Recently and Coming Up.

03/09/12 - City on the Make, Umami, Oaks @ Hell's Kitchen

Not going to lie, I went solely to see City on the Make for the 24th time and Oaks for the 1st time. Stating that neither band disappointed would be a severe understatement.

03/14/12 - Skoal Kodiak, Taboo, Ancestral Diet, Mother of Fire @ The Entry

All 4 of these sets were amazing in their own way. It was especially an honor to be able to document Taboo.

03/15/12 - Vernon Wayne, Buildings, Bird Sounds, Goodnight Ritual @ Hell's Kitchen

If I was in a band playing shows around town being on a bill with Bird Sounds would be intimidating. They just need to play longer sets.

03/17/12 - Went to Harriet Brewing last minute since I was in the neighborhood for a BBQ. Had a delicious pour of the limited East Side and got a growler of Divine Oculust on the way out. The BBQ was a success as well. Afterwords I headed to the Ra|hole to see Brain Tumors and Libyans. This all went unrecorded but I had a stellar time nonetheless. Even made it to Northeast in time for a very nice party. It was a long day and night...not because of any sort of americanized "holiday" but rather just because that's what Saturdays are for.

THIS WEEK:

(Not much going on)

03-21 - Basuketto @ The Red Stagg
03-22 - Goatflower, Dust Buns, Awkward Bodies, Time Destroyer @ Hexagon
03-22 - Dads (Omaha), Rollerblade, Cadette, the Velveteens @ Chamber of Secrets
03-22 - Bala Clavas (Houston), Mar Harbine, Bellow, Collin Gorman Weiland @ Bacon
03-23 - Cursive @ The 400 Bar
03-23 - Crusader No Remorse, Prostate, Kr Grauwacke @ Surfs Up
03-23 - Trevor's 30th Birthday Party w/ Tornado, The Skinnys, Teenage Moods, Southside Desire @ The Nomad
03-23 - Jonny Corndawg @ The Triple Rock
03-24 - Zoo Animal @ Treehouse (10am)
03-24 - Chastity Brown, Black Audience, Romantica @ The Cedar
03-24 - Sleeping in the Aviary, Buffalo Moon, Umami, Speed's The Name @ The Triple Rock
03-24 - La Dispute @ The Varsity
03-24 - Condominium + feedtime @ Grumpy's DT
03-25 - Sleep Tight @ Hymie's (3pm)
03-25 - TFATT, They Live, The Devil's Caravan @ Honey

The Chickadee Mountain Martyrs @ The Triple Rock

A .RAR file containing this recording is available here.

The Chickadee Mountain Martyrs
The Triple Rock
Minneapolis, MN
Sunday October 3rd 2010

Taper: empty (emptystapes AT gmail DOT com)
Location: DINish, Right drink rail, 30' back, ~7.5' ^
Source: AKG 414B-xls (Cards) > Silver Quad customs > UA-5 (BM2p+) > iRiver h120 (Optical @ 16bit 44.1kHz WAV)
Transfer: h120 > USB 2.0 > PC [WAV > RazorLame> 320kbps mp3]
Edit: CD Wave (tracking) Sound Forge 10 (compression)

This Recording is for Promotional & Archival Purposes Only.

01. S.O.L.
02. Short Snorter
03. Princess Snax
04. Blood on the Saddle
05. Stressed 2 Da Max In The Ghetto
06. Work/Drink

Bandcamp | Facebook | Myspace

It was an honor to have so many top shelf bands play the "birthday show." A huge thanks to The Chickadee Mountain Martyrs, Sleeping in the Aviary, Bird Sounds and Strong Bones. Of course I wanted this to go down at one of my favorite haunts so a giant cyber bear hug to Kermit for helping to make that possible. Thank you to anyone who stopped down to check it out as well.

I have no problem in saying that The Chickadee Mountain Martyrs' Comeuppance is one of the best records to come out of Minneapolis in the past few years. If you're at all curious about checking it out it's available on The Martyrs' bandcamp page. It should also be noted that this wasn't just any ole Martyrs set. Yes. Nikki Grossman, OG member of the Martyrs took the stage on violin and vocals. If I'm not mistaken this has not happened since.

I'm Turning 30 And Yes There Will Be Stellar Live Music!

Empty's Tapes Presents!

"Somehow John Is Turning 30"
The Triple Rock Social Club
Sunday October 3rd
8:00 Doors | 8:45 Music (This will be fairly sharp!)
18+ | $5.00

Sleeping in the Aviary
Bird Sounds
The Chickadee Mountain Martyrs
Strong Bones (ex-Hockey Night and Malachi Constant)

It is my honor to be able to hold a "birthday show" at one of my favorite haunts. Huge huge thanks to The Triple Rock and every single music involved. Please stop on done even if you bare know me or don't know me at all. It will be a good chance to hang and enjoy some great music together. It's a Sunday night and lots of people will have to work in the morning. We'll try to keep it a 12:30 night unless of course people would like to stick around a bit longer and make sure the bartender has a good night as well. How's that sound? Special food and beverage items being sorted out!

For anyone actually keeping score I came into the world on 09/29/80 so please feel free to send free pizza to my house this Wednesday. I think I'll take the day off so rest assured the drivers will be tipped handsomely.

Bird Sounds @ The Turf Club

Download a .RAR file containing this recording here.

Bird Sounds
The Turf Club
St. Paul, MN
Thursday July 22nd 2010

Taper: empty (emptystapes AT gmail DOT com)
Location: AB, left stack spot, ~8' ^
Source: AKG 414B-xls (Cards) > Silver Quad customs > UA-5 (BM2p+) > iRiver h120 (Optical @ 16bit 44.1kHz WAV)
Transfer: h120 > USB 2.0 > PC [WAV > RazorLame> 320kbps mp3]
Edit: CD Wave (tracking) Sound Forge 10 (compression)

This Recording is for Promotional & Archival Purposes Only.

01. Country
02. Money and Bones
03. Time
04. Fortune
05. Mrs. Sippy
06. Ms. Treater
07. Seen It Coming
08. No Confetti
09. Rot
10. Been Frank

Matt Semke: Vocals / Guitar
Jason Zaborowski: Bass / Vocals
Charlie Smyrk: Drums

Site | Myspace | Facebook

Bird Sounds, Puppies & Trains and Voytek supported the Double Bird tour kickoff show. It was a fine evening of musics at The Turf Club and this is one of my all time favorite fliers. Bird Sounds shows are rare and this is why you should consider attending when the chance is there. These are men of higher education and word is there may possibly be one more show in August before the school session starts back up. See you there.

Download the Bird Sounds - "Girl Sounds" EP here.

Puppys And Trains...Killing You Softly.

Puppies and Trains are one of the greatest Rock n' Roll bands in the in the seven county metro area. Probably kind of surprised you haven't seen them around town? Well, they don't really believe in "websites" and "promotion" and "social networking" et cetera. Puppies and Trains is Kermit and Math P. from Superhopper along with Drummer Jimmy. This was the Double Bird tour kick off show which also featured top-shelf sets from Bird Sounds and Voytek. Jam city with the AKG 414's in the spot at The Turf Club (07/22/10).

Puppies and Trains - This Is The End (Live)


Drawing and Design by Mr. Jonathan Stavole (Ohio Cowboy Pictures)