Ryan Buege

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Mind Inversion interviews Vernal Pool

Posted in Interviews with tags across tundras, colorado, denver, eric torkelson, examination of the..., heath rave, lungs, sioux falls, south dakota, vernal pool on Thursday, March 5, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Vernal Pool is a Minneapolis-by-way-of-South Dakota doom metal band that really doesn’t give a shit if you like them or not – but they do think that right people might if they just had the time. It’s a sound that takes patience, but their free-minded, introspective, brand of classic doom metal is one that reveals many astonishing sonic rewards amidst its many varied layers, from devastation to meditative bliss. In truth, Vernal Pool may play the bleakest, slowest metal music you’re bound to hear in your life, and the wisping traces of shoegaze, Americana, western, and folk music that accent their doom, especially in the live setting, create a result is something very dark and haunting indeed. After nearly two years of work and quiet shows around the area, they’ve just finished putting their first record together and look to be releasing it soon. However, before it’s out they’ll be playing the album live at their shows around the area, the first of which comes next week when they open the much anticipated Battlefields, Irepress, Frontier show at Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis next Wednesday, March 11th. Ryan from Mind Inversion was able to meet up with Eric (vocals, bass) and Heath (drums) from Vernal Pool at their place in NE to talk about their band, their sound, their take on doom and experimental metal in the Midwest and Minneapolis, and what we can expect from their future.

Mind Inversion: For anyone not familiar with Vernal Pool, could you tell me a bit about yourselves, your history, where you come from, and how you all came together as Vernal Pool.

Eric Torkelson: Well Heath and I are both from South Dakota, near Sioux Falls, and we both left there.

Heath Rave: Yeah, exactly; we left…. Continue reading →

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Far signs a deal with Vagrant for ‘return’ fifth album

Posted in Music News with tags california, chris robyn, far, john gutenburger, jonah matranga, sacramento, shaun lopez, vagrant records on Thursday, March 5, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Just a quick update for all of you who have been waiting for news since I posted that Far had reunited. Jonah, Shaun, Chris, and John have now announced that they’ve signed a deal with the reputtable Vagrant recording label. Also, accompanying this announcement was the great news that the band’s fifth long-player will be ready for public ears by the spring, the Southern Cali band’s first album in 12 years! From what I understand, Far had been looking to return to the edgier post-hardcore sound that they enjoyed on Tins Cans.. and their earlier albums. After watching Jonah dabble in the softer side of folk and emo for the last decade, it should be riveting to see him really rocking again. Here’s the word from Jonah:

“We had no idea all this would happen. We were just planning on getting to know each other again and playing a few shows, in between everything else we’ve got going on. But now, all of a sudden, the songs are coming, and it feels really good. All we’ve ever promised as people and as a band is that whatever we put out, whenever we come around, we’re gonna mean it.”

www.thebandfar.com | myspace.com/far

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NIN gets through “Wish” with some help from their friends

Posted in Video with tags dillinger escape plan, nine inch nails on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Hopefully Trent’s not really on his last leg’s. I don’t know if he’s just energized by being next to Ben and Greg of Dillinger Escape Plan for this performance of “Wish” in Australia on February 28th, but this doesn’t look like a performance from a band that’s about to call it quits. This is a fantastic display of talent from everyone involved! We’re still waiting to see with Nine Inch Nails schedules a Minnesota date for their “finale” tour with Jane’s Addiction…

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Propagandhi’s Supporting Caste now streaming

Posted in Audio with tags g7 welcoming committee records, potemkin city limits, propagandhi, punk, Rock, skate, smallman records on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege

My favorite forward-thinking Canadian skatepunks in Propagahndi are soon to release their follow-up to 2005’s Potemkin City Limits, and now the entire new album, Supporting Caste, available on March 10th, is now available for preview streaming on their brand new MySpace site. One thing’s clear on first listen – after five albums, these anarchists still haven’t lost any of their edge. Supporting Caste sounds as unrelenting, vicious, and unapologetic as we’ve hear Propagandhi yet. Take a listen for yourself!

Listen: Supporting Caste (available for sale on March 10th)

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Mastodon steals Kylesa and Intronaut for a North American tour

Posted in Music News with tags fine line music cafe, intronaut, kylesa, mastodon, minneapolis, minnesota, nachtmystium, st. paul, station 4, the haunted on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Several months ago, Mind Inversion made the announcement that The Haunted would be coming to St. Paul for what promised to be an amazing show with Nachtmystium, Kylesa, and Intronaut in mid-April – which is why I was pretty caught off guard when I read the announcement yesterday for a April 12th Mastodon headlined gig at the Fine Line with Intronaut and Kylesa in tow. I’m really not complaining; if these bands were going to unexpectedly drop off an awesome tour, it might as well have been to go on an equally awesome tour.

Mastodon recently crafted the most psychedelic and unrestrained album of their career, Crack the Skye, and they decided to present it live to Minneapolis at one of the most intimate and unrestrained venues in the city. This is a very lucky occurence! Despite their growing success, it’s great that I’m still able to see Mastodon headlining club venues (like they did last time at First Avenue with Converge) rather than opening for some lesser bands. And while it’s only been 4 years, it seems like it’s been an extremely LONG time since their blistering, under-attended performance at the Triple Rock with Burning Brings. To me, it’s commendable that they’re still keeping it as small as they can. Additionally, they’ll be playing Crack the Skye in its entirety, and you don’t even have to go to Maplewood or sit through any shitty bands! Clearly, these guys still know how to book tours that their fans will love; this is a show no one should feel okay missing.

However, I really hope that this doesn’t mean that the Haunted/Nachtmystium performance is going to be canceled. Nachtmystium put out my favorite album of last year, and I was pretty bummed when they dropped off the Opeth tour that came through Maplewood in the middle of last year. I could really care less which show I see Intronaut and Kylesa play at – as long as I get to see them play – but if dropping off the Haunted tour causes this show’s cancellation, I’ll very fucking disappointed.

Continue on to see all the relevant dates these bands have scheduled… Continue reading →

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Sunday Metalhead Minute: Tombs, “The Divide”

Posted in Sunday Metalhead Minute with tags Audio, relapse records, tombs, winter hours on Sunday, March 1, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Tombs is a snarling Brooklyn-based doom and hardcore act that has had my attention tighter than anyone in underground metal this year. Ever since I got my hands around their previous vinyl releases (S/T and the split with Planks), Winter Hours has been on my shortlist for anticipated releases. Given the relatively limited scope of emotions governing the doom metal spectrum, there’s a very authentic, undeniably inventive perspective and overwhelming presence that Tombs brings to the game. While I was skeptical at first of whether they had simply hit a streak of early luck on the first two releases, Winter Hours (which finally hit stores last Tuesday) is a brilliant album that should ensure they’ll continue to turn a lot of heads this year. All the gears are extremely well-oiled on this one, and this song from the middle of the tracklist is a great example of the beefed up, free-minded blackened doom’n’psychedelics they’re practicing on Winter Hours. I hope to have a full review on this one pending some free time from my school/real work life…

LISTEN: “The Divide” (from Winter Hours, 2009)

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Northern Outpost Ep. 5, Bouncer Fighter and the ongoing Minneapolis music renaissance

Posted in Video with tags bouncer fighter, military special, minneapolis, minnesota, northern outpost, owl recording studios, uptown, velvet davenport, women on Friday, February 27, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Northern Outpost, the only Minnesota based online music television show worth talking about, has posted their fifth episode from their first season online, and this episode features the very awesome, dissonant, organic, epic progressive punk of the super active Minneapolis based band Bouncer Fighter. On this week’s show from Uptown’s Owl Recording Studios, the interview hits on a number of interesting topics such as the effect of Minnesota weather on the music of Bouncer Fighter, the cultural influence of the big city on a small town country-boy, and the closeness & undeniable greatness of the current MPLS scene. Watch it til the end to see this stellar up-and-coming band tear up the studio to one of their newest off-kilter jams, and bookmark NorthernOutpost.net to stay tuned for the final three episodes of the season (and to check up on previous episodes you may have missed!)

As I indicated, Bouncer Fighter seems to always have a local show booked that is worth going to support and groove to. This month they have great gigs booked with Women, Military Special, and much more. Keep reading to see all the dates they’ve got lined up… Continue reading →

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Concert Photo Recap: These Arms Are Snakes, Darker My Love, All the Saints @ Triple Rock Social Club

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags all the saints, darker my love, hardcore, Indie, minneapolis, minnesota, progressive rock, these arms are snakes, triple rock social club on Friday, February 27, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Last night, These Arms Are Snakes, Darker My Love, All the Saints(, and one other band that I unfortunately missed) played to a small crowd at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, MN. These are some photos:

(These Arms Are Snakes)

(Darker My Love)

(All the Saints)

Don’t stop there! We’ve still got many more great photos from this chaotic, noisy night; keep reading… Continue reading →

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Mogwai plans to revisit Minnesota on 2009 U.S. tour

Posted in Concert Dates with tags 2009, First Avenue, minneapolis, minnesota, mogwai, the hawk is howling, tou dates on Thursday, February 26, 2009 by Ryan Buege

After their First Avenue show was abruptly cancelled late last year due to Martin’s heart complications, many Mogwai fans were left a bit shocked and bewildered. Thankfully, he was quickly on his feet again, and the band has stayed true to their promise to return to the midwest as soon as possible. So far, no openers have been announced for their rescheduled show on May 10th at First Avenue in Minneapolis, and I hope it stays that way. The Hawk Is Howling had some of my favorite songs from last year on it, but I’m definitely in support of giving the band plenty of time to honor their classic albums, as well.

Keep reading for all the dates on Mogwai’s world tour… Continue reading →

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Muja Messiah freestyles at Peter Parker’s on B96

Posted in Video with tags Atmosphere, beats, Brother Ali, dj jimmy2times, dj plain ole bil, fine line music cafe, Hip-Hop, m.anifest, minneapolis, minnesota, muja messiah, Rap, st. paul slim, toki wright on Thursday, February 26, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Via Culture Bully, B96 recently had the the self-proclaimed “hottest thing cooking” in Minneapolis, Muja Messiah, in the studio and he displayed his incredible flow on air for the rest of the city to hear. They discuss a range of topics, from fake and stupid MCs to Muja’s own steadily rising career, and after a few minutes Muja freestyles over his own beat that he brought with him into the studio. Hit play and watch the video to see why this guy’s name never stops coming up in the local hip-hop conversation lately.

While they’re hyping his show at Axis next week, I want to remind everyone about the awesome set that’s planned at Fine Line next week featuring sets of Atmosphere meets Brother Ali, Muja Messiah meets M.anifest, Toki Wright meets St. Paul Slim, and DJ Jimmy 2 Times meets DJ Plain Ole Bill. This is a local hip-hop event for the record books, and you should do everything in your power to make it to this show. Click the flier to read more!