The Icy Shores, Michael Kent, The Danny Jack Fiasco : Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN, January 29, 2009

By Greg Swan, on January 31st, 2009%

The Icy Shores

It’s hard to believe it was three years ago when I first saw The Icy Shores at 400 Bar. At the time, I noted the band was switching back and forth between songs penned by guitarists/vocalists Hunter Jonakin and Nick Hegarty and my preference for Hegarty’s more aggressive rock songwriting. Fast forward to last night. Jonakin’s out of the group, leaving a power trio of Hegarty, drummer Nick Larsen and bassist Shane Pearson Stubblefield. Larsen’s simple, yet hard-hitting drumming style is the driving force that propels Hegarty’s songwriting to another stratosphere. Power trio bass players can’t afford to be . . . → Read More: The Icy Shores, Michael Kent, The Danny Jack Fiasco : Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN, January 29, 2009

Northern Outpost: Episode 3 The Yoleus

By Greg Swan, on January 31st, 2009%

NORTHERN OUTPOST – Episode 3 – The Yoleus – 1/30/09 from Northern Outpost on Vimeo.

Watch Episode 1 and . . . → Read More: Northern Outpost: Episode 3 The Yoleus

Heat It Up! on Valentine's Day with Jenny Dalton, Solid Gold, Cryns #3

By Greg Swan, on January 30th, 2009%

Recently, the city of Minneapolis passed a much-improved apartment-heating ordinance that requires all apartments be kept above a minimal temperature during the winter months. This is a great ordinance for renters in the city, but there is still a good deal of education and enforcement that needs to take place to make the ordinance effective.

So Toby Cryns and friends are doing what any musicians would do – throw a benefit concert!

All proceeds from the benefit go toward purchasing thermostats and training community volunteers in how to monitor and report lack-of-heat violations. Promoters are teaming up with Family and Children’s . . . → Read More: Heat It Up! on Valentine's Day with Jenny Dalton, Solid Gold, Cryns #3

Casanatra : Death Ride

By Greg Swan, on January 29th, 2009%

Local Minneapolis rockers Casanatra are Minneapolis’ answer to the Seattle post-grunge scene. Pulling influences heavily from Soundgarden, STP and early, non-sucky Pearl Jam.

Their new album, Death Ride (Blue Worm Records) is hard hitting when it needs to be, but you don’t have to be drunk or a skull crusher to enjoy Casanatra’s the album start to finish. The group isn’t afraid to pull back and let those two guitars (no bass, mind you) rub out some Days of the New-inspired interplay.

Casanatra play the Triple Rock Social Club on Friday, Jan. 30 with Self-Evident, The Rockford Mules and Fe-rah’go (Zelpha Trippe girl, . . . → Read More: Casanatra : Death Ride

Classic Hits by Microsoft Songsmith: "Creep" by Radiohead

By Greg Swan, on January 29th, 2009%

The Telegraph has an article about the bastardization of classics by Microsoft Songsmith…check . . . → Read More: Classic Hits by Microsoft Songsmith: "Creep" by Radiohead

Lykke Li : "Tonight" Video

By Greg Swan, on January 28th, 2009%

Directed by Christian Haag, and shot in one live take in Stockholm.

Lykke Li plays Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater on . . . → Read More: Lykke Li : "Tonight" Video

Rock the Cradle: Jeremy Messersmith : Adam Levy

By Greg Swan, on January 27th, 2009%

This weekend was The Current’s Rock the Cradle” at the Minnesota Institute of Art, featuring an instrument petting zoo, toddler discothÃ¨que, story time and local performers, including Jeremy Messersmith and Adam Levy.

Here’s Jeremy Messersmith doing his best to fit “alligator” and “cheeseburger” into “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”

Jeremy’s new album, The Silver City, is highly recommended.

And this is Honeydogs frontman Adam Levy and daughter singing “Midtown Greenway” off their first kids CD, â€œMore! More! More!â€, under the band name Bunny Clogs. If you’re looking for kids’ music that both alleviates the intense desire to cut yourself and makes your kids happy, . . . → Read More: Rock the Cradle: Jeremy Messersmith : Adam Levy

Economy Team, Marvelle, Van Go Bots, Ten Ton Bridge @ Hexagon Bar, Jan. 30

By Greg Swan, on January 26th, 2009%

Masami Takeuchi's Theremin Orchestra play Symphony No.9 in E minor, op.95 "From the New World"

By Greg Swan, on January 25th, 2009%

Inauguration Fakers: Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma should be ashamed of themselves

By Greg Swan, on January 24th, 2009%

Lip syncing, playing to tape or just plain faking a musical performance is never okay.

A professional NFL football player is paid a salary to play football on Sunday afternoons. Often, these players become celebrities — even to the point some fans attend hometown games to see a rival team’s stars sign autographs in the parking lot after a game. But at the end of the day, if the football player was paid just to show up and go through the motions of playing football without actually playing, I think the nation would erupt in anger.

In a culture where Americans are becoming . . . → Read More: Inauguration Fakers: Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma should be ashamed of themselves