Once upon a time, in the midst of a charming, sunny August with a cloudless sky, Laura Lou and the Loungeabouts performed outside in Laura's backyard for Sofar Sounds Minneapolis. In comparison to the brisk and chilly night that was last Saturday, it seemed like a dream. Yet fully decked out in authentic Hawaiian garb, Laura Lou and the luau crew recreated a sense of summer that was hard to ignore. They opened the evening on January 24th at The Cedar Cultural Center - the first of five bands I was to see that night, and the second time I would end up at The Cedar in less than 48 hours. 

Laura Lou was joined on stage by four good friends and very talented musicians, dubbed the Loungeabouts: Becky Shaheen on keys & vocals, Chris Kopp on upright bass, Tommy Jacobs on drums, and Nick Mordal on guitar. Together, they create a wonderful full sound of jazz and pop elements, fronted by Laura Lou's stellar vocals, that is quite pleasing to the ear. They performed several tunes off last year's EP - Seduction Lullaby - as well as several new songs, "Constant Distraction," and "Sorrow," of which the latter was my favorite. And just to show off (kidding), Laura covered a jazz standard with a twist, "The Boy From Ipanema," which was delightful. The best parts about seeing Laura Lou live, however, are her frank and comedic comments between songs with Shaheen, the fan group that screams in support of Mordal's solos, and her mom whistling proudly somewhere off stage. 

Second up was i like you, very much a band, not to be confused with the popular retail store of the same name in Northeast. This multi-instrumental cast continued the bright Hawaiian theme in costume as well as in spirit. I found myself with a perpetual grin throughout the set, influenced by their uplifting music as well as the infectious positive charisma of lead vocalist Wendy Soleil. As my friend Justin joked, i like you is "Botox for the soul," although as I pointed out, it's "both less expensive and less toxic."

I say this about many bands, but i like you is a must-see - or rather, must-listen - in-person experience. Their songs build up in complexity and pull you in as a whole, mentally, in a way that requires few distractions. I got to talk with Karen, the viola player, after their set. It turns out that she was so drawn to the band, she ended up scheduling all their shows in her calendar, and eventually got invited to be a part of the group. "Be careful what you wish for," she told me, "you might just end up joining your favorite band." 

As the headliner, Harbor and Home, took the stage, I was anxiously glancing at the time, eager to run across the street and catch my friends The Person and The People opening for a show at Triple Rock. I figured I could see half of each set, but as the time neared 10:30 pm, I got nervous, and depending on how much I enjoyed Harbor and Home, I realized I might have to leave pretty soon. Yet when Harbor and Home stated eagerly, "We're all about fun!" and continued with an overzealous "ONE TWO THREE FOUR" followed by a supremely anticlimactic intro of the quietest, most emotionally invested guitar picking I've yet seen, my decision was made instantly. Jen, Justin, and I all but ran to grab our coats and escape the hall before these native Minnesotans spoke or sang anything more with a fake southern accent. 

Frustratingly, I missed The Person and The People's set by mere minutes. I muttered curses about the wanna-be boy band still playing across the street, but commended myself on the Triple Rock-approved mostly black, slightly punkish outfit I had donned for the evening while I waited to grab a beer. 

Then Better Bones, the project of Max Gremillion (above), took the stage. I cannot correctly state in words how it felt to hear this music for the first time, other than it was like liquid gold being poured into my ears. Something about being two drinks deep, combined with the stark contrast of talent and genuine intent behind the this performance compared with the one I had previously abandoned, left me in a state of shocked bliss. Better Bones performs my ultimate favorite style of music: a mix of both acoustic and electric instruments, with well-trained and unadulterated vocals that sing memorable and poignant lyrics, all combined into a well-rounded and energetic full sound that leaves room for nothing else but your heartbeat. Listening to this set, I realized I had forgotten what it feels like to fall in love. 

So I apologize to Enemy Planes, the headliners for the evening, for being in a daze the rest of the night. Your set was dynamic as always, and every time I excitedly await the flinging of drumsticks after the passionate drumming that ends that last tune. But when you're newly in love, old flames just don't quite match up. And I'm still reminiscing about Hawaiian breezes while Better Bones remains in my car's CD player a week later. 

Special thanks to Laura Lou for inviting me to her show, Max for entertaining my unbridled enthusiasm, and to all the fantastic musicians who made my night. 

I will admit, reviewing music made by local bands is a thrilling and rewarding process. There is the ability to see who you want to write about live, to meet the musicians in person, and make many new friends in the process. But even after a successful post that gives your website a record viewing, fills your inbox with a slough of empowering emails, and allows you to feel the love and think bigger than you have in a while, it remains mostly an individual endeavor. 

In my efforts to see live music in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, I end up at a lot of shows alone. Not lonely, necessarily, and usually with good music to keep me company, but one too many nights either shouldered between annoying strangers with nothing to do during set breaks or just hanging by myself at the bar is a recipe for isolation and doubt in the process. Then there are the nights when I end up selling merch for a favorite band, end up helping them take down their set before grabbing pizza, or we get brunch the next day and swap life stories and it's all worth it. But those are the highlights, the national touring groups, the rarities. And when the flash of fame is gone, I end up a bit blinded by the light; my local music scene sometimes doesn't seem like enough of a big deal. 

So it really means something to say that at The Dirty Banks EP release show last Thursday at Turf Club, there was a moment when I thought, "this is enough." The Dirty Banks are a group of Minneapolis coworkers and friends (Danaca Booth, Tim DeYoung, Jon Heinz, Holly Rud, and David Smith) who decided to finally make something together, starting in 2013. This first release, their Coda EP, is a well-crafted and fresh take on low-key 90's alternative, with guitar-driven melodies, and a subtle indie rock undercurrent throughout. Danaca and Jon trade off on vocals and guitar, with Holly on bass, and Tim's keys and David on drums rounding out the sound. Listen to any track more than twice, and I guarantee it will be stuck in your head for the week. 

The Dirty Banks' talent does not proclaim itself with bright flashing colors or costumes, fancy electronics, or a table of overpriced merch. It's in Danaca's pleasing hazy vocals, the fact that every member of the band sings, the genuine stage presence that Jon projects, and how focused they are on making the music they call their own. What really counts in live music is the genuine attendance and interest of fans, the stranger at your table who becomes a friend over the course of the night, and the moment when the music makes you forget there is anyone else on earth but the band and their sound ("Histories"). And in this case, there was more than enough of all three. 

A special thank you to Danaca and The Dirty Banks for inviting me. 

2014 has been the busiest year yet for The Aural, as I found myself at over 30 shows in Minneapolis and saw almost 90 different bands - most of which were local talents. I talked to more people than I could sanely keep track of, hung out with many new friends, and had some of the best conversations in years. I fell in love with Turf Club after it reopened, ended up in the front row at First Ave more than once, and am on my way to becoming the most loyal attendee of 7th Street Entry. My favorite moments however, were spent seeing many local Minneapolis acts more than once - seeing them grow and evolve and letting their music become a part of my personal fabric. So this post is dedicated to the following 14 groups, for being my biggest musical (and for some, personal) influences of the year. And to read about more local Minneapolis music from 2014 and on, check out Sofar Sounds Minneapolis, and follow Facebook and Twitter. 

First - and the absolute best (in my world, anyway) - are the musical duo of Andrew and Julie Thoreen. Last July, they opened for Hundred Waters at 7th Street and my friends and I attempted to pick our jaws up off the floor after their set to talk to them. The words that came out of our mouths were things like "fantastic" and "brilliant" and "operatic" and "what the f#$%." Besides appearing as swooning fan-girls, we were sincerely amazed. Both singers and musicians, these two think beyond what is possible not only with two people, but within the realm of the average indie song. Currently, for example, I do not know any band in which two people share a drumset between them, and it makes the music better instead of worse. Rhythm, pitch, tone, and musicality come like instinct to this pair - and it's no surprise that with their chemistry they share a binding legal bond. They are also two of the most positive and inspiring people you could ever meet, and I'm so very happy they have settled in Minneapolis and were able to play a Sofar Sounds session this summer. Har-di-Har have great ambitions for 2015 in writing and recording, so catch them live if you can - you won't ever forget it. 
Favorite track: "We've Been Missing" 

In 2014 Drew Forsberg and friends released Drive Drive Delay, The Persian Leaps' second EP in two years that follows their Praise Elephants EP. Released on Land Ski Records - Drew's independent record label in Saint Paul - The Persian Leaps are fully in charge of their ambitions. Self-described as "noise pop," these experienced rockers create a sound reminiscent of garage bands but with more purposeful harmony and less teenage distortion. They make for the perfect night out at 331 or whatever musical nook you might catch them in around the cities. 
Favorite Track: "Permission"

High school buddies and brothers, these four have been working together for longer than many of the bands on this list have known each other. But The Person and the People have only kicked it into high gear recently, releasing their first LP Big Whoop in late 2013 and their second, What A Drag, less than a year later. Their single, "Vitamin C" made some waves on The Current this fall, and is a great example of their sound: a heavily 90's and Weezer-influenced alt rock, with solid melodic focus. Nick Costa takes the lead as frontman and primary songwriter, and you wouldn't be surprised to find him jamming solo at a coffee shop or local venue when the band isn't on stage any given weekend. With this recent release, Costa confidently sings about the confusion of life, and guitarist Sam Sanford takes a winning shot at lead vocals on "Don't Fear the Richard." These Saint Paul residents are now signed to Land Ski Records and have quite a few shows coming up in 2015. 
Favorite Tracks: "NYC Freakout" & "Don't Fear the Richard" 

These kids are old friends, and play together with effortless chemistry. 2014 was a busy year for them, full of residencies, shows around town - including opening for Royal Canoe this fall - and a Sofar Sounds set. In a world of overused electronics and vocal effects, Beasthead manages to capture the perfect medium of altered sound. In this multi-talented group, Paul also designs show posters and Doug is genuinely interested in everyone he meets, which has created a fully-functional self-promoting band who doesn't wait for opportunity to come to them. 
Favorite Track: "Louder"

Reina del Cid comments that she may have "one of the world’s quietest singing voices," but volume in no way denotes quality. I first heard her with Toni at last summer's Sofar Sounds session, Reina's lovely tones accompanied by Toni's unparalleled picking skills. She sings often of romance and nature, which are topics perfectly suited to the bluegrass-influenced indie folk sound which completes those lyrics. Catch this self-proclaimed "girl next door" at a venue around the corner when you get a chance - she's got several shows lined up already in January. 
Favorite Track: "Emily" & "Pretty Lie"