Archive for minnesota

Introducing: Click Track

Posted in Local Love, Mind Inversion Exclusive, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, July 19, 2012 by TSN

For some time I had been anticipating a video from a local band, Click Track.  Straight out of La Crosse, WI.  Now that I have seen and heard, I realize this band hails with edgy creativity and promising tune.

I had no idea at how the video would go or how the new song would sound.  I was exposed to the above.  I am greatly surprised at the catchiness of the song and the quality of the video, I felt it necessary to share with you, my friends at Mindinversion.net.

Local Love presents Click Track.

Click Track Facebook Page

Click Track Reverbnation

These are some place to check out more songs, tour dates, and news on Click Track.

Click Track frontman Ryan Conrad and drummer Nick Elstad have hit it right with Dangerous Children.  They have been writing songs and creating music for sometime, playing venues in La Crosse, and elsewhere in the Midwest.  Bars, like The Cavalier, places intimate and very up close and personal.  I have known Conrad to have been writing and creating music, at least, for the past 10 years, in various acts (One point I even had the pleasure of being in a band with Conrad).  Seen em’ (Click Track) live a few times and they put on a high energy, professionally done show, with some fun.  The live show is intense and memorable, and their sound is original, at times haunting.

The song Dangerous Children is pleasantly catchy and the video is done well.  It has a hint of low-budget underground artsy film, but it remains highly effective and the songwriting speaks to quality.  I can appreciate a sense of art in production, with the progression and listenability of big league acts.  A song I can relate to and listen to many times before coming to a conclusion.

For a bit Conrad had been telling me to give his music a listen, I have known him forever and decided to.  I had not expected it to sound so new, so crisp, and so realistic.  I was happily enthusiastic.  I was intrigued, the Dangerous Children video showcases Click Track and the city of La Crosse, and a library, these are 3 positives in my book.

La Crosse is a city with a lot of musical acts, but at times, sadly, with little progression and distinguishability within the ranks and genres.

However, that is not entirely true, thanks to Click Track.

If anything Click Track is a testament that the music scene in La Crosse is changing for the better-their video speaks to said change.  Click Track is a breakthrough Indie rock band coming out of La Crosse, something I consider great, and they are pointed in the right direction.  They deserve a listen, and for the creative video they deserve a share.

Okay, so they have a megaphone, they wear suits, and they are from La Crosse, WI.  Need I say more?

The retro feel of the video, and the simple yet catchy sound have me inspired, Click Track.  As Click Track shows, there is clear potential in the Midwest for indie garage rock.

Northern Outpost Double Feature: Speed’s The Name & Empires

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , on Monday, July 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

After missing the last episode of Northern Outpost due to my summer vacation, I owe it to the NO crew and Speed’s The Name to expand my post this week to mention episode #12 alongside the headbang-inducing show that aired this week featuring the dudes in Empires (episode #13). Before diving into their own sets of mind-boggling, attention-grabbing experimental music, both Speed’s The Name and my friends in Empires discuss subjects ranging from the way they write their songs to the struggles of making a name for yourself in an oft-ignored Twin Cities music scene that seems to be filled to capacity with exceptional music artists in their respective interviews. Since there’s so much video to enjoy, I’ll keep it short this week; enjoy the double-header of local experimental rock and metal goodness!

Concert Recap: The Crinn, Zebulon Pike, The Body Beneath, Ambassador Gun @ Triple Rock Social Club

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Friday, July 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege

The Crinn(The Crinn)

Zebulon Pike live @ Triple Rock Social Club(Zebulon Pike)

The Body Beneath live @ Triple Rock Social Club(The Body Beneath)

Ambassador Gun live @ Triple Rock Social Club(Ambassador Gun)

Our exclusive photo coverage of the The Crinn’s must see return show and their equally awesome local support continues after the jump. Enjoy! Continue reading

Concert Photo Recap: Cocaine @ the 400 Bar

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Cocaine live @ 400 Bar

On Saturday, Minneapolis’s hardest rocking, hardest partying, and (perhaps) hardest working band Cocaine continued their streak of high energy local live performances (while they spend their off-time working on the band’s new album) with a tight show that quickly won over a crowd who never ceased to cheer them on throughout the night. Photos from the band’s set continue after the jump… Continue reading

Concert Recap: Shellac, Bear Claw @ Varsity Theater

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , , , , on Monday, June 29, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Shellac live at the Varsity Theater

Shellac, the famed noise rock outlet comprised by Steve Albini, Bob Weston, and Todd Trainer, made it to the Varsity Theater for a rare concert appearance at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis last week on the day of Michael Jackson’s passing. Despite some ill-advised humor mocking the death of MJ that got under the skin of more than a few concertgoers, the music at the center of the band’s free-flowing set of  prog and noise rock was well-received by nearly everyone in attendance. Intricate, snarky, abrasive, and thick, the band has a sound that keeps you on your toes at attention, waiting to see where the rollercoast will veer to next.

For my part, I was there to see the legendary Albini (producer of most of my favorite albums from bands ranging from Neurosis, High On Fire, Mogwai, Nirvana, and many, many more) execute his music genius right in front of me. I was situated right in front of his amp on stage right, and I don’t think I could have picked a better spot. With the warm tones and complicated melodies from Steve’s guitar dominating my hearing, I watched from the perfect angle as Trainer banged away at his drums like Animal. The show left me completely impressed (I was skeptical about seeing how these studio-based legends would translate in the live seting), and I’m sure everyone would have been on board for their sarcastic humor on most other days of the year.

Bear Claw opened the show. Videos and photos from my steady shot Sony DSCW80 follow below!

VIDEO: Shellac, Live at the Varsity Theater, 6/25/09

Shellac live at the Varsity Theater(Shellac)

More photos of Shellac and friends are available for you after the jump. Solider on… Continue reading

MTV2’s Twin Cities Week continues: Backstage at Soundset 2009; Atmosphere, Brother Ali, P.O.S, Tape ‘N Tapes live and interviewed

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 by Ryan Buege

MTV2‘s coverage of the area in Twin Cities Week continues today. A massive video diary of the station’s visit to the Soundset 2009 hip-hop festival and a backyard BBQ with Tapes ‘N Tapes is featured in this round of video offerings..

Vodpod videos no longer available.INTERVIEW VIDEO: Highlights of Sounset 2009 (Part 1 of 8)

The playlist continues after the jump, and area artists Atmosphere, Tapes ‘N Tapes, P.O.S, Brother Ali, and various parts of the city are exposed during interviews and live performances from around the city. It’s a great viewing experience for any local. Enjoy! Continue reading

KMFDM schedules First Ave. show, Mono schedules Triple Rock show; both on October 5th

Posted in Concert Dates with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, June 15, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Why, oh why, am I being asked to choose between the Japanese post-rockers in Mono and industrial music’s pioneers in KMFDM? Sure, the bands obviously share more differences than similarities, but I can’t be the only one who jumped for joy a little bit the moment that I saw the announcement of each of these shows, can I?

.. that is, until I realized that they are both scheduled on the same night across town from each other, that is.

Sometimes this city does that to you though (just like I was forced to decide between the Acid Mother’s Temple show at the Entry and the FMTM/Torche/Dredg show at Varsity earlier in the year), and I guess I should just be glad that area booking agents are at least giving me 4 solid months to debate the positives and negatives of attending either gig.

Right now, I’m leaning towards attending the KMFDM gig purely because I’ve never had the chance to see these legends at work. While industrial music’s definitely not my forte, I’ve got a special place in my heart for the noise rock and underground electronic scenes in New York, Germany, and other niches throughout the world which birthed KMFDM and their contemporaries during the early 1980s.  The abrasive electronic sounds that were spearheaded by KFMDM and a few others have seemed to eventually seep into the DNA of pretty much every band I enjoy, and though I don’t know much of their output, I’m pretty sure I’d still be fascinated to see a band that has indirectly had so much influence on my musical taste. Really though, I just want to see THE band who former La Crosse, WI vagabond Pete Missing continuously mentioned when we’d stop by his art gallery some years ago..

KMFDM, ANGEL SPIT
First Avenue
Oct. 5, 2009 | 7 PM

$20 ADV | $20 DOS | 18+

However, post-rock shows are my favorite kind of concerts to attend, and (with very few exceptions) nobody executes better than Mono. Seeing these dedicated musicians playing their soul-stirring psychedelic epics live at top volume is typically a can’t miss event for me, and this time they’ll be playing with Maserati. Considering that they also only visit the U.S. every few years, that I’ll have many more friends in the crowd with me here, and that Mono’s new album Hymn to the Immortal Wind is one of my favorites from the year, I feel like I’d be especially stupid for for missing this one, as well.

MONO, MASERATI
Triple Rock Social Club
Oct. 5, 2009 | 8 PM

$12 ADV | $15 DOS | 21+

Keep reading on the next page for all of KMFDM’s and Mono’s scheduled 2009 tour dates… Continue reading

Northern Oupost, Episode 11, Summer 2009: The Falcon Arrow

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, June 8, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Not too long ago, Minneapolis art-rock duo The Falcon Arrow stopped by the Owl Recording Studio to record an interview and in studio performance for the best TC-based multiple camera music show to ever grace web, and on Friday (June 5) their feature was released for public consumption as Northern Outpost‘s 11th episode. This episode proved to be one of my favorites so far, with a candid interview that emphasized some of the struggles of being an independent band in a city that’s already crowded many good ones and one of the most inventive music sets that’s been showcased yet. Through its sparse rhythm-only arrangement, the music of The Falcon Arrow is far removed from the style of post-rock that many of you are used to, yet it still possesses the same entrancing buildups and soothing come-downs that define the genre’s greatest moments. I pressed play not expecting more than a simple indie rock band, and when the replay screen finally came up I was still trying to comprehend how the looping bass of Matt Reintz was able to produce such a beautiful racket..

In two weeks Northern Outpost will be back with Episode 12 with Speed’s The Name, and I’m very excited to see that my buds in Empires will be showcasing their epic, ethereal doom metal for Episode 13. If you enjoy the highest quality music the Twin Cities have to offer, it looks like Max Becker and Northern Outpost have a stellar summer lineup in store for you. Stay tuned to find else what else is on the horizon…

Sunn O))) schedules Varsity Theater show

Posted in Concert Dates with tags , , , , , , , on Monday, June 8, 2009 by Ryan Buege

The mysterious and bizarre cult of drone known as Sunn O))) has just made plans to grace Minnesota with a rare performance next month during their brief tour of the Midwest. On July 5, 2009, Sunn O)) (featuring Stephen O’ Malley and Greg Anderson) will be at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown for a incredible sonic experience like no other during a small tour supporting their new full-lenght album Monoliths and Dimensions. Keep reading for all their tour dates… Continue reading

Sunday Metal Video: Mayhem, “Freezing Moon (live at Wacken)”

Posted in Sunday Metalhead Minute with tags , , , , , , , on Sunday, June 7, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Blackened Fest is here! Weak-minded fools would do best to stay away from Station 4 on Tuesday, when the black metal lords and their legions come out to lay siege to Minneapolis for the first time in over a decade.

LIVE VIDEO: Mayhem, “Freezing Moon (live at Wacken 2004)”