On Deck: Painted Saints

Our guests tonight are Painted Saints, comprised of Paul Fonfara (Vocals, Guitar, Clarinet, Viola, Bandoneon, drawings and paintings), Jonathan Kaiser (Cello), Josh Granowski (Bass), Kelly O’dea (Violin), and Chris Hepola (Drums).

Per their bio, "Painted Saints hail from Denver/Minneapolis and do the ever so popular spaghetti western-heroin klezmer-chamber country-sad bastard thing. They write tin can and twine romances in a color of rust with backdrops of long wind swept open roads framed by tangled barbed wire and naked telephone poles. Their songs are of ashtray broken hearts and landscapes of beauty and sorrow borrowing harmonies from old Eastern Europe, the desert southwest and the sentiments of working class rust belt Americana. they are also really into pompous descriptions."

Tune into KFAI (90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online) between 10 PM and Midnight tonight to hear their in-studio performance!

On Deck: Saltee

Featuring Jacqueline Ultan (cello), Mike Michel (guitars), and Carnage (voice/beatboxing), Saltee is an Indie, urban, organic, neo-classical trio steam driven by Afro-Cuban beats made by the body and human voice. The ultimate soundtrack experience, Saltee combines memorable global melodies with unearthly acoustic and electronic sounds.

Saltee will be our in-studio guests on Wednesday, May 16. Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio (90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online) to hear this unique threesome perform!

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

On Deck: Chastity Brown

Chastity Brown is a Tennessee-raised, Minneapolis-based soul songstress with an alluring tendency to turn heads and hold audiences captive with her jazz-tinged folk compositions, mesmerizing voice and expressive musicianship. Brown's latest album, Back-Road Highways, features stellar support from long-time bandmates Michael X. (percussion) and Adam Wozniak (of Tarlton, upright bass), plus the talents of Robert Mulrennan (of No Bird Sing, guitar), deVon Gray (of Heiruspecs, keyboards), and Jef Sundquist (of Hildur Victoria, bass) as well as The Hummingbirds (backing vocals) for a tighter, more impressive collection of tunes than ever before. On this album, Brown weaves a gritty, groove-based sonic tapestry that pulls from rhythm, blues, rock, and country sounds.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" on Wednesday, April 25 from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio to hear Brown's in-studio performance!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Chastity Brown

Chastity Brown is a Tennessee-raised, Minneapolis-based soul songstress with an alluring tendency to turn heads and hold audiences captive with her jazz-tinged folk compositions, mesmerizing voice and expressive musicianship. Brown's fourth album, Back-Road Highways, features stellar backing from long-time bandmates Michael X. (percussion) and Adam Wozniak (of Tarlton, upright bass), plus the talents of Robert Mulrennan (of No Bird Sing, guitar), deVon Gray (of Heiruspecs, keyboards), and Jef Sundquist (of Hildur Victoria, bass) as well as The Hummingbirds (backing vocals) for a tighter, more impressive collection of tunes than ever before. On this album, Brown weaves a gritty, groove-based sonic tapestry that pulls from rhythm, blues, rock, and country sounds. Read an extended Q&A with the artist here and listen to our live in-studio session with Chastity Brown on April 25!




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

- Erica Rivera

On Deck: Blue Soul Caravan

Alex Goldfarb and Leela Bergerud are Blue Soul Caravan, an Americana bluegrass outfit from Minneapolis. Their music is unique in that it uses mantras "to elevate one's heart and spirit."

Goldfarb’s musical interests developed early on, beginning with the violin. Goldfarb has since added guitar, banjo, sitar, flutes, harmonica, percussion, and imbira/kalimba to his instrumental arsenal. Goldfarb’s solo career resulted in two albums: Magnifying Glass and Keys for Locks.

Bergerud began her singing career as a pre-teen and went on to perform throughout North, South and Central America.

Together, Goldfarb and Bergeud create soothing tunes that calm the mind, body, and spirit. They have shared their creative gifts with spiritual communities, yogis, and other alternative groups and gatherings throughout the Twin Cities.

Blue Soul Caravan's latest release is Pioneer The Light, from which we will hear material tonight!

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio. Listen in on 90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online at kfai.org.

- Erica Rivera

On Deck: Anthony Ihrig

Our guest tonight on “Live From Studio 5!” is Anthony Ihrig, a Twin Cities acoustic musician and composer. Ihrig’s musical career began in 1999, when he co-founded a string band called Free Range Pickin’, which introduced “newgrass” music to the Midwest. Ihrig went on to play with award-winning The High 48s Bluegrass Band, followed by stints in the Mark Kreitzer Band and Walker Fields. Most recently, Ihrig recruited fiddler Eric Christopher, mandolin and pedal steel player Jed Germond, and upright bassist Dan Christensen-Cowan to form Anthony and his Almost Acoustic Ensemble. The quartet released their first studio album, Missing Ghosts in 2011. When Ihrig isn’t onstage, he’s teaching the next generation of music lovers how to play the banjo.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" tonight from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio to hear Ihrig's unique musical talents.

- Erica Rivera

On Deck: José James

José James originally was a part of Wain McFarlane’s JAHZ group entertaining us on our very first show of 2012.   José just returned from a European tour and will be soloing accompanied by his latest CD.  Born and raised in Minneapolis, José James came of age with the sounds of Prince, hip-hop and modern jazz.

Discovering an early passion for both music and creative writing, José combined these through performance – singing jazz standards, originals, and the works of John Coltrane with his quartet throughout the Twin Cites. Becoming a member of the groundbreaking avant-garde performance poetry and jazz ensemble Ancestor Energy, José was determined to devote his life to music, community, and spiritual unity. 

Don’t miss this unique performance this Wednesday night at 10 PM on KFAI Radio, 90.3 or 106.7 FM or online at www.kfai.org.  If you miss it live you can hear it for two weeks on our archives.

On Deck: The Hummingbirds and The Farewell Circuit

Tonight’s show features a live, in-studio performance from Hummingbirds, a local band that calls the Powderhorn neighborhood home.  Hummingbirds specializes in “harmony-filled feel-good flowing music.”  Incorporating ukulele, banjo, and guitar, this all-female trio plays a range of tunes from funky to folksy.

Hummingbirds members Lynn O'Brien, Kestrel Feiner-Homer, and Sarina Yospinrom have honed their sound everywhere from backyard parties to cafés, from front porches to the Fine Line.  Community is as essential to the group as good jams are.

Also on deck is Erica Rivera's interview with Danny O'Brien and DJ House of The Farewell Circuit. 

The indie musicians discuss everything from their African mission inspiration to the cinematic source of the band's name to dreams of making it to SXSW.

Tune into Live From Studio 5! tonight from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI: 90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online.

- Erica Rivera

Behind The Scenesters: Jacob Grun

Jacob Grun owns The Sound Gallery, a state-of-the-art recording studio in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis.

Clients include Communist Daughter, Solid Gold, Fort Wilson Riot, and "Live From Studio 5!" guests The Como Avenue Jug Band, among many others. Grun has also opened up the funky, eclectic space to host parties (most recently on New Year’s Eve), to put on concerts, and to MPLS.TV for the filming of music videos.

Photo by Adrian Suarez

When he’s not on the soundboard, Grun is the frontman for Me And My Arrow. MAMA will be performing on "Live From Studio 5!" on Wed. May 30!

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

- Erica Rivera

On Deck: Venus DeMars

Tonight's guest on "Live From Studio 5!" is Venus DeMars. DeMars is a local glam-rock goddess who often invites a slew of talented musicians to back her onstage under the moniker All The Pretty Horses for 15 years. Tonight, DeMars delights our listeners with an on-air solo performance.

Tune into KFAI 90.3 FM in Minneapolis/106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online, tonight from 10 PM to Midnight (CST)!

- Erica Rivera