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Love in October's video for "An Average Idea"
By Greg Swan, on November 29th, 2007%
Minneapolis melodic pop rock band Love in October is set to release their first full-length album Pontus, The Devil, and Me on January 22nd, 2007 – less than two months away.
The band recently released a new music video for “An Average Idea†from the new album. Essentially two minutes of Monty Python cut-outs on acid, the video was directed by Minneapolis local Lindsey Testolin and can be viewed here. We recommend viewing at full screen after two tabs.
Read our interview with the group last September . . . → Read More: Love in October's video for "An Average Idea"
Interview: Guerrilla Blue
By Greg Swan, on November 28th, 2007%
This week we had the opportunity to sit down with Minneapolis band Guerrilla Blue.
A garage rock version of 1996-era Dave Matthews Band (the good era, if you ask us) crossed with STP and/or grunge tendencies, this indie pop jam band craves a setlist-obsessed fanbase who will sing the nah-nah’s on “Kobe” and sneak into the bathroom to makeout during “I Just Don’t Know.”
Up for the challenge? If their self-titled EP is any indication, these guys are probably worth checking out sooner than later. There are minor tempo issues and some pitch problems, but overall it’s a strong . . . → Read More: Interview: Guerrilla Blue
I, Colossus : "It's Not Funny"
By Greg Swan, on November 27th, 2007%
Yowza! Minneapolis-natives I, Colossus charted #6 on the CMJ Top 20 ADDS last week. That’s a pretty great start for a new up and coming band (you may remember frontman Matthew Sandstedt from former Afternoon Records band Aneuretical).
Anyhoo, today marks the release of I, Colossus’ self-titled and first full-length album (also Afternoon Records). Stream the whole album here.
Check out the single below. This song has all the right elements: funky bass line, meandering vocals, serene electric piano chords, falsetto backup vocals and whiny, self-obsessed lyrics. Plus you can listen to it on repeat four times and it never . . . → Read More: I, Colossus : "It's Not Funny"
I and I: The Sense of Self by Charles Keating
By Greg Swan, on November 27th, 2007%
It’s not too late to catch I and I: The Sense of Self by Charles Keating at the Guthrie Theater’s Dowling Studio tonight.
In a society where growing old is definitely something to dread, mask and avoid at all costs, Keating’s personal reflection offers a differing viewpoint on the subject of age and ageing.
Borrowing from the works of W.B. Yeats, Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot and Albert Einstein, Keating weaves a narrative about growing older. An informal question and answer session will follow the 90-minute performance.
Keating is no stranger to the Guthrie, most recently appearing as Clement O’Donnell in . . . → Read More: I and I: The Sense of Self by Charles Keating
DVD Review: Idiocracy : Mike Judge : Luke Wilson
By Greg Swan, on November 26th, 2007%
Mike Judge has another cult classic on his hands, while 20th Century Fox again proves that they are idiots when it comes to marketing films that actually appeal to audiences (more than stuff blowing up and the occasional boob shot).
In Idiocracy, Luke Wilson is the most average person in the world, selected for a one-year cryogenic freezing experiment. Instead, the experiment is forgotten and Wilson and Maya Rudolph’s prostitute character find themselves unfrozen 500 years later.
No surprise, but society had devolved into a fast food, sexualized, computer chip culture where Costco has multiple zip codes (plus its own Subway system) and . . . → Read More: DVD Review: Idiocracy : Mike Judge : Luke Wilson
Review: Lek : Giant World Knowledge Bliss Control
By Greg Swan, on November 26th, 2007%
Lek
Giant World Knowledge Bliss Control
Label: Fuzzworld Records
Release Date: November 27, 2007
Interesting Lek Padrusch facts courtesy of Fuzzworld Records:
gave up on going to medical school to follow a guru from India in the rolling hills north of San Francisco
backpacks for months at a time through third world countries with guitar in hand
sing and plays with the locals, hopping from train to bus from the rainforests of Peru to the Himalayas in India
lyrics from stream of consciousness graphic imagery, musings on the reality of existence, and simple songs of smiling people met abroad
taught himself to read and write Thai while wondering around the . . . → Read More: Review: Lek : Giant World Knowledge Bliss Control
Ice Palace announce East Coast tour
By Greg Swan, on November 26th, 2007%
Minneapolis-based Ice Palace just announced an East Coast tour this December — including stops in Pittsburgh, Boston, Connecticut and New York — touring on their debut, Bright Leaf Left. While in New York, they will be opening the homecoming show for The Ropes and Beasts of Eden at Southpaw in Brooklyn.
Most recently, the band had the honor to stop in to Futureappletree Studio One in Rock Island, Ill. for a Daytrotter Session — check out the four live track mp3s here.
Tour Dates:
December 1: The Beat Coffeeshop (all ages) / Nomad World Pub, Minneapolis, MN
December 9: Southpaw, Brooklyn NY
December 10: . . . → Read More: Ice Palace announce East Coast tour
West Indian Girl Thanksgiving Contest
By Greg Swan, on November 20th, 2007%
Nobody’s really working this week. Personally, we took vacation from the day job, but we know for a fact anybody sitting at work this week is surfing the Web just killing time to the tryptophan hangover known as Thanksgiving.
So while you’re scouring the series of tubes known as the Web, why don’t you put your mouse to work to earn yourself a free t-shirt and CD courtesty of L.A. group West Indian Girl?
What You Can Win:
Tank Theory t-shirt
West Indian Girl’s new album, 4th & Wall
How to Win:
Post a comment below featuring a fun fact about the modern rock sextet. . . . → Read More: West Indian Girl Thanksgiving Contest
Robbers on High Street : Great Northern : 7th St. Entry : Minneapolis : MN : Nov. 17, 2007
By Greg Swan, on November 18th, 2007%
Robbers on High Street
New York’s Robbers on High Street seemed out of place as they took the stage at First Avenue’s Entry Friday night. It wasn’t the DAV sweaters nor hipster air of superiority. Pure melodic pop, barbershop harmonies and catchy choruses meant for the frat party scene of a college movie just don’t seem natural to a venue known for it’s gritty rock and roll past.
Busting through tracks from their new summer LP, Grand Animals (review), it was still “The Fatalist” off their old EP (review) that’s the crown jewel in ROHS’ crown. Even live, this band exudes formulaic indie . . . → Read More: Robbers on High Street : Great Northern : 7th St. Entry : Minneapolis : MN : Nov. 17, 2007
Dear Bands and Music PR People
By Greg Swan, on November 15th, 2007%
Dear Bands and Music PR People,
We are overloaded with old-ass music. You have sent in so many pieces of good music, yet there’s simply no way to update the catalog with a fair queue now that all of these tunes have been released.
Nobody wants to read a review of a 6-12 month-old album unless there’s some nugget of newsworthiness there.
Do you have an upcoming show in the Minneapolis area? Do you have something new about your band that could merit a mention of one of these delicious albums?
Now is the time to send us a friendly . . . → Read More: Dear Bands and Music PR People
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