Red Pens CD Release Show

One of the new faces in Minneapolis indie punk rock scene RED PENS will be releasing their new CD "LIMITATIONS" a 6 song EP on November 2nd, 2010.
Howard W. Hamilton's raw distorted guitar sounds and melodic voice are a great compliment to Laura F. Bennet's complex and colorful drumming. This band delivers sound so big you wouldn't expect it from a two piece band.

Saturday, November 6
7th Street Entry / 9:00 pm / 18+

Opening the show will be ZOMBIE SEASON and FAUNA

Here's the Album info:

Limitations EP

1. limitations

2. good luck charm

3. far off

4. taco cha cha

5. i want more more

6. melted filmstrip

Gorillaz @ Target Center this sunday!

Gorillaz the cartoon musical project created in 1998 by British musician Damon Albarn and British cartoonist Jamie Hewlett is coming to town to play The Target Center this Sunday, October 17th, 2010.

The touring band, which includes members of The Clash Paul Simonon and Mick Jones will also feature some of the artists found on Plastic Beach, their third studio album. Among them Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Gruff Rhys, Mark E. Smith, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Kano, Bashy, De La Soul, Little Dragon, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, sinfonia ViVA, and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music.

Opening for them will be Pharrel's band N.E.R.D.

PRINCE winter tour announcement!

His MPLS highness the one and only Prince, has announced a series of shows where he'll be the master of ceremonies. The press conference was held at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem NY. As with any and all things Prince related very few details were released other than the artists featured on the string of shows set to start "on a purple day in December of the year 2010."
The list of acts include Janelle Monae, the legendary Maceo Parker, Mint Condition, Esperanza Spalding and Graham Central Station.

Here's a little clip of the press conference from The New York Post
 

Caribou live @ First Avenue!

I've been looking really forward to seeing Caribou perform. I've heard nothing but good things about their live show and First Avenue's mainroom has the great sound system that any electronic show deserves. Canadian born Daniel Snaith fronts the band and produces all of the music. He has assembled a live band with Ryan Smith, Brad Weber, & John Schmersal.

The album "Swim" is one of our favorite releases of the year and was featured on our Summer 2010 Mixtape.

Here's Odessa (Swim)


and a live rendition of Odessa @ Reading Festival 2010

FOALS live at The Entry! [Thu Sept 22nd]

One of my favorite indie rock bands out of Oxford, UK will be bringing their five piece dance-punk, math rock, post-punk & techno sound to the Entry @ First Avenue. I'm really looking forward to this show. Their two albums "Antidotes" and "Total Life Forever" are really imaginative, hard to chategorize and fall into the not too serious prog-party records. If you've never heard of them I recommend you come check them out and buy their albums afterwards. I'll leave you with a couple of videos.

Electric Bloom (Antidotes)


Spanish Sahara (Total Life Forever)

Retribution Gospel Choir @ Triple Rock

Retribution Gospel Choir will be performing live this Thursday September 23rd at The Triple Rock.
One of my favorite local rock bands. Alan Sparhawk on guitar and vocals, Steve Garrington on bass and Eric Pollard on drums and vocals. I love Alan's guitar sound and mastery paired with his amazing vocals and unique style...really enjoy his trance-like state when he's deep in song.
Definitely a show all local indie rock fans will enjoy!

Here's a video from a recent performance released by subpop records.

LOOKBOOK - RIP

Definitely saddened by the end of Maggie Morrison and Grant Cutler's collaboration Lookbook. Just wanted to share some of my favorite videos from one of my favorite bands from MPLS.
I really love their first LP release Wild At Heart [buy here], by far some of the best dance songs from any band in the local scene. I was looking forward to some of the reworked and new unreleased songs that they had started to perform live.

We live in times where those who blink miss a whole lot. I hope you were there when they were creating beautiful moments...I'm looking forward to what the future holds for Maggie & Grant.

..."and in the end, its never wrong

because who you love is where you are

i cut it close to let it out

my heart is full of this rage and this fear of doubt

over and over

these lovers they quarrel 

you sink 'til you swim

it gets weaker with torture"

(Lyrics from: Over And Over)

The Only Ones [live at 89.3 The Current Studios]


True To Form [live at Sauce 12/4/09]

New Muja Messiah album The M16's drops Sept 14th 2010!

Really impressed by the new production from Minneapolis rapper Muja Messiah. His new album The M16's (Black Corners) will be released next Tuesday and it's currently available for pre-order at Fifth Element online store.

This album is packed full of awesome tracks that follow up his Mpls Masacre Vol. 1. Muja is definitely one of our favorite local rappers and one of the fresh and innovative faces of the MPLS rap scene. Look out for collaborations with Maria Isa (Sota Rico), P.O.S. (Rhymesayers/Doomtree), M.anifest, and more.

Here's the Official "Gary Coleman" by Muja Messiah Directed by Hi Def Photo Prod. by Benzilla from Didier Mbilizi on Vimeo.

RATATAT @ First Avenue 9/11/10

Ratatat the group formed by guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer, bass player, and producer Evan Mast will perform this saturday at First Avenue. LP4 their latest release is an amazing album, full of the sounds that make this Brooklyn based duo so unique and distinct. Definitely one of our favorite albums of the year (featured on our Summer of 2010 Mixtape)

Drugs - Video


Party With Children - Video

M.O.'s Summer of 2010 Mixtape - Download

Just wanted to share with you all my new mixtape featuring tracks by some of the artists on constant rotation in my personal playlist. A perfect soundtrack to a very hot summer of lake beaches and biking in MPLS. Lots of electronic music, great beats and rhymes, indie rock, hip-hop, and everything in between including a remix of a gem of a song by Gil Scott-Heron. Here's the full playlist:

Download here!