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Apparently having one foot each in Chicago and Minneapolis makes me virtually nonexistant in both cities. I am spending the summer hanging between two worlds.
Luckily, I escaped the vertigo for a bit this weekend and caught a few local shows here in Minneapolis; one proven cure for the stress of transition, for me anyway, is to get lost in a couple of live sets amidst seas of sweat and energy.
Saturday night was especially crazy, as David and I headed over to First Ave for the Plastic Constellations/Tapes 'N Tapes show and I attempted to catch bands in both the main room and the Entry all night. The music started a little after 9 p.m. with STNNNG, who proceeded to smack the audience in the face and blow through their set like a well-oiled machine. The floor was almost full during their set, and the main room was humming with anticipation and the occasional shrieks of, "Tapes 'N Tapes, wooooooo!" from the 18+ girls in the room. Though it was clear that the younger members of the audience were a little taken aback by STNNNG, by the end of their set the audience energy had skyrocketed and people were more than ready to have a good time.
Slipping over into the much cooler 7th Street Entry, I caught a few songs by brand new local act National Bird. Despite the fact that it was their second gig ever, I thought the band did well holding their own in the Entry and warming up the room for Brooklyn acts Dirty on Purpose and Say Hi To Your Mom. Their melodic bar rock was accentuated by the lead singer's distinct vocal stylings, which somehow reminded me of both Elvis Costello and a clean-cut Ozzy Osborne.
Back in the main room, Kill the Vultures took the stage to the now sold-out room, and it became increasingly difficult to maneuver through the crowd. I was captivated by DJ Anatomy's sweet jazz beats and heavy drum hits, not to mention the way he straddled above his mixing boards and non-chalantly laid down the grooves. Members of Tapes sauntered about the room casually as the openers wrapped up, and it was obvious that being invited to play on David Letterman, having a video in rotation on MTV and being raved about in national publications hasn't done anything to tarnish these guys' down-home, aww-shucks sensibilities.
I was relieved to step back into the Entry for Dirty on Purpose, since the main room was at least 20 degrees warmer and the air was sticky with sweat and excitement. Dirty on Purpose played a great set full of pretty, sprawling rock and sugary harmonies. The vocals were traded off between the sock-footed drummer and the shy guitarist; I preferred the former for his soft and soaring high range vocals (not to mention his impressive ability to both keep time and narrate the songs).
Walking back into the main room for Tapes, you would have thought the Beatles had just taken the stage and that we were thrown back to 1964 - it's been a while since I have heard so many high shrieks. Though Tapes played a solid set, I couldn't help but be preoccupied by their newfound fame. I just saw Tapes a few months ago at the Triple Rock, and they barely filled half the room with their fans; to see this kind of fanaticism was surreal. I can't help but wonder what they think of all of this, and with the energy exhibited in their tight set at First Ave I am guessing that they are either terrified or having the time of their lives. My bets are on the latter.
It was hard to come down from the rush of Tapes and pay clear attention to other bands, so the trip back to the Entry for Say Hi To Your Mom and back again to the main room for the Plastic Constellations is a little blurry. (Not to mention the great deal of time I spent outside trying to cool off and fawning over Erik Appelwick...oops did I say that out loud?) From the bits I caught of both sets, though, I was impressed with the absolutely stellar lineup put together in both rooms.
The evening ended at the Hexagon, where I took in a set by Ouija Radio, and let me just say it - I love that band. It's so refreshing and comforting to watch a girl rock out, and Christy from Ouija is the ultimate glammed-up rock star, complete with sexy shoes and killer guitar licks. For all the buzz surrounding Tapes 'N Tapes and the search for the Next Big Thing, I would just like to remind you, the masses, that this town is full to the brim of great local rock acts, many of which play free or extremely cheap shows and produce just as much - if not more - bang for the buck as any of those raved about in the New York Times.
Since I didn't get enough of the hot and sweaty First Ave main room action on Saturday night, I returned last night for Golden Smog. More on that show after this word from our sponsors.
Luckily, I escaped the vertigo for a bit this weekend and caught a few local shows here in Minneapolis; one proven cure for the stress of transition, for me anyway, is to get lost in a couple of live sets amidst seas of sweat and energy.
Saturday night was especially crazy, as David and I headed over to First Ave for the Plastic Constellations/Tapes 'N Tapes show and I attempted to catch bands in both the main room and the Entry all night. The music started a little after 9 p.m. with STNNNG, who proceeded to smack the audience in the face and blow through their set like a well-oiled machine. The floor was almost full during their set, and the main room was humming with anticipation and the occasional shrieks of, "Tapes 'N Tapes, wooooooo!" from the 18+ girls in the room. Though it was clear that the younger members of the audience were a little taken aback by STNNNG, by the end of their set the audience energy had skyrocketed and people were more than ready to have a good time.
Slipping over into the much cooler 7th Street Entry, I caught a few songs by brand new local act National Bird. Despite the fact that it was their second gig ever, I thought the band did well holding their own in the Entry and warming up the room for Brooklyn acts Dirty on Purpose and Say Hi To Your Mom. Their melodic bar rock was accentuated by the lead singer's distinct vocal stylings, which somehow reminded me of both Elvis Costello and a clean-cut Ozzy Osborne.
Back in the main room, Kill the Vultures took the stage to the now sold-out room, and it became increasingly difficult to maneuver through the crowd. I was captivated by DJ Anatomy's sweet jazz beats and heavy drum hits, not to mention the way he straddled above his mixing boards and non-chalantly laid down the grooves. Members of Tapes sauntered about the room casually as the openers wrapped up, and it was obvious that being invited to play on David Letterman, having a video in rotation on MTV and being raved about in national publications hasn't done anything to tarnish these guys' down-home, aww-shucks sensibilities.
I was relieved to step back into the Entry for Dirty on Purpose, since the main room was at least 20 degrees warmer and the air was sticky with sweat and excitement. Dirty on Purpose played a great set full of pretty, sprawling rock and sugary harmonies. The vocals were traded off between the sock-footed drummer and the shy guitarist; I preferred the former for his soft and soaring high range vocals (not to mention his impressive ability to both keep time and narrate the songs).
Walking back into the main room for Tapes, you would have thought the Beatles had just taken the stage and that we were thrown back to 1964 - it's been a while since I have heard so many high shrieks. Though Tapes played a solid set, I couldn't help but be preoccupied by their newfound fame. I just saw Tapes a few months ago at the Triple Rock, and they barely filled half the room with their fans; to see this kind of fanaticism was surreal. I can't help but wonder what they think of all of this, and with the energy exhibited in their tight set at First Ave I am guessing that they are either terrified or having the time of their lives. My bets are on the latter.
It was hard to come down from the rush of Tapes and pay clear attention to other bands, so the trip back to the Entry for Say Hi To Your Mom and back again to the main room for the Plastic Constellations is a little blurry. (Not to mention the great deal of time I spent outside trying to cool off and fawning over Erik Appelwick...oops did I say that out loud?) From the bits I caught of both sets, though, I was impressed with the absolutely stellar lineup put together in both rooms.
The evening ended at the Hexagon, where I took in a set by Ouija Radio, and let me just say it - I love that band. It's so refreshing and comforting to watch a girl rock out, and Christy from Ouija is the ultimate glammed-up rock star, complete with sexy shoes and killer guitar licks. For all the buzz surrounding Tapes 'N Tapes and the search for the Next Big Thing, I would just like to remind you, the masses, that this town is full to the brim of great local rock acts, many of which play free or extremely cheap shows and produce just as much - if not more - bang for the buck as any of those raved about in the New York Times.
Since I didn't get enough of the hot and sweaty First Ave main room action on Saturday night, I returned last night for Golden Smog. More on that show after this word from our sponsors.
