Gimme Noise and First Avenue SXSW 2011 Day Party (Austin,TX)
Austin never saw it coming. Legions of Twin Cities musicians, writers, photographers, booking agents, managers, radio DJs, and straight-up music fiends will be descending onto Texas for five days of nonstop music at the SXSW festival.
When we took our Minnesota SXSW roll call, we didn't realize just how many local folks were heading down to the festival this year, and we're impressed -- this year, twice as many Minnesota bands were accepted into the festival as official acts than in 2010, and another 20+ are heading down to play at unofficial parties.
Naturally, Gimme Noise had to get in the mix. For the first time ever, and in partnership with Minneapolis's premiere rock club, First Avenue, Gimme Noise is presenting a free day party during SXSW that showcases some of our finest Minnesota talent. And to top it off, Tiger Beer has generously provided us with complimentary beer to offer our guests.
TAPES 'N TAPES
Tapes ‘n Tapes is a rock band from Minneapolis, MN, made up of Josh Grier on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Kretzmann on keys and horns, Erik Appelwick on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Jeremy Hanson on percussion. Grier said he formed the band in 2003, to “have fun with my friends. I always wanted to see if I could play music with others and for others.” Grier and his buddies amassed “tapes ‘n tapes” of noodling, experimental jams and declared themselves officially a band.
SOLID GOLD
Let’s get this out of the way up top: no, Solid Gold is not a syndicated top 40 countdown show which aired from 1980 to 1988 featuring the Solid Gold Dancers. But I could see the Solid Gold Dancers doing a fine routine to a couple of Solid Gold’s numbers—maybe the slinky “Bible Thumper,” or the dreamier “Who You Gonna Run To?” Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s the deal: Solid Gold is a band with the ability to compel you to Shake. Your. Ass.
SIMS
Restless and passionate but with an unflinching realism at his core, Sims has seen enough of life to know there are no easy answers. His second full-length release, Bad Time Zoo, released February 15, 2011 on Doomtree Records, reflects this rapper’s ongoing quest for solid understanding in a society on the brink of dystopia. For Sims, it’s been a long road. Andrew Sims grew up in the working-class Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins, Minnesota. His parents were both musicians with problems of their own, and Sims often had to look out for himself and his younger brother.
JEREMY MESSERSMITH
To call Jeremy Messersmith a musician is half-truth: He’s also a storyteller, who has carefully crafted a trilogy of songs that narrate life. His first full-length release The Alcatraz Kid is a moving collection of acoustic-driven lullabies with titles like “Novocain” and “Beautiful Children” that innocently question the purpose of things to come. The integrity of these delicate songs immediately struck a cord with critics and fans alike, and captured the attention of Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who offered to produce Messersmith’s follow-up album, The Silver City.
SICK OF SARAH
When the girls of Sick of Sarah jumped on the stage of Minneapolis’ prestigious 7th Street Entry on April 7, 2010, the room was shaking with excitement. The sold-out crowd pushed to get closer, waiting for a glimpse of the ladies that had only months earlier departed for a tour across country.
MARIJUANA DEATHSQUADS
Marijuana Deathsquads are comprised of multiple drummers, a slew of electronic instruments, and highly effected vocals, their live shows are a violent onslaught of improvised electronic-hardcore. They began as a side-project of Building Better Bombs, which is why all members of BBB are also in Marijuana Deathsquads. Their live shows, as well as studio recordings, feature multiple colaborations with a ton of outsourced musicians. This results in a constantly evolving experience, teeming with spontaneity and surprise.
THE GOONDAS
A glazed roll of the eyes, a hiccup, and a slight stagger. Brenden Green spins his head, then collapses to the ground and writhes on the stage, his clothes ripped and tattered, his feet bare, as he wraps himself up in his mic cord and nearly strangles himself with it. All around is ear-splitting noise, an unholy, raucous mixture of whiskey-soaked blues and rock 'n' roll from a guitar turned up to 11 and a drummer wearing only his underwear (plus a flurry of leg kicks thrown in by the bassist, just for good measure).
GET CRYPHY
In five years, Get Cryphy has grown from a 300-person Record Room experience to a full-fledged Mainroom extravaganza at First Avenue, and for good reason. The famous local foursome composed of Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy 2 Times, Fundo, and LAST WORD are not only slick DJs and producers, they're also all best friends, and it comes across behind the booth.
Skinnys Ballroom (SXSW)
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