I am stranded at a Dunn Bros. in Uptown Minneapolis. It’s pouring rain and I seem to have contrived the conundrum of technology vs. nature. I am not able to put my laptop back in it’s bag as it filled with water when I removed said laptop, and not able to walk outside with the lappy naked to the aqueous air…alas, here I sit, so I write…about what? Then a chord strikes, tired in the din of executive voices deciding how to best boost employee morale after having to “let go” the ones that matter, but don’t.

Annoyed, damp and too short of change to purchase anything adequately jolting, I find this tentative guitar strumming and my diet cola acutely distant from my current desire for Segovia and hot, spicy chai. Ah well, at this point I figure novel, live background sound is preferable to the iPod default and take a moment to listen. The guitarist is soon joined by a pianist and my perception of them as accompaniment to mundane chatter transitions quickly to hearing creative composition, complete with vocals and inspired jazz progressions.

There are a few interruptions; noise complaints from unsuspecting, sipping patrons, but they are unwarranted as these two local musicians need to be heard. Eric Mayson (piano) and Jeff Rolfzen (guitar), both self-taught, play on passionately, while maintaining a sense of clarity and sincerity for the music. I find these sensibilities harder and harder to come by in the mist of the hipster schlock that seems to be inundating the local music scene.

So, I recline in the refreshing realization that random, good, live music experiences do still exist and make a mental note to “accidentally” get stuck here more often in the hopes of catching the pair again.

Radio Empire (our album review) has announced their summer tour dates for their “Soccer Moms and Singalongs Tour,” so be sure to clear your schedule if they are coming to your area. You won’t be disappointed. You can find out more about their tour, stay updated on any possible additions, and listen to their tunes on their official MySpace page.

Read More

And what happens then?

When?

After you’re dead.

Dont nothing happen. You’re dead.

You told me once you believed in God.

The old man waved his hand. Maybe, he said. I got no reason to think he believes in me. Oh I’d like to see him for a minute if I could.

What would you say to him?

Well, I think I’d just tell him. I’d say: Wait a minute. Wait just one minute before you start in on me. Before you say anything, there’s just one thing I’d like to know. And he’ll say: what’s that? And then I’m goin to ast him: What did you have me in that crapgame down there for anyway? I couldnt put any part of it together.

Suttree smiled. What do you think he’ll say?

The ragpicker spat and wiped his mouth. I dont believe he can answer it. I dont believe there is an answer.

-from Suttree by Cormac McCarthy

We don’t talk much for sports here, but for those who still care about the NBA (and I am one), the Boston Celtics are one game away from winning their record 18th title. Go Celtics! If you are a Lakers fan, I have one question. Why?

Update: That’s why. LA in 7. Great defense in game 7 and hand it to the Lakers. Tougher in the fourth and ultimately shut down the Celt’s. Woulda coulda shoulda. If only Perkins hadn’t gotten injured in Game 6. Arggghhh… Great playoff run.

Still one of the best hours of live music on television, Austin City Limits will be taping four new shows.

Monsters of Folk: Wednesday, October 6th
Sonic Youth: Thursday, October 7th
Band of Horses: Saturday, October 9th
The National: Monday, October 11th

The sets will air as part of ACL’s 36th season on PBS, premiering this fall. That’s a nice start.

Mark Kozelek’s Sun Kil Moon will release a new album entitled “Admiral Fell Promises” on June 13th. Help yourself to a pre-taste over at Caldo Verde Records.

 
Releasing a series of four albums is a huge undertaking for any band, but with the release of Renmin Park (streaming free at their official site or simply looking under the seats right here), the band has already started this endeavor and is apparently going in a whole new direction for the band; described as completely starting over as they are now “completely free of any recording contracts and obligations.“

Thanks to RSL for allowing us to embed this track titled “Cicadas” from his site.

Cowboy Junkies – Cicadas by rslblog.com

The tracks I’ve heard so far sound great and are perfect for relaxing late night on the patio after a night of heavy drinks or maybe a blistering summer afternoon on the porch with some icy lemonade. Haunting and lovable at times, southern and gritty at others, the album soothes for a plethora of moods.

This album will soon be followed by Demons, on which Cowboy Junkies will cover the songs of their late friend Vic Chesnutt, who passed away in December 2009. “His catalog is so deep and, for the most part, so overlooked,” says Michael. “It will be a labor of love.” The final two volumes of the Nomad Series will be titled Sing in My Meadow the contents of which are still being discussed and The Wilderness, a full album of new songs.

 
Read More

Canadian indie-pop group Stars are about to release their fifth full-length album The Five Ghosts on June 22nd, and yesterday they dropped the video for the first single, “Fixed.” It’s a heavily collaged and grungy-looking concert-style video that goes with Stars’ layered sound pretty well, I think, though as always, Amy Millan’s voice soars right over the top of it all.

Links
Official Site
Preorder on Amazon
Preorder on iTunes

Lots of changes in the life of Trent Reznor. The newly wed has put NIN aside for a moment to start a new side project with his wife Mariqueen Maandig (formerly of the West Indian Girl) and musician/producer extraordinare Atticus Ross.

A few weeks ago the band’s official website went live with snippets of audio followed a few days later by their first single, “A Drowning.” Over the next few days the band released two more tracks “The Spaces in Between” and “The Believers,” sending fans cruising the internet in search of the new tunes. The band’s 6 song EP (which you could “order” for free) went live at midnight last night, arriving in inboxes, including mine, at an ungodly hour. Rather than wait until this morning to take a listen, I stayed up a few extra minutes to take a sneak peak and ended up playing the bloody thing on repeat for nearly an hour.

My favourite track off of the EP: “The Spaces In Between” which features Maandig’s gorgeous melodic voice. It’s a haunting little track and one I can’t stop listening to. NIN fans seem, so far at least, mixed on the release some loving the soundscapes (I’m in this camp – I was always a fan of Trent’s non-vocal tracks) while others find it too much of a deviation.

I’ve tucked a few videos after the break. If you like what you hear, I suggest downloading your own copy of the EP from the official website. The web makes being a completionist way too easy.

Read More