If you still haven’t decided what you’re doing on New Year’s Eve yet, this video should help you to figure that out. It’s Mark Mallman, Mike Schwandt from White Light Riot, Carin Barno from First Communion Afterparty, and Koo Koo Kanga Roo performing The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love”. The “MallRats” are especially entertaining as well.

Perhaps this is a sneak preview of what to expect at The Varsity on NYE? The only way to know for sure is to be there, and I know I will be. I strongly recommend getting your tickets now because Mallman’s legendary NYE show at The Varsity always sells out quite early.

Still wondering what else there might be to do on NYE though? Check Borangutan on Monday, December 28th, as we’ll be featuring a venue-by-venue list of basically every show that we’re aware of in town. And there are many, oh, there are many…

Links

Mark Mallman – Website / MySpace

White Light Riot – MySpace

First Communion Afterparty – MySpace

Koo Koo Kanga Roo – Website / MySpace

posted December 17th, 2009 at 1:09 pm Video First Communion Afterparty, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Mark Mallman, White Light Riot

Joey Ryan & The Inks are preparing to release their debut album Well, Here We Are Then this Friday, December 18th at the Triple Rock Social Club. They’ve only been playing as a band for a little over a year-and-a-half, yet their catchy throwback sound and fun stage presence already sets them apart from much of the Twin Cities music scene. Go see them live already and pick up their record too, as I am certain you will undoubtedly enjoy this band.

From left to right: Paul Flowers (keyboards & vocals), Chris Mitchell (guitar & vocals), Joey Ryan (guitar & lead vocals), Ryan Mach (drums), Matt Mitchell (bass).

Mike: You guys are pretty much a new band on the scene. You’ve only been playing for about 18 months now, so tell me a little bit about the band’s origins and how you all met?

Chris: Matt and I are brothers. (band laughs)

Matt: We’ve known each other for quite a while. (more laughs) Other than that, Joey and I played in a band together called The Exchange that ended about two years ago. And Joey and Paul were in a band together…

Paul: We were in a band called The School Shootings for like two years (background laughter), and you can tell by the name it didn’t really work out. (continued laughs) We went to elementary school together as well.

Joey: That is the truth, Paul and I went to elementary school together, and Matt and I played in a band together. And then, like Matt was saying, The Exchange came to an end, and I started playing some solo shows for a while. Got bored with seeing myself on stage, and had talked to Ryan Mach—actually, well, talked to everybody kind of at the same time—because Matt and I were looking to play with some other people and start recording some other songs more geared towards the full-band realm of things. We got some other guys involved, and then Mach’s back-story goes… Read more…

posted December 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm MN Rock

Got plans for Friday night?  If not, you may want to consider swinging into the Varsity for Susstacular.  The Susstones folks have been busy this year cracking out new albums left and right, and it’s not often that one can see them all in a single night.  The foreboding caveat following Polara’s name suggests this may be the last time for some time!

Here’s a Two Harbors song to get you headed in the right direction.

[audio=http://borangutan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/02-What-I-Keep-Inside.mp3]

“What I Keep Inside” by: Two Harbors

Links

Polara – Website / Myspace

Two Harbors – Website / Myspace

The Mood Swings – Website / Myspace

Mercurial Rage – Website / Myspace

Blue Sky Blackout – Website

Joe Werner – Myspace

posted December 16th, 2009 at 1:57 pm Concert Announcements Blue Sky Blackout, Joe Werner, Mercurial Rage, Polara, The Mood Swings, Two Harbors

What’s more ridiculous than shopping at Mall of America during the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday?  Well, this, maybe?

Links

Ari Herstand – Website / Myspace

posted December 15th, 2009 at 3:02 pm Video Ari Herstand

“Jessica” is a very, very well produced video, and certainly something special for all the Jessicas out there.  You can catch Quietdrive do this number live on December 26th at Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater.  They’ll be supported by Take Cover, Catchpenny, and All The Right Moves.

Links

Quietdrive – Website / Myspace

posted December 15th, 2009 at 2:47 pm Video All The Right Moves, Catchpenny, Quietdrive, Take Cover

Brace yourselves fans of classic rock, Citizen Sage has something new for the 21st Century.  Filmed on the streets of Minneapolis, locals might recognize some the iconic locales featured in the video for “No, Love.”  I think I’ve pinned most of it down, but I still haven’t figured out exactly what building/parking ramp the band jams out on.  Any guesses?

Citizen Sage will be offering up a public premier of this new video at the Fine Line Music Cafe this Thursday, December 17, at 8:00 PM.  The event is 18+.  They’ll be joined by Lucas Cates, Matthew Griswold, Brian Laidlaw.

Links

Citizen Sage – Facebook / Myspace

posted December 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am Video Citizen Sage