Twin Cities
Articles, blog posts, and videos relating to Twin Cities artists, figures, or events.
- Dearling Physique Critics’ Pick ()
Formerly the moniker of solo electronic artist Dominique Davis, Dearling Physique has now expanded into a unique musical hybrid with the addition of a supporting cast of diverse band members. In recent years Davis has shifted his sound away from simplistic loop-driven electronics to music that emphasizes his soulful voice, while creatively balancing its pervasive nature […]
- Spiritual Mansions “Lady Cascade” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here guitarist and vocalist Ryan Harris discusses his songwriting process, in particular discussing the creation of “Lady Cascade” from Spiritual Mansions’ latest album […]
- The Guystorm Critics’ Pick ()
The Guystorm are set to host a release show for their debut 7-inch vinyl EP, The Dark Album, this Saturday. Since the group formed more than a year ago, their undeniable energy and frustratingly distorted post-punk, cast behind Angelo V. Pennacchio‘s flamboyant gasps and oft-politically focused wails, have made them worthy of the “next in line” label among […]
- P.O.S “Never Better” Review ()
Three minutes into Never Better, P.O.S has already taken stabs at the government, gawked at the recession, used Macho Man as a verb, referenced The Dude, and gave shout-outs to both his crew (Doomtree) and his label (Rhymesayers). And “Let it Rattle” is one of the mellowest tracks on the MC’s third full-length release. Never […]
- P.O.S “Never Better” ()
Fresh off the heels of a self-titled release by the entire Doomtree crew, group member P.O.S. branches out for his first solo album since 2006 with Never Better. While it is a solo record, writing and production credits from Doomtree Members Sims, Dessa and Lazerbeak give Never Better the feeling of being a family affair. The CD version […]
- Gary Louris/Mark Olson “Ready For The Flood” ()
Serving as Mark Olson and Gary Louris’ first official album together since Olson’s departure from the Jayhawks in 1995, Ready for the Flood is a record full of tracks reflecting the duo’s deep-seated Americana roots. Produced by the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, the album’s 13 tracks showcase the duo’s ability to harmonize over chugging back-porch jams and […]
- Ecid Critics’ Pick ()
In the second-to-last performance of his month-long residency, Kristoff Krane will be returning to The Depot in Hopkins Saturday night for another all-ages show along with gritty, introspective MC Ecid. Aside from the full-bodied lineups that have already accompanied Krane at The Depot, including performances by Big Quarters, No Bird Sing, and Ill Chemistry, January has been […]
- The Map and the Territory Critics’ Pick ()
While the group’s self-assessment of “strange loops & the infinite regress” might be a little off the mark, it’s hard to dismiss the appeal of the atmospheric reach behind the Map and the Territory’s songs. The band has a gentle approach, characterized by the flowing cohesiveness between the rhythm section and Jeramy Cain’s lead guitar. A […]
- Kyle “El Guante” Myhre and Jessica Rosenberg Interview ()
On January 23, the Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis will host Hip Hop Against Homophobia, a concert sponsored by Culture Bully, Twin Cities arts collective/record label Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records, and activist organizations Join the Impact Twin Cities, OutFront MN and the Twin Cities Avengers. Artists include Toki Wright, Maria Isa, Kredentials, Alicia Leafgreen, See More […]
- Rift Magazine Interview ()
Starting a blog or website is a process and usually a tedious task of getting to know how web blog programs and the internet works. After you get that all figured out, then you have keep adding content and then get people to read that content. Chris DeLine has went through that process and his […]
- A Benefit for Chad Weis Critics’ Pick ()
It wouldn’t be entirely absurd to expect a few unannounced guests to show up at First Avenue’s Benefit for Chad Weis, especially given the ridiculous list of talented musicians he’s worked with during his career. The current lineup of announced guests includes Mason Jennings, Cloud Cult, Trampled by Turtles, Haley Bonar, and the Pines, but the list of artists Weis […]
- Background Noise Crew “Funk Yo Monk (We Red Hot)” (Influenza) ()
The Single Series (Friends With Benefits) by Background Noise Crew feat. Phaust Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here, Phingaz of Minneapolis’ Background Noise Crew dissects the group’s interpretation […]
- Magic Black Pumas; the Mevissens Critics’ Pick ()
This Wednesday night, St. Paul’s Big V’s is showcasing a pair of local alt-rock holdouts, Magic Black Pumas and the Mevissens. No matter how cool the thought of a performance piece that somehow combines the flavor of the Black Panther Party with the creepiness of David Blaine‘s Street Magic might be, Magic Black Pumas do not fit such […]
- James Buckley Trio Critics’ Pick ()
No stranger to the Dinkytown venue, James Buckley is returning to the Kitty Cat Klub Tuesday, bringing with him one of the best modern jazz acts in the Twin Cities. Following the strong reception to 2007’s Stitches, the James Buckley Trio has been continually performing throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul—the consistent lineup of J.T. Bates, Bryan Nichols, and Buckley solidifying […]
- A Paper Cup Band Critics’ Pick ()
From the backwoods of Wisconsin comes A Paper Cup Band, an acoustic-based group that, for better or worse, performs music that lands somewhere close to folk, or “bastard-folk,” as the band calls itself. Occasionally kissing the sound with a base of electronics, the group will be hosting a release show this Friday at the Hexagon […]
- One for the Team “Best Supporting Actor” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here, Ian Anderson of Minneapolis’ One For The Team dissects the spiral of thoughts which formed the theme to one of the group’s […]
- Culture Bully’s Best of 2008 Guest Posts ()
To close the year out, Culture Bully solicited contributions from artists sharing their year-end lists, reflecting on their favorite things of 2008. Top Five Things I Could Not Criticize Any Longer in 2008 by Ali Elabbady aka Egypto Knuckles of the Background Noise Crew #1) Auto-TuneNumerous folks in 2008 decided to use the auto-tune pitch […]
- Military Special Critics’ Pick ()
St. Paul’s Eclipse Records is hosting a ridiculously talent-laden show Saturday night, combining the efforts of some of the Twin Cities’ brightest electronic acts in an all-ages local showcase. Military Special will headline the night, capping off a bill that also includes Unicorn Basement, Total Babe, and DiscoTech’s DJ Gigamesh. An unusual deviation from the […]
- Bill Mike Band “Courageous” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here, Bill Mike, Chris Morrissey and Steve Goold of the Bill Mike Band detail a track from the band’s latest release, Truce. On […]
- Best Twin Cities Albums of 2008 ()
#1) Gay Witch Abortion Maverick The best heavy band in the Twin Cities – period. #2) A Night in the Box Write A Letter A fantastic album with a cohesiveness that suggests A Night in the Box will be giving us great music for many years to come. #3) The Battle Royale Wake Up! Thunderbabe […]
- Sam Keenan Critics’ Pick ()
Following a late-November date in Dubuque, Iowa, Minneapolis’s Sam Keenan is returning home to play the 331 Club Wednesday night. Since releasing All the Dark Colored Markers Went Dry (Draw Fire) this spring, Keenan has played a diverse selection of shows in support of the album, including this Summer’s Stone Arch Festival, Draw Fire Records’ CMJ showcase in New York, […]
- Dallas Orbiter Critics’ Pick ()
Local reviewers have described Dallas Orbiter as a psychedelic, spaced-out group of retrogazers. And while there is certainly some degree of substance to those labels, the quintet can’t be defined by hippie banter alone. There’s a wealth of tracks from this year’s Motorcycle Diagrams that condense those comparative labels and overshadow them with ingenuity. Throughout the band’s album is […]
- Minnesota Reads Interview ()
[Chris DeLine is] one of the men responsible for Culture Bully a very fine music blog based right here in Minnesota. One of the very coolest things about Culture Bully is their nobility. In October, the blog spent 60 hours raising money for Twin Cities Arts Education. It was awesome, featuring music premieres and artists’ […]
- Ed Ackerson Critics’ Pick ()
This Friday night the Varsity Theater will host a CD-release party for Ed Ackerson’s new record, Ackerson2 (Susstones). The album is the multitalented musician’s third release within the past year and was written, recorded, and produced exclusively by Ackerson at his Flowers Studio. Marc Perlman of the Jayhawks, Janey Winterbauer of Astronaut Wife, and Farewell Continental are all set to make guest […]
- Sean Tubridy: Making art and saving Polaroid (or at least trying to) ()
“When our company let everyone go after the dot-com crash,” says Sean Tubridy, “I went out on my own and haven’t looked back.” When his graphic design firm laid him off six years ago, Tubridy moved from Massachusetts to Minnesota, where he started his own company, Blue Over Blue. This week, he’ll be displaying his work […]
- Clapperclaw Critics’ Pick ()
The second annual Clapperclaw Music & Arts Festival will cover two floors of Minneapolis’s Sound Gallery. Co-organizers Dom Davis and Matt Perkins both described the event as something creatively distinct from last year’s, with Davis adding, “Our focus this year was expanding within a single location, shaping the intensity of last year’s two days into a sharpened […]
- Culture Bully’s Donors Choose Blogathon ()
In October 2008 Culture Bully published a 60 hour blogathon as a fundraiser in support of music development and literacy within the Twin Cities. In the process of doing so, the site solicited reflections, music, and essays from local artists who spoke to the following question: “How did you get into making music, and how […]
- DJ Snuggles, Big Zach & The Histronic Interview ()
The Cabooze will be hosting a fantastic bill tonight featuring Toki Wright, DJ Snuggles, the Histronic and Big Zach. In preparation for the show Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine caught up with Snuggles, Big Zach and the Histronic’s Paul Marshall. Previewing the event, the artists described a tendency towards improv throughout their performances as well as […]
- Nobot Interview ()
Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently connected with both Adam Tucker and Kyle Vande Slunt from the local electronic act Nobot. In preparation for their upcoming show at the Uptown Bar with Estate on the 27th the duo discussed media exposure, forthcoming collaborations and the camaraderie of brosefs on tour. The theme behind Nobot’s latest track, […]
- Anoka and Andover, MN ()
Photos taken in Andover and at the Anoka County Library, September 13 & 14, 2008.