U2 has a well-known song called “New Year’s Day” obviously, but Minneapolis singer-songwriter Phil Solem (best known as one half of 90’s mega-pop-rock duo The Rembrandts) has his own song called “New Year’s Eve”. And since that just so happens to be today, why not take a listen?

Phil is playing tonight at Station 4 opening for Grant Hart, but if you can’t make that you can check him out next at Sauce on February 6th with Mars to Mercury and The Notties.

Links

Phil Solem – MySpace

posted December 31st, 2009 at 3:58 pm Concert Announcements, MN Rock Phil Solem

Minneapolis’ France Has The Bomb recently posted to their myspace blog a link to a BMX video featuring their song “Grim Trigger.”  The video shows late 90’s BMX star Brian Foster performing, for lack of better description, a bunch of crazy stuff I would never dream of trying my hand (or pedal) at.  It’s a pretty stellar montage overall, but most importantly, it gives you the best excuse you never needed to listen to “Grim Trigger.”

France Has The Bomb will play the 7th Street Entry on January 16th, along with Tiger Bones, Bombay Sweets, and Invisible Boy.

Links

France Has The Bomb – Myspace

posted December 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pm MN Rock, Video France Has The Bomb

A few months back Northern Outpost put forth a bit of live footage from Mark Mallman’s CD release show at First Avenue on September 5.  Now, perhaps as a sort of Holiday gift to all of us, they’ve opened the vault from the show and made available all live footage from that evening.  Below is a video of Mallman performing one of my personal favorites from his new album Invincible Criminal, entitled “White Leather Days.”

Mark Mallman will perform tomorrow night on New Year’s Eve at the Varsity Theater.

Links

Mark Mallman – Website / Myspace

posted December 30th, 2009 at 11:42 am MN Rock, Video Mark Mallman

With so many local bands and artists in Minnesota, it can be difficult for a blogger (not to mention everyone else!) to keep up with everything coming around and past the bend.  Throughout 2009 our digital music libraries have swelled with submissions from artists around world, and we owe a debt of gratitude to each for sharing their art with us.  For many of these folks, we shared their music with Borangutan readers in the same fashion they shared it with us.  Yet for others, we regrettably lost track of time and couldn’t get around to sharing theirs, and to these, we’ll renew efforts to push some things through in 2010.

But somewhere amongst the tumult of bulging email boxes, swelling computer folders, and overwhelming varieties of digital stimuli are the traditional, nicely packaged compact discs that, although they are a dying breed in an increasingly digitized music world, stand as a reminder that even today there is value found in the tangible.  Below we’ve selected a number of albums that were presented to us in hard copy form either by people at shows or through our mailing address.  By recognizing the work of these artists and bands we keep true to the age old saying – better late than never.

John Snell the Tenth – Ignition To On Position

John Snell has been creating music and releasing albums for well over a decade, but until a chance encounter at the end of summer 2009 he had flown entirely under our radar.   Ignition To On Position cultivates deep psychedelic roots and folk mentalities, influences that Snell is all but secretive about.  Even his webpage proudly proclaims that “Great psychedelic music is still being written today, it was just hard to find until now.”   We couldn’t agree more!  A listen to Ignition To On Position will not only introduce you to Snell’s personal brand of psychedelia for the 21st century, but also his quirky approach to modern day subject matter.  Songs like “What’s On Snellevision?” showcase Snell’s comfort in flirting with the absurd, while contrasting tunes like “Song On Global Climate Change” display no reservations about delving into a deep dialogue with a listener.

“Song On Global Climate Change” by: John Snell the Tenth

Links

John Snell the Tenth – Website / Myspace / iTunes
Read more…

posted December 29th, 2009 at 1:43 pm MN Rock, Reviews Ada Jane, Falcon Arrow, John Snell the Tenth, Kill to Kill, Zombie Season

New Year’s Eve is inevitably one of the biggest nights of the year for live music events. If you’re looking for a killer show to check out in the cities you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of possibilities. But we’re here to help out by giving you a simple venue-by-venue list with all the important details included below. This list may also be added to as more information comes in.

The Varsity Theater

Mark Mallman →
with
White Light Riot
First Communion Afterparty
Koo Koo Kanga Roo

8 PM doors (9 PM show), 18+, $12

RSVP on Facebook

Mike’s note: This is the show I’ll be at. Mallman, already one of the most epic performers in town, truly pulls out all the stops on NYE and has done this show at The Varsity since 2006. This show will sell out as usual. I went in 2007, which featured his now-notorious “scooter solo” stunt. He revved a power scooter’s tire back-and-forth across his keyboard from a ramp set up at the front of the stage. Also of note: NYE falls on a second full moon in December (sometimes referred to as a “blue moon”), which means that there’s serious potential for a MALLWOLF sighting. YES.

Read more…

posted December 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm Concert Announcements, MN Rock

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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All The Right Moves - The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis - 12/26/09

posted December 28th, 2009 at 11:16 am MN Rock, Seein' the Scene All The Right Moves, Catchpenny, Half Demon Doll, Lynhurst, Quietdrive, Take Cover

We hope you’re enjoying the holiday season (though digging out from mountains of snow is another matter!) and offer you a classic Christmas song to listen to. It’s “Carol of the Bells” as performed by Ari Herstand off the Home For The Holidays – A Minnesota Christmas album. Over a dozen local acts are included in this collection of classic and contemporary holiday tunes, and all net proceeds benefit four local non-profits: Second Harvest, Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul Parks Conservancy, and Under Construction.

Sip on some hot chocolate while you listen to this tune, and don’t forget to check Borangutan again on Monday because we’ll be unveiling a list of 40+ (!) local shows and events all happening on New Year’s Eve. So whether you’re looking for the hottest show in town (there are multiple candidates) or just a place that isn’t charging an exorbitant cover (there’s even some great free shows!), you’ll probably find exactly what you’re looking for in the list we’ve compiled.

posted December 25th, 2009 at 8:08 am MN Rock Ari Herstand

Romantica just dropped their new album last Sunday night at the Cedar Cultural Center, entitled Control Alt Country Delete.  The following live performance is that of “These Things Are Too Beautiful,” filmed at the 89.3 The Current studios.  That the album was recorded in a single day is impressive in and of itself, yet more impressive to me is the poeticism in music that Romantica still clearly deems valuable to songcraft.  Listen as Ben Kyle sings “I have tried to understand, the way of God and the way of man.”

Lines like these are timeless, and I’d love to see what a musical cross-section of a Romantica/The Eels collaboration would look and sound like.  Control Alt Country Delete may just be your ticket through a long, cold, Minnesota winter.  Snag your copy HERE, and stay warm through this blizzard.

Links

Romantica – Website / Myspace

posted December 23rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm MN Rock, Video Romantica

There isn’t much footage of flowery fields found in this video from First Communion Afterparty, but there are plenty of cool snippets of various antics that took place (presumably) on a road trip out West.  It’s a video and memento altogether, and not a bad way to spend the next four minutes of your life!  Enjoy.

First Communion Afterparty will be playing New Year’s Eve at the Varsity Theater along with Mark Mallman and White Light Riot.  Sounds like a fine way to usher in the new year to me.

Links

First Communion Afterparty – Myspace

posted December 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm MN Rock, Video First Communion Afterparty

After a busy year that saw the release of new album Field Day and tours across the country (including a few shows opening for another one of Minnesota’s own: Owl City), Lynhurst is finally back home for an all-ages show at Station 4 on December 27th. And in the spirit of the holiday season, the band is offering a pair of free tickets to this show for anyone who downloads their new album from iTunes, Amazon, or Rhapsody.

Here’s Mari from Lynhurst with more info:

If you already own Field Day but still want to take the band up on this great offer, you could buy the album as a gift for a friend of course. Either way, be sure to check out Lynhurst in an intimate venue while you can, as they’ve already confirmed another show supporting Owl City at The State Theatre here on May 1st. And in the (what I would consider likely) event they begin to garner even half as much attention as Owl City has gotten lately, I’d say it’s a sure bet that they’ll be headlining large venues in no time too.

Links

Lynhurst – MySpace / Facebook

posted December 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am Concert Announcements, MN Rock Lynhurst