I love the Twin Cities. It is a place full of talented musicians, and I've been lucky enough to cross paths with a handful them. A few of them have been in the process of making new music that they've just released or are releasing soon. I want to share of a few of their new projects:
First off, J.E. Sunde. He just released his single "Passport" for the album Shapes That Kiss The Lips of God that is supposed to come out June 3rd. This isn't the new single, but check out this video for his song "Easy Kid."
Second, Big Lake is releasing their self-titled LP on April 25th. Which is great, but what has gotten my attention more is a video of cover (Big Star "13") that they did with Joey Ryan. Check out the video and their CD release show at the Turf Club (April 25th).
I have yet to tell you about The Ericksons, We Are the Willows, Dewi Sant, and more. But, alas, I have run out of time.
I haven't written on the blog in ages! What brings me back is wanting desperately to help a friend, Shane Leonard of Kalispell, reach his Kickstarter goal to help record his second album.
This is the same Kalispell that I wrote about more than a year ago when he released his first album. That album was recorded in the spare room in his apartment and was hand packaged and was essentially all self-made. This time, Shane wants to create a more professional record.
As of right now, there is only only 62 hours (2 1/2 days) left to raise the remaining $6,690. I think that that goal can be achieved with a little help from my blogging friends!
Do you remember, folks, when I told you briefly about my buddy Shane's band Kalispell? Well, he finally released his full-length album Westbound a little over a week ago. I hitched a ride to Eau Claire so that I could be there for the CD release show and am extremely glad I did. We Are the Willows and The Daredevil Christopher Wright opened, which that in-and-of-itself would have been a good line up. But the final build up came from seeing Shane finally perform all his great tunes from the album, start to finish, with a full band. The stage was sometimes packed with the likes of violins, upright bass, steel guitar, drums, and even a cello; and sometimes the stage slimmed down to simply Shane and one other on stage. And it was good. His old-time infused Americana-folk is the kind of stuff I love.
My favorite on the album so far is probably track 2, Methodist Lift. How can you go wrong with a song that starts with the twanging of a banjo? And I really dig the lyric: "The church taught me how to hold a grudge, My brother taught me how to let it go, He learned from his father, and We learned from our fathers. Isn't that the way it's supposed to go?"
And if you're not sold yet, you can download my second favorite track, Lucky a Hundred Times, for free.
Give him a listen. Give him a try. Then go see him in town near you!
If you like S. Carey or Bon Iver at all, I think you're going to love Jonas David. Jonas David hails from Germany and is a musical gem. Very ethereal folk tunes with poetic lyrics. Please take the time to give this guy a listen. Please.
Or watch:
Folks, Sam Amidon has done it again! He has made a master piece of an album that I'm sure too many people will never know about (though I hope I'm wrong).
Back in 2008, Amidon released the album "All is Well." This album has been standard in my collection, with Amidon's almost mumbly voice, soft strings, and overall authentic folk sound. It is a beautifully constructed album.
This year, Sam Amidon gives to us another great album "I See the Sign." Once again, Amidon sings with his standard mumbly voice, gives us a traditional folk sound fused with a new artistic twist. I haven't finished listening to the album yet, but I can tell you that I'm excited to hear it all and to listen to it over and over again.
Also, if you live in the Twin Cities, he's coming to town soon. He will be playing at the Walker Art Center on March 22 & 23. It will be a show worth checking out.
I've simply fallen in love with Aaron Espe's album "Songs From a Small Town" (link to free download). He is an artist that was recommended to me by a friend a few years ago, though I never really looked into him then. Recently, I was perusing NoiseTrade (a site where all the music is available for free download) and saw the album there, remembered his name, and decided to give him a chance. Best choice I've made in a musical while.
The album starts off with "Small Town," a tune about the simplicity and small pleasures of living in a small town. His singing is story-telling. It's basic but heartfelt, just like a small town.
This next song "Change" is more mellow in tone. It is about not being able to accomplish quite what you want, how things sometimes just don't work out, and how that can sometimes defeat a person. It's an honest assessment of life, and Espe's voice and soft guitar chords give it credibility.
The pinnacle of the album is the second-to-last track "Faith and Doubt." Espe's Christian background comes out most clearly through this honestly emotive tune. The song rises and falls with strong guitar chords, but also with surges of emotions of wanting to believe and descents into soft hues of confession of doubt and unknowing.
Throughout the entirety of the album, where Mr. Espe rises above other folky singer-songwriters is in his honesty. He never shares too much, but he shares enough where one can identify and feel exactly what he is singing about. His gentle honesty has won me over. Maybe it will win you over too.
I realized that I post a lot about dancing and a lot about current music, but rarely do I post anything about jazz music. This isn't a well-thought out post, but I figured it was about time that I shared with you some great jazz.
I feel like I've been a blogging fool this past day. All my dancing and music thoughts have been pent up or something.
Anyways, I wanted to share some songs with you that are getting to me. Making me listen to them over and over because there is something more there that just gets to my very fiber.
I heard about Kasey Rogers because he's played with my pal John Davey. For some reason, John knows how to pick some great musicians to play shows with (other examples: Bro. Stephen, Moor Hound), including Mr. Rogers (bah! I didn't even intend to make that joke).
Kasey Rogers is of the country-folk variety, but his voice almost sounds as though he should be in a pop-punk band. He sings out his songs with heart-felt energy, to the point where he is at times just belting out the words. It is great folk, but it's also pop-y, in the sense that his tunes have a tendency to put you in a feel good mood. Oh, and the guy plays the banjo. Definitely a plus in my books.
Check out his video:
And here he is playing with John Davey:
So, there are no free downloads from this guy, but you can purchase his EP on i-Tunes. (Do it!)
Eau Claire, Wisconsin is best known for it's local legend Bon Iver (Justin Vernon), but it's also home to a whole slew of musicians, many of which you may not have heard of.
One of these bands, Adelyn Rose, just released their single "Never Get Tired" from their upcoming album release Mezzanine due out in March. After seeing these folks play shows and switch up their sound in the past year and get better with time, I'm eager to find out what the full length will sound like. But alas, the single will have to do for now (plus it's a free download from Bandcamp, along with other free downloads from their previous work). Check it out:
I live in a wonderful city (Minneapolis) where there is a rich artistic culture that thrives. This includes the local music scene. So many great musicians and musical admirers that call this city their home and thus help this rich musical culture thrive. With that all being said, I'm continually surprised by the amount of people who still have not yet heard of the local band Dark, Dark, Dark.
This band invokes a darker mood, though not grim.They have a sound similar to Beirut, as they utilize an orchestral sound, but that is also distinct from Beirut. Where Beirut often sounds like they are taking influences from the circus or carnival, Dark, Dark, Dark sounds like they are using influences from Eastern Europe. A darker, melancholy, Eastern European, orchestral sound.
My own experience with Dark, Dark, Dark started with brief exposure to as they were played on The Current. Then I downloaded one of their Daytrotter sessions, which I highly recommend. But the thing that did me in about them was when I saw them perform for The Walker's Music and Movies in the Park. They were commissioned to write and perform a live score to go along with the 1938 silent German film SPIES. The following video is part of that live score and is of one of the greatest live music experiences I've ever experienced (though you must forgive it, as the sound quality is not the greatest).
Oh, and you can find a free download of their single "Daydreaming" over at Bandcamp!
I haven't blogged in a long time, and then about a month ago, my computer died. And you know what the best thing about that is? That was the time that I wanted to blog the most. But I am a lucky girl and now have a temporary computer replacement. I really should be looking up a bus schedule right now, but first I want desperately to share with you some music that I've been digging on the past few months. Ready for it? Set. GO!
Jeremiah Nelson:Saw this guy open up for We Are the Willows. Liked him then, but his music is the kind that grew on me more and more as time went on. So listen to him, but let yourself listen through more than once. If you're anything like me, after about the fifth time you've listened to the album, you will be pumped to pass it along to your friends.
The Milk Carton Kids: I work at this really great cafe in Minneapolis where I have the chance to experience some really great up and coming musicians, and these guys were one of the best gems I've gotten to see there yet. These two guys are out of Los Angeles and are super nice fellas. Their tunes have a nice, mellow Ryan Adams feel to them and they sound just as great live as they do on their album. Their two albums are free on their website, and they also have a really great Daytrotter session, all of which are worth checking out and downloading. Then, if you get a chance, you should find out if they will be coming to your town on tour and see and meet them for yourself. Really, everything about these guys is worth it.
Kalispell: This is a friend's band, but I really am excited about their music. These guys will make something of themselves if they keep with it. Their folky tunes are the type that make you close your eyes and let your body gently sway as you sink deeper into a reminiscent mood. Listen to the following tune to understand what I mean if you don't already:
Their EP, Last Year, is also available to listen to on Bandcamp! And if you are in the Midwest and get a chance to see a show, you should go.
It's been ages (4 years) since Feist's last release, The Reminder (2007). But now she's back with some new material and will be releasing a new record call Metals on Oct. 4!
Make sure to check out her website, as it contains some great vignettes. And you can pre-order the new album there if you so please.
Here is the new single "How Come You Never Go There"
Friday evening I found myself moving slowly through traffic, with my windows down, and this song was playing on the Current. It is the perfect song for a warm (and muggy) summer day. This is one of those songs that I thought was so great to have as a new find, only to find out its been around for years. And I must say, I don't know much about this band or song, but I am hooked.
This song, Campaign, has been stuck in my head all night.
Trying to look up this song, I found out that Yellow Ostrich recently signed on with Barsuk Records. This means that the album The Mistress will actually be re-released with 3 bonus songs and it will be made into hard copy (ahem, CDs). How exciting for them! Currently, you can find some older tunes for free download over at Bandcamp, but that's it. Sorry, you'll have to wait for The Mistress to be re-released on August 16th to get those tunes.
Yellow Ostrich was originally started as a solo project by Alex Schaaf (the one in the middle in the picture). Fun fact: he is from Wisconsin. Feel the pseudo-local pride. After his temporary free release of The Mistress on Bandcamp, he later joined forces with Jon Natchez (bass, horns, vocals) and Michael Tapper (drums, vocals).
If you get a chance, you really ought to check out their Take Away Show. I've watched this video many many times and I'm continually impressed at how great this music turns out live. Their performance over at Big Ugly Yellow Couch is also worth checking out.
Here in Minneapolis, people are crazy about riding their bicycles. I have recently discovered why, as I now ride my bike to work. But much like dancing and music, I could try to tell you in words why it is wonderful, but my words will never suffice to describe the feelings.
Anyway, this post is not about biking, but about music. Late last night, as I finished my shift at my beloved workplace, I hopped upon my bike for the ride home. The air was heavy with humidity and the city skyline was partially hidden by a humid haze. The city was quiet and forward movement of riding my bicycle created a nice breeze. And the song that was playing on my iPod fit that moment and the way I felt.
That song was Sufjan's "Sister Winter" from Songs for Christmas. It may not be Christmas time, but the ambiance of the song was perfect for that moment.
This song is almost cinematic. It starts with the soft chords of the piano and the sounds of violin join in soon after, as Sufjan softly sings along to echo the same delicate sentiments. But as the song moves on it builds into a hopeful and promising energy. It was a beautiful song to start my bike ride home in my wonderful city of Minneapolis.
If you like this tune, you can find a free download, along with a few more from Sufjan, here.
I was just introduced to this music video for Slow Club's song Two Cousins. This is Slow Club's newest single for their upcoming album release. "Two Cousins" can be found on iTunes, but you will have to wait a little bit longer to find the full album.
The duo, Rebecca and Charles from the UK, has been around since 2007 creating "folk rock" tunes. I would have to argue that this new single of theirs does not sound anything like folk or rock, but rather more indie-pop/hip-hop inspired.
Anyways, the video for "Two Cousins" showcases lindy hoppers Ryan Francois and Remy Kouame as they pay homage to Al Minns and Leon James.
I really enjoyed this clip. There is discussion (and some whining) over at Yehoodi about how the dancing does not go with the music very well, which to a degree is true. I much prefer Dogpossum's viewpoints on the matter (please go read her analysis of the video). This video reminds me of montage clips within movies: the scene is edited to give snippets of both big and small picture focal points while a song plays in the background that may not match the action, but rather the emotion, of what we are witnessing. In essence, I don't think the dancing needs to be synched up to the music, as the music provides an emotional backdrop for which we can feel and understand the movement of the dance. Often when I think about lindy hop and charleston, I think about the energy and joy that comes from them, but this video and its editing did a good job of capturing the attitude of the dance I love so much.
I haven't posted here in what feels like forever, with good reason: no free time. I have been working like a crazy (70+ hrs/wk), which has been good to my bank accounts, but not so good to my social/dance/music listening life. This week has been unusually rough as I have not only been working at my two current jobs but also helping out with some of the details for Twin Cities Balboa Festival this weekend.
(By the way: you should probably come. And please dance with me all night long, as its been far too long since I've gotten in a good amount of dancing.)
As I have been working away on Google Docs, it has been Lupe Fiasco's song about skateboarding that has been getting me through. To make it through this week, all I've got to do is just "kick, push, kick, push."
I may not love Fleet Foxes, but I sure do love Fleet Foxes' drummer J. Tillman. He has a deeper, sort of raspy, yet very rich voice that he pairs with mellow, low key folky tunes. His music is dynamic but not overdone. Thelonious Monk once said, “Trying to explain music is like trying to dance architecture” That's how I feel about his music. I will never be able to explain it just right, you simply have to listen. And really, you must, because it is that good.
