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Fresh off NY/LA gigs, Communist Daughter return to rock Minneapolis

After blowing out showcases in L.A and the CMJ Marathon in NYC (where the band played a number of Official Showcases including a MN Artists Showcase with Me & My Arrow, The Arms Akimbo, Fort Wilson Riot and others), Communist Daughter return to Minneapolis for a show on Friday, October 29th, opening for Deer Tick at the Triple Rock Social Club. Mark Sultan is also playing.

MP3: Deer Tick – ” Twenty Miles”
MP3: Deer Tick – “Piece By Piece and Frame . . . → Read More: Fresh off NY/LA gigs, Communist Daughter return to rock Minneapolis

Alpenhorns of acid: Swedish psych-rock’s Dungen

Swedish psychedelic rock group Dungen are prepping their sixth album, Skit I Allt for release next week and coming to Minneapolis next month.

I’m a big fan of this band. I saw Dungen live in 2005 and 2007 and just revel in their sound.

With a diverse repertoire segueing from wonder-lush ballads to catchy pop to progged-out psychedelia, watching Dungen’s live set is like sucking down an alpenhorn of acid, eating a full plate of Ikea meatballs, and heading up to Buck Hill to intermittently gaze at the Milky Way and watch the car pile-ups on 35W.

Here’s one of the more restrained . . . → Read More: Alpenhorns of acid: Swedish psych-rock’s Dungen

Skybox redefine the definition of zero budget music video

What a great video. These guys are like Flaming Lips, Jr.

Skybox plays Triple Rock Social Club on June 14 with Gold Motel and Now, Now . . . → Read More: Skybox redefine the definition of zero budget music video

Murder By Death coming back to Triple Rock May 12

I’m a big Murder by Death fan. Singer/guitaritst Adam Turla writes testosterone-rich, wild west tales of conquest, sin and redemption. Whenever I hear MBD stuff, I can feel the inner mountain man inside stirring.

The Bloomington, Indiana quartet’s fifth studio album, Good Morning, Magpie, is out now on Vagrant Records. The record is great, and I highly recommend seeing the band live. I saw them at Triple Rock and interviewed Turla in 2006.

Here’s the new video for “As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World”

The band is currently on their spring headlining tour of the US and will play Minneapolis’ Triple . . . → Read More: Murder By Death coming back to Triple Rock May 12

fun. is a 70s pop revival explosion in my giant retro headphones

I’ve really been enjoying fun.‘s new album, Aim and Ignite, which comes out August 25 on Nettwerk Records.

Nate Ruess (The Format), Andrew Dost (Anathallo) and Jack Antonoff (Steel Train) have joined forces to make fun., record an album and embark on a healthy nationwide tour.

A cross between Freddie Mercury, Meatloaf and Mars Volta, fun. is a refreshing 70s pop revival explosion in my giant retro headphones.

Stream Aim and Ignite on MySpace

fun. play Minneapolis’ Triple Rock Social Club on . . . → Read More: fun. is a 70s pop revival explosion in my giant retro headphones

Gastro Non Grata 11 @ Triple Rock, August 23

From the press release:
We welcome Sea Change Head Chef Erik Anderson and La Belle Vie chef de cuisine Mike Decamp into the fold to pair their piscatorial and vegetal culinary powers with the foamy eccentricities brought forth by Tony Magee, owner of Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Our Musical guests will begin with the whimsy of the Twin Cities Ukelele Orchestra, The yodelrific Rope Trick will bring good times and heartache, followed by double duty Tony Magee, brewery owner by day, dirty acoustic blues player by night. After the blues get you down, Double Bird will flip you off and get your head nodding, . . . → Read More: Gastro Non Grata 11 @ Triple Rock, August 23

Rich & Emily's 10 Year Anniversary @ Triple Rock, August 1

It’s not their wedding anniversary and they’re definitely not celebrating 10 years sober in AA. In fact, Rich & Emily’s 10 year Anniversary Show is quite the opposite. RichmanVA, a penman of local music blog Switchblade Comb, joins fellow Uptown Bar “Record Party” spinstress Emily in tapping the Chicago punk rock pipeline to bring you an epic night of ear pleasing inebriation. The Methadones (featuring members of Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales) will take over the Triple Rock Social Club on Saturday, August 1st, accompanied by The Bomb (featuring members of Naked Raygun), Noise By Numbers (featuring members of The . . . → Read More: Rich & Emily's 10 Year Anniversary @ Triple Rock, August 1

Black Blondie : Do You Remember Who You Wanted to Be?

Samahra, Black Blondie‘s lead singer and tone-setter, is Minneapolis’ answer to Fergie and all the American Idol karoake wannabes out there.

Upon listening to the group’s new album, Did You Remember Who You Wanted to Be?, it’s easy to tell this bunch was at home opening for The Roots and Amy Winehouse, although I’m sure they were a hard act to follow.

The new LP’s cover art of a little girl’s bicycle ditched in a crusty alley wonderfully. encapsulates the group’s nonchalance at shooting straight for the pop scene — instead maintaining some grit and attitude that makes their songs more than . . . → Read More: Black Blondie : Do You Remember Who You Wanted to Be?

The Tribe and Big Cats! : Supply and Demand

The Tribe and Big Cats! will release their debut collaboration, Supply and Demand on March 17th with a release party at the Triple Rock Social Club on March 22nd.

Here’s the title track off the EP:
The Tribe and Big Cats! : “Supply and . . . → Read More: The Tribe and Big Cats! : Supply and Demand

Mark Mallman, Crisis Line, The Greycoats, Friday the 13th, Triple Rock Social Club

. . . → Read More: Mark Mallman, Crisis Line, The Greycoats, Friday the 13th, Triple Rock Social Club