I have only read one Harry Potter book. But I have seen Harry and the Potters twice. This band is the real deal. That is, their live shows truly are an experience to embrace and enjoy. The reaction they get from their crowd of followers is uncanny from a band of their…ummm…muggleness. Seriously. When I saw them at the Minneapolis Public Library a couple of years ago, the hundreds of high school kids that showed up to support them gave them a Beatles-esque reception, screaming as the band made its way from the concert hall to the merchandise table where they signed autographs.
It is with great anticipation that I await the documentary, We Are Wizards, which opens on November 14. The genre of “Wizard Rock”, led by the aforementioned genre pioneers, has, it seems, experienced enormous growth under the band’s tutelage. The genre succeeds on a message of wholesome “good-vs-evil” story lines covered in a thick layer of fun. Check out the movie trailer:
Last night I had the pleasure of catching two of the Twin Cities finest bluegrass/folk groups - Pocahontas County and LOUDRAY - at the Acadia Cafe on the West Bank of the U. Pocahontas County played a laid back set of new and old stuff, while LOUDRAY burned through their set in their signature rawkus manner, highlighted by a clapping solo by their new box-bass player.
Jenny Dalton truly is a gem. An enigma to be embraced. An artist in the purest sense of the word. A musician that pushes boundaries. Rusalka’s Umbrella finds new ways to mezmerize, scare, and outright entertain. Crafted with precision and the perfect mix of great musicianship and the right amount of flair, Rasulka sits somewhere in that enchanted place between pop and avant-garde art rock.
According to Dalton’s website, “a rusalka is a female water spirit in Slavic folklore….the overarching theme (of the album) is water as an element of change.” Change clearly defines this album. It is Dalton’s best to date, her most melodic, and her most daring. It builds on the momentum developed in her early recordings and Fleur De Lily, but the way that the songs are presented has changed dramatically. If her earlier recordings were shiny, these are brilliant. If her earlier heartbreak was on display for all to see, her emotions on Rasulka remain thoughtfully hidden under an ocean of dangerous currents that say, “Enter if you dare.”
The CD-Release party for Rasulka’s Umbrella will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Ritz Theater in Minneapolis. It will no doubt be a night of artistic celebration, as Dalton will be co-performing with Lamb Lays with Lion Theater Company. Also performing are Fort Wilson Riot, Massgraves, and Kill the Vultures.
It’s actually not that bad, but I had to do a whole lot of computer nerd stuff to fix the website. Now we are back online, free of computer-transmitted-diseases (CTD’s), and ready to roll! If you have recently emailed, called, or bat-signalled us asking us to write up a review, we MIGHT be totally in the dark about your communication. Please feel free to re-send!
Very Truly Yours,
Toby C.
Editor, Lunch of Champions
Ummm… I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by a New Kids on the Block reunion. But I guess I am, for some reason, surprised that their new music is just as crappy as their old music. I don’t mean to pile on here, but is it really legit for 30+ year old men to be singing,
I was like, “hey, girl, can I get your number”
I remember what you told me too,
“Don’t call after ten”
But you know that I did,
‘Cause I couldn’t stop thinkin’ ’bout you.
?
Surely, their desperation for the limelight could have been better spent by doing a duet with Kid Rock or Santana.
One never knows what to expect when he clicks on a comedian doing a rap song on Youtube, but this “Everyday Normal Guy” video by Jon Lajoie is hilllllarious!
It seems like Mother Nature has something in for the Twin Cities as of late. Yesterday, the storm that I thought looked like the apocalypse made its way through the South Metro area. At my office in Richfield we were all rushed to the extreme weather shelter area - fun stuff. And portions of today’s Macy’s Day of Music at Orchestra Hall were cut short due to some more severe weather that cut across Minneapolis.
By the time I arrived downtown, I missed Haley Bolar but was able to catch The Honeydogs go on. Unfortunately, they had to play an abbreviated set of four or five songs before closing down the stage due to the incoming weather. KaiserCartel was supposed to go on next on the other outdoor stage; fortunately they moved them inside to the lobby state at Orchestra Hall.
(Benjamin and Courtney from KaiserCartel - you guessed it, they’re from Brooklyn.)
I hadn’t heard them before, but was intrigued because Chris Riemenschneider described them as a stripped down version of Rilo Kiley. I would agree with that but also add in a bit of Mates of State to the mix. Not only because they are married, but also in terms of singing dynamics and the tone of the songs. They sounded very good considering the lobby environment with a mix of acoustic guitar (Courtney Kaiser playing an open tuned Epiphone) and Benjamin Cartel spending most of him time on drums and xylophone. Their songs were both catchy and haunting. The good news is that they are playing again this weekend at the Bryant Lake Bowl with a trio of shows throughout the day. I suggest giving them a listen and swing by and see them in Lyn-Lake if you’ve got the chance this weekend.
