42 posts tagged “mn”

All Leather - I Don't Hate Fags, God Does All Leather 10/30/09 Slims San Francisco, CA 11/01/09 Black Lodge Seattle, WA 11/02/09 Satyricon Portland, OR 11/03/09 3 Parkside San Francisco, CA 11/06/09 Black Market El Paso, TX 11/07/09 Fun Fun Fun Fest Austin, TX 11/08/09 Rock Bottom San Antonio, TX 11/09/09 Lounge on Elm St Dallas, TX 11/12/09 Modified Phoenix, AZ 11/13/09 Che Cafe San Diego, CA 11/14/09 Club 1979 Baja CA 11/15/09 Smell Los Angeles, CA Discography [Aug 2009] Hung Like A Horse EP [Aug 2009] Hung Like A Donut - Remix Album

Here is the latest collection of Singles and Extended Plays that's come across my desk. Reviewing EPs is simple, as usually it's focused on the main song, but it's also very hard to write about. You can only write so much about one song, which is why I've stopped accepting single songs (we get a lot of these), remixes, edited, videos, streams, or demos. I am also not uploading every song for streaming, just my main song of choice (mostly for hypemachine audiences).  Read more EZ EPs articles.

ALL LEATHER
allleather.org ♥ myspace.com/allleather

All Leather's origin is from the ashes of the California punk band Some Girls (not to be confused with the less-than-punk band Juliana Hatfield's Some Girls), where two of the band members (bassist Justin Pearson and guitarist Nathan Joyner) came from.

The band recently featured on rcrdlbl and Alt Press Magazine. The later gives a glimpse of what All Leather sounds like: "[dance music] had cool elements, but was always ruined by lame lyrics, poor vocals and not enough balls. Ironically enough, the balls I wanted came from my exposure to it while working at a gay bar."

What he's referring to is probably their songs "Please Jesus, Send Me Someone To F*ck" and "I Don't Hate Fags, God Does" from their EP Hung Like a Horse, released in August on Dim Mak Records. The title alone is sort of controversial, but since I cannot, for the life of me, understand what Pearson is singing about, I don't know how I should feel about the songs.

I wouldn't exactly classify All Leather as "dance music" as described in Alt Press, this is more like experimental DIY noise - especially with the first two head trauma songs, "As The Hog Pisseth" and "We're Skrewed". Both songs seems to want to drill holes in my head.

Based on the songs and reading about the band, All Leather's fan base will be best built on their live performances. Usually these kind of high-energy sound just translate better on stage. Fortunately, it looks like they're doing a ton of dates in the south-west.

THE STATES thestatesonline.com ♥ myspace.com I've said this before, and I'll say this again: bands really need to pick better names. It's impossible to search for 'states' without having to put 'music' or 'band' in the search box. I'm sure this is the number one complaint whenever someone write about them and/or doing research. Still, that didn't stop the rock trio from being heard on national television on Fox's Fearless Music Show last night. I guess I don't really watch television (do I even have Fox on my TV?), I didn't know there were even music shows! I'm kind of excited about that, knowing that traditional media is still interested in music promotion. Well, We Are The Erasers, released September 22nd, is the third release from this band. With the exception of the ballad-ish "The Fight", the rest of the five-track sounds pretty much solid rock music. I think the best song on the EP is "Erasers", with Chris Snyder singing its catchy lyrics of "we will be erased", followed by "you have been erased". The State are currently on tour, I'm sure they'll get some better exposure with their official CMJ showcase coming up! 10/03/09 Rusty Rudder Dewey Beach, DE 10/15/09 Fusion 5 Night Club Foxboro, MA 10/16/09 TT The Bears Cambridge, MA 10/17/09 Rack N’ Roll Cafe Stamford, CT 10/18/09 Vibe Lounge Rockville Centre, NY 10/21/09 CMJ Showcase New York, NY 10/23/09 Stone Church Newmarket, NH 11/05/09 Puck Doylestown, Pennsylvania		THE WOLFMEN thewolfmen.net ♥ myspace.com/thewolfmen I've never heard of The Wolfmen before this promo single, Jackie, Is It My Birthday?, to be released on October 5th on their label, Howl Records, but their two main band members singer/bassist Chris Constantinou and guitarist Marco Pirroni have been in the industries for ages. I know that the two of them worked for Adam Ant, and Pirroni's been associated with Siouxsie & the Banshees and Sinéad O'Connor. It is with the O'Connor connection is that she sings duet with Constantinou on their new single. While the press release quoted this "For thirty years Fairytale of New York has dominated the Christmas playlists and festive radio for anyone looking for hardcore Christmas whimsey. But Jackie, is it my Birthday? is a worthy contender to The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's throne." to describe the song - I'll have to politely disagree. While I did love both the A-Side ("Jackie, Is It My Birthday?") and B-Side ("Blushing God"), "Jackie" doesn't really hit the same sad note as with "Fairytale of New York". Surely, I can think of some better O'Connor duets (just look at "Visions of You" with Jah Wobble or her album Collaborations featuring nothing but duets with O'Connor). Still, the song is championed by a variety of British DJs and musicians, among them Dandy Warholler, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, calling the band "f*cking brilliant... I guess The Wolfmen just sound like heavy weights because they are." You can hear the song for yourself on their myspace, along with "Jackie Says", which I hear is their breakthrough hit song.
MIKA mikasounds.com ♥ myspace.com/mikamyspace Mika isn't really the sort of musician that I normally listen to. It's not like because of my street cred, but generally once an artist reach a certain status, the PR companies stops answering our calls. Which is why it was weird that I was sent his latest single, We Are Golden by his record label, Universal Records. The single comes with essentially the same song - a radio edit and the full song. The radio edit cuts the song three and a half minutes from its original four minutes epic. I'll have to admit that the song is pretty catchy and inspiring with its uplifting piano. It's a youth song, it sends out the message that old geezer like me would never understand it. Having just appeared on "Later...with Jools Holland", it's a good indication that he'll be heading out on his tour - heading into 2010! 10/12/09 Toronto, ON Sound Academy 10/13/09 Montreal, QC Place de Arts 10/15/09 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre 10/16/09 New York, NY United Palace 10/18/09 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory 10/20/09 Chicago, IL Riviera 10/23/09 Los Angeles, CA Palladium 10/24/09 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre 10/25/09 Seattle, WA The Moore 10/27/09 Vancouver, BC Orpheum Theatre 03/12/10 Antwerp Sportpaleis 03/13/10 Amsterdam Heineken Hall 03/15/10 Copenhagen KB Hallen 03/17/10 Oslo Spektrum 03/18/10 Stockholm Annexet 03/20/10 Dusseldorf Phillipshalle 03/21/10 Frankfurt Jahrhunderthalle 03/23/10 Hamburg Color Line Arena 03/26/10 Leipzig Haus Auensee 03/27/10 Munich Zenith 03/29/10 Vienna Gasometer 03/30/10 Stuttgart Schleyerhalle 04/01/10 Basel St. Jakobshalle 04/02/10 Luxembourg City Rockhall 04/16/10 Lisbon Coliseum 04/18/10 Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi 04/19/10 Madrid Palacios Deportes 04/21/10 Milan Mediolanum Forum 04/23/10 Marseille Le Dome 04/24/10 Lyon Halle Tony Garnier 04/26/10 Paris Bercy 04/29/10 Nantes Zenith 04/30/10 Toulouse Zenith 05/01/10 Nice Palais Nikaia 05/03/10 Strasbourg Zenith		NANCY NEWLIS nancynewlis.com ♥ myspace.com/nancynewlis Nancy Newlis is a New York singer/songwriter. Yes, we get a lot of these sort of submissions, especially of the singer/songwriter variety. What makes Newlis stand out is that she's from Moscow, originally studying under composer Irina Vladimirovna. A bit of a prodigy, she found herself studying jazz with a full scholarship in the University of Miami. Her recording break came with the release of Universidad Navidena, featuring the University music orchestra. Bitten by the recording bug, she went on to release Moments last year, and her latest release is Dreamers 2009 EP, released last May. I think what she's trying to do on the EP is a mixture of traditional jazz and pop music. Generally, the way I look at jazz is that it's usually an instrumental form, usually with improvisation (especially played by a veteran). In order for traditional jazz to be accepted by the mainstream audience, it has to have catchy lyrics or pop sensibility. Songs like "Dreamers", "Social Standing" and "What Is It?" on Newlis' EP does a good job fusing the two genre, featuring some acoustics, pianos, and Newlis' unique Russian-esque vocals. If you want to hear her for yourself, check out her free download of "Dreamers" at last.fm.
PUZZLE myspace.com/puzzlepuzzle OH MY! I think I am in love Puzzle. They have this indiepop sound, sort of feels like they are all old school friends in a small, small town, obsessing over their favorite bands. As it turns out, according to their biography, this is a "female-fronted" band from Liverpoool who started in 2007. Their debut album, Sometimes, all of the time, released the same year, is sold out... however their latest MiniCD (the first 30 features a holographic cover, limited to 100), is called We Left, released September 28th on Lightning Heart Records. I don't know what else I can add to this, except that I really like the way Lucy sings her songs. It reminds me of a bit of Tanya Donelly. If I were to live in Liverpool, you know what I'll be doing on October 13th (stalking): 10/13/09 Bumper - with Cats and Cats and Cats & maybeshewill		TOTAL BABE myspace.com/totalbabeband A little closer to home, is Minneapolis' Total Babe. Generally whenever I see band names like this, I think "they must mean the opposite, I'll bet they're heavy metal dudes ... with beards!" Well perception kept me away until I added this EP to my work queue. Guess what? They're alright! In fact, having just looked over all their cheesy photography collection, including the hilarious OMG picture, I'll have to say they are cute/dorky normal. The six song Heatwave EP, is full of indieness. My favorite is "Shape Up", featuring some whistling action. Since they are from around here, I'll try and catch them play after their CMJ debut. 10/04/09 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota 10/20/09 CMJ FESTIVAL New York, New York 10/21/09 CMJ FESTIVAL Public Assembly Brooklyn, NY 10/22/09 CMJ FESTIVAL Spike Hill Brooklyn, New York 10/23/09 CMJ FESTIVAL New York, New York 10/24/09 CMJ FESTIVAL New York, New York 10/30/09 PERSONAL BEST RECORDS Minneapolis, MN 11/14/09 Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis, MN

Here are some news from news.weheartmusic.com for this week.

BICYCLE DIARIES
davidbyrne.com ♥ penguingroup.com

While fans will know David Byrne from his music from Talking Heads in the 80s and his solo work, people rarely know that Byrne is a huge bicycle enthusiast. Byrne's bicycle is his main mode of transportation around his home in New York and when he's out on his world tour (throughout Sydney, Manila, San Francisco, etc). He kept a diary and Penguin Books is publishing his book, Bicycle Diaries, on sale September 21, 2009.

Fan will take note that Byrne is recording and reading his own book for the audio book version, although from his journal, it did not go too well the first week:

Did my second audiobook reading of the Bicycle Diaries NY chapter today. My first attempt, last week, was marred by maybe a combination of nerves and a wonky lower lip, as the braces had just gone in and were scraping the inside of my mouth. (I smashed a guitar into my bottom teeth about a week before the tour ended.) There’s less of that slurring and slushing going on now, and perhaps I am more confident and relaxed as well.

What will make this audio book a treat is that Byrne, always the experimentalist, will be incorporating sound recording he's made from the streets and noise in the book.

Look for Bicycle Diaries in September (preorder information), and you can find out more about Byrne's auctioning of his folding Montague bike for the London Cycling Campaign at Byrne's Journal.

ARTIST MUSIC JOURNALS
soundscreendesign.com

Speaking of books, Soundscreen Designs is releasing the third installment of its ongoing Arist Music Journals series, featuring musician/artist Daniel Higgs, former singer of the post-hardcore Lungfish.

About the series:

Artist Music Journals are an ongoing, monthly, limited edition small book series. Each month, a visual artist or musician is asked to create a 24-page book of artworks, drawing inspiration from their connection to music. The different ways in which each artist chooses to represent their connection to music is what makes this ongoing series unique, intriguing and diverse.

Each book is limited to 1,000 copies, printed on thick stock, offset, box-scored and saddle stitched, and comes packaged in a 10" jacket. The jackets for each edition will be identical, keeping the collection's overall outward design aesthetic consistent. However, there is a distinct letterpressed sticker wrapping the opening of the jacket for each installment featuring a replication of the artist's signature, the volume, installment number, and edition.

Information on how to purchase the book is located here ($17). Special thanks to AAM for sending this in.

PARAGRAPHS
myspace.com/paragraphsband ♥ twitter.com

Paragraphs, or vowels-hating "prgrphs", is very excited to play the 7^th Street show this Friday, August 28^th, with Ice Palace and Wheat (hopefully, we will get that much-delayed Wheat review up soon).

Paragraphs describes themselves as "a Minneapolis trio that plays music featuring a lot of delay pedal, toy Casios", followed by "drummer with a goofy smile".

They have a few other shows coming up, including one with Austin's The Calm Blue Sea.

08/28/09 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
09/03/09 Big V’s St. Paul, MN
09/19/09 Applefest - Abnet Field La Crescent, MN
10/03/09 Augsburg College Minneapolis, MN

I wanted to show up earlier to check out Romantica and Black Blondie at Red Stag Supperclub, but unfortunately I did not make it down until 7 o'clock and by that time, Heiruspecs was already on stage. Fear not, I am certain that we'll get around to Romantica down the road. 

So some things I noticed: lots of young people, families (with children), skaters, and beer drinker's wristbands. The weather was excellent as were the fried cheese curds. Also, I'm not sure what happened to Mary Lucia, but instead Mark Wheat and Foxy Tann was handling the announcements between each show.

So basically, I was mainly there to see Mark Mallman, which I was glad was the main headliner. He came onstage with a woman bassist, guitarist (I'm told this guy's been in at least 300 bands...), headphoned drummer, and two grown men in "Mallwolf"-ish outfits.

Mallman is a real showman: on stage, I don't know how he can keep beat while making love to his keyboard or playing with his elbow and standing (and not falling) on his seat. His high energy is simply mesmerising to watch.

He has a brand new album called Invincible Criminal released this week, which I don't have a copy. However, I did enjoy the video from his album: 

Mark Mallman - Invincible Criminal

Also, he's giving away his Loneliness in America: Best of 1998 – 2008 album as a completely free download ("for a limited time", so hurry). I know for sure he played "True Love" and "Knockout on 22nd st." at the block party.

Please refer to Andrew's review of Night Shot for more information, you can pick up Invincible Criminal directly from Badman Recordings. Mark Mallman is playing First Avenue on September 5^th, which will give him enough room onstage so he can do even more incredible acrobatics.

     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.

     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.

vxting ♥ art by vu

Let me tell you: street parking is insane on a Friday night on Cedar. I thought I was late at 9 o'clock, even though the first band, the Thundercats-loving Magic Black Pumas (myspace.com), didn't go on until closer to 10. Off topic: there are no pumas in the original Thundercats crew.

The Escape Artists (myspace.com), previously known as MonthNumberColor, where singer Collin, through the power of his Three Wolves T-Shirt, tells us that he is "a mysterious loner who knows how to 'howl at the moon' from time to time."

Ada Jane Setlist ♥ 400 Bar, Minneapolis (8/21/09)

Ada Jane (adajane.com / myspace.com) seems comfortable on stage at the 400 Bar. I get the impression that they've frequently play or have attend shows here. Their fans seems to be an army of young dancing women, which is obviously a bonus.

Since this is a CD release party, they basically play the entire the new album, Again... Again, live - with the exception of "Near Mrs". Bonus "classic" songs from their Never Been Better album was also played: "On Your Level", "The Wayside" and "Show 'Em Your Teeth".

The highlight of the show was Dan on horns for "Down The Highway", and drummer Charlie Wilson singing on, I believe for the song "The Right Wrong".

Again... Again was recently released on CD and downloads, please refer to Lara's review. I couldn't quite figure out how their flashy website adajane.com (there's no information on how to buy the new album under the "merch" section), but thankfully there's always amazon. I see on their tour information that they are playing Arlene's Grocery in New York, which I discovered is actually not a grocery store.

Wonder Subtly Crushing Us opens like pure indie rock beatitude; the knee-jerk impulse to look “not happy” and “wearing tiny pants” is overwhelming.  “Phonebook Pillow” is probably the most straightforward track on Wonder.  However, from that point forward things get interesting.  Ice Palace, Minneapolis’s contribution to the lit-pop collective, accomplished what few have endeavored:  to release an album that mutually embraces and excludes their audience.  Who is their audience, you ask.  Pirates, damsels in distress, gladiators, English professors, star-crossed lovers, book collectors, librettists, wayfarers, gothic scribes, steampunks, hipsters—the band has managed to cover all corners of “historical motifs adopted by pale contemporary outsiders.”  It’s kind of weird, kind of impressive. 

When listening to Wonder, I’m reminded of fellow gloomy wordsmith Kid Dakota (Darren Jackson) and his love of a darker, colder American landscape.  Both musicians pen these sprawling, cryptic allegories that seem familiar, but are not (assuming you have not spent significant years in a little house on the prairie).  Similar to Jackson, Adam Sorensen’s off-kilter vocals complement his curious narratives and are well suited for songs like “Lily” that never quite peak.  Where KD traipses pastoral ennui, Ice Palace is interested in casually myth-historical points of reference; or, more specifically, in creating an environment that envelopes the senses, like moth-eaten crushed velvet. 

Those of us that relate to normal subjects, like stupid regular love, may very well be scratching our heads half-way through (what simpletons do to denote confusion).  Fortunately, Ice Palace’s capacity for antiquated romance is offset by a strong instrumental backing that’s more grrrunge than, say, the baroque pop of the Decemberists (to whom the band’s been compared).  Once or twice the balance shifts:  “Coliseum” lingers at mid-tempo and fails to grab; “Younger in a Year” is quite pretty-odd, but underwhelming as an album closer (although, the crackled outro is a nice touch).

“Devils Tower” and “Pirate By Thirty,” two of Wonder’s stronger tracks, sound urgent and reveal provocative imagery:  some twisted sweep of waves crashing against jagged cliffs, ballrooms, absinthe, thorny sanctuaries and underground discothèques.  Daring?  Maybe.  Creative?  Certainly.  Intuitive?  Yes!  More than anything else, Ice Palace has found distinction within the murky swamp of indie rock—as a local act and as artists trying to be uniquely approachable.  A “band to watch,” if ever there was.

Ice Palace’s members include Jacob Mullis and Amy Hager of Fort Wilson Riot (a similarly strange little band that produced a rock opera).  Mullis and Hager contribute vocals, bass, keys and trumpet, respectively.  Other players:  Sorensen (vocals/guitar), Jacob Grun (guitar/vocals), and Joe Gaskill (drums).  Refer to the band’s website or Myspace for more information or for a list of upcoming shows (as an aside, on Sept. 9 they’re playing at my favorite Brooklyn bar-slash-bocce arena).  Minneapolis music fiends be(a)ware:  Ice Palace at the 7^th St. Entry, Aug. 28 (with Wheat and Paragraphs)!  Wonder Subtly Crushing Us was released in May of this year.  You can purchase the album via their website.

Noisettes are the big buzz band from London. They were already causing a stir when I saw in May 2007 in Chicago at a tiny bar venue. This time around, they finally made their way to Minneapolis, with a free show, no less at the oh so beautiful Varsity Theater.

Warming up for them was local band Dearling Physique (official / myspace / twitter), with this kind of Massive Attack-type song, but more tribal. Their singer, Dominique Davis, have some crazy dance moves.  He had some sort of face paint on, I couldn't tell if it's just for show or that he really got those tattoos on his face.

Noisettes ♥ Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (8/5/09) Setlist ♥ Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (8/5/09)

When Noisettes started playing, singer/bassist Shingai Shoniwa, was nowhere to be found. Then you started hearing singing for "Wild Young Hearts", and by the second stanza, Shoniwa is making such an entrance on stage! Complete with outrageous three-feet tall hairdo and even more outrageous red-chili Tina Turner-esque dress.

As you can see from their setlist, they only did songs from their upcoming album, Wild Young Hearts (sans the one exception of "Don't Give Up" from their debut What's the Time Mr. Wolf?).

I actually don't have their new album, but judging from the live performance, it seems more 60s soul-inspired. That's quite alright with me, as you know I do love me some of that soul-revival.

There were some great moments at the show, I think the highlight would be when Shoniwa started wandering into the audience - still singing. It got a bit awkward when her mic cord started wrapping people. Maybe it's time to go wireless?

Incidentally, since the show was free, there was a huge turnout at the Varsity (possibly reaching near capacity). I ran into people I knew (Shayna-na-na & Raven), which shows you that there were a lot of people there. Thank you "Mr Chan Presents", I have been to many of your shows.

So, find out why The Guardian calls Noisettes "the best live band in Britain", go see them on tour if you can. Their brand new album, Wild Young Hearts, is not available in the US yet (the release date I have is September 22^nd), but was released in the UK last April. You can still get What's the Time Mr. Wolf? on the regular outlets.

Check out this video of "Never Forget You" from Wild Young Hearts:

Ada Jane – Again…Again

One of the benefits of living in a small city is incest.  Not literally, but definitely artistically.  Minneapolis is swarming with incestuous (creative) relationships.  If you’ve spent any number of years amongst the artists and the vagrants you know that referencing Prince and Bob Dylan is so “cherry in the spoon” (read: insert foot in mouth).  I suppose this same rule could be applied to any other small-yet-culturally-vibrant U.S. city, but who cares.  This is Minneapolis; we’re called the “mini apple” for a reason, and it ain’t our apple pie.

Matt Marka is one of those semi-elusive musicians—the kind whose name strikes a familiar chord even if you’re not quite sure why…you…know…him.  Ninety percent of the Minneapolis music scene is covered in this amnesiac fog.  You can’t blame the listeners:  local artists love to work with other local artists, and so, over the years, the lines blur and “side projects” multiply and keeping current is nearly impossible (unless, of course, you run a music blog, and then, by default, you know everything).  Marka’s been an active member of the local scene for at least a solid decade.  He’s shared the stage with national acts including Evan Dando, the Heartless Bastards, Soul Asylum, as well as studio collaborations with local faves JoAnna James and Chris Koza, to list a few.  Presently, he fronts Ada Jane, a four-piece rock outfit reminiscent of Minnesota rock-fathers Hüsker Du and the Replacements.  In 2006 Ada Jane released Never Been Better; nearly three years later, the band has new members, a new album, and, most importantly, new polish.

Again…Again combines all that we love about bona fide Minneapolis rock: sincere lyrics, catchy riffs, potential to disable ears, horns, and enough growl-singing to be convincing without sounding Battle of the Bands. Remember the good days, before musicians went soft and started playing glockenspiels?  Ada Jane remembers.  Again opens like a persuasive Thomas Hobbes yelling at you:  “Every time I cop a stance someone’s waiting behind me pulling down my pants / sealed with a kick in the ass” (“Go”).  Life is brutish and short and Marka has no qualms with laying on the ugly truth...Thick.  “Near Mrs” is a veritable bummer.  “Winding Down” feels like congestive heart failure.  Thankfully, for our health, Again ups the tempo when the mood is down (you can’t rock out while crying).  One of the stronger tracks, “Down the Highway,” starts with a shade of surf-noir, followed by what can only be described as “prowl pace*,” then come the horns, eventually reaching sticky, messy, oh Lord climax (2:05), finishing with more horns and cuddling.  Don’t ask me for a cigarette after, I’m quitting.

Ada Jane is Matt Marka, David Strahan (guitar), Matt Reimers (bass), and Charlie Wilson (drums).  Again…Again is scheduled for August issue.  Apparently the band is quite the live act.  They’ve been likened to Bruce Springsteen, which is a confusing comparison, as the only Springsteen visual I can mentally summon is this.  Bum-hugging jeans?  Check.  Shirt sleeves rolled to conceal packs of cigarettes (and also to reveal packs of muscle)?  Check (check).  Strangely hypnotic arms swings?  Check.  Courteney Cox?  Check.  I can’t speak of any similarities, so you’ll just have to hold out for the August 21^st CD release show at the 400 Bar.  It’s worth noting that the 400 Bar hosted the release of Never Been Better, three years ago, almost to the day (Aug. 26, 2006).  Minneapolis is good to her musicians, despite the occasional backlash.  But that’s neither here nor there.  For more information on the band, visit their website or Myspace.  Keep posted to www.400bar.com for ticketing information (the show hasn’t been announced yet).

* Vocal cadence that may inspire one to arch the back, arms extended and palms to the floor, while slowly bouncing, as though hungry for any number of things:  love, blood, brains, knowledge.

Fête Nationale or Bastille Day is the national holiday for French citizens every July 14^th. It's the uprising and storming of the Bastille fortress-prison and the start of the French revolution. Why Minneapolis is celebrating Bastille Day - I don't know why, it's not like Minneapolis has a large French population. I suspect it has a lot to do with the main sponsor, Barbette Cafe (in association with Vita.mn and strong support from The Current Radio).

The seven-band line up for Bastille Day was open and free to the public block party, however if you wanted to drink alcohol, you had to pay $1 for a wristband (the privileges of paying more to drink). There was only one food vendor and they mostly served burgers and brats. Vegetarians will have to settle for their fries as their only option. (Edit: I am told there were also black bean burgers and coleslaw, which I actually misunderstood as burgers with beans.)

I saw most of the bands on the bill, from the gypsy-style music of Yid Vicious, to hip-hop Sims & Paper Tiger of Doomtree, to Americana Romantica.

I was mostly there to check out Idle Hands, whose influences of British 80s music (Bowie, Smiths, Pulp) was enough for me to want to get there early to see them. It sounded like a rocky start with their first song with the vocals and guitars fading in and out. The music got better and better, as they went on. I suppose it's not surprising when you think about that the band had no sound checks and you would think the first song is the soundcheck.

Inbetween setting up music, you were entertained by aerialist Jim Domenick, street performers (wasn't sure if some of them were official or not!) and the not-too-exciting Rollergirls.

The last band I saw before we left was Halloween, Alaska, who ended their set with a Bruce Springsteen song, "State Trooper". Which actually doesn't sound like any Springsteen song I've ever heard (and that's the best part).

Girl in a Coma rocked out to the intimate setting of 7th Street Entry last night. For those who aren't from around here, 7th St is just a hole in the wall to its bigger brother First Ave (where incidentally Matisyahu played the same night). I have seen many people who aren't from around Minneapolis get lost trying to find this door-in-the-wall.

Opening up for them was Miss Derringer (myspace), who was very excited to play Minneapolis (it was their first time here). The band is all dressed up in what looks like a cross between military confederates and rockabilly hooligans. Miss Derringer herself, Liz McGrath, is in a black dress that looks like she's just been to a funeral.

They started off their set with "Click Click (Bang Bang)", followed by mostly songs from their forth-coming album, Winter Hill (coming out July 14^th on Triple X Records). My favorite from their set is the go-go-esque "Black Tears", which sounded much better live. I also thought "Death by Desire" was really cute, the interaction between Morgan Slade and McGrath kind of clues you into their relationship (I am pretty sure they're married).

I liked them a lot. I think they have a great stage presence and I wouldn't mind writing more on them in the future.

Girl in a Coma ♥ 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (07/01/09) Girl in a Coma ♥ Tour Poster

As soon as GIAC came on stage, the audience quickly move to the center. The turnout was actually really good for a working Wednesday evening. Most of the audience were women, which I suppose doesn't surprise me as it's an all-girl band (and being on Joan Jett's label probably attributed to appealing to women).

I even overheard that some girls were at the show as a result of seeing them at the Rosedale Best Buy signing that they did earlier that day. That kind of promotion actually works, I suppose those girls just happened to be at the store and liked what they heard.

Anyway, what's interesting was that there was really no soundcheck. As soon as there was power on the mic, Nina Diaz, started guitar playing that distinctive rift from "BB" and started singing - which I think may have caught the soundguy off guard and killed the radio. So off they played with mostly new songs from Trio BC.

For "Say" (from Both Before I'm Gone) they dedicated the song to Miss Derringer. Banters like Nina pointing out that Jenn's single or Jenn said the obvious that Nina and Phanie were sisters, comes off as clumsy - but cute, because you know they have been doing this for a long time. I will bet you that they are three very close friends.

They ended their set with "Ven Cera", which sounded brilliant live.

GIAC are only half-way through their tour, be sure to check them out live if they come through your area. My GIAC discography is now complete as a resulting of stopping by the merch table! If you can't catch them live, you can always get their music via Black Heart Records.

PS: I may be off to see Girl in a Coma (along with a bunch of other artists) at 80/30 Music Festival in Des Moines, this weekend... which means, I may be off the grid - so don't expect to hear much from me after Thursday. I will be live-updating via twatter if that is the case. Also, it's very late as I write this and have misspelled Nina's name as Ninja several times.