW patrons decide which Minnesotan groups they want to see whilst in town for the four-day fest, we've decided to put together a little playlist of all the bands we know of (if we missed any, feel free to name them off in the comment section). Note: the times listed are for when the Minnesotan bands go on, not for when the show begins. For more information, go here. A star like this * at the end of an MP3 denotes an MFR fave. Enjoy yourselves, you lucky bastards.

Official Showcases

Tonight

Frenchkiss Showcase
Mohawk Patio
912 Red River St.
All Ages

Download: The Plastic Constellations - "Stay That Way"*
Plastic Constellations Website

The Plastic Constellations go on at 11 p.m.

Thursday

Maggie Mae's Gibson Room
512 Trinity St.
21+
8 p.m.

Knife World
Listen to music at the band's MySpace Page

Molotov Lounge
719 W. 6th Street
21+

Download: Ouija Radio - "Amazing Animals"*
Download: Birthday Suits - "Slowly Motion"*

Ouija Radio goes on at 11 p.m. and Birthday Suits goes on at 12 a.m.

Red Seven Patio
611 E. 7th Street
Victory Records Showcase
All-Ages

Download: Four Letter Lie - "Naked Girl Avalanche"

Four Letter Lie goes on at 9 p.m.

Stubb's
801 Red River St.
Sire Records Showcase
All-Ages

Download: Mason Jennings - "Ballad For My One True Love"

Mason Jennings goes on at 9:45 p.m.

Victorian Room at the Driskill
Red House
604 Brazos St.
21+

Download: The Pines - "Worried Blues"

The Pines go on at 10 p.m.

The Wave
408 E. 6th St.
Green Room Music Scene
21+

Download: Mark Mallman - "Turn of the Century"*

Mark Mallman goes on at 11 p.m. And while all of the Minnesotan bands playing SXSW are truly excellent, Mark's is a show that you probably don't want to miss.

Friday

Cedar Door
201 Brazos St.
18+

Download: Tapes 'n Tapes - "Insistor"*

Tapes 'N Tapes go on at 12 a.m. (which, technically, would be Saturday).

Habana Annex
708 E. 6th St.
21+

Download: The Floorbirds - "KC Moan"

The Floorbirds go on at 9:10 p.m.

The Hideout (On the behalf of Chicago, I say "no, you're not")
612 Congress Ave
All-Ages

Download: Artifact Shore - "Fun Is Near"* (after all, I loves me some shoegaze)
Download: Mystery Palace - "Stepchild"*

Artifact Shore goes on at 11 p.m. and Mystery Palace goes on at 12 a.m.


Light Bar
Kindercore Showcase
408 Congress Ave
21+



Prepare to have your mind blown by the following video. I'm not even going to tell you what it is. See if you can figure it out for yourself. Perhaps daydreaming might help :)

Ruby Isle goes on 12 a.m.

The Thirsty Nickel
325 E. 6th St.
21+

Download: Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To?"*

Solid Gold goes on at 9 p.m.

Red Eyed Fly
715 Red River St.
18+

Download: Cloud Cult - "When Water Comes to Life"

Cloud Cult goes on at 12 a.m.

Saturday

Blind Pig Rooftop
317 E. 6th St.
21+
Blackout Booking

Download: Birthday Suits - "Slowly Motion"

Birthday Suits go on at 9:40 p.m.

Mohawk Patio
912 Red River St.
All Ages

Download: Best Friends Forever - "Handpocket"*

Best Friends Forever go on at 11 p.m.

The Thirsty Nickel
325 E. 6th St.
Graveface
21+

Download: Kid Dakota - "Stars"

Kid Dakota goes on at 12 a.m.

Side Parties - Day and Night

Thursday

Emo's
603 Red River Street
Free
Time not listed (noon?)

Download: Tapes N Tapes - "Hang Them All"*

Friday

Dog and Duck Pub
406 West 17th Street
Modern Radio/Burlesque (yow!) of North America
Free.
noon - 6:30 p.m.

Listen to Doomtree music at their MySpace page*
Download: The Plastic Constellations - "Diablo Dastron"*
Download: STNNNG - "Dubbed Warehousing"*
Listen to Chooglin's music at their MySpace Page*
Download: Birthday Suits - "Slowly Motion"*
Download: His Mischief - "Rock Song Hyperopia"
Download: Vampire Hands - "Opium Typhoon"
Download: Private Dancer - "1000 Year Wave"

Saturday

Reveille Magazine/Eclectone Records
SXSW Day Party Doomtree
featuring
P.O.S. -4:30 p.m P.O.S. - Download: P.O.S. - "P.O.S is Ruining My Life"
Kid Dakota - 3:45 p.m. Download: Kid Dakota - "Stars"
Cloud Cult - 3 p.m. Download: Cloud Cult - "When Water Comes to Life"*
Big Ditch Road - 2:15 p.m. Download: Big Ditch Road - "All The Way To Idaho"*
The Alarmists - 1:30 p.m. Download: The Alarmists - "Hired Gun"
Romantica - 12:45 p.m. Download: Romantica - "On My Mind"
Hojas Rojas (noon)
Molotov Lounge, 719 W. Sixth St, Austin, TX. Free

And somewhere, at sometime, First Communion Afterparty is doing something. Be on the lookout for them, as they make life better for everyone.

Download: First Communion Afterparty - "The Ebb"

Please let me know who we left out, so that way I can yell at myself repeatedly and then add them.

(Jonathan Graef)

Electric Fetus to Launch New Download Service

The music industry may suck nowadays, but there's ample reason to hope that it's going to get better. Namely, smaller, more independent stores are embracing the new ways of doing business that, for some reason, the majors have a hard time getting behind. Specifically, Electric Fetus has, according to the Star-Trib, launched ThinkIndie, a music download service for unsigned local acts. The piece in question mainly focuses on locally beloved synth-pop trio Solid Gold, who, despite vast local success, nonetheless are label-less. Here's a taste of the lede:

When Minneapolis band Solid Gold first tried to make its music available on iTunes, the popular music-download service rejected the unsigned rockers...but starting today, local, unsigned bands will have a better shot with a music-download service that the Minneapolis music store Electric Fetus is helping launch.

The piece specifies how ThinkIndie differentiates from iTunes and similar digital competitors, when emphaszing the connection to local music, and how the expertise of the Electric Fetus staff proves itself as an asset. Read the rest of the article here.

So what do you think, readers? Are you psyched about an Electric Fetus digital store?

ThinkIndie website

(Jon Graef)

Tonight: Solid Gold, Military Special @ Uptown Bar

Military Special MySpace Page
Solid Gold MySpace Page

Tonight in Minneapolis: Destroyer, Solid Gold, Alpha Consumer

Download: Destroyer - "Foam Hands"

Wed, Apr 16 @ 9 pm
400 Bar
$12/$15
18+
Opening: Colossal Yes

The Dan Bejar-led group kicks off its tour tonight in MPLS. The band is playing shows in support of its latest record, Trouble In Dreams, which mines the same sinewy, lyrical territory as its predecessor, Destroyer's Rubies.

Destroyer MySpace Page



With a flier like that, it's got to be entertaining, right?

Solid Gold MySpace Page



Even if members of Alpha Consumer gave up their day jobs--as players with Andrew Bird and Dosh, respectively--they would still have the neo-shoegaze sounds of their own excellent band to fall back upon. The group, along with Pattern is Movement and Andrew Broder, play a 21+ show tonight at the Turf Club.

(Jonathan Graef)

City Pages Announces Top 10 Local Albums

City Pages came out with their List of Top Ten Local Albums today. We think some crucial names were omitted, but all in all, it's a good survey of what's going on in MPLS. Check it out.

Haley Bonar - "Big Star" (Afternoon Records)

*MP3: Haley Bonar - "Something Great"

City on the Make - "1,000,000" (Self-Released)

*MP3: City on the Make - "A Million Bucks"

Doomtree - "Doomtree" (Doomtree)

*MP3: Doomtree - "Dots & Dashes"

Kitten Forever - "Born Ready" (Self-Released)

*MP3: Kitten Forever - "Fat Crush"

Knife World - "Knife World" (Roaratorio)
Knife World on MySpace

Kristoff Krane - "This Will Work for Now" (Self-Released)

*MP3: Kristoff Krane - "Easy Way Out"

Skoal Kodiak - "Three People Are Keep Having Grape Emergencys" (Self-Released)

*MP3: Skoal Kodiak - "Cruel Tic"

Solid Gold - "Bodies of Water" (Self-Released)

*MP3: Solid Gold - "Armored Cars"

Vampire Hands - "Me and You Cherry Red" (Peppermint Coffins)

*MP3: Vampire Hands - "Paradise Knife Fights"

The Wars of 1812 - "Status Quo Antebellum" (Amble Down/Afternoon Records)

*MP3: The Wars of 1812 - "Radio Unsigned"

Video: Solid Gold - "Bible Thumper"

Solid Gold MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight in Minneapolis

Download: St. Vincent - "Human Racing"

St. Vincent
Venue: Cedar Cultural Center
Time: 8pm
All-ages
Foreign Born open

Gay Witch Abortion

Download: Gay Witch Abortion - "Stain On The Floor"

Six local bands:

OBCT
Kaligula
Gay Witch Abortion
Myiasis
Cognitive Dissonance
Monsters of Pot

Doors at 9 p.m.
18+
Tickets $3.00 at the door

Bedlam Theatre
1501 South Sixth Street
West Bank, Minneapolis, MN

Soild Gold



Self-explanatory.

Solid Gold MySpace Page

Lambs Of God

CD Release party
THE POCKETKNIFE
with THE HAMMER GANG and UNICORN BASEMENT
Time: 8 pm


Download: Lambs of God - "The Whores of Babylon"

LAmbs of God MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

MFR's Guide to SXSW: Mpls/St. Paul Bands

P.O.S.


*MP3: P.O.S. - "Goodbye"

Thursday, March 19 11:15 p.m.
Habana Bar Backyard (708 E 6th St)
&
Friday, March 20 11:00 p.m.
Buffalo Billiards (201 E 6th St)

Doomtree


*MP3: Doomtree - "Flex"

Wednesday, March 18 8:00 p.m.
Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St)

"Absolutely fucking nothing but Doomtree."

The "it" MC and his crew bring rhymes and beats down south to show the industry what hip-hop sounds like if you freeze it for nine months. In other words, fresh and freaking cool. Hip-hop fans, don't miss these shows.

Haley Bonar


*MP3: Haley Bonar - "Big Star"

Wednesday, March 18 11:30 p.m.
Victorian Room at The Driskill (604 Brazos St)
&
Thursday, March 19 2:30 p.m.
SESAC Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center (500 E Cesar Chavez St)

Ms. Bonar plays and sings country-tinged pop songs that would provide an adequate dictionary definition for 'smoldering.' Go and see TC's favorite heartbreaker, but don't stand too close to the flames. (*Note: Bonar is on Afternoon Records, however, is a staple of the TC scene and needs to be mentioned).

Brother Ali


*MP3: Brother Ali - "Good Lord"

Wednesday, March 18 12:30 a.m.
Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St)
&
Thursday, March 19 12:00 a.m.
Habana Bar Backyard (708 E 6th St)

Sometimes the hardest thing in this world to be is just one of the most gifted rappers in the country. The truth is coming to Austin, so give the man a mic and step back. But not too far.

Dosh


*MP3: Dosh - "If You Want To You Have To"

Wednesday, March 18 10:30 p.m.
Mohawk (912 Red River St)

When not recording and touring with Andrew Bird, Martin Dosh puts out records of distinctly emotional electronic, beat-driven music. His one man show will be a highlight of the festival.

et al.

* The 757s
* Solid Gold
* Josiah Wordsworth
* Toki Wright
* Eyedea & Abilities
* Gary Louris & Mark Olson
* John Gorka
* Grant Hart
* Elizabeth Hunnicutt
* I Self Devine
* Mark Mallman
* Marcy Playground
* Cecil Otter
* Plain Ole Bill
* Birthday Suits
* BK One

Venues and times can be found for all HERE.

Other local bands like Gospel Gossip and First Communion Afterparty will play their trade at unofficial gigs outside of the festival.

We have missed a band, please add them to comments below.

(Erik Martz)

Solid Gold Announce CD Release Party

Tonight: Tarleton at the Nomad World Pub

Download: Tarlton - "Oatmeal"
Download: Tarlton - "Two Nights Of Storms"


Good news, everyone! Brett Bullion, a.k.a. Tarlton, has returned from Seattle for a show in Minneapolis. Tarlton will be performing as part of the http://spark.cla.umn.edu/. The schedule is way too massive to list here, but check it out on the Spark website.

Tarlton is performing at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Nomad World Pub. Having seen him perform last night, I can safely say that he's never sounded better. It is absolutely worth your time to go see his set.

Tarlton MySpace

(April Wright)

Full disclosure: Brett is a friend of both Ian and mine and may or may not have built us a solid gold monument on the moon. This does not change the fact that Tarlton makes objectively awesome music that each and every one of you blog-o-nerds would love.

Saturday: Solid Gold @ Kitty Cat Klub