Editors Note: Canadian-born Serena Ryder met up with us on a rainy and windy Monday evening before her show at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Minneapolis. The singer starlet recently signed with Atlantic Records, and this performance marked the start of her new nationwide tour, this time with Paolo Nutini and Eric Hutchinson. We had the pleasure of sitting down with her in her tour bus, which she says, is her “home for the next month.” This interview has been condensed for clarity.
Schwaz: Welcome back to Minneapolis, Serena Ryder!
Serena: (in a melodious response) Hellllo, Everybody! (laughter) Schwaz: You’ve been on tour in the past, going as far as Europe and Australia, right? What have been some of your favorite moments or memories from your previous tours?
Serena: I think mostly, just the comradery that happens when you’re on the road touring with people. Being able to open up for artists and learning a lot from them. I went to Australia with Steve Earle, I was the opening artist for him, and he kind of took me under his wing and treated me really, really great. Another big, huge, awesome memory for me is when I played this festival out east. One of the people I wanted to marry ever since I was a little baby, was Steven Tyler, (laughter) and I got to play at the same festival as him. Read more…
Little Brazil is coming to play two shows in the Twin Cities before they open for pop-punk sensations The Plain White Tees. These boys will are making the first of two appearances in the Cities at the Garage on May 8th, then driving north to play at the Uptown Bar May 9th. Little Brazil will undoubtedly play songs from their recent album Son, which has been very well received, and has indie fans raving. Their, self described, sound is a bit indie, crunk, and melodramatic pop song-like. They remind me a little bit of Weezer… Landon Hedges clean and youthful sounding voice teleported me to a local county fair in the song “You and Me”, it was my ‘wonder years’ moment. I was surrounded by the contradiction of a peppy melody while I held hands skipping along to my dysfunctional relationship. Read more…
Drew Preiner, from Roster McCabe, getting glammed up. (Photo By Chuck Pitman)
The spirits of glam rock and philanthropy came into concert in Glitter Ball on Friday, April 18th at the St. Olaf College campus. Rock the Cause, a Minneapolis non-profit, and St. Olaf student volunteers organized the fund raiser to bring greater awareness and support for the HOPE Center and Open Arms of Minnesota. From the back-of-the-envelope planning stages to final band encore, Glitter Ball showcased an inspiring ensemble of Minnesota talent.
Rock the Cause connected the College of St. Olaf student volunteers, both of the charities which were recipients of the proceeds from the night, and the rock bands who entertained. Jordan Stolts, a Rock the Cause volunteer and visual design professional, created a display that incorporated both charities’ messages of education and inspiration. These were showcased throughout the entire night on a massive screen which hung to the right of the performance stage. Between the performances, St. Olaf student volunteers took the stage to convey pertinent information about the AIDS/HIV epidemic and the realities of sexual assault in our nation. The idea behind this exhibit was to educate while entertaining the audience without leaving them overwhelmed by the facts.
Rich Horton is hosting a celebration in honor of the 5th anniversary of Rift Magazine on Friday April 24 at the Hexagon Bar. The event is also in celebration of Rich’s 40th birthday. Rift is one of the few independent music and culture magazines in the Twin Cities that has successfully weathered the poor economic climate. In addition to its daily online updates the magazine is also incrementally released in print, satiating the appetites of those that still find satisfaction in page turning (myself included). So go down to the Hex Friday evening and show Rich and the band’s some love. Aviette, Mighty Fairly, Avenpitch, and Virtual CH will cause trembling walls.
Minneapolis retro-rockers Mercurial Rage are offering up a new 3-Sided Single for free! You can download the tunes HERE. Are you confused about exactly how something can be called a single but have three sides? Perhaps you are wondering how a musical medium can have three sides? After all, a record has two sides, as do 4-tracks, tapes, and CD’s (physically speaking). Perhaps this little background from the 3-Sided Single website will serve to clarify, and if not, God forbid you should visit the site and find the answers you seek! You go-getter, you.
What is the 3Side? (short answer)
The 3Side is a new format for music releases, designed to be something more “real” than downloading a couple of MP3’s off some site. The 3Side or 3-Sided Single is a self-contained miniature release which includes songs, artwork, credits, and whatever other media the artist chooses. Artists want to create “releases” rather than random, context-less solitary tracks. Also, serious music fans would like more information and value from digital music downloads than is provided by the current digital model. The 3Side is a perfect, bite-sized way to satisfy the urges of both artist and listener. (3-Sided Singles Website)
We dig the concept, and can’t wait to hear more from the channels of the Ed Ackerson machine. In the meantime, download and jam out to the Mercurial ones.
Bob Dylan this, Bob Dylan that. Sure, there’s been a lot of Dylan in the news recently accompanying the release of his new album Together Through Life, and we’re guilty as charged concerning Dylan news. It’s easy for one to get sick and tired of constantly hearing about a single artist, even one as colorful as Dylan. Once in awhile though someone comes up with something worth a double-take. Take The Independent’s “20 things you didn’t know about Bob Dylan.” This is pure fun, and unless you’re a Dylan nut, some things here will make you smile.
There are so many artists, and internet noise surrounds! Not a day goes by where I don’t count myself lucky to have a job that, for all intents and purposes, simply means to find new music. One beautiful thing about music is that it is always new to someone, even if an artist has released countless albums to similarly countless fans. Take Julie Doiron, since 1996. She’s achieved at least one new fan today, and that one means to create more. Ecco, below.
You Can't Make A Ghost Without It's Sheet by: Paragraphs
Self-Titled by: The Sextons
Discover Local Music
Welcome to Borangutan! We're a group of writers, photographers, and music enthusiasts who'd like to give the MN rock n' roll scene (and you) a little bump. Despite the growth of social media and networks online, it often seems harder than ever to figure out what exactly is going on in the rock 'n roll world, especially in our own backyard! We want to be your ticket to everything rock in Minnesota, and we intend to continue growing and developing this site upon a single idea - rock promotions. And if through our efforts bands sell more albums, venues sell more tickets, and listeners become fans, then this will all have been worth it.
Editors Note: Canadian-born Serena Ryder met up with us on a rainy and windy Monday evening before her show at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Minneapolis. The singer starlet recently signed with Atlantic Records, and this performance marked the start of her new nationwide tour, this time with Paolo Nutini and Eric Hutchinson. We had the pleasure of sitting down with her in her tour bus, which she says, is her “home for the next month.” This interview has been condensed for clarity.
Little Brazil is coming to play two shows in the Twin Cities before they open for pop-punk sensations The Plain White Tees. These boys will are making the first of two appearances in the Cities at the Garage on May 8th, then driving north to play at the Uptown Bar May 9th. Little Brazil will undoubtedly play songs from their recent album Son, which has been very well received, and has indie fans raving. Their, self described, sound is a bit indie, crunk, and melodramatic pop song-like. They remind me a little bit of Weezer… Landon Hedges clean and youthful sounding voice teleported me to a local county fair in the song “You and Me”, it was my ‘wonder years’ moment. I was surrounded by the contradiction of a peppy melody while I held hands skipping along to my dysfunctional relationship. 
Minneapolis retro-rockers Mercurial Rage are offering up a new 3-Sided Single for free! You can download the tunes 
)
Bob Dylan this, Bob Dylan that. Sure, there’s been a lot of Dylan in the news recently accompanying the release of his new album Together Through Life, and we’re 
There are so many artists, and internet noise surrounds! Not a day goes by where I don’t count myself lucky to have a job that, for all intents and purposes, simply means to find new music. One beautiful thing about music is that it is always new to someone, even if an artist has released countless albums to similarly countless fans. Take Julie Doiron, since 1996. She’s achieved at least one new fan today, and that one means to create more. Ecco, below.
Recent Comments