Happy Birthday, Afternoon Records
This past weekend marked the third anniversary of local up-and-coming independent label Afternoon Records. Headed by 21-year-old Ian Anderson (a remarkably productive young man who also plays in two bands and co-manages the alternative music journal Sliver Magazine), the label is home to some of the Twin Cities’ best new indie-rock and teen-emo bands. Their label showcase at the Triple Rock last weekend proved that each group has something unique to offer to our ever-expanding, increasingly youth-dominated music scene.
Here’s a look at a few of the bands on the Afternoon Records roster:
Photo by David de Young
Probably the most established band on the label is Superdanger, a conglomeration of music scenesters that have been around the block. Guitarist Scott Hefte also fronts local act Seymore Saves the World, bassist Caleb Rick is a producer for the cable-access show “Nate On Drums,” and drummer Jake Hanson has played in Cowboy Curtis and 12 Rods. Together, they create a sweet, innocent rock sound similar to beloved indie-rock founding fathers Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, and Hefte’s soaring vocals are decidedly Martsch-esque.
To quote myself, if I may, “The Superdanger sound isn't necessarily unique, as it follows fairly basic dreamy-indie patterns in an emo-before-emo-got-lame sort of way, with arching vocal melodies, plucked out guitar chords, and plenty of lyrics about girls, parties, and their ensuing problems. But there is something infectious about their songs, a staying power that is more significant than typical pop music allows.”
Check out my live review of the Superdanger CD Release Show for Fight! Fight! Fight! from January of this year for more information.
One of Ian Anderson's bands, Aneuretical, is another force to be reckoned with. As a band who is comfortable with the fact that they are often described as "a teen band," the group takes advantage of their position in the pigeon hole by providing soul-wrenching teen angst music and enough all-ages shows to host their growing number of dedicated young fans. There's no doubt that this band takes themselves seriously, as they already had two albums under their collective belt by the time any of them were able to drink legally.
Aneuretical plays next at Carleton College on April 21.
Photo by David de Young
Ian's other band, One For The Team, is one of my favorite new acts around. The band is so spastically energetic at times that it is impossible to watch them without cracking a smile, or better yet, wiggling a little to the music. Their songs are carefully crafted to include tempo changes and sing-along choruses, making their music immediately catchy and fun. Keyboardist Sam Gerard (also of Squareshooters) is especially fun to watch, as he spends more time jumping and jolting around the stage with his tambourine than he does with his hands on the keys.
Read my review of one of their past shows here, and keep an eye on these guys - I have a feeling they might be just infectious enough to gather a following. They are putting together a full-length release at the moment, which is expected to be released in June.
Photo from the MySpace Page
Another creative force to look out for is Battle Royale, the skinniest group of kids I have ever seen. They boogie down to electronica that is both silly and satisfying, and their set Sunday night was so fun that I immediately threw down $4 for a burned copy of their 4-song EP. The band consists of a drum machine, an electronic synthesizer, a guitar player, and a real live female bass player (seemingly hard to find these days, no?) who adds cutesy vocal parts to their dance mixes. The group manages to pull off being both ridiculous and fabulous - go to their MySpace page and click on "Oh, Martha" to see what I mean.
Rumor has it that Battle Royale will also be releasing a new CD in June, though their live act is so appealing I might just have to catch them again before this summer.
There you have it, folks, a brief glimpse at one of my new favorite record labels. Other Afternoon Records bands include Ampersand, Hello Blue, Look Down, Linus, The Plagiarists, Squareshooters, Tower Thick Walls, and Viceburgh. You can find out more information (and get links to their respective MySpace Pages for sound clips) at the Afternoon Records MySpace Page.
Here’s a look at a few of the bands on the Afternoon Records roster:
Photo by David de YoungTo quote myself, if I may, “The Superdanger sound isn't necessarily unique, as it follows fairly basic dreamy-indie patterns in an emo-before-emo-got-lame sort of way, with arching vocal melodies, plucked out guitar chords, and plenty of lyrics about girls, parties, and their ensuing problems. But there is something infectious about their songs, a staying power that is more significant than typical pop music allows.”
Check out my live review of the Superdanger CD Release Show for Fight! Fight! Fight! from January of this year for more information.
One of Ian Anderson's bands, Aneuretical, is another force to be reckoned with. As a band who is comfortable with the fact that they are often described as "a teen band," the group takes advantage of their position in the pigeon hole by providing soul-wrenching teen angst music and enough all-ages shows to host their growing number of dedicated young fans. There's no doubt that this band takes themselves seriously, as they already had two albums under their collective belt by the time any of them were able to drink legally.
Aneuretical plays next at Carleton College on April 21.
Photo by David de YoungRead my review of one of their past shows here, and keep an eye on these guys - I have a feeling they might be just infectious enough to gather a following. They are putting together a full-length release at the moment, which is expected to be released in June.
Photo from the MySpace PageAnother creative force to look out for is Battle Royale, the skinniest group of kids I have ever seen. They boogie down to electronica that is both silly and satisfying, and their set Sunday night was so fun that I immediately threw down $4 for a burned copy of their 4-song EP. The band consists of a drum machine, an electronic synthesizer, a guitar player, and a real live female bass player (seemingly hard to find these days, no?) who adds cutesy vocal parts to their dance mixes. The group manages to pull off being both ridiculous and fabulous - go to their MySpace page and click on "Oh, Martha" to see what I mean.
Rumor has it that Battle Royale will also be releasing a new CD in June, though their live act is so appealing I might just have to catch them again before this summer.
There you have it, folks, a brief glimpse at one of my new favorite record labels. Other Afternoon Records bands include Ampersand, Hello Blue, Look Down, Linus, The Plagiarists, Squareshooters, Tower Thick Walls, and Viceburgh. You can find out more information (and get links to their respective MySpace Pages for sound clips) at the Afternoon Records MySpace Page.
