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

Live Letters To Host Intimate Concert Series

Live Letters, the new music photography blog helmed by shutterbug Sara Montour, recently announced its Evening With Friends concert series.

Per the site’s Facebook invitation, Evening With Friends are “small, intimate concerts designed to bring a unique live music experience to the Twin Cities. Each Evening With Friends will be hosted by a musician or band that will then hand-select other songwriters to join them for the evening. All musicians will start the night on stage together, taking turns playing songs, and the evening will end with an acoustic set from the host band.”

The first show will be hosted Gabriel Douglas, best known as the bearded frontman of the 4onthefloor, and will take place at a private loft in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 14 at 7 PM. Surprise guests, guaranteed to be incredible, will also be on the bill.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased via Brown Paper Tickets. Because of the intimate aim of these concerts, space will be limited.

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

- Erica Rivera

On Deck: Me And My Arrow

Me and My Arrow is one of the most ingenious acts to emerge on the Minneapolis music scene. Fronted by Jacob Grun (owner of The Sound Gallery), with a multitude of members onstage at any given time--and a slew of instruments in tow--Me and My Arrow are like the Minnesotan version of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. The group’s hippy-ish vibe and avant-garde tunes will alternately mellow you out and rock your world.

Per the band's bio: "Like a tidal wave of sound Me and My Arrow's musical performances soak through every pore of the human body. The blend of strings, pianos, synths, guitars and urban clanging make for an orchestral sound that is larger than large. The pieces fit together in unique ways, coming together to create a new sonic palette the likes of which haven't been heard since the invention of the sonic boom. When the band comes together to vocalize either in harmony or unison one cannot do anything but feel. With every show the band gets better."

Tune in to KFAI (90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream online) tonight from 10 PM to Midnight to hear Me and My Arrow's live in-studio performance. The band will be debuting a new single on-air!

- 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

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: 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

Local Photogs Launch "Live Letters" Site

Shutterbugs Sara Montour and Jenn Barnett announced the launch of Live Letters, an online portfolio of their concert photography, today.

"LIVE LETTERS is here to document the amazing live music that’s happening in this lovely city, and occasionally elsewhere. As a photographer the art of creating compelling images is as important to me as solely documenting the show, so I’m more than excited to be able to showcase some incredible photographers, videographers, and audio magicians from all around, including the wonderful Jenn Barnett who has jumped on board with full force and is going to be an incredible part of this entire LIVE LETTERS project," Montour says on the home page of the site.

BNLX at Amsterdam Bar & Hall by Jenn Barnett

A calendar of upcoming shows is also featured on the site and it is packed with must-see musicians, in multiple music venues throughout the Twin Cities.  Aural and eye candy?!  Here we come!

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

- Erica Rivera