Seein’ the Scene is a (typically) weekly photographic presentation featuring images from some of the best local rock concerts Minnesota has to offer. These images are captured through the lens of Minneapolis rock photographer Mike Minehart. We welcome comments. More images from these shows can often be viewed at www.mikeminehart.com.

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The Melismatics - The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis - 2/6/10

posted February 8th, 2010 at 11:01 am MN Rock, Seein' the Scene First Communion Afterparty, Mars to Mercury, Phil Solem, The Melismatics, The Notties

Back in December we reported on the announcement that Roster McCabe was hoping to raise at least $10,000 towards funding their new studio album via kickstarter.com. Well with 161 different backers and 5 days to spare, the band has so far succeeded with now $10,135 in pledges!

Roster McCabe will be hitting the studio in March to begin tracking their next release, which you can find demos, lyrics, and analysis for on their newrosteralbum.com mini-site.

Links

Roster McCabe – Website / MySpace / Kickstarter.com Campaign Page

posted February 4th, 2010 at 1:26 pm MN Rock, Music News Roster McCabe

Earlier today Jeremy Messersmith posted a song to his myspace blog that he had recorded with local artist Dan Wilson of Semisonic.  Within the post Messersmith mentions that he’s been working on an entire album with Wilson, and he notes that they “spent a lot of time exploring different sonic areas, sometimes ditching whole recordings and nearly finished songs and starting anew.”  One of the songs that made its way through this process is posted below, and the song is entitled “Wasting Time.”  After trying to find the tune a happy spot on the album, Messersmith decided it just “didn’t fit thematically,” but on the bright side, at least we all get a snapshot into what might be expected on the upcoming record.



We couldn’t be happier over here!

“Wasting Time” by: Jeremy Messersmith

Feel free to go download the song yourself HERE.

Photo credit – Darin Back

Links

Jeremy Messersmith – Website / Myspace

Dan Wilson – Website / Myspace

posted February 4th, 2010 at 12:12 pm Download, MN Rock Dan Wilson, Jeremy Messersmith

If you’ve missed out on the countless opportunities to see the Red Pens play live in the last year, then seize the moment tomorrow night.  Red Pens will play Nick and Eddie’s Bar & Restaurant in Minneapolis, supported by Voytex Voytek.  Here’s a little something to get you in the mood.

“Hung Out” by: Red Pens

(Does anyone have a link for Voytex?  Tried to locate one – total failure)

posted February 4th, 2010 at 11:54 am Concert Announcements Red Pens, Voytex

Hey you crazy Borangutan readers,

I have an announcement to make concerning your activities this Saturday night.  I know, I know.  You may have a birthday party to attend, or your brother will be flying into town, or you were planning to snuggle up on the sofa with your St. Bernard and give Jack Frost the big middle one.  But wouldn’t you feel better if you brought all those folks down to First Avenue for a night of awesome local music, cheap PBR (probably), and charity instead?

That’s right, this Saturday night is Gimme Shelter: a benefit being held to raise money and awareness for the people of Haiti.  The event is being hosted by the City Pages, Gimme Noise, and First Avenue.  Attendees will be treated to the likes of Solid Gold, Mark Mallman, Zoo Animal, Peter Wolf Crier, Jimmy2Times, and Mike 2600.  This is an 18+ show, doors open at 6PM, and admission is $12.  Here is a taste of Saturday night’s action:

“Bible Thumper” by: Solid Gold

“White Leather Days” by: Mark Mallman

So bring all those people you made plans with down to First Avenue instead, but uh, leave the St. Bernard at home.

posted February 3rd, 2010 at 2:44 pm Concert Announcements Jimmy2Times, Mark Mallman, Mike 2600, Peter Wolf Crier, Solid Gold, Zoo Animal

Seein’ the Scene is a (typically) weekly photographic presentation featuring images from some of the best local rock concerts Minnesota has to offer. These images are captured through the lens of Minneapolis rock photographer Mike Minehart. We welcome comments. More images from these shows can often be viewed at www.mikeminehart.com.

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Anchorage - Station 4 in St. Paul - 1/26/10

posted February 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am MN Rock, Seein' the Scene Alison Scott, Anchorage, Joey Ryan & The Inks, ReadyGoes, Stellar Vector, The Arms Akimbo, The Bloodsugars, The Debut, The Melismatics, The Notties, White Light Riot

Something about Caroline Smith music in the dead of winter is really good.  Happy February everyone.

Links

Caroline Smith – Myspace

posted February 1st, 2010 at 10:11 pm MN Rock, Video Caroline Smith

Despite numerous line-up changes and audio identity shifts, Adam Powell has been the driving force behind Thosquanta for over a decade.  I recently had a chance to question him on the band, the music and technology.

Todd: Starting out, Thosquanta seems to have been around forever.  Would you mind telling me a little bit about the band’s history?

Adam Powell: Thosquanta has been around since about ‘96 or so, back when a series of failed high school garage bands led me to buy a drum machine.  Since the actual bands never worked out (they usually lasted one song and then ended with a shouting match), I started doing stuff on my own as “girl next door,” which eventually changed to “Thosquanta” around ‘99 or so.  I had been writing and recording before I moved to the Twin Cities, and continued to, but never really played live until Darren (from Avenpitch) asked me to open for them – at all places – at an ice cream shop in Hopkins.  I quickly put together a four song set with my then girlfriend Kari singing vocals and myself on keyboards, and that’s how Thosquanta started playing shows.  In the time since then, we’ve gone through a LOT of lineup changes, some amicably, some not.

Todd: How did you come up with the name “Thosquanta”?

AP: It’s hard to remember specifically, since it was close to 10 years ago, but I think it was just a combination of “those” and “quanta” – meaning, literally, “those values,” which was an oblique reference to my interest in objectivism, logic, and reason (the philosophical logic and reason — not the software. Heh!).

“Pedipol” by: Thosquanta

Read more…

posted February 1st, 2010 at 8:00 am Interviews, MN Rock Adam Powell, TC Electropunk, Thosquanta

We were just recently just turned on to MPLS.TV, and when we landed there, what did we find?  Lo and behold, most excellently arranged footage of Best New Band Night at First Avenue nightclub from a couple weeks back.  In the video you’ll find some live concert footage and  interviews with the artists and event organizers.  The City Pages‘ Andrea Swensson acts as your guide to the action, with a short usurpation by No Bird Sing’s Eric Blair.

Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure the microphone hand-off between Andrea and Eric was amicable.

posted January 29th, 2010 at 10:37 am MN Rock, Video New Band Night

Hey folks, I just wanted to direct your attention to an episode of MPR’s Art Hounds that aired yesterday.  One of Borangutan’s photographers, Mike Minehart, made an appearance to share a bit about Rock the Cause.  Other thoughtful submissions in the broadcast included that by Nancy Rosenbaum, speaking about Elements in Translation, and by Peter Flick, directing attention to the Frozen River Film Festival.

Listen to the broadcast below!

posted January 29th, 2010 at 10:24 am Music News Arthounds, Mike Minehart