Twin Cities
Articles, blog posts, and videos relating to Twin Cities artists, figures, or events.
- Mystery Palace Interview ()
Prior to this Summer’s Midwest tour Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine discussed a number of topics with James Buckley of the local act Mystery Palace. Contrasting the band with his own trio, aptly named the James Buckley Trio, the discussion in this edition of Five Questions drifted towards various subjects ranging from the formation of Mystery […]
- Black Blondie Interview ()
Attracting attention both locally and nationally, the critically acclaimed Black Blondie continue to compel audiences with their tireless live schedule. Leading up to the band’s forthcoming First Avenue performance with Muja Messiah, M.anifest and Maria Isa the group took aim at a few questions about the upcoming show, critical obsession with labeling their sound and […]
- A Night in the Box “Write A Letter” Review ()
Having singer Clayton Hagen previously decried a savior in sake of his hate on “The Hustle” (from The Hustle, The Prayer, The Thief) there is a tremendous weight on A Night in the Box to follow up its debut album with something as equally thoughtful and compelling. With Write a Letter the band has done […]
- High on Stress “Cop Light Parade” (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. In this edition Nick Leet, from the Minneapolis-based quartet High on Stress, describes the evolution of “Cop Light Parade.” Written by Leet and […]
- Big Cats! “Ballad Northwestern” (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, producer Minneapolis-based producer Big Cats! explains not just the process that lead him to the first track on his forthcoming album, Sleep […]
- Josh Grier (of Tapes ‘n Tapes) Interview ()
With Tapes ‘n Tapes already scheduled to play some forty dates this summer in support of the band’s forthcoming sophomore release, Walk It Off, the Minneapolis quartet are likely to need their rest by the time everything has wrapped up. Lead singer and guitarist Josh Grier suggested otherwise in this Q&A however, hinting that this […]
- Brandon VanVliet (of Restraining Hollywood) Interview ()
Last November I met a man by the name of Brandon VanVliet and he presented me with a DVD of a movie that he had made called People Talk. At the time I didn’t know who he was, but I later came to find out that he plays the role of President, Co-Founder, Producer and […]
- Atmosphere “Shoulda Known” ()
Settling, “That drug got you like I want you,” Slug drops a rhyme out of his own play book, indirectly citing a reply he gave The Onion’s AV Club last month during an open forum for their Valentine’s Day issue. Q. What is your advice to a couple in which one person is sober, and […]
- Black Lips & Quintron and Miss Pussy Cat at 7th St. Entry (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Playing a sold out show at Minneapolis’ 7th St. Entry, Atlanta’s The Black Lips defied their well documented reputation through most of their performance, playing a straight ahead brand of rock and roll equal parts punk and The Beatles. By the time the show was wearing down however the band had treated its audience to […]
- Muja Messiah “Amy Winehouse” ()
Muja Messiah’s latest single takes on Rihanna’s “Umbrella” while celebrating his city, shouting out Amy Winehouse and heeding advice from Russell Simmons. The track comes from Muja’s forthcoming MPLS Massacre which is slated for a mid-March release. While Muja is deep within a Minneapolis hip hop scene that has been caustically deemed college-rap, his voice […]
- Tapes ‘n Tapes at Turf Club (St. Paul, MN) ()
An announcement made via the band’s mailing list and MySpace site the day of the show excited the limited few who came across the information: Tapes ‘n Tapes would be the surprise headliners to the already exciting Vampire Hands/The Blind Shake show at the Turf Club. While hearing the nationally recognized band play around the […]
- Daniel Johnston at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Opening with “Mean Girls Give Pleasure,” Daniel Johnston quickly abolished any sense of discomfort that lingered in the crowd, chugging along on his unique electric, versing about the toils of following one’s passion at the cost of the heart. Johnston continued with a brief solo set before being accompanied on stage by long-time collaborator Brett […]
- MGMT & Yeasayer at 7th St. Entry (Minneapolis, MN) ()
The Battle Royale’s frontman, Mark Ritsema, disclosed to me before the show that the group had almost gone into a panic mode when the recent blizzard-like conditions here in the Midwest left the state of half the band in limbo. “We were going to leave at 5:30 this morning and get them,” he said, speaking […]
- Cat Power at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Performing a classic set of standards, rarities and originals Chan Marshall and her Dirty Delta Blues band played to a near-sold out First Avenue. Marshall’s theatrical approach to the performance lit up the dim stage with terrifying consistency, her movements brash and continually intensified by the night’s band which included The Blues Explosion’s Judah Bauer, […]
- The Battle Royale “Wake Up, Thunderbabe!” Review ()
The first release in two years from The Battle Royale combines the abundance of rock bands attempting to fuse electronic overtones into rock ‘n roll with the skill of musicians who can actually combine the two ever merging genres appropriately. The Battle Royale’s Wake Up, Thunderbabe! capitalizes on the group’s youthful fervor while scantly sounding […]
- Muja Messiah & Of Montreal Cover M.I.A. ()
Last week I heard (live nonetheless) one of the first covers using a sample from M.I.A.’s brilliant Kala; that being from local Minneapolis MC’s Muja Messiah and M.anifest who take on “Paper Planes” with their own vibrant flow of street-theory. The track isn’t necessarily a cover in the typical sense, but rather follows more of […]
- First Avenue’s Best New Bands (Minneapolis, MN) ()
First Avenue’s annual showcase of the Twin Cities’ best new bands returned this year bringing together 2007’s unusual talent pool that included acts ranging from ambient noise to African hip hop to stoner rock. Though each set was far too short to allow any band to leave an honest impression the overall consensus was that […]
- Nada Surf at The Nomad (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Playing a free acoustic set at a small Minneapolis bar as a part of the band’s ongoing promotional tour, two thirds of the one-time one-hit-wonders delivered a few new tracks in addition to a handful of old favorites. Asking around before the show it became obvious that the majority of opinions leaned towards knowing the […]
- Whopper Freakout: Ghetto Version ()
Filmed by Minneapolis comedian Asa Thibodaux this hilarious parody takes aim at the god awful marketing scheme that is the Whopper Freakout. Best lines from Whopper Freakout: Ghetto Version: “Taking the whopper away from the hood is like making me get a full time job, you gonna bring a lot of people down.” “I need […]
- Atmosphere “The Rooster” ()
In 2001 when Atmosphere was introduced to my loosely knit group of friends, Lucy Ford appeared as apart of a sect of hip hop that we hadn’t heard yet. Lyrically the music appeared urban as it tossed around words about the nature of streets life and the surrounding environment; but the album (cassette tape at […]
- America Has Spoken: And It Wants Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper with a Splash of Tay Zonday ()
When does a novelty act become a superstar? When such a novelty is a key ingredient in a blazing new ad campaign, that’s when. Given that I too would probably take the pay day (rent ain’t cheap boss) I cannot really say anything bad about Mr. Adam Bahner (aka Tay Zonday); but I can say […]
- Stook’s “Seasonal Affective Disorder” ()
Nestled warmly in the pocket of his new release, When The Needle Hits The Wax, Stook’s “Seasonal Affective Disorder” quietly surprises as the finest piece of autobiographical poetry on the album. The precursor to the booming drunken jamboree “How Long We Gonna Dance?” and following his best Springsteen song on the album, “Diggin’ on You,” […]
- Henry Rollins at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Just as I put off recalling the three hours in which I basked in Henry Rollins’ stories in form of a review for well over a week, it took me roughly ten years to finally nut up and risk seeing my idol in person. However easy it is for me to become wrapped up in […]
- Gwar and Cradle of Filth at Myth Nightclub (St. Paul, MN 10/24/2007) ()
Opening the show with Swedish sleaze rockers Vains of Jenna and closing with English death metal band Cradle of Filth, the Viva La Bands tour covered extracts from this world and beyond—the unearthly Gwar playing middle spot and entirely gorging its audience with hedonism and irreverence. While the highly anticipated CKY couldn’t make the bill […]
- Justice at Foundation Nightclub (Minneapolis, MN) ()
The setting: a dark basement complex surrounded by a crowd of sweaty, dancing teenagers…an environment that could easily double as a cramped pool hall on any given night; but on this night two of the most elite electronic musicians in the world did what they do best – make people dance. Opening their set three […]
- Girl Talk & Dan Deacon at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
This past Friday Girl Talk rocked the post-adolescent audience late into the night, the performance culminating one of the most entertaining events First Avenue has seen all year. The term “sold out” doesn’t even cover it, as block-long lines continued to wrap around the venue a half hour after doors opened and the body of […]
- Tapes ‘n Tapes & the Melismatics at Fine Line Music Cafe (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Sunday night’s occasion was alive in spirit as a half dozen bands collected in support of Mercedes Gordon, a local resident who was severely injured in the collapse of the 35W bridge in early August. Among the bands playing were local favorites such as Coach Said Not To and The Melismatics, Hershey, Pennsylvania’s The Ocean […]
- Aesop Rock at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Video of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz performing at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, featuring clips of “Coffee” and “Daylight.” [This post was first published by Culture Bully.]
- Wu-Tang Clan at Myth Nightclub (Maplewood, MN) ()
Starting midday Saturday afternoon, the Rock The Bells tour stopped in the Twin Cities, playing Maplewood’s Myth rather than the previously scheduled parking lot at the Metrodome. Though the day began early, it wasn’t until late afternoon when I arrived, graciously welcomed to the club by “Free,” the lead track from Pharoahe Monch’s recent release. […]
- Hank Williams III, Big Red Goad & The Power of Country at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Kicking off the show with “a bit of national rag” Power of Country opened up with a rousing bluegrass introduction before singer Jim Goad (aka Big Red Goad) stepped on stage at First Avenue, promptly sticking his chewing gum to the microphone stand and taking stance with one boot firmly planted on one of the […]