Concert Review: Roger Waters : Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN : June 30, 2007

By Greg Swan, on June 30th, 2007%

Roger Waters
June 30, 2007
Xcel Energy Center
Saint Paul, MN

Fog filled the lobbies and outer hallways of the acoustic marvel we call Xcel Energy Center prior to the Roger Waters solo show this week, making it difficult for ushers to locate seats and inebriated fans to locate munchies.

Roger Waters appeared onstage first, wearing a black shirt and smiling bright in the solo spotlight as the crowd leapt to their feet and lit up the first of many non-tobacco treats.

The band then kicked things off with two tracks from The Wall (including spotlight for the “are there any queers in the . . . → Read More: Concert Review: Roger Waters : Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN : June 30, 2007

Review: Tool : Xcel Energy Center : Saint Paul, MN : June 26, 2007

By Greg Swan, on June 27th, 2007%

Tool
June 26, 2007
Xcel Energy Center
Saint Paul, MN

Kicking off with “Jambi,” the second track from their newest album (10,000 Days), Los Angeles-based band Tool snatched up the 14,000 fans jammed into the acoustic marvel known as St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and didn’t stop pounding on us for nearly two hours.

Frontman Maynard James Keenan took his familiar place towards the back of the stage, sharing drummer Danny Carey’s riser. Guitarist Adam Jones and bassist Justin Chancellor flanked stage left and right with aplomb.

This is the third time we’ve seen Tool — yet the first . . . → Read More: Review: Tool : Xcel Energy Center : Saint Paul, MN : June 26, 2007

Review: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly : The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager

By Greg Swan, on June 26th, 2007%

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager
Label: Atlantic / Wea

We always respect those soft-spoken singers who can open their month and just belt it out. U.K. singer-songwriter Sam Duckworth is one of those. But what keeps us from pigeon-holing his Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly project into the droll emo category is the caliber of his songwriting.

A punk rocker at heart, Duckworth utilizes laptop and acoustic guitar to liven up his introspective tales of laid back girl yearning.

After a solid gig at SXSW this year, Duckworth’s been holed up in a studio working on . . . → Read More: Review: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly : The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager

Web Radio Broadcasts Hold "National Day of Silence"

By Greg Swan, on June 26th, 2007%

Today many U.S. Internet radio listeners find nothing but silence on their favorite internet radio stations as webcasters protest the proposed sharp rise in royalty fees critics say could force hundreds of online stations to close.

We love the concept of Internet radio. What a wonderful way to get around Clear Channel’s licensed monopoly and staunch segmentation of the radio waves, satellite radio’s pay-for-service-that-also-includes-commercials and the myth of HD radio. It’s a wonderful way to seek out and listen to music you would never know existed by relying on mainstream outlets.

However, the question we pose is if this “National . . . → Read More: Web Radio Broadcasts Hold "National Day of Silence"

Spiritual Mansions : Give Us Your Hearts

By Greg Swan, on June 25th, 2007%

Spiritual Mansions
Give Us Your Hearts
Label: Afternoon Records

Who says cutesy rock doesn’t pop?

Minneapolis group Spiritual Mansions aren’t afraid to cheese it up a bit on their debut EP, Give Us Your Hearts. Piano-based lovelorn sap literally drips from our speakers as singer-songwriter Ryan Harris does his best to attract the ladies back to his crib for cup of joe and conversation.

Spiritual Mansions : “The Tumbler” (mp3)

Spiritual Mansions play Turf Club June 27 and Memory Lanes . . . → Read More: Spiritual Mansions : Give Us Your Hearts

Against Me! New Wave Contest

By Greg Swan, on June 21st, 2007%

Against Me!, who played a rockin’ Minneapolis show last month, will release their new album,Â New Wave, on July 10th. The follow-up to 2005′s Searching For A Former Clarity was produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins).

New Wave will be available on CD, a Special Edition CD/DVD, 180 gram yellow vinyl and digital download.

To celebrate the release, Perfect Porridge (in league with other sites) is giving one lucky winner an Against Me! autographed Gibson guitar. Your odds are pretty good, if you ask us.

Click here for the contest (do it)

Five runners-up will score an autographed copy . . . → Read More: Against Me! New Wave Contest

Review: Sir Salvatore : Those Men Are Not Astronauts

By Greg Swan, on June 21st, 2007%

Sir Salvatore
Those Men Are Not Astronauts
Label: Self-released

San Francisco rock group Sir Salvatore are in no way affiliated with the NASA space program, the international space station or the broken Hubble Telescope.

They are not interested in pushing the boundaries of anti-gravity, wearing diapers during cross country trips or probing black holes.

Who are these self-made maestros? These brave musicians who banded together to release a 6-track EP? How will history remember them?

Perhaps people will say, “Those Men Are Not Astronauts.”

Sir Salvatore : “Hooray This Projector” (mp3)

Sir Salvatore : “Public Key” (mp3)

And here’s a track from . . . → Read More: Review: Sir Salvatore : Those Men Are Not Astronauts

Review: Marc Broussard : S.O.S. Save Our Soul

By Greg Swan, on June 20th, 2007%

Marc Broussard
S.O.S. Save Our Soul
Label: Vanguard Records
Release Date: June 26, 2007

In the follow-up to his debut album, Louisiana’s bayou soul singer Marc Broussard isn’t worried about all that sophomore pressure that comes after a critically-acclaimed breakthrough LP.

Rather, S.O.S. Save Our Soul showcases Broussard’s love for and talent with uplifting soul music from the kings: Allen Toussaint, Bobby Womack, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, etc.

For a young white kid from the swamps, this guy has Motown blood running through his body, across the stage and onto the dance floor. No wonder he’s shouting S.O.S.

Marc . . . → Read More: Review: Marc Broussard : S.O.S. Save Our Soul

Review: Music For Animals : s/t

By Greg Swan, on June 20th, 2007%

Music For Animals
s/t
Label: Three Ring Records

It’s absolutely refreshing to get a CD in the mail from San Francisco that isn’t all puppy cats and happy rats bathed in basic pop power chords and waves of adolescent reverb.

With that said, the four dudes in Music for Animals have prepared a carnivore’s feast in the form of a self-titled beast that’s easy to swallow.

Walking the line between raw first album and ample production, we’ve got catchy choruses (“Worry”), soulful lamentations (“Justine”), and groovy seduction (“Red Cells”). Check out some tracks below:

Music for Animals : “Worry” (mp3)

Music for . . . → Read More: Review: Music For Animals : s/t

Senses Fail and From Autumn to Ashes play free Minneapolis show

By Greg Swan, on June 20th, 2007%

Senses Fail and From Autumn to Ashes are playing a string of your dates together this month on the Zumiez Couch Tour.

Here’s the good news — it’s FREE and coming to the Minneapolis area Saturday, June 23. And who doesn’t love a free rock show in a mall parking lot?

Senses Fail are still touring on their third LP, Still Searching. Check out their video for “Can’t Be Saved” here.

From Autumn To Ashes are touring on their new April release, Holding a Wolf By the Ears, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

Don’t own either . . . → Read More: Senses Fail and From Autumn to Ashes play free Minneapolis show