Step Rockets, Blast Off!

Yesterday, the magical day of 12-12-12, the last chance we'll have to write a date like that for the rest of our lives, Studio Five had a visit from the Step Rockets. 

Like the aeronautic innovation for which they are named, they fired us off in multiple stages of rock and roll.

Having only come together as they are this year, the Step Rocket pride themselves with being a unique fusion of decades from the swinging sixties of our parents' generation through the new sounds of the turn of the century. They successfully do this in style, energy and even instrumentation. 

If you missed them last night, you can still hear the program in the archives at the kfai website.

There's already a video up here:

Or, if you want to get out in the world, they're playing a show this very night with Vienna at the 331 Club in North East. Music starts at 9:30 and there's no cover! Make it official by checking them out on Facebook.

~Green Swamp

The Sunny Era's Triumphant Return

I am REALLY excited for tomorrow's LFS5.

Two years ago, I decided to go to a show at the Cedar Cultural Center. To celebrate a CD release for the Poor Nobodys, The Sunny Era and the Brass Messengers came to play. Come to think of it, this may have been my first time seeing ALL of these bands! The Brass Messengers remain among my very favorites, and even after a failed audition I persist in my quest to reach their caliber. The Poor Nobodys continue to stand out in the area as well.

Yet another happenstance occured that evening. In fact, no longer able to keep evesdropping on the concert goers ahead of me, I jumped into their dialogue, only to discover I was speaking to The Thug himself!

Now that we can see the significance of tomorrow's show, let me tell you about what we're going to hear. 

The Sunny Era is a three piece ensemble consisting of Erik and Laila Stainbrook, and Rob Foehl. I've always been blown away with Laila's performances, considering in the course of a show she'll wrench your heart strings as only the sincere tones of the violin, clarinet, accordion and hey why not the keyboard, can. 













And she's just one member of this vastly versatile group!
With their extensive instrumentation, they present a sweeping range of mournful, heartfelt and driving world music with a rooted local flare.

According to their website, their new album travels away from these ethnic roots to a more "rockin" style. Personally, I really dig the gypsy groove they've got going, but I can't wait to hear their next album, "Lost in the Sea of Ghosts" which gets released at the Cedar Cultural Center on November 29th. We should all go check it out, but I also have a hunch we might get to hear some new stuff tomorrow at 10 on Live From Studio Five!

-Greenswamp

Climbing Trees and Disaster Birds

Here I am, Live, from Studio Five (Two, actually, if you're going to be technical) on this, Wednesday night, and you know what that means!

As I am still getting into the flow of blogging here, and you've but just met me, my posts probably won't be THAT good,

but for tonight, I want to say a little about Climbing Trees, which I had the pleasure of seeing some of last week.

First, I'll hook you up with the live stream: http://kfai.org/playlists/610/2012-10

And then, I'll show you this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8SJkypy6o

It's from last year, but it's a good song. I liked the band Climbing Trees, I only stuck around for a bit, but they're definitely a group I'll keep on my radar. I can see myself rocking out at a concert with them, or cranking them up for a day of productivity.

But now, the more I listen, I realize how sexy they are. They seem to be aware of this, as their reverbnation page bio says, "Springing out of depths of the Minnesota "Turtles" music scene comes Climbing Trees with competent grooves that makes your girl shake her tittys. The Climbing Trees are a clammy plamed, jetsetting drunken orgy of the ears."

Or maybe I'm the only one that finds "clammy palmed ear orgies" sexy. It also helped that their drummer Vincent, disrobed right off the bat. Granted, studio Five gets pretty steamy, but some do it better than others. I was sad that the wrestling mask was also a casualty however, this band definitely holds up its image.

From here, I start prepping for tonight's band, "Disaster Bird."
I saw them hauling equipment through the hall way. According to their facebook, I can tell I'll like them. Their instrumentation includes a trumpet, accordion, glockenspeil AND mischief. I'm going to go shmooze so I'll have something to write about next week!

Also, I've had an ear worm this week, "The Sunny Era." The Thug told me they've already played for us, and that makes me sad, but I'll write more about them later too. I promise.

On Deck: Sleep Study

Our in-studio guest tonight is Sleep Study.

Per the band’s bio:

In under a year, Minneapolis rock quartet Sleep Study has caught the attention of audiences and critics whenever they’ve stepped on stage. A promo video for their song “Flower Girl” amassed 50,000+ views on youtube in less than two months. And despite not having yet released a record, they were invited to play an official showcase as well as several unofficial showcases at the prestigious SXSW music festival.

Collectively, the members of Sleep Study have shared stages and played on recordings with Al Kooper, Kid Dakota, Jeremy Messersmith, Owl City’s Breanne Düren, Mayda, Bella Ruse, The Honeydogs, Minor Kingdom, Rogue Valley, and more.

Sleep Study is a natural cooperative of strengths from all members, combining Ryan Plewacki’s (vocals/guitar) brand of Brit flavored rock with Justin Hartke’s (bass/vocals) jazz upbringing and Cory Eischen’s (keys) lengthy pop background. The calculated drumming of Alexander Young solidifies their retro sound.

Sleep Study’s unapologetic dedication to their modern take on a 70’s pop sound has snagged an impressive amount of interest while the band attempted to fly below the radar to construct their debut record.

The fresh, young band has performed at premier venues and events throughout the Twin Cities, contributed to compilation albums with Minneapolis’ finest and established musicians, and completed their debut record with the help of The Honeydogs frontman, Adam Levy.

Nothing Can Destroy, the ten song debut full-length, can be expected to be released in early summer of 2012.

Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" tonight from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio (90.3 FM in Minneapolis and 106.7 in St. Paul) to hear Sleep Study's session!

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: 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

Take Five: An Interview With The Lower 48

Formed in Minneapolis in 2009, The Lower 48 made the all-too-familiar pilgrimage West to Portland, OR, after releasing their debut EP Everywhere To Go. Now comprised of Ben Braden (Vocals/Guitar), Nick Sadler (Vocals/Drums/Harmonica/Trumpet), and Sarah Parson (Vocals/Guitar/Bass/Piano), the trio makes melodic, lively tunes that evoke bonfires, backyard barbecues, and carefree reverie. The band’s first full-length, Where All Maps End, was released in 2011. I spoke with Ben Braden in anticipation of the band's May 4th show at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Based on the band's name and song lyrics from your latest album, geography seems to play an important part in your music. Could you speak to its influence?

Ben Braden: That's mainly me. I'm fascinated with maps and moving, how you can move so little on a map yet the distance between places feels so far. The band name has nothing to do with geography; I just thought it was a really cool idiom that not enough people use anymore. The record name, Where All Maps End, came from when we moved out here--and by "out here" I mean Portland. We were still stupid kids--we're still stupid kids now, hopefully a little less stupid--and we'd never done anything like that before. I'd always had a map for life: school, summer, school. Moving out here meant there would be no map anymore. This is where all maps ended.

One of your bios describes your band as "organic". What does that entail?

BB: We record ourselves. We don't have a producer. We use all real instruments. We play simple songs and we play them beautifully. The music is not dressed up or fancy. It's not auto-tuned or synth-y. A lot of people can pick up their guitars and play our songs. People can do what they want with the album; learn the songs and cover them.

Many musicians have gone back-and-forth between Minneapolis and Portland. Talk about how the scenes are different.

BB: A lot of people ask this question and I never have a good answer. People expect it's going to be the same, but it's different. The Twin Cities has three good radio stations where it's possible to get your music played or get interviewed on (The Current, KFAI, and Radio K).  Radio is an amazing resource because it focuses on local bands and gets people out to shows.  The Twin Cities has so many entry-level music venues, like the 7th Street Entry, the 400 Bar, the Cedar, the Varsity, the Triple Rock.  There are not as many entry level venues with good sound that people can go to out here and there's nothing you can listen to on the radio--except college radio, with a limited signal--that will tell you about local shows. I think that's just the culture of this town. It's harder to build a fan base in Portland, though our following in both places is similar now. We can get 400 to 500 people in a show in either place, though it took 2 1/2 years out here, whereas it took 9 months in Minneapolis.

Does that ever make you want to move back?

BB: There are other, personal, reasons keeping us here. There's a song on the new album, which we wrote after moving, called "Miles From Minnesota". It's cheerful and upbeat, and while I still like that song, real life, which has been a fun and exciting experience, isn't like that. I pay my own bills now, which was a big undertaking. It's tougher and harder out here. It's not all roses and buttercups.

Have you ever run into a musician that left you starstruck?

BB: There are a lot of big bands in Portland and I've had personal run-ins with big names and it's like "Holy crap!"  But when we're a band, onstage, I feel like we can take on anything, like nothing can faze us, and I don't say that to sound arrogant.  My first instinct when I run into another musician is to treat them like anyone else.  Some people think it's important if a big person likes your music, but it really doesn't matter to me.  There's no quick way to fame; there's no short-cut.  You just have to work.

Are you doing music full-time or do you have day jobs?

BB: I'm doing music full-time. Some of us still have day jobs. We're in a weird, transitional stage right now. [Yawns] Forgive my voice. I turned 21 last night.

As I was looking over your Facebook photos, I noticed a lot of neck ties.  Is that a "thing" for you guys?

BB: Ties, yes. I like ties. It's a burgeoning theme. Me and Nick always want to wear black neck ties.

What was the inspiration for that?

BB: Some bands can pull off that "I don't give a damn; come as you are" thing and look cool, but we can't, so I had the idea to come up with some sort of uniform, some sort of look. It might sound like a cheap gimmick, but I wanted to store that familiarity in our image. It's like the difference between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The Beatles had the suits, the ties, the haircuts. The Stones looked like "whatever" and it worked for them, but not for us.

What's your goal for the band? Is it fame or to be self-sustaining?

BB: That's a big question for me. I'd like to take it as far as we possibly can. We're really motivated. We're close to being self-sustaining. In a year, we'll be living crappily off of it, like Ramen noodle living off of it. I don't know if we'll ever play an arena, because we aren't that kind of band. I guess we're going to find out.



Tune into "Live From Studio 5!" every Wednesday from 10 PM to Midnight on KFAI radio for more local acts making their way home!

- Erica Rivera

Earworm Of The Week: Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps

Caroline Smith follows in a long line of Twin Cities indie acts that got their start at the 400 Bar. Following her residency at the infamous West Bank dive, Smith began opening for big names in the biz, from the likes of hometown hero Mason Jennings to music legend B.B. King.

In 2007, Smith joined forces with Arlen Peiffer (of Cloud Cult), Jesse Schuster, and Colin Hacklander. A year later, the quartet released their debut album, Backyard Tent Set under the moniker Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps. The group has since completed four national tours and received substantial critical acclaim for their quirky, storybook-style folk music.

The release show for the group's latest LP, Little Wind, sold out First Avenue last fall. This Saturday, the band is back, headlining yet another gig in the mainroom.




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

- Erica Rivera