Rock for Socks: Rescheduled for Feb 26

By Greg Swan, on February 17th, 2011%

From the press release: Local musicians Pictures of Then, Me and My Arrow, The Goondas and I’m Not a Pilot have come together to rock for a good cause–donating socks to The Family Partnership, an organization that helps families in the Twin Cities metro area with counseling programs, outreach programs, leadership development, and more.

Admission is $6 or $3 with a new pair of socks. Donors will be entered in a chance to win a free merchandise pack, with select items from Pictures Of Then, Me and My Arrow and . . . → Read More: Rock for Socks: Rescheduled for Feb 26

Now Now touring nonstop nonstop

By Greg Swan, on January 31st, 2011%

Minneapolis’ own Now Now have embarked on an epic two-month tour to promote their new EP, Neighbors. They’ll be back in MSP in late March. Dates below.

Here’s “Giants” off the new one…

MP3: Now Now – “Giants”

FEBRUARY
01 – Orlando, FL – The Social*
02 – Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds*
04 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern*
05 – Greensboro, NC – Greene Street*
07 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java*
08 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church*
09 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom*
10 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
11 – S. Hackensack, NJ – School of Rock*
12 – Pittsburgh, PA – . . . → Read More: Now Now touring nonstop nonstop

The Lower 48, Walker Fields and Minor Kingdom @ 400 Bar, Feb. 3

By Greg Swan, on January 22nd, 2011%

. . . → Read More: The Lower 48, Walker Fields and Minor Kingdom @ 400 Bar, Feb. 3

Holy crap: Delicate Steve

By Greg Swan, on January 18th, 2011%

So this 23 year-old kid from New Jersey is apparently some kind of multi-instrumentalist wunderkind (plays 40 instruments) with an instrumental project that I believe is going to blow up.

Steve Marion is Delicate Steve, and he put together his 12-track instrumental debut drawing from influences are diverse as Ravi Shankar, Yes and Vampire Weekend (uh-huh).

From up-tempo ear candy (see below) to muddled sonic freakouts (“Source (((Construction)))”) to Nancy-Wilson-style finger acoustic (“Attitude/Gratitude”).

This was a good surprise today. Holy crap, indeed.

Check out the video for “Wondervisions” – a one-on-one basketball game between Marion and Dirty Projectors.

Video is slow and boring, but . . . → Read More: Holy crap: Delicate Steve

Jacques Renault at Too Much Love tonight

By Greg Swan, on January 15th, 2011%

Here’s . . . → Read More: Jacques Renault at Too Much Love tonight

Kaiser Cartel to play intimate house show next month

By Greg Swan, on November 16th, 2010%

Brooklyn-based Kaiser Cartel will be making a stop at the Cake Shop for a Monday night house show on December 13. The night before, they’ll be rockin’ the Cedar Cultural Center for a show with Romantica, but this one is a bonus.

Via Cakein15:
This concert will be limited in capacity, so reserve your space today. Reservation cost is $10, and to reserve space, please log into PayPal and send your payment to . Please mark your payment as a “GIFT” in order to avoid PayPal fees. This is money going to the artists, so please don’t short-change them!

Your reservation to this special . . . → Read More: Kaiser Cartel to play intimate house show next month

Stuart D’Rozario debuts the radio in his head at Guthrie tonight

By Greg Swan, on November 15th, 2010%

I’ve written about Minneapolis-based musician Stuart D’Rozario a few times, and I’m a big fan of his songwriting.

However, even though I dig his stuff and we both have day jobs in the same marketing industry, we’ve never seemed to cross paths. I seem to have a baby every time he puts out an album.

This year is no exception. Three albums from Stuart = three babies for Greg.

Stuart recently released The Radio in my Head, a solid 12-track album recorded at Capitol Studios in LA and mastered at Sterling Studios in NYC. In other words, Stuart don’t play.

And . . . → Read More: Stuart D’Rozario debuts the radio in his head at Guthrie tonight

Union Shakedown release debut EP

By Greg Swan, on November 12th, 2010%

Minneapolis indie/blues/rock band Union Shakedown are releasing their debut self-titled EP this Saturday, November 13 at 400 Bar with The Fattenin’ Frogs and Hip Replacement.

Check out the first track . . . → Read More: Union Shakedown release debut EP

Rockford Mules release Ma They Broke

By Greg Swan, on November 12th, 2010%

Minneapolis band Rockford Mules like their collars blue, their rock bluesy and their beer… well, they like it cold, but they ain’t picky. The guys drop their latest, Ma They Broke, this Saturday at Cause with The Gleam and Wizards Are Real.

You can stream the entire album at their website (sorry, it’s a flash trap — click . . . → Read More: Rockford Mules release Ma They Broke