12 posts tagged “andrew”

Har Mar Superstar - Game Night Har Mar Superstar Tour Dates 10/20/09 Exit In Nashville, Tennessee 10/21/09 Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, GA 10/23/09 Sonar Baltimore, MD 10/25/09 Kung Fu Philadelphia, PA 10/26/09 Williamsburg* Brooklyn, NY 10/27/09 Mercury Lounge* NY 10/28/09 Great Scott* Allston, MA 10/30/09 Club Lambi* Montreal, QB 11/01/09 Horseshoe Tavern* Toronto, ON 11/02/09 Magic Stick* Detroit, MI 11/03/09 Darkroom* Chicago, IL 11/05/09 Triple Rock** Minneapolis, MN 11/06/09 Varsity Theater* Minneapolis, MN 11/08/09 Aquarium* Fargo, ND 11/09/09 Waiting Room* Omaha, NE 11/11/09 Brick Kansas City, MO 11/29/09 Oxford O2 Academy 3 Oxford, UK 11/30/09 Relentless Garage London, UK 12/01/09 Thekla Bristol, UK 12/02/09 Wedgewood Portsmouth, UK 12/03/09 Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh, UK 12/04/09 Bodega Nottingham, UK 12/05/09 Brickyard Carlisle, UK 12/06/09 King Tut’s Wah Wah Glasgow 12/07/09 Ruby Lounge Manchester, UK 12/08/09 Plug Sheffield, UK 12/09/09 Academy 2 Dublin, Ireland 12/10/09 Stiff Kitten Belfast, Ireland 12/12/09 Concorde 2 Brighton, UK 12/13/09 Barfly Cardiff, UK * with Bang Bang Eche ** with Kool Keith Discography [2000] Har Mar Superstar [2002] You Can Feel Me [2004] The Handler [2009] Dark Touches Read More Har Mar Superstar http://weheartmus... Har Mar Mall - I mean Superstar - is back, after five years of absent since 2004's The Handler......

 10/19/2009 10:12:22  ♥ andrew () ♥ harmarsuperstar.com ♥ myspace.com ♥ twitter.com 

Cloud Cult - Take Your Medicine Cloud Cult Tour Dates 08/23/09 Cabooze Outdoor Plaza Minneapolis 08/29/09 University of MN - Morris 09/11/09 University of Wisconsin River Falls Discography [1994] The Shade Project [2000] Who Killed Puck? [2002] Lost Songs from the Lost Years [2003] They Live on the Sun [2004] Aurora Borealis [2005] Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus [2007] The Meaning of 8 [2008] Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) [2009] No One Said It Would Be Easy - A Film About Cloud Cult (DVD) Read More Cloud Cult http://weheartmus... Minneapolis experimental rockers Cloud Cult are primarily the creation of singer/songwriter ...

     In a brief live track from 2005’s “Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus,” Cloud Cult lead singer/patriarch Craig Minowa instructs an audience “I want you to show the people of the world that you are alive.” Following several seconds of mike-busting screaming by the crowd, Minowa giggles and informs the crowd that they are officially been inducted into the Cloud Cult. Consider this the indoctrination video. In Cloud Cult’s DVD Documentary, “No One Said it Would be Easy” the band shows us their life as well, with a depth and breadth long-desired by fans of both their music and artwork.

Cloud Cult - No One Said It Would Be Easy

1 comment

     Not that any could doubt their vitality. Minnesota’s Cloud Cult has exponentially upped their exposure in the year and a half since the release of “Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)”, including a performance at Coachella, on Last Call with Carson Daly and even an appearance as oil-field-fighting, eco-activist cartoon characters in an Esurance ad.

     Ever inspirational and yet emotionally devastating, Cloud Cult give their lyrical genius visual muscle in vivid computer art melded with interviews and concert footage in documenting the progression of the band from Craig Minowa’s one-man project to the introduction of painters into their live performances and the sudden death of Craig and Connie Minowa’s two-year old son. While the film is an extremely thorough review of the history of the band, with a wealth of footage from tours and performances, it focuses heavily on present-day interviews that display how the group’s experiences have shaped their motivations, inspirations and philosophy. Which is far more engaging; covering everything from environmentalism to spirituality to the hippopotami that appear in dreams.

     And, ooh, the artwork. Created by John Burgess and painter Scott West (the latter paints in the band’s live performances alongside Connie Minowa), the film is as visually stunning as befits the wealth of brain-melting poetry that is the norm for any Cloud Cult song. The vibrant pastels that have long adorned their albums and beautifully coated their on-stage canvasses float and dance and come to life…can I call it genius again?

     Cloud Cult are taking a long-postponed break from live shows after the next few weeks, as the Minowas are expecting a child in October, and don’t plan to tour, locally or nationally, until spring. Catch them now if you can, or catch them later, maybe check out the DVD in between. It’s a long, cold Minnesota winter.

Film Trailer for Cloud Cult Film: No One Said It Would Be Easy

 08/22/2009 17:01:00  ♥ andrew () ♥ cloudcult.com ♥ myspace.com/cloudcult 

 10/29/2008 09:40:50  ♥ written by andrew ()

 

Dark Dark Dark - Ashes Dark Dark Dark Tour Dates 11/07/08 TBA, Eindhoven eindhoven 11/08/08 TBA, Eindhoven eindhoven 11/09/08 TBA, Eindhoven eindhoven 11/10/08 Floere Foefke Gent 11/11/08 Radio Primitive Reims 11/12/08 Le Ludoval Reims 11/13/08 La Miroiterie Paris 11/14/08 Le Sonic Lyon 11/15/08 TBA, St. Etienne St Etienne 11/16/08 Ker Boui Boui MORDELLES 11/17/08 Jet FM (91.2FM or streaming) Radio nantes 11/17/08 Le Violon Dingue Nantes 11/18/08 El Inca Bordeaux 11/19/08 Loubieres house show in the countryside, Foix 11/21/08 La Médiathèque Associative Toulouse 12/10/08 Frequency Madison, WI 12/11/08 Heaven Gallery Chicago, IL 12/12/08 Elbow Room Ypsilanti, MI 12/13/08 Monster House Columbus, OH 12/14/08 Morning Glory Coffeehouse Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 12/15/08 TBA Philadelphia, PA 12/16/08  Cake Shop Manhattan, NY 12/17/08 Whitehaus Boston, MA 12/18/08 AS220 Providence, RI 12/19/08 Union Pool Brooklyn, NY 12/21/08 Skull Alley Louisville, KY 12/22/08 Cinemat Bloomington, IN 12/27/08 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN

Just in time for Halloween comes Dark Dark Dark, the band so gloomy they named it thrice. Largely accordion and banjo driven - with cello, standup bass and sporadic percussion and piano, the effect is an anachronistic glimpse at a troupe of gypsy minstrels, perhaps seeking a riverside campfire and a chance to play for their dinner. Oh, and there are ghosts there. Lots of 'em.

Ghosts, graveyards, bones, dreams, winter, drowning: this is the vocabulary of Dark Dark Dark. Water imagery abounds throughout. And why not? There has always been something rustically aquatic and 19^th century about a slow accordion song. Add a gently plucked banjo and a haunting vocal and it's impossible not to imagine a foggy, moon-lit Mississippi riverboat bedecked with ethereal waltzing couples festooned in patchwork finery under flickering oil-lamps in what amounts to a macabre Mark Twain fever-dream.

Come on, it can't be just me.

Yesterday saw the release of Dark Dark Dark's first full-length "The Snow Magic," which I think starts out with promise but in the end falls just short of delivering that promise. Opener "Ashes" is a beautifully morbid ditty which actually may qualify as an "anthem" but the passion fades a bit late into the album. That having been said; the damn thing is seriously growing on me. Their raw, slightly-under-rehearsed sound can be a bit off-putting initially. So why can't I stop listening? I love the tone of the thing. It's lyrically bleak, ominous; never in-your face. It's more Mary Shelley than Steven King, more Tim Burton than M. Night Shyamalan. There's no gruesome blood-bath here, more an overcast sense of foreboding. A requiem, not a murder. And considering the bleak nature of the lyrics, it's actually a fun album. There's some love imagery there. There's a nice interplay of male and female vocals that's rather endearing. Endearing...and sinister. I mean, obviously.

Having roots in Minneapolis, New York and I can only assume half the river-port towns in between, band members Nona Marie Invie, Marshall Lacount, Jonathan Kaiser and Todd Chandler seem to divide their affections equally to both aforementioned cities (In "Colors" they address the issue; "Which town do you like the best / it's too bad there's no ocean in Minneapolis"). Though the album's liner notes read like a who's-who in Minneapolis rock, having been produced by Rob Skoro, mastered by Dave Gardner and featuring guest-drummer Martin Dosh. If you don't recognize those names then don't worry about it. I guess I wasn't talking to you.

Links: myspace.com/darkdarkdarkband sad-music.net bloodonion.com

 09/23/2008 20:53:50  ♥ written by andrew ()

Safe For The Time Being Mason Proper Tour Dates 09/24/08 Live on 107one Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan 09/25/08 CD Release Party w/The Silent Years, The Novel Citizen @ The Blind Pig (ALL AGES) Ann Arbor, Michigan 10/21/08 Dovecote Records CMJ Showcase @ Rehab New York, New York 10/31/08 Rubbles Bar w/ Those Transatlantics (18+) Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 11/01/08 Small Planet East Lansing, Michigan 11/07/08 New Horizon Winona Lake, Indiana 11/08/08 WIDR Presents Mason Proper @ Papa Pete’s w/The Mighty Narwhale Kalamazoo, Michigan 11/10/08 Black Cat w/Cloud Cult Washington DC, Washington DC 11/11/08 Bowery Ballroom w/Cloud Cult New York, New York 11/12/08 Heirloom Arts Theater w/Cloud Cult Danbury, Connecticut 11/13/08 Middle East - Downstairs w/Cloud Cult Cambridge, Massachusetts 11/15/08 Bug Jar Rochester, New York 11/22/08 The Intersection w/the Mighty Narwhale Grand Rapids, Michigan 12/13/08 The Beat Kitchen w/Everthus the Deadbeats (17+) Chicago, Illinois Discography [2007] There Is A Moth In Your Chest [2008] Olly Oxen Free [2008] Shorthand EP (iTunes Exclusive)

Michigan's Mason Proper make this whole Rock n' Roll thing seem effortless. Reminiscent of the Pixies or perhaps early Spoon, and occasionally uncannily channeling Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, their ambient but crisp mid-tempo rock provides a gloomy (though never overtly depressing) soundtrack befitting the first full day of fall in the Midwest.

Released today, Mason Proper's LP "Olly Oxen Free" is significantly less of a hard-rocker than their 2006 debut "There is a Moth in Your Chest," but it seems to decently capture a more measured, laid-back tone - stretching out the wavelength while managing to retain the same amplitude and intensity of their previous offering.

At the start, Jonathan Visger's ominous vocalizations have me looking over my shoulder, expecting stalkers in the form of electric-guitar-wielding apparitions. From spooky opener "Fog" and slow-ish head-bobbers "Point A to Point B" and "Lock and Key" to the progressively emerging pulse of closer "Safe For The Time Being," the whole tone captures a tune-in-and-zone-out feel, without ever approaching the fuzziness that often defines "shoe gaze."

It's not an album to consume in small bites - it works best as a whole. Start at Track One and let the guitar-driven melancholy draw you in and immerse you in its murky depths. Ten songs in thirty-seven minutes may be a bit brisk, but that's what "repeat" buttons are for.

Links: masonproper.com myspace.com/masonproper

 09/16/2008 07:02:30  ♥ written by andrew ()

Ruby Isle - Night Shot (feat. Tay Zonday) Ruby Isle Tour Dates 10-01 Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge 10-02 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive 10-03 Fort Collins, CO - Road 34 10-04 Albuquerque, NM - Burt's Tiki Lounge 10-06 San Diego, CA - The Casbah 10-07 Hollywood, CA - On the Rox at Roxy 10-08 San Francisco, CA - Annie's Social 10-10 Omaha, NE - Slowdown 10-12 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium Live Photo Ruby Isle - Kitty Cat Club (Aug 29 2008)

Known for years in Minneapolis as a solo artist with headline-grabbing stage antics (he once played a 52-hour marathon show, purportedly consisting of a single song written on some 600 pages of lyrics), vocalist/keyboardist Mark Mallman brings that same inhuman energy to his new project, Ruby Isle. He joins Wisconsin childhood friend Dan Geller (of I Am The World Trade Center) and drummer Aaron Lemay (International Espionage) to form one of the best party bands to hit my radar in a long time. There can be no argument: Ruby Isle is Fun. A hell of a lot of Fun. Ohh yeah; with a capital "F". The electro-dance-pop trio today officially release their debut full-length "Night Shot" on Kindercore Records.

This album comes together so nicely - and with such intensity - it's impossible to single out any one track as being head-and shoulders above the others. From the obviously drug-referential "So Damn High" and "One Trip" to the Na-Na-Na-laden super-anthem "Atom Bombs '09;" you WILL dance your ass off. Don't resist. Even the seriously-titled "How It Hurts" has me unconsciously twitching in my chair as I write this. There's also a mean up-tempo cover of Peter Gabriel's Solisbury Hill (featuring Amy Dykes of I Am The World Trade Center) which is nothing short of genius - balancing both originality and a measure of reverence for the original; which is really the hallmark of any decent cover track.

"Night Shot," the album's over-distorted-yet-strangely-poppy title track, features backing vocals by Tay Zonday. Yeah, that guy. But don't rush to judgment. His presence on this track is little more than an album footnote and should accordingly be treated as such. I only mention it because it serves as an example of the level of fun-for-fun's-sake on offer here. I was skeptical at first - immediately homing in on the song, prepared to express my disappointment/horror/outrage - but was quickly won over. And then some.

Ruby Isle evokes a future in which, not only do super-intelligent aliens rule the Earth, but they force the human race to pop caffeine pills and dance eight hours a day under blinding multi-chromatic neon lights. High-pitched vocal filtering is a consistent theme, giving much of the album that robot-glee-club feel the kids all go for. Some might call their style tongue-in-cheek, even cheesy. But it's extremely entertaining, without crossing the line into "novelty act." You won't find weepy love ballads or angry rants about social inequality with Ruby Isle. But you may just find yourself drenched in sweat on a dance floor somewhere with a red-lit Mark Mallman precariously perched atop a chair above you with neither a stray thought about the inevitable forces of gravity or the physiological dangers of dehydration. You have been warned.

 08/19/2008 00:31:02  ♥ written by andrew ()

Jeff Hanson - The Hills Jeff Hanson 1 comment Tour Dates 08/23/08 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock 09/15/08 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 09/16/08 Portland, OR @ Towne Lounge 09/17/08 Davis, CA @ The Old Firehouse 09/18/08 SF, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 09/24/08 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive 09/26/08 Boise, ID @ Neurolux Discography [Jan 2003] Son [Feb 2005] Jeff Hanson [Aug 2008] Madam Owl

Milwaukee-born, St. Paul-based Jeff Hanson is full of surprises. Having been briefly acquainted with him socially through a mutual friend some seven years ago I was amazed by the news: Jeff had signed with Kill Rock Stars. THE Kill Rock Stars? Yes; he mailed them a demo and they went nuts for it. Who knew THAT actually worked? My second surprise came some time later, in 2003 when my roommate walked in the door proudly holding a copy of Jeff's newly released debut. He immediately commandeered the living-room stereo and plugged the disc in. Having no idea what to expect, I was pleased with Jeff's folksy, stripped down, singer-with-guitar style. I liked it immediately. So, who's the woman singing? I asked. That's Jeff. No, no, the SINGER, I enunciated. No, no, that's Jeff. None of us spoke again for a good ten minutes; weighed down by the enormity of that concept and stunned into silence as song after song washed over us. Because, you see; Jeff sings in a whispery falsetto that would make angels weep. There. I said it. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, upon first contact with his über-soothing soprano, mistakes it for a woman's voice.

It's at this point that I'd like to take a step back and point out that I asked for this assignment, in fact I begged for it. But in many ways what I was seeking was an impossible mission. I can't describe Jeff Hanson's voice. And I've given up on trying. It simply must be experienced. Listen to the embedded track. Listen to it twice if you need to. Listen to it twice, go make yourself a cup of coffee, smoke a cigarette, or whatever your vice of choice, then come back and read the rest of this. Because if you still haven't wrapped your head around the fact that YOU ARE LISTENING TO A MAN SINGING, you really won't be paying any attention to anything else I have to say. If you think I'm overreacting: you probably haven't clicked on the embed yet.

It is my theory that Jeff Hanson has suffered somewhat as a result of his unique voice. Many see it as an oddity, an aberration. It attracts gawkers and curiosity-seekers their to pay their nickel to see The Amazing Man Who Sings Like A Woman, and having only given him a glimpse, they soon move on, presumably in search of Dogboy or The Bearded Lady.

Those people will soon realize their mistake.

Jeff Hanson has finally recorded an album - his third, "Madam Owl," released today - befitting his amazing vocals. This should in no way be construed as a knock on his previous two albums, but I firmly believe that this is the album that will finally launch him from "That Guy Who Sings Like A Girl" to "Jeff Hanson." Certainly, there still need to be a lot of introductions that will likely begin with "Check it out: this dude sounds like a chick," and from personal experience I can tell you it's quite a conversation starter. But honestly, it's past time for this guy to get some respect. It can't be easy for a falsetto-wielding folkster signed to a label known more for its Riot Grrrls than its soulful balladeers. But he's long ago made peace with that and this album is an engraved invitation for the rest of us to follow suit. The solo, man-with-guitar style that has become his signature is well-represented in Madam Owl, but unlike previous offerings, an ensemble backing band makes this album at times downright orchestral. Violin, cello, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, accordion, and… is that "saw" I see in the liner notes? As capable as The Voice is, increasingly varied instrumentation frames it in such a way that he no longer has to concern himself with the need to vocally carry the album, supported only by his single guitar. He has long done that bit well - extremely well - but much of this album shows a change of tactics that works beautifully.

I'm going to repeat myself: It simply must be experienced. Listen to the embed a third time. Download "If Only I Knew" free from the Kill Rock Stars site. Buy the album. Play it for a friend. If you're looking for a conversation starter, try: "Check it out: this dude sounds like a chick."

Links: www.jeffhanson.net myspace.com/jeffhanson killrockstars.com myspace.com/killrockstars5rc

 08/05/2008 14:16:20  ♥ written by andrew ()

The May Fire - Under The Wave The May Fire 3 comments Tour Dates 08/06/08 San Diego, CA Beauty Bar 08/07/08 LA, CA Knitting Factory 08/08/08 San Clemente, CA OC Tavern 08/09/08 Pomona, CA Glass House 08/11/08 Phoenix, AZ Modified 08/12/08 Las Vegas, NV The Mirage 08/13/08 Tucson, AZ Sharks 08/14/08 El Paso, TX Take 2 08/15/08 Austin, TX Antones 08/16/08 Monterrey, Mexico El Garage 08/18/08 Dallas, TX Club Dada 08/19/08 Houston, TX Warehouse Live 08/20/08 Manhattan, KS Kathouse 08/21/08 Bridgeport, IL Friendly Fire 08/22/08 Chicago, IL The Metro 08/24/08 Minneapolis, MN  400 Bar 08/25/08 St. Paul, MN Eclipse 08/27/08 Omaha, NE Shea Riley's 08/28/08 Englewood, CO Falcon Bowl 08/29/08 SL City, UT Burts Tiki Lounge 08/30/08 Nampa. ID Flying M Coffee 09/01/08 Portland, OR East End 09/02/08 Seattle, WA High Dive 09/03/08 Eugene, OR WOW Hall 09/04/08 SF, CA Red Devil Lounge 09/05/08 Walnut Creek, CA Betty's Rock 09/06/08 Monterey, CA Underground 09/07/08 Salinas, CA Fox Theatre 09/08/08 Fresno, CA Audie's Olympic 09/10/08 Oakland, CA The Uptown 09/11/08 Reno, NV Satellite 09/12/08 San Jose, CA Blank Club 09/13/08 Bakersfield, CA Narducci's 09/14/08 Victorville, CA Karma

San Francisco's The May Fire has a certain sort of Sonic Youth/Sleater-Kinneynity (Sleater-Kinnectivity?) that while not unique, is surprisingly pleasing in a familiar sort of way - like accidentally discovering that the bistro down the street makes pasta that tastes almost like mom used to make. The May Fire's newest EP, "The List," released today, is actually the third installment of a trilogy of bite-sized offerings. Having not actually heard the previous two EPs, I'm only left to assume that this album has context in a measure of the whole… whether that's a reasonable assumption, I don't know. What I do know is that this particular fuzzy, noise rock offering is fun, a nice summer riot enjoyably reminiscent of early 90's girl grunge.

Lead singer Catty Tasso has a voice built for this sort of unpolished, raw rock - deep, scratchy and with modest range - and I mean that affectionately. I mean; it works. For the most part. The album has its flashes of talent and its occasional shades of mediocrity, but the whole offering is carried by the fourth track, "Under The Wave." After I've listened to the first three tracks and the fourth begins to fade in, I feel much as the parent of a "C" student who finally brings home an "A" paper who berates "This just proves you can do it. Now I expect you to get an 'A' every time."

Unreasonable? Probably. But the "Under The Wave" track takes what would normally be just a passable EP and ramps it up a notch, proving that the May Fire, with a little more study, can yet become a band that ruins the grading curve for everybody else.

Links: www.themayfire.com myspace.com/themayfire

 05/12/2008 19:36:38  ♥ written by andrew ()

The Alarmists - She Will Love Again (Hey Kid) The Alarmists 1 comment Tour Dates 05/14/08 First Ave Minneapolis, MN 05/30/08 Upfront & Company Marquette, MI 05/31/08 Upfront & Company Marquette, MI 06/07/08 Fine Line Music Minneapolis, MN 06/14/08 UW Terrace Madison, WI 06/28/08 Triple Rock  Minneapolis, MN 07/05/08 Summerfest Milwaukee, WI 07/12/08 St. John Center  Rochester, MN

     Just two weeks short of 13 years since I'd first seen Polara, I visited Minneapolis' Varsity Theater to see if they were still the band I remembered so fondly.

     Their first opener, Mercurial Rage, performed an entertaining, if not amazing, electro-rock set. Being the fashionably late sort, I actually missed most of it, so it wouldn't be fair to judge them entirely, but I did see some potential there and certainly didn't dislike what I saw. The Faint meets INXS, perhaps. They seemed a bit like a work in progress. I'll definitely have to check them out again down the line.

     Thoroughly exploiting my weakness for co-ed punk were the Mood Swings. The Mood Swings are what I would call no-scream girl-punk. Sometimes I forget that female-vocalized punk can still have an edge and an energy without being angry or harsh (Though in all honesty: the good stuff is often both). This narrow-mindedness is no doubt due to stubborn attachment to my Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland and Muffs collections. But anyway The Mood Swings were lovely. Check out myspace.com/themoodswings and listen to No Limit, my personal favorite. I think you'll find "Lovely" is an apt descriptor).

Polara - E Flat

     Polara chose not to play last, instead allowing the Alarmists to take that spot, saying they would be able to more enjoy their release show that way. It had been over two years since their last live show, and I was impressed at how effortlessly they hit the stage running. No sign of rust whatsoever. Lead singer/guitarist Ed Ackerson took to the stage looking - with his disheveled hair and trademark clunky glasses - less like a rock star and more like someone at the IT desk who would help you reset your password. As a whole, the band looked both very natural on stage and very much as if they enjoyed themselves, soaking in the attention with humble professionalism. And why not? There were enough photographers darting back and forth in front of the stage to make me wonder when Posh Spice would make her appearance. It was a good set, actually even better than I remembered them and certainly well worth the hype.

     Then, at exactly midnight, it was time for my first glimpse of the Alarmists. I soon became aware that, like Cinderellas in reverse, dozens of 18 to 25-year old women had appeared as if from nowhere to join the ball, flooding forward in order to gaze in rapt attention at the poster-ready boys who took the stage. I thought their set was good, indie, post-punk hard rock - not typically conducive to legions of screaming girls, on the face of it - but as I attempted to peer over the impenetrable wall of Scandinavian female flesh, I could only arrive at one conclusion: these boys must be dreamy hot. The highlight of their set - the highlight for me anyway, and likely also for the male hipsters who had largely by this point retreated to a safe distance - was when they called Ed Ackerson back to the stage in an old(er) meets young(er) set evoking Neil Young with Pearl Jam. Don't roll your eyes at me. The song was Cinnamon Girl, OK? Alright then.

The Mood Swings ♥ photo by andrew

Polara ♥ photo by andrew

The Alarmists ♥ photo by andrew

Links: myspace.com/polara thealarmistsband.com myspace.com/themoodswings www.susstones.com

 05/06/2008 03:38:58  ♥ written by andrew ()

Polara - E Flat Polara Rating:

     Polara possesses what I consider the classic Twin Cities rock sound - distort guitars and crisp vocals which provide just enough of a radio-friendly pop-rock feel to appeal to the masses while retaining enough artistic originality to placate even the most snobby hipster (that's me). Some call it "noise-pop," others "psychedelic." I call it ear-candy. I call it bliss. I call it Saturday afternoons in spring 1995 spent writing e-mails to local bands begging them to "please play more all-ages shows." I call it vintage Minneapolis. 

      Polara continues their long-standing relationship with the Susstones label with their first full-length since 2002, "Beekeeping," released today. (Incidentally: it's my opinion that Susstones is the most underrated Twin-cities-based label in business today). This album is simply quintessential Polara. Ed Ackerson, Jennifer Jurgens and Peter Anderson have turned out the kind of quality effort I've come to expect in every offering since their 1995 self-titled debut. With rockers like "E-Flat" and "Out Of Your Hands," Ackerson's agreeably sweet voice balances the guitar-work like the second spoonful of sugar in my deliciously powerful French roast. And like that coffee, it's filled me with a sort of heady euphoria that will have me buzzing around the neighborhood for hours. With 11 tracks coming in at a brisk 39 minutes, this album is a must-buy for any Minneapolis rock fan - or anyone wondering just what the hell I'm going on about all the time.

     If you can; check out Polara's album release show at the Varsity Theater this Friday (May 9th). Fellow Susstones acts The Alarmists, The Mood Swings and Mercurial Rage open.

Cloud Cult - No One Said It Would Be Easy Cloud Cult 1 comment "Chemicals Collide" from 2007's "The Meaning of 8" 1 comment Tour Dates 04/25/08 Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, IL 04/25/08 Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, IL 04/26/08 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN 05/06/08 Elks Theater Rapid City, SD 05/07/08 Filling Station Bozeman, MT 05/08/08 The Loft Missoula, MT 05/09/08 Neumos Seattle, WA 05/10/08 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR 05/13/08 Bottom of the Hill SF, CA 05/14/08 Knitting Factory Hollywood, CA 05/16/08 Belly Up Aspen, CO 05/17/08 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO 05/18/08 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO 05/19/08 Slowdown Omaha, NE

     Minneapolis experimental rockers Cloud Cult are primarily the creation of singer/songwriter Craig Minowa. It was originally started as a solo act in 1995 and has periodically added members since then, including bassist Shawn Neary, formerly of Tapes N' Tapes, and live visual artists, Connie Minowa - Craig's wife - and Scott West, who actually create a painting apiece during each of the band's live performances which are later auctioned off.

     On April 8th, Cloud Cult released their eighth album, "Feel Good Ghosts (Tea Partying Through Tornadoes)," which is, as should be expected from previous offerings, a spooky, passionate art-rock fever dream that impresses further with every listen. Featuring an interplay of haunting cello, cartoonish violin and crashing drums, Minowa and company have cultivated a sound which feels to me like the unlikely pairing of Mike Patton and Sufjan Stevens. As always, there's an undeniable tone of despair and desperation to Feel Good Ghosts, with a sort of urgent longing, pain, and helplessness that has become their trademark. But there also seems to be an underlying current of optimism running throughout that was perhaps less prominent in their previous offerings. Historically, much of their material has lyrically taken root in catharsis of the 2002 death of Craig and Connie Minowa's infant son. There can be no doubt in their latest work that it still weighs heavily, but there seems to be something of an emotional upturn to this album - even chronologically within the album - the first track is titled "No One Said it Would be Easy" the seventh "The Ghost Inside Our House" and the final three songs "May Your Hearts Stay Strong," "The Will of a Volcano" and "Love You All." It's in this way that the album feels like an epilogue to me, like the conflict resolution and the last few thoughts at the end of an epic novel. Admittedly, I come to these conclusions influenced by the knowledge that the band has announced its plans to pack it in - at least for the near future - following their current tour. Here's hoping for sequels…

     In case you need more convincing: They're one of the most environmentally-conscious groups you'll ever come across. Their self-published not-for-profit label Earthology Records uses a geothermal-powered studio and prints on recycled paper with ink made from vegetable oils. The band also travels in a biodiesel van and they plant 10 trees for every thousand albums they sell. Now if they could just perfect the sweat-powered amplifier, those all ages shows would be a breeze.

 04/24/2008 18:43:56  andrew my♥posts cloudcult.com myspace.com