Earworm Of The Week: Daughter

Granted, Daughter is not a local act. Nor is it new music, but I recently discovered the bare bones, three-piece band and I can’t stop hitting “repeat.” Daughter is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Elena Tonra. Along with her guitarist boyfriend Igor Haefeli, and drummer Remi Aguilella, Tonra creates a moody mix of bedroom folk, indie rock, and techno pop that is both emotionally evocative and aurally addictive (not unlike infatuation itself). The band has released two EPs (His Young Heart and Wild Youth), and is working on its debut album. As for live shows, unless you have a trip planned to England, Germany, or Iceland, you won’t be able to catch this intoxicating trio in concert anytime soon. ‘Til then, this tune, “In The Shallows,” will have to tide you over.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more irresistible earworms!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Bad Bad Hats

Bad Bad Hats are a fun, infectious duo based in the Twin Cities. Kerry Alexander (Vocals, Guitar) and Chris Hoge (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums) released their debut, a 3-song EP titled Grow Up, in February and are currently offering the tunes as a free download on bandcamp. We are really looking forward to hearing more from these quirky up-and-comers!




Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Culture Cry Wolf

Local eclectic collective Culture Cry Wolf play a rollicking mix of punk, ska, rock, and pop, and cite many other genres as sonic influences. Employing an arsenal of instrumentation, this six-piece is guaranteed to get you grooving on the dance floor. The band has shared stages with national music celebs like Macklemore as well as Minnesotan musicians Sims and Cecil Otter (of Doomtree). This video, for the tune “Me, Myself, and I” was released on June 19. See them perform this song—among many others—live at the Triple Rock on June 27.




Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more new material from Twin Cities musicians.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Motion City Soundtrack

Hometown heroes Motion City Soundtrack have been rocking out all over the world since 1997. Their fifth studio album, Go, was released on June 12 as a collaborative effort between Epitaph Records and the band's own label, The Boombox Generation. The band returns to the Twin Cities on June 23 for the River's Edge Music Festival on Harriet Island.





Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more local acts that made it big!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: A. Wolf and Her Claws

Aby Wolf has been mesmerizing local audiences for years with her sultry, layered pop vocals.

Photo by Sharolyn B. Hagen

In 2011, she joined forces with Joey Van Phillips (Drums, Vibraphone), Linnea Mohn (Keyboard, Vocals), and Jesse Whitney (Synth) for A. Wolf & Her Claws. The quartet released their first album of avant-garde yet elegant dance-ready tracks in April 2012. Expect to see A. Wolf & Her Claws out and about this summer, with spots already booked at Bastille Day and the Basilica Block Party.

This video, for the song "Drama Queen," was filmed by Dan Huiting and features several sexy night shots of the Twin Cities skyline.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more musical surprises.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Kristoff Krane

Kristoff Krane’s musical style can’t be contained to one genre. A singer-songwriter who’s been known to whip out an acoustic guitar and croon like Bob Dylan one minute, then spit freestyle the next, this rapper is pure firecracker spunk. An artist who thrives on audience responses to his music, Krane often eschews the stage for up-close-and-personal performances with his fans mere inches from the mic. The intense tunes, paired with Krane’s unparalleled passion, leave you energized, if unsettled, long after the show is over. ‘Til his next live appearance, this video will have to tide you over.

"Birthday Song" is the first music video from Krane's new release fanfaronade. The album is available as a free download on bandcamp.




Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more new local music.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple hardly needs an introduction, though the feisty siren with a knack for stellar songwriting has been mostly silent since her last release, 2005's Extraordinary Machine. Following her appearance at this year's SXSW, Apple incorporated this incredible tune that documents the creative struggle into her live show. Her new album, The Idler Wheel... drops on June 19 and her nationwide tour kicks off that same day. Apple will dazzle her Twin Cities fans on July 16 at the Orpheum Theater.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more great songs from local and national acts.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Dylan Hicks

Dylan Hicks boasts a pair of creative talents that few in the Twin Cities have before: musician and author.

Hicks has three albums under his belt and a recently released novel, Boarded Windows. Hicks is a Minnesota Music Award winner and was included in Da Capo’s Best Music Writing anthology in 2007. His short fiction has appeared in Swink, Dislocate, the Rake, Hobart, and Pindeldyboz, and his essays have appeared in the Village Voice, the New York Times, Spin, City Pages, the Star Tribune, and Rain Taxi. Hicks is also a contributor at emusic.com. Hicks has read at events for Paper Darts, at Open Book, the U of MN bookstore, and Bryant Lake Bowl.

This video for his tune “West Texas Winds” was filmed, in all places, in a K-mart parking lot in Minnesota.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more local gems.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: David LeDuc

David LeDuc (of Pictures of Then and The Less Complex) released the video for his new track "Amends" last night. This project was collaborative, calling on the talents of seven musicians worldwide in addition to LeDuc, who penned the tune. Paul Haataja (of the Twin Cities rock band Far From Falling and Fuzzy Fotography) directed the video.

"The track was recorded piece by piece and each contributor wrote and recorded their part in separate studios from around the globe," LeDuc explained in his press release. LeDuc then collected the contributions via the Internet and arranged and mixed the final track in Minneapolis.

Musicians featured on the track are Ein Astronaut (Germany, drums), Laurena Segura (Quebec, vocals), J.B. Dazen (The Netherlands, bass), Arno Ceres (France, MIDI Sounds), Raven Zoë (Oregon, vocals), Bob Clagett (Georgia, guitars) and Mykl Westbrooks (Minneapolis, guitars).





Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: The Further Adjustments

The Further Adjustments are a roots-rock band that have been jamming on the Twin Cities scene for three years. Members Reilly Partridge (Guitar/Vox) and Josh Wiederin (Drums) began making music as high-schoolers in Iowa. They later joined guitarists Zach Olson and Alec Albright, both from Fargo, when all four paths collided in Minneapolis in 2009. The band has since played steady gigs around town and released their first full-length album Foxfire.

The Further Adjustments will be our in-studio guests on Wednesday, May 9. In the meantime, whet your aural appetite with this tune, “Guns n’ Gold” and see them live at The Fine Line on April 29 and opening for Sleepy Sun at the 7th Street Entry on May 3!



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Deep Soul Deities

Deep Soul Deities is a funk/soul/hip-hop/Afro hybrid group from Minneapolis. Featuring Tim Edstrom (vocals), Dave Tiede (drums), Rachel Price (alto sax and vocals), Jake Staron (guitar, keys, and vocals), Kyle Novak (tenor and soprano sax, flute, vocals) and Dan Zamzow (bass), Deep Soul Deities specializes in "grooves inside of grooves inside of grooves inside of grooves inside of grooves." The six-piece released their debut EP, Strange Brew in 2010 and is currently putting the final touches on their first full-length, set to drop on May 13.




Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more obscure--yet awesome--local acts!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Trampled By Turtles

How could we not choose Trampled By Turtles as this week's featured band? The locally bred bluegrass outfit just released their new album, Stars and Satelittes, and had their own official day proclaimed by the Mayors of both Duluth and Minneapolis as a tightly packed, and very rapt, sold-out crowd at First Avenue looked on.

This tune, Alone, encompasses both the frantic fiddle-heavy sounds and the tender lullaby lyics that frontman and primary songwriter Dave Simonett is known for.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more Twin Cities musicians making waves on the local scene.

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Andrew Bird

Though technically not a Minnesotan, the Windy City's Andrew Bird spends enough time in the Twin Cities to considered an honorary resident. Bird's delightful hybrid of string instrumentation, wistful vocals, and intermittent whistling lend an old-world sound to lyrics that are wise beyond Bird's 38 years.

Bird, who has released previous albums on both Fat Possum and Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe labels, was recently signed to Mom+Pop, with whom he scored the soundtrack for the indie film Norman and released his latest full-length Break It Yourself.

This video, for Bird's song Danse Caribe, was filmed by MPLS.TV at The Sound Gallery, which is owned by Jacob Grun, a forthcoming guest on our show!



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more exceptional local-ish acts!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: The Honeydogs

Most Minnesotans hardly need an introduction to The Honeydogs. Fronted by local icon Adam Levy and backed by the musical talents of Peter J. Sands, Stephen Kung, Trent Norton, Matt Darling and Peter Anderson, The Honeydogs have 18 years of onstage performances under their belts. Though best known for their single "I Miss You", this sometimes-twangy, always pleasing, pop-rock-Americana outfit is on the brink of releasing their 10th studio album, What Comes After. Join the band at First Avenue on March 10 to hear "Aubben" and all their other radio-ready tunes live. Rogue Valley and Farewell Milwaukee open the show.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more local music movers and shakers!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Mason Jennings

Mason Jennings is one of the Twin Cities' most beloved artists.

Jennings’ expansive sonic catalog is plush with songs that pair simple instrumentals with profound lyricism. His albums have examined the gamut of the human experience, from coming-of-age tunes to heartbreak ballads. Themes of gratitude, spirituality, love, parenthood, addiction, and death are evident in all of his albums.

Personally invited by Jack Johnson to join the Brushfire Records label, on which he recorded 2006's Boneclouds, Jennings later returned to independent musicianship.

"I have come to the point in my life and my art where I just want to make music that I love and not mess with it," Jennings says. "If people dig it: cool. If not: cool. I will be making it anyway. I have to."

This song, "Well of Love", is distinctly bouncier than its piano-based counterparts on Jennings' latest release, Minnesota. The quirky combination of live action and animation in this video is a visual stunner. With its irresistible horn blasting beat, this tune is sure to get you on your feet. Goodbye winter blues!



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more amazing local musicians!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Farewell Milwaukee

With a tender mix of melancholy and nostalgia, Farewell Milwaukee creates swoon-worthy country tunes. The Minneapolis-based band released their sophomore effort, When It Sinks In, in 2011 and has since exploded on the local scene. They sold out their recent show with Romantica at the Cedar Cultural Center, were featured on Minnesota Original, and have landed tracks on the MN Music For Kids compilation and Cities '97 Sampler Volume 23. Frontman Ben Lubeck was also a finalist in NPR’s 2010 Mountain Stage New Song contest. This song, You're The Cure, is a light-hearted, toe-tapping jam, filmed by Nathaniel Schmidt in somebody's living room.

- Erica Rivera


Farewell Milwaukee - You're The Cure from Nathaniel Schmidt Media on Vimeo.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

Earworm Of The Week: Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten’s career began in Nashville and was formed on a foundation of rock, folk, and country music. Van Etten went more mainstream following her move to Brooklyn and the release of her album Epic, which was chosen as a favorite record of NPR in 2010.

Van Etten’s latest full-length, Tramp, continues the singer’s tradition of evoking bittersweet memories about love gone wrong, ambiguous relationships, and the melancholic artist temperament. The beauty of Van Etten’s sound is her simplicity and cutthroat lyricism; this track is especially heart-wrenching with its refrain “We all make mistakes/I do what I can.”

Van Etten brings her new collection of songs to the Cedar Cultural Center on Feb. 18.

- Erica Rivera



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

Earworm Of The Week: Craig Finn

Craig Finn, best known for his role as the frontman for The Hold Steady, has embarked on a solo side project, the result of which is Clear Heart, Full Eyes, his full-length debut released on Vagrant records. This song, “Rented Room,” exposes a more vulnerable side of Finn, complete with island-esque waves of instrumentation. Finn played this, and other new tunes, to a sold-out crowd at the Triple Rock over the weekend.

- Erica Rivera



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

Earworm Of The Week: The Pines

Drawing from Americana and bluegrass influences, The Pines are an underappreciated Twin Cities act. Their first full-length, Tremolo, wove haunting ballads like “Heart and Bones” with boot stomping tunes like “Pray Tell.” The delicate balance between edgy and atmospheric defines singer-songwriters David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey’s music. The result is rich, authentic sounds reminiscent of a simpler life and bittersweet times gone by.

This track is from The Pines’ forthcoming album, Dark So Gold, which will hopefully be on the set list at their release show at the Cedar Cultural Center on Feb. 17.

- Erica Rivera

The PINES - Cry, Cry, Crow (Official Music Video) from The PINES on Vimeo.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.

Earworm Of The Week: Senakah

Robert Hope of Senakah (formerly Seneca), the alternative Irish outfit, just gave us the heads up on the band’s newest video. The video was written by and stars Ben Morrison from MTV’s Punk’d. Seneca’s album Human Relations drops on Feb. 17 on iTunes! For more on Seneca, visit the band’s website here.

- Erica Rivera



Tune into ”Live From Studio 5!” on Wednesdays from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio.