Shape Up :: Total Babe

Shape Up by Total Babe

Well hey there world. We've all been sadly remiss in our blogging. I figure life happens, people get busy, blogging drops by the wayside. However, the time is ripe for our grand return to the blogosphere. Who knows, maybe we'll even venture out into the twitterverse.

Today I bring you the tune "Shape Up" by local Minneapolis band Total Babe. These folks played at the Twin Cities Avengers Glamboree fundraiser back in the early spring and totally stole the show. Since then, they've been busy getting rave reviews in all sorts of places, from the City Pages to Bust magazine. If you happen to be in the Twin Cities, they'll be playing at First Ave with Jeremy Messersmith and Chastity Brown coming up on September 18th at 6pm.

"Shape Up" has an amazingly catchy hook, but as a deficient whistler I'm impressed by anyone that can whistle a tune. Listen for the perfectly complimentary violin arrangement, a common thread through all of Total Babe's music. For more metaphorically minded musical descriptions, scroll on down through the Total Babe myspace page and read all those rave reviews.

For the Taste :: Black Blondie

Black Blondie is a local Minneapolis band that plays alternative/experimental/R&B music (that's a self-description off of myspace, folks).

Highlights:
Lead singer Samahra's amazing vocals, snarly lyrics and riot grrl attitude.
Drummer Kahlil Brewington's extremely effortless sounding rhythms that subtly push the songs forward, completely setting the tone of the songs blending perfectly with bassist Liz Draper and Tasha Baron's sexy keyboard/organ/synth parts she creates without using samples.
The songs meander through genres, sometimes reminiscent of 60s motown, then shifting into 80s synth pop, sliding into eerie gritty ambient R&B.

Okay. I'm done exploring pitchfork-y descriptions of music.

I think Black Blondie are awesome, and you should check out their new CD "Do You Remember Who You Want to Be?" OR if you are free and able to get over to the Electric Fetus, they are playing live at the Electric Fetus tonight, May 14th at 6:30pm. You can also catch them next weekend at the Memory Lanes Block Party, right by Pi (rest in peace).

Black Blondie

Something Sweet :: Acting Normal

Acting Normal
(in a line)...

This particular local group has become a new favorite of mine - mainly because my friend Susan Tanabe (last one on the right) is in it :P But also because they are REALLY GOOD! It has been a long time since I've seen a group of people that really just know how to jam and have a good time on stage, and these folks sure do know how to entertain! Accompanying the sweet vocal stylings of lead singer, Michael Valentine and Susan (standing next to each other) are a trap set, hand drums, a cello, keyboards, and guitar (with the occasional mouth trumpet - my personal fav!). I am very excited to go to more live shows by this group, but also to buy their EP when it comes out in March (hopefully!!!). Valentine and Tanabe's vocals blend very well together, and you can tell that this particular group experiences many moments of musical communion with one another.

Valentine's voice sort of reminds me a little of Death Cab For Cutie singer Benjamin Gibbard, specifically in that 'I can listen to this guy sing for a long time and not get annoyed because he's actually genuine rather than whinney, plus he's super cute and very talented' sort of way. :D What sets Acting Normal apart from most other local bands is that not only are they very talented musicians that work well together, they have a very tight sound. They are very well put together and not just your average thrown together garage band.

If you're ever in the Twin Cities area and can happen upon a show of theirs, (they've performed at Acadia a few times already this year...) you should totally make it happen.

Unfortunately, I can't embed any of their music on this site, so you'll have to click HERE to check out a couple of their songs - my personal favorite is the first one called Something Sweet. To find out more about Acting Normal, click HERE (I recomend checking out their site for all their funny promo pictures as well - they are funny!)

So, I hope y'all enjoy.
The end.

Love, Meggo.

(Me and Susan rockin Pirate faces and hooks.)

Speak New Words: Walk in Harmony :: Bethany Deline

Bethany Deline

Ukulele Player, Dancer, and Designer Extraordinaire

In case you haven't guessed already, this is my wonderful new friend, Bethany Deline. Not only is she at the U of M design school with me, but she also has a dance background and a sparkling smile. Aside from automatically being cooler than the rest of us by being from Canadia, she has also written and recoded several lovely tunes. Although she has been finding time recently to write, the music that she has up on her website currently is an eclectic mix of covers and original stuff, all with a Bethany twist. The ukulele is an instrument that can stand on its own and goes well with images of sandy beaches and warm summer days, but (I feel) is a difficult instrument to pair with others. It is so simple and sweet sounding that it would just sound wrong with big drums or rich strings. However, Bethany uses her voice, simple clapping, guitar, and even tapping to add depth and dimension to her stuff. Tapping is my clear favorite, but not simply because it is a dance form. The tapped rhythms are able to be so much complex than a clapped one, and the sound is so light and bright that it compliments her ukulele beautifully.

This particular tune, even though she begged me to use a "better" song, displays the spirit of her music well and it's more fun since there's a video that goes with it! :) The people that make those "Responsibility: pass it on" commercials could take a lesson from Bethany. So take a listen!

For more of Bethany, check out her myspace HERE and her personal website HERE.

Galaxies :: Laura Veirs

I stumbled upon Laura Veirs a while back when I got "lost" on youtube. Galaxies is my quintessential "sad song." Everyone has one, right? I'll be listening to Laura come that dreaded day: 2.14.2009. Yipeee!

At any rate, Laura Veirs is a Seattle based indie folk artist. If I weren't so tired, I'd probably pretend to be more of a blogger and write something. But I am tired.

Have a listen!

LAURA VEIRS - GALAXIES
Uploaded by huntylch

When you sing
When you sing
Stars fill up my eyes

Galaxies...
Pour down my cheeks
Galaxies…
They flood the street
Galaxies...

When we dance
When we dance
Eels and sea grass float on by

I’m ten thousand leagues...
Beneath the sea
I'm ten thousand leagues…
Beneath the green
Ten thousand leagues...

When we kiss
When we kiss
Bears and boulders vibrate through the air

Gravity...
Is dead you see
No gravity…
All I need...
Is beating red
No gravity…

No gravity (no, no, no, no, no, no, no gravity)
No gravity (no, no, no, no, no, no, no gravity)
No gravity (no, no, no, no, no, no, no gravity)
No gravity (no, no, no, no, no, no, no gravity)

Imperfect :: Jen Wood

I love watching movies, especially after a night like last night! Happy 2009! I spent the day recovering on my couch, watching old movies including one of my personal favorites, "But I'm A Cheerleader" circa 1999. This time watching it, I was particularly struck by the films theme song, "Glass Vase Cello Case" by Tattle Tale. So I went exploring for the song online and found Jen Wood, one half of the Tattle Tale duo, and local Seattleite. Upon further exploration of her music, I feel like I've found a gem in Jen Wood!

So, in the spirit of celebrating local music, LISTEN TO JEN WOOD! Musically, I think she's somewhere between Brandi Carlile and Maria Taylor. Jen has Maria's calm vocal styling, but sings about love and life in the same honesty as Brandi. (And yes, we know each other on a first-name basis).





Here's one of my favorite songs: Imperfect, released on her second album "No More Wading."

Enjoy!
-Vincent

p.s., She's makin my gaydar go off. thoughts?



Lyrics:

I love my words
that have spilled into song
all of my words
that have come out wrong
I often lose my grace and spit it aloud
I often lose my face and put my foot in my mouth
sometimes it seems easier to leave everything unsaid
but it only gets worse if it stays in your head
and I look back and listen to the words that I've said
and yeah, I must admit I disagree with some of them

So don't peer over my shoulder as if I'm hiding a flaw
I never said I was perfect
so, why don't you back off?
so, don't peer over my shoulder as if I'm hiding a flaw
I never said I was perfect
so, why don't you back off?

Miracles :: Jeremy Messersmith

This song came on the radio last night when I was cooking dinner for my housemates. I was intrigued. So this morning I've been wandering around the internet listening to some of his stuff and all that. I discovered that Jeremy Messersmith is based in Minneapolis (hurray for local music) and would give out free copies of his music wrapped in paper bags which got the attention of princess records.

Anyways. Back to this song. It's called "miracles" and has this Elliot Smith/Brian Wilson-esque vibe to it. I couldn't find lyrics anywhere, but he sings fairly clearly. Happy Wednesday!

Sprung :: David Brusie

Let's talk new. Let's talk local. Let's talk Minneapolis musician David Brusie and his new album Flyover State. And in doing so, let's plug his CD release show Friday night (TOMORROW!!!) at The Beat in Minneapolis. And if we're going to bring that up, let's make sure to point out that none other than much-blogged-about Jayber Crow is also sharing the bill!

I have known Brusie for a couple of years through, uh, our adult person jobs that pay the bills. But I didn't know until recently that he has been performing in the Twin Cities for a few years now, as a musician and with theater-comedy troupe Brave New Workshop. Admittedly, despite my curiousity and best intentions, I hadn't checked out his new album Flyover State until last weekend. After I did, I kicked myself that I hadn't done it earlier, especially after my mournful post last week about the lack of inspiring music coming my way.

A little pop, a little rock, a little folk, and awfully catchy, Flyover State is a solid piece of work. The album boasts an impressive 13 tracks, drawing from a range of influences. Brusie's lyrics are interesting, some pensive, some funny. This album is easy to listen to, but also engaging - this is more than just another indie pop rock background filler album. I'm looking forward to see what Brusie does in the upcoming year.

So, without further adieu, today's song o' the day is "Sprung", the opening track from Flyover State. Well produced and complete with hand claps and catchy rifts, it is effervescent and brings a smile to my face.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ON DAVID'S MYSPACE!

Lyrics - David Brusie, "Sprung"
The hours, the waking hours for the walking wounded
Dead flowers underfoot with sunlight overhead
It's all beginning
And this time I'm here

This time it's all been sprung
From what's been punctured
This time it's all been done
And it all looks so vaguely familiar
And I missed you when I was gone
I walked away the moment I saw me
But I missed you when I was gone

Goodnight to all the demons and restrictors
And now good morning to those who watched me fade
The air's returning
To forgotten lungs

This time it's all been sprung
From what's been punctured
This time it's all been done
And the second hand reverses from curses
And I missed you when I was gone
You may have missed me, I was under the surface
But I missed you when I was gone

You're fast asleep, I'm wide awake
You're slow to rise, I'm fast to break
The days are short, the nights are long
And I missed you when I was gone
You're fast asleep, I'm wide awake
You're slow to rise, I'm fast to break
The days are short, the nights are long
And I missed you when I was gone

Want to hear more? Head on over to The Beat tomorrow night for a great night of locally grown music! As a bonus, if you are already a Jayber Crow fan, tomorrow is a rare opportunity to see a local show. Sure, you could go see Jayber Crow with Cloud Cult the next night at St. John's, but why not see them here in Minneapolis instead? If you don't know Jayber Crow yet, look them up starting with this very blog, because you are in for a real treat.


David Brusie Flyover State Release Show
Friday, October 17, 2008
with special guests Jayber Crow and Anthony Newes
The Beat
1414 W 28th St, Mpls
$6 admission

Be there or be square, folks.
XOXO
Kim