Thunderbolt Pagoda @ The Turf Club

Thunderbolt Pagoda
The Turf Club
St. Paul, MN
Friday March 2nd 2012

Thunderbolt Pagoda has posted a couple of songs from a recent Turf Club recording on their Tumblr. I've had a great appreciation for this band going back to the year two thousand and nine so I consider it a high compliment that they would take the time to make these available.

Their interpretation of "Black Easter," originally by Sol Invictus.
"The Navigator," the first song written together with Gerard when he joined on bass.

(excerpts from the full set)

This is a 2 track "field recording" as is how things are usually done around here. Any "post-recording" adjustments are accredited to them. Studio releases (2008's s/t debut and 2010's Second Ascension) can be obtained through Mutant Music. Obligatory link to The Facebook.

Erik Wivinus - Guitar, Vocals, Sitar
Ralph Karsten - Mellotron, Analogue Synthesizers
Matt Entsminger - Drums
Gerard-Jean Boissy - Bass

(Thunderbolt Pagoda and Marijuana Deathsquads supported Total Fucking Blood on the eve of their LP Release show.)

Got The Marathon Shoes Out Of The Closet Last Week.

photo: drewgeraets

03/07 - A stellar time was had recording the first week of the Basuketto residency at The Red Stag. Both the first set with the reworked Anonymous Choir songs and the 2nd improvised set McGee, Clark, Olson & Van Phillips were tops.

03/08 - Foghorn Stringband and The Cactus Blossoms both brought it to the Dakota last Thursday rotating sets, playing 2 each. I really like the Dakota and had a great evening. Note: even if you are on the guest list make sure your server knows this. Apparently they take the cover out of the back end and it shows up on your receipt. Too bad I didn't realize this until I got home because after spending $70 and tipping $15 it would have been nice to retain those funds. It was still a great evening.

03/09 - Went down to Hell's Kitchen to record City on the Make who have always been a personal favorite. Also got to see Erica and Jim's new band Oaks for the first time. Been meaning to do so for nearly a year and I look forward to seeing them again soon. Umami... um, Pete and Charlie will always be my boys but that's about all I have to say there.

03/10 - Empty's Tapes Presents HK Underground VI w/ Sorry OK, Blood and Sun & Dreamland Faces. I'm always a little nervous about how these are going to go over but was so glad to look around and see so many people having a great time. Much respect to the musicians, HK staff and friends who came down to Hell's Kitchen on Saturday.

03/11 - I meant to record the 3pm National Bird in store at Hymie's on Sunday afternoon but after staying up until 7am at the HK-after party hosted by the lovely Bargain Basement Bar I ended up sleeping in until 3:25pm. This happens very rarely so apparently I needed to catch up on my sleep.

Empty's Tapes Presents HK Underground VI.

Flyer by Casey Deming.

Empty's Tapes Presents HK Underground VI:

Sorry OK
Blood and Sun
Dreamland Faces

Hell's Kitchen
80 S 9th St Minneapolis, MN 55402
Saturday March 10th 2012
10pm | 21+ | $5

Parking is available in the garage next to HK.

Happy Hour Menu (10-2)

$3 PBR tallboys
$4 taps/rails
$5 Jameson
$7 tall boy & choice of shot (Jameson/Jag)

The RSVP on The Facebook.

The Cactus Blossoms & Foghorn Stringband @ The Dakota!

Foghorn Stringband (Portland, OR)
The Cactus Blossoms

The Dakota Jazz Club
1010 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN
Thursday March 8th 2012
7pm | $8

RSVP on The Facebook?

The Dakota Jazz Club is a very nice venue and a stand up establishment. I don't make it down there as often as I should and that's why I'm looking forward to this evening!

Basuketto Residency at The Red Stag.

Red Stag Supperclub (Happy Hour 10-12)
Every Wednesday the Month of March.
A new line up every week. Two sets.
Starting at 10pm.
Free.

This Wednesday will include a performance by:
Anonymous Choir (formerly Nona Marie & The Choir)
Ryan Olson
Ben Clark
Mark McGee
Joey Van Phillips

RSVP.

Basuketto is the new improvisational project founded by Mark McGee a.k.a Makr (Father You See Queen, Votel, Marijuana Deathsquads, To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie) and Ben Clark (Votel, Cecil Otter, Doomtree, LaLibertie). After curating a successful extended residency at Nick and Eddie, Makr will be fronting this new improvisational project that will continue to collect some of the Twin Cities’ most talented musicians across genres and place them in an arena for spontaneous collaboration. In contrast to previous residencies, for this project, participants will be exploring constraints in time, tempo, and arrangement to create more concise and directed improvisations with predetermined endpoints. Some of the guests that will be contributing include Ryan Olson (Gayngs, Marijuana Deathsquads, Polica), Nona Marie Invie (Dark, Dark, Dark), Maggie Morrison (Votel, Lookbook, Digitata), JT Bates (Alpha Consumer, the Pines, Bryan Nichols Quartet).

Music That Has Been And Will Be Recorded...

Shows that have been recorded recently:

02-08 - Goatflower, Larry Wish & Littlefoot at Yeti Records.

02-10 - Sorry OK, Hardcore Crayons, The Funeral and the Twilight & Hollow Boys at Hell's Kitchen

02-14 - Polica LP Release with Brute Heart at First Avenue

02-18 - self-evident, Lungs, Disguised as Birds (Milwaukee) & BRÜDER at Hell's Kitchen

03-02 - Total Fucking Blood LP Release with Marijuana Deathsquads & Thunderbolt Pagoda at The Turf Club

03-03 - Condominium and Claps at Grumpy's Downtown. I left the gear at home for this one and just went to hang out with friends. Had a blast...both bands were stellar.

This week is going to be a busy one. Shows I would like to get recorded:

03-07 - Basuketto (the new improvisational project founded by Mark McGee and Ben Clark) at The Red Stag

03-08 - The Cactus Blossoms + Foghorn Stringband @ The Dakota Jazz Club

03-09 - City on the Make @ Hell's Kitchen

03-10 - Empty's Tapes Presents HK Underground w/ Sorry OK, Blood and Sun, Dreamland Faces @ Hell's Kitchen

03-11 - National Bird @ Hymie's 3pm in store

Condominium's March Residency @ Grumpy's DT

Grumpy's NE
Music around 10:30 every Saturday.
Two band bills (love 'em)
No Cover

Condominium

"The best hardcore band in Minneapolis." - Empty's Tapes

"Here are the final lineups for the shows we're playing every Saturday in March at Grumpy's Downtown. The shows will start around 10:30pm and are free (probably excluding the Feedtime show). Come check it out." - Condominium

March 3rd with CLAPS
March 10th with Animal Lover
March 17th with Libyans
March 24th with Feedtime
March 31st with Hasps

Come enjoy live music and eat some tots with me Downtown tonight. It's going to be real.

Hi.

I updated the calendar with a bunch of shows. Will also try to post some new(er) recordings soon as well. Promise. Thank you for still coming here.

A "medium" gyro from Mediterranean Deli.

After the Goatflower show a dozen or so of us decided to go to Palmer's on the ol West Bank. My friend Tracie was kind enough to swing by the Blazedell House so I could drop off gear. After realizing that all I had to eat that day was a vienna beef frank with sport peppers from Walkin' Dog I did some quick math (stomach contents x the strength of Palmer's drinks = bad juju type stuff). As her attorney I advised her that it would probably be wise to eat something before going to Palmer's. The gyro at Mediterranean Deli never disappoints! This was the "medium" oof. Worry not vegetarian friends, she had the falafel.

Editor's note: A good portion of the gyro was enjoyed traditionally while the rest was doused with a healthy amount of buffalo sauce...

Goatflower, Larry Wish, Littlefoot @ Yeti Records Tonight!

Goatflower

Larry Wish

Littlefoot

Yeti Records
3506 Nicollet Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Tue-Sat: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Phone: 612.822.0490

Three favorites play at Yeti this evening at 8pm. Come hang out. It's always sad when Ana leaves. What else are you doing at 8pm?!

thefaceobookyourselfifyouwant.

The Cactus Blossoms Begin YEAR LONG Residency at The Turf Club!

Last night The Cactus Blossoms began their YEAR LONG residency at The Turf Club. Head down to The Turf every Monday night to catch them play from 9pm to midnight.

Last year The Cactus Blossoms released one of my favorite albums of 2011. It's available to check out in it's entirety on their Bandcamp page and I certainly suggest a purchase if you're as into Traditional Country as I am.

Since I haven't posted any recordings in a while...

01/01/12: Obligatory picture of the Muddy Waters Breakfast on New Years Day. Two eggs your way, choice of protein and home fries (my favorite home fries in town). She went up 50 cents on the new menu but at $7 it's still a damn deal.

01/04/12: Steamed broccoli at Asian Taste (formerly The Great Sun)...yeah we all prefer the original name. The food at this place is tops. Along with all the favorites they also offer a Hibachi Grill as well as a wide variety of sushi made before your very eyes. They also feature one of the best happy hours downtown. $3 drinks & taps from 4-7 & 10-close.

01/14/12: After taking an out of town friend to Sun Street Breads we had to laugh a bit at the irony of our order number the day after Friday the 13th.

First time at Sun Street Breads I went with The Southern Fried. Two nice pieces of fried chicken coupled with some of the best biscuits & sausage gravy I've every had. Chances are I'll probably still be thinking about this sandwich as I near the grave.

01/16/12: Unable to get the Southern Fried out of my mind two days later I went back to Sun Street Breads to try the biscuits & gravy proper. Delicious! How did they know that I'm a grapefruit fiend?

12/31/11: Speaking of biscuits & gravy when Muddy Waters rolled out the new brunch menu it was the first thing I had to try. Both the biscuits and mushroom gravy (sausage available) were excellent. Biscuits are on the small side but still pretty excellent.

01/21/12: Also on the new menu at Muddy Waters is the Southwest Sweet Potato Hash. I've had it 3 times now and it's currently one of my favorite breakfasts in Minneapolis. It never disappoints.

01/28/12: Also on the new menu at MW is the Wet Burrito served enchilada style with a combination of ranchero and cheese sauces. I'm always a bit weary ordering Mexican dishes outside of the choice spots but this was pretty stellar. You'll probably find me eating another one at 2933 Lyndale Ave South this Saturday.

01/29/12: Buffalo Chicken Po' Boy Guts (I'm telling you the bread is not necessary) Cook's Revenge at The Triple Rock. The Cook's Revenge can be anything...you never know what you're going to get but sometimes you get something pretty mind blowing! It also helps to know the cook.

Father You See Queen Pre-Release at The Entry Tonight!

Interview on A.V. Club

Father You See Queen (The Facebook)
with The Cloak Ox, Marijuana Deathsquads and Robust Worlds

The 7th Street Entry
$7 | 8pm | 18+
RSVP?

Hello.
We are celebrating a pre release of our EP "47"
A very limited release of 36 hand crafted music boxes from Jason Wasyk and hand painted by Danielle Voight, will be for sale at this event.
Inside will be extra musical material and a download code for the EP
"47" will be released on Flingco Sound System Records in April 2012. This pre release is presented by FSS and The Riley Bushman Recordings and Archives.

This evening will include musical performances by...
Father You See Queen
The Cloak Ox
Robust Worlds

with a special guest DJ

We would love for you to attend.
Thanks,
Mark McGee

Preview this gorgeously haunting release here.

Father You See Queen
47

1 Ocean
2 Teratoma
3 We Give And Give And You Take And Take And Take And Take
4 Lungs
5 Don't Be Mad At Me
6 Edmund

Makr: Beats and noise
Mona: Vocals and lyrics, TRACK 6 Guitar
Nick Ryan: TRACKS 2 & 6 Guitar
Drew Christopherson: TRACK 2 Drums
Freddy Votel: TRACK 6 Drums

Perish Tonight at The Kitty Cat Klub!

Perish:
Blood Folke
Blood and Sun

DJ Soft Abuse and Savage Clone
(Two of my favorite DJs)

Kitty Cat Klub
10pm. 1/19.
Free

Perish. Every Third Thursday of the Month. Social Networking?

So much blood. Blood Folke's s/t EP will be for sale at this event. $8, released by Small Doses!

Doomtree - No Kings Tour

Check out doomtree.net for info on tickets and don't forget to say what up to Ander Other.

01/19/12 @ The Granada Theatre- Lawrence, KS
01/20/12 @ Mojo's- Columbia, MO
01/21/12 @ The Waiting Room- Omaha, NE
01/22/12 @ The Summit Music Hall- Denver, CO
01/23/12 @ Urban Lounge- Salt Lake City, UT
01/24/12 @ Neurolux- Boise, ID
01/26/12 @ Branx- Portland, OR
01/27/12 @ The Crocodile- Seattle, WA
01/28/12 @ Fortune Sound Club- Vancouver, BC
01/29/12 @ WOW Hall- Eugene, OR
01/31/12 @ Slim's- San Francisco, CA
02/01/12 @ Catalyst Atrium- Santa Cruz, CA
02/02/12 @ The Troubadour- West Hollywood, CA
02/03/12 @ The Casbah- San Diego, CA
02/04/12 @ Chasers- Scottsdale, AZ
02/06/12 @ Wrecker’s- Lubbock, TX
02/07/12 @ Dan's Silverleaf- Denton, TX
02/08/12 @ Fitzgerald's Downstairs- Houston, TX
02/09/12 @ One Eyed Jacks- New Orleans, LA
02/10/12 @ Bottletree Cafe- Birmingham, AL
02/11/12 @ Drunken Unicorn- Atlanta, GA
02/12/12 @ Local 506- Chapel Hill, NC
02/13/12 @ Rock and Roll Hotel- Washington, DC
02/15/12 @ Union Transfer- Philadelphia, PA
02/16/12 @ Bowery Ballroom- New York, NY
02/17/12 @ The Middle East- Downstairs- Cambridge, MA
02/18/12 @ II Motore- Montreal, QC
02/19/12 @ Sneaky Dee's- Toronto, ON
02/20/12 @ Shadow Lounge- Pittsburgh, PA
02/21/12 @ Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH
02/22/12 @ Blind Pig- Ann Arbor, MI
02/23/12 @ The Bottom Lounge- Chicago, IL
02/24/12 @ Comstock Room- Runyan Center- Richmond, IN
02/25/11 @ Turner Hall- Milwaukee, WI
02/29/12 @ Great Lakes Room- Northern Michigan Univ.-Marquette, MI
03/03/12 @ Verizon Wireless Center - Mankato, MI
03/07/12 @ Blue Moose Tap House- Iowa City. IA
03/08/12 @ The Maintenance Shop- Ames, IA
03/09/12 @ University of Wisconsin The Sett - Madison, WI
03/10/12 @ Firebird- St. Louis, MO
03/11/12 @ The Marquee- Tulsa, OK
03/12/12 @ Media Star Entertainment Hall- Shreveport, LA
03/19/12 @ The Conservatory- Oklahoma City, OK
03/20/12 @ The Sceneary- Wichita, KS

Blood and Sun @ The Varsity Theater

Cover of official release pictured.

320kbps mp3 | FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

Blood and Sun
The Varsity Theater
Minneapolis, MN
Thursday January 5th 2012

Recorded by: empty (emptystapes AT gmail DOT com)
Location: DINish, to the left of the board ROC, 30' back, ~7' ^
Source: AKG 414B-xls (Hypers) > Silver Quad customs > UA-5 (BM2p+) > iRiver h120 (Optical @ 16bit 44.1kHz WAV)
Transfer: h120 > USB 2.0 > PC [WAV > (TLH for FLAC/RazorLame> 320kbps mp3]
Edit: Sound Forge 10 (mild compression) CD Wave (track indexing)

This Recording is for Promotional & Archival Purposes Only.

01. Our Merciless Master
02. Death is the Martyr of Beauty (Death In June)
03. Slaughter the Instant
04. The Blade (Sol Invictus)
05. Instrumental
06. White Storms Fall

Luke Tromiczak: Vocals, Guitar
Thomas Ashe: Violin
James Carolan: Bass Clarinet
Erik Wivinus: Percussion (live)

Blood and Sun on Bancamp.

So 5 days into the new year I knew I had already been exposed to one of, perhaps my favorite band to come out of Minneapolis in the next 12 months. Kind of early for bold statements, I know. I encourage you to check out Blood and Sun for yourself to see what I am talking about. They recorded a 4 track demo this past December that is limited to 100 copies. Contact the band if you would like one before they run out. Blood and Sun, Still Pacific and Safewords supported The Rope on this evening. Thanks to the bands and to The Varsity Theater for allowing me to record.

I believe this was their 2nd, maybe 3rd show ever? I know of one other that happened in December. If you would like to see them live there's a prime opportunity to do so this Thursday the 19th at The Kitty Cat Klub as part of the monthly Perish event. 10pm with no cover.

Painted Saints @ The Cedar

A .RAR file containing these songs is available here.

Painted Saints
The Cedar Cultural Center
No Match for Greater Minds Release Show
Minneapolis, MN
Saturday November 19th 2011

Recorded by: empty (emptystapes AT gmail DOT com)
Location: DINish, FOB, 40' back, ~7.5' ^
Source: AKG 414B-xls (Hypers) > Silver Quad customs > UA-5 (BM2p+) > iRiver h120 (Optical @ 16bit 44.1kHz WAV)
Transfer: h120 > USB 2.0 > PC [WAV > RazorLame> 320kbps mp3]
Edit: Sound Forge 10 (mild compression) CD Wave (track indexing)

This Recording is for Promotional & Archival Purposes Only.

"My Bird"
"The Fat Kid Rides His Bike In The Snow"

Paul Fonfara - Vocals, Guitar, Clarinet, Viola, Bandoneon
Josh Granowski - Bass
Chris Hepola - Drums and Piano
Will Dockendorf - Lap steel guitar
Christa Rubsam - Violin, Erhu, Cello

paintedsaints.net | Facebook

Trying to shake off a good 6 months of hedonistic self-indulgence and get back to what this place is about; sharing live recordings from bands that I feel other people should know about. Starting off with one of the last shows of 2011 to really amaze me. This is a 2 song excerpt (the last 2 songs) of a 70 minute set.

I've always admired and enjoyed Painted Saints but I was blown away at their recent release show for the new album No Match for Greater Minds. Have you heard this album yet? Nona Marie & The Choir, Dreamland Faces and The Stew Bums (Mike & Nikki Gunther) supported. Hear The Choir's cover of "Good Woman" here.

Empty's Tapes Presents IV: Hell's Kitchen Underground

Empty's Tapes Presents IV:

City on the Make
No Bird Sing
Guante

Hell's Kitchen
80 S 9th St
Minneapolis, MN 55402

10pm | $5 | 21+

$3 PBR tallboys
$4 taps/rails
$5 Jameson
$7 tall boy & choice of shot (Jameson/Jag)

"Late Nite" food menu.

Social Networking opportunity.

Reilver 2nd Anniversary Show Tonight at The Turf!

Flyer by Peyote Cat Shaman

My homies at Reviler.org are celebrating their 2 Year Anniversary tonight in The Midway.

Friday January 13th
The Turf Club
St. Paul, MN
$5 | 9pm | 21+

Food Pyramid
Andrew Broder
Is/Is
Fire in the Northern Firs

Invite yourself if you feel like it.

Dissect Broder's thoughts on Garfield over at Reviler.org.

The Rope at The Varsity Theater Tonight!

The Rope
with Safewords, Still Pacific & Blood and Sun

The Varsity Theater
Thursday January 5th
$8 | 18+

7:00 - Doors
8:00 - Blood and Sun (30 mins)
8:45 - Still Pacific (30 mins)
9:30 - Safewords (45 mins)
10:30 - The Rope (60 mins)

RSVP?