Turning Rebellion Into Money - A Tribute To Joe Strummer
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Tentative set times
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All proceeds from the night will be donated to Free Arts Minnesota in memory of Daniel Levy - artist, musician, Clash fan.
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AL CHURCH AND STATE
"By about the one-minute mark of Al Church And State’s debut album—right when the group’s adenoidal harmonies kick in atop some arena-ready crunchy riffage—it’s pretty clear that Al Church is one big Weezer fan (so much so, he apparently used to front a tribute band to the group). Thankfully, Church’s Rivers Cuomo fixation extends only to the band’s formative adolescent-angst-anthem and sweater-destroying era—no Raditude-styled b.s. here—and doesn’t dominate the entire album. More than mere power-pop geeks, Church and his highly capable band, which includes former Aneuretical frontman Matthew Sandstedt, also make convincing stabs at shimmering balladry (“She’s Okay”), and sinewy Spoon-styled post-punk (“Stick Up”) and keep the music briskly moving throughout the album. If only Weezer itself showed this much range." // Grade: A- // by Rob Van Alstyne // Onion A.V. Club
BLUE SKY BLACKOUT
Blue Sky Blackout is a brand new project from songwriter/guitarist Jon Hunt (formerly of Lunar 9 / Medication / Shatterproof and more). Jon has assembled a virtual Susstones family supergroup to present his new tunes. Christian Erickson (Astronaut Wife) fronts the band as lead vocalist, with guitarists Brandon Dalida (Merc Rage, Medication) and Mykl Westbrooks (Landing Gear), drummer Marc Iwanin (Medication, the Meg, Basement Apartment), and bassist Tim Ritter (Astronaut Wife, Bella Koshka) bringing the beautiful noise.
BNLX
BNLX is an experimental/noisepop/post-punk group based in Minneapolis, MN. Members include Ed Ackerson (formerly of widescreen psych-pop pioneers Polara), Ashley Ackerson, and David Jarnstrom, with special assistance from PD Larson, Knobby, and Blinky. BNLX has been releasing a series of 4-song EP's at quarterly intervals and has been making regular live performance excursions to the east coast and the midwest. BNLX is 100% DIY; we write, record, manufacture and distribute our own music and other art products. Currently BNLX is comprised of Ed Ackerson (e.a-guitar, vocals, noise), Ashley Ackerson (a.a-bass, vocals, noise), David Jarnstrom (d.j-drums, noise) and PD Larson (p.d-visuals).
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An organization devoted to creation and extrapolation of memes and other specialized cultural products, BNLX is the midst of executing its Second One Year Plan. Its goal: to meet and/or exceed expectations as it renders mission-critical services to The Revolution, The Industry of Human Happiness, The Kids, and its other valued customers. Based in L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland, BNLX has executed field operations in numerous locales including Minneapolis, MN, La Pointe, WI, Brooklyn, NY, and Berlin, DE. BNLX creates class-leading pop/noise/obfuscation products which are marketed in the recorded, live performance, and audiovisual arenas. Sous le pavés, la plage!
HALEY BONAR
My name is Haley Bonar (rhymes with Daily Honor), I am a 28 year old singer/songwriter who resides in the lovely village of Minneapolis, MN. I recently wrote, recorded, and am now getting ready to release my new record Golder. Titled after the dreams I had about the record cover being shiny gold, Golder also represents me striving to become a better artist, growing with each song I write. Since I can remember, I have been writing songs and singing. I grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and was blessed with creative parents and younger siblings who I could direct in our games, theatrics, and dances. In my senior year of high school I recorded and self released my first batch of songs on a self-titled album, my graduation gift from my parents. Beats a Ferrari, right?
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Everything changed for me when I left my home state for a new adventure and landed in the metropolis of Duluth, MN. At an open stage called “Experimental Thursdays,” I brought my guitar and Farfisa organ and played a few originals and a cover of “California Dreamin’.” Little did I know that one of my musical idols, Alan Sparhawk of Low, was in the small audience. When I finished, he promptly approached me and asked me if I would open for Low on their upcoming tour. He eventually released my new album his Chairkicker’s Union label the following spring. Before I knew it, I had quit school, crammed my Honda Civic full of gear with my drummer, and was opening for Low across the country I had barely seen. I was twenty years old.
Since then, I have released 3 full length albums and several EPs, including my most recent EP LeO, which is mostly instrumental. With Golder, my band and I went into Pachyderm studio (Nirvana, PJ Harvey) in Cannon Falls, MN, knowing most of the songs in advance, but reconstructing them while in the studio with my band. The songs themselves are largely a reflection of a wonderful and lonely year spent in Portland, Oregon. I returned in July 2010, became active once again in the amazing Twin Cities music scene (including the formation of a punk/new-wave side project Gramma’s Boyfriend) and am set to get out on the road to play songs from Golder.
Golder for me, is an evolution into something brighter, heavier, and stronger.
KEVIN BOWE AND THE OKEMAH PROPHETS
The Okemah Prophets (Oh-kee-mah) are a band out of Minneapolis, led by singer/songwriter Kevin Bowe. Bowe has a long history as a guitarist/writer/producer, landing 3 platinums and songs on 2 Grammy winning albums working with Jonny Lang, Etta James and others. The group came together for a showcase of Kevin’s songs at a SXSW a few years back and worked so well they started doing live shows (including bookings with BR549, Jonny Lang, Peter Case, Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie, Semisonic, Jayhawks, Los Lobos and Bob Mould), and released a CD, RESTORATION which sold over 5000 copies. Their second release Love Songs & Murder Ballads joined Restoration on Miles Of Music’s bestseller list. The band signed a European recording contract with Corazong Records which released the compilation, Angels On The Freeway.
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But the big story is the new CD Natchez Trace; after a long break spent touring/recording with other artists the band has released an album that is getting raves from Rolling Stone to No Depression. Featuring contributions from Westerberg, Nels Cline (Wilco), Chuck Prophet, Freedy Johnston, Scarlet Rivera (Dylan), Tim O’Reagan (Jayhawks) and Meat Puppets, these songs transcend Americana, singer-songwriter, or any other label and take classic Minneapolis garage rock to a whole new level. Live shows behind this record are proving that the Prophets time has come, beyond being a “wrecking crew” for great artists this band has a thing of their own. Peter Anderson on drums (Polara, Honeydogs) and Steve Price (Rex Daisy) on bass round out the trio. Both the St. Cloud and Duluth papers have already called it the best CD of the year. A SXSW show and East Coast tour are booked for spring ’13, and Europe awaits after that. Kevin and Peter just played on the Replacements session (with Westerberg and Tommy Stinson) to benefit the Mats ailing guitarist Slim Dunlap, the band also backs up Freedy Johnston and Alison Scott.
MARTIN DEVANEY
Martin Devaney has always embraced his local identity, literally dubbed the Mayor of St. Paul by friends and compatriots in the music scene. A classically trained musician with a jazz sax background, the accomplished singer-songwriter got his start playing with revered hip-hop ensemble Heiruspecs before embarking on a solo career. After self-releasing an EP in 2001, Martin followed with four full-length albums, each garnering more praise and attention from press and fans. Described as “a charming, bushy haired, sweet voiced tunesmith” by No Depression, Martin became quickly known for his poetic, yet unpretentious songs and inspired live performances.
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Now, over four years after his last release, Martin Devaney unveils his best work yet. The West End, another project with Mark Stockert and Underwood Studios, features an all-star cast of musicians Dave Boquist (Son Volt), Steve Murray (Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers) and Mick Wirtz (Bellwether). It also highlights the long-time collaboration with Jake Hyer (vocals, violin, mandolins). Harmonies with Hyer provide the bread and butter to Devaney’s artful, sincere songs, and obviously guided much of The West End’s creative energy. In addition to his own band, Devaney plays sax with Twin Cities’ indie-folk darlings Roma Di Luna, recently mentioned in Rolling Stone, and heads the local rock band Crossing Guards. In the past decade, Martin Devaney has shared the state with and impressive list of national acts, including Andrew Bird, Mason Jennings, The Jayhawks, Semisonic, Soul Asylum, Billy Bragg, Evan Dando, Mary Lou Lord, Robbie Fulks, Dan Bern, Ike Reilly, Damien Jurado, Rhett Miller, Mike Doughty, Mary Lou Lord, The Roots, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Richard Buckner.
JAMES DIERS
James Diers is a Minnesota-born Pisces who specializes in talking, listening, keyboard-clacking and not getting enough sleep. A restless and collaborative sort, he has been variously occupied as a voice talent, writer, musician and creative conspirator since the waning years of the 20th century.
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JAMES EVEREST
James G. Everest was born and raised in St Paul, Minnesota, USA, and is currently based in the Twin Cities area. He writes and performs music, teaches guitar, dabbles in film/video, and curates and hosts both the Making Music conversations series at the University of Minnesota's Whole Music Club and the Capture! dance film series at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater.
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THE FAREWELL CIRCUIT
Out of Minneapolis, The Farewell Circuit creates warm indie pop to go with astonishingly lush, electronic backgrounds. The bells and keys give the sound a bout of melancholy as well as its momentous drive, and the tenor vocals rarely overpower the floating instrumentation. Easily accessible, yet not without a darker merit, The Farewell Circuit will surely stick with you in times of despair and desire; the longing sense you want and need is present in every song. [Knoxroad.com]
GUANTE
Guante is a hip hop artist, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, social justice activist and educator. He’s been featured in URB Magazine’s “Next 1000” list, City Pages’ “Artists of the Year” list, CMJ and the Progressive, and has shared bills with Talib Kweli, Atmosphere, Dead Prez, Sage Francis, Brother Ali, Mr. Lif, P.O.S. and many more of the top names in indie hip hop. Apart from these artistic endeavors, Guante also founded and manages the MN Activist Project, freelances as a music writer, curates the Hip Hop Against Homophobia concert series, facilitates writing and performance workshops for youth and serves as arts coordinator of the Canvas, a Saint Paul teen arts center. Guante is signed to Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records.
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DYLAN HICKS
Dylan Hicks is a songwriter, musician, and writer. His work has appeared in the Village Voice, New York Times, Star Tribune, City Pages, and Rain Taxi, and he has released three albums under his own name. A fourth, Sings Bolling Greene, is a companion album to his first novel Boarded Windows and will be released in May 2012. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Nina Hale, and his son, Jackson.
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THE JIM RUIZ SET
Jim Ruiz Set’s new album Mount Curve Avenue, available October 25, 2012 on Korda Records and Mystery Lawn, marks the first release in 14 years by the Legendary Jim Ruiz! Now operating under the name Jim Ruiz Set with Emily Ruiz on drums and Charlotte Crabtree on bass and vocals; the band has been hard at work on this stellar 14 song opus, recorded during a week-long charmed sojourn in a stately ivy covered mansion on Mount Curve Avenue in Minneapolis. This poignant, witty, devastating and loving collection of jazz infused pop songs will melt your neo-acoustic heart.
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ADAM LEVY
Lead singer/songwriter of Minneapolis band THE HONEYDOGS
JIM MCGUINN
Program Director, The Current, Minnesota Public Radio
Jim McGuinn joined the Current in January 2009 as Program Director and on-air host, moving to the Twin Cities from Philadelphia, and WXPN. From seeing the Clash for his first concert, Jim has been hooked on rock and roll-- and whether it was radio programming, playing bass, or even teaching university level courses like Rock and Roll Cinema and Radio History. Jim has received numerous accolades for his innovative programming, and was even named Best AAA Air Personality in 2008 by Radio and Records. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife Christine, son Jameson, and cat Sylvia.
ROGUE VALLEY
Rogue Valley is a band born of grandiose ambition: in a single year, they have written, recorded, and successfully released four full length albums, each one sonically steeped in the season of its creation. Together, the four albums tell a sweeping story of love, loss, regret and hope that is inseparable from the geography of classic American wanderlust. The 46 songs act as chapters, standing strongly on their own, yet creating an undeniably rich experience when taken as a whole. Few bands are so productive in an entire career, yet Rogue Valley and songwriter Chris Koza have realized a breadth of ambition that is beyond simple prolificacy – the entire series stands out for its dynamism, craft, impeccable production and fantastic songwriting.
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Imagine Ralph Waldo Emerson and Jeff Tweedy sharing a dugout canoe across a calm river; Jack Kerouac and My Morning Jacket sitting around a campfire; John Steinbeck and Fleet Foxes hitch-hiking along county roads and highways from coast to coast. Rogue Valley makes music that fills a dynamic spectrum, from surging electric guitar rock to woodsy finger-picking ballads. The unifying trait throughout is the band's soaring, lush vocal harmonies that lift the cinematic arrangements to emotional heights.
Known as one of the Twin Cities' most dynamic live acts, Rogue Valley and lead singer/songwriter Chris Koza perform regularly at top Minneapolis/St. Paul venues (First Avenue, The Fitzgerald Theater) and festivals (Basilica Block Party, MN State Fair), and have shared the stage or supported artists like Spoon, Weezer, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Andrew Bird, Justin Vernon, The Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Mason Jennings, Eric Hutchinson, Nellie McKay, Céu, Cloud Cult, Jeremy Messersmith, Haley Bonar, Scout Niblett, and Jay Clifford, among others.
ROBERT SKORO
Robert Skoro got his start as an essential bandmate in the Minneapolis music scene, before stepping out in front with his self-released debut, Proof. Only a month after that release and with barely two gigs behind him, the Minneapolis City Pages had already named him their Artist of the Year calling his music “sweet enough to overcome the sourest of grapes.” His new songs were recorded at Chicago’s Engine studio with Brian Deck (Iron and Wine, Red Red Meat, Modest Mouse and more) and bear the unique quality of being personal yet anthemic. Making small moments loom large, these deeply personal songs sparkle with an ingenuous, natural sense of melody and pace. Skoro is, simply, a wonderful songwriter who approaches his craft with eyes wide open and senses working overtime.
TAMBUCA
tambuca is a pair of live djs spinning records simultaneously on four turntables and two mixers as a band of live musicians weaves in and out of the beats. horns, guitar and percussion blend with the djs’ vinyl cuts to create house music as you’ve never heard it before, and will never hear exactly the same way again. it’s completely improvised. it’s completely unrehearsed. it’s always a surprise.
tambuca plays ‘deep house’ music with a decidedly, if slight, latin edge, but is always in tune with what a situation dictates and adapts accordingly. tambuca includes but is not limited to: jezus juice (vinyl), dean vaccaro (vinyl), joseph pettini (percussion), al “slowride” davis (alcohol, tobacco and firearms) with chuck love (trumpet/flute/guitar), matt darling (trombone), dave anania (percussion) and others. tambuca is indeed a group of the twin cities’ most talented ‘músicos y djs’ performing on stage, but never the less, is always a party that stays focused on the dancefloor. everyone loves the great taste of tambuca.
VAN STEE
Once upon a time, comedian/drummer Josh Kaplan and singer Charlie Van Stee, met up with renowned guitarist and producer Jake Hanson (Mason Jennings, Halloween Alaska, 12Rods) to talk about recording an album. When Jacob fell in love with their songs, he brought in producer Lance Conrad of Humans Win! Recording Studio as well as former band mate Andy Mark of Minneapolis Dub Ensemble. In January of 2011, the album was tracked and ready to be translated into a live show. Needing a guitarist to fill out the parts, Lance joined the lineup, and soon after, keyboardist Joey Kantor (Rogue Valley). The music itself is what drew the musicians in at first and, when rehearsals began, band members soon realized that it was Josh's professionally crafted comedic b.s. that kept them coming back for more. ;-) The lived happily ever after.
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JEREMY YLVISAKER
Jeremy Ylvisaker is an independent songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and teacher living in south Minneapolis. He is one of the stars in a constellation of local musicians and artists that partner with each other in a variety of music projects including Andrew Bird, Dosh, Guitar Party, The Cloak Ox, Gramma's Boyfriend and Alpha Consumer. Adept at a wildly diverse range of styles, he is influenced by Minnesota musicians including Prince (for his groovy, free-styling guitar like Jimi Hendrix), Bob Dylan (for his singing styles that illuminate lyrics that reveal interesting stories), Michael Larsen (EYEDEA), and Martin Dosh (for his multi-layering rhythms). The collision of different musical influences fire Jeremy’s imagination from lo-fi experimental, contrapuntal-Afro rhythmic music, and noise rock – all of which reside under the umbrella of Indie-rock. He uses the K.I.S.S. method while songwriting: keep it simple, silly. The best songs embed musical styles and influences into a single, simple musical expression.
