I tried, really I did - to keep track of the number of shows and the number of unique bands I saw in 2015. But there came a certain point this summer, somewhere between Rock the Garden, the Eau Claires Festival, and driving three hours straight back to the cities after a wedding to catch a show, that I gave up... on purpose.
While I could tout that the number of shows might be over 100 and the number of bands probably 250+, those numbers fail to say anything significant to me. Perhaps to certain people they prove my persistence, my ability to rally, a dedication to the craft of writing about and promoting music. Yet for me, I realized that even an avid music lover like myself can get burned out, overwhelmed, and lose their way when it comes to attending live performances.
So this fall, I took a step back. I mean, I do have a life outside of all this, but it's easy to let something else that feels like so much more fill a void where you feel less. But just like the doctors say, eat when you're hungry and drink when you're thirsty. So in the same way, I reexamined that craving for live music, and found it again. I searched for new ideas, for new ways to cover and promote the sounds and musicians I love.
Through it all, these following ten bands where there in some important way. Hearing all but one of them live, and attending most of their LP release shows, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be so intimately involved with the Twin Cities music scene. The following bands brought more adventure and opportunity than I could have hoped for this year, and they will continue to live on in my music legacy. This is my acknowledgment: hey guys, you rock!
Yet I'm always looking ahead to what's next, to something more. I'm pretty excited about 2016 to be honest. Besides what new releases there are in store, what new people I may meet, and what live shows I'm going to enjoy, I'm making plans. I'm reaching into the future for skills and teachers and mentors and experiences that I cannot achieve alone. That's right - I'm applying for graduate school in journalism, and pretty stoked about it.
So whatever the future and beyond brings, I say bring it! But right now, let's take a local look back at The Aural Premonition's best year yet - and the talented folks that made it that way.
While I could tout that the number of shows might be over 100 and the number of bands probably 250+, those numbers fail to say anything significant to me. Perhaps to certain people they prove my persistence, my ability to rally, a dedication to the craft of writing about and promoting music. Yet for me, I realized that even an avid music lover like myself can get burned out, overwhelmed, and lose their way when it comes to attending live performances.
So this fall, I took a step back. I mean, I do have a life outside of all this, but it's easy to let something else that feels like so much more fill a void where you feel less. But just like the doctors say, eat when you're hungry and drink when you're thirsty. So in the same way, I reexamined that craving for live music, and found it again. I searched for new ideas, for new ways to cover and promote the sounds and musicians I love.
Through it all, these following ten bands where there in some important way. Hearing all but one of them live, and attending most of their LP release shows, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be so intimately involved with the Twin Cities music scene. The following bands brought more adventure and opportunity than I could have hoped for this year, and they will continue to live on in my music legacy. This is my acknowledgment: hey guys, you rock!
Yet I'm always looking ahead to what's next, to something more. I'm pretty excited about 2016 to be honest. Besides what new releases there are in store, what new people I may meet, and what live shows I'm going to enjoy, I'm making plans. I'm reaching into the future for skills and teachers and mentors and experiences that I cannot achieve alone. That's right - I'm applying for graduate school in journalism, and pretty stoked about it.
So whatever the future and beyond brings, I say bring it! But right now, let's take a local look back at The Aural Premonition's best year yet - and the talented folks that made it that way.
1. Bad Bad Hats, Psychic Reader
| Kerry Alexander (vocals, guitar, primary creative mind) is joined by Chris Hoge (drums) and Noah Boswell (bass) to make up a trio formed through friendships and Macalester College. It’s been a good five years now since Alexander and Hoge started jamming together, and Boswell’s addition in 2012 led to their It Hurts EP with Afternoon Records in early 2013. Since then they’re been played shows regularly, from small living room gatherings to bigger stages around the area. For this release, they worked with producer Brett Bullion (Polica, Lizzo, Chris Koza) and spent good time waiting to do it right. They’re real people who write real, genuine music, excited about the process and the project more than any rock star status, which makes the attention they’re getting this time around – like being featured on NPR – so well deserved. |  |
The final product feels effortless: sleek and poppy but not overproduced. The band themselves has joked on Tumblr about throwbacks to the days of Michelle Branch, and I can’t help but feel like Psychic Reader is the ultimate album for those of us 90’s kids who’ve never really wanted to grow up. And in an age when Top 40 stations assault the ears with women belting high notes in some attempt to shatter a new record, Bad Bad Hats’ Alexander dictates, murmurs, and oohs and ahhs so delightfully that it makes my ears tingle and ask for more.
Short and sweet, Psychic Reader clocks in at 33 minutes. But it may just have been the best half hour of your whole summer [or year]. It’s nostalgic in that feel-good way, but there’s nothing ‘past’ about it: it’s in the here and now. And like the title track itself states, this release was “meant for you.” Just don’t go waiting to take a listen.
Full review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Short and sweet, Psychic Reader clocks in at 33 minutes. But it may just have been the best half hour of your whole summer [or year]. It’s nostalgic in that feel-good way, but there’s nothing ‘past’ about it: it’s in the here and now. And like the title track itself states, this release was “meant for you.” Just don’t go waiting to take a listen.
Full review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
 | 2. On An On, And The Wave Has Two Sides Full review originally posted at Bandsintown.com I had the pleasure of covering On An On's album release show this summer for Bandsintown. Besides promoting upcoming shows by bands you like, tailored to your interests, they now review shows and other events. So in case you missed it, you can still pretend you were there. I drove three hours straight from a wedding reception in Iowa to catch this late CD release at Icehouse in Minneapolis last July, and listened to the album almost the whole way. I think "It's Not Over" is imprinted in my brain somewhere. But it was completely worth it. |
To quote my review on Bandsintown: "And The Wave Has Two Sides wasn’t made to make you think, it’s meant to make you feel.... The record deals mostly with the difficult side of relationships, but On An On surfs this wave of double-sided emotion, making the best of the frustrating parts of love and life with an impressive listing of songs that totally jam out.
On An On has a certain sound that’s consistent, but playful enough that it never gets old. Somewhere between elements of '80s synth, modern electronic, and shoegaze, they create an atmosphere appealing to both the soul and the body: haunting and catchy."
If you weren't convinced, I cannot get enough of On An On. I chatted them up late after the show, and they're the most wonderful people. Overall, that whole day and all that led up to it makes for one big highlight of 2015.
On An On has a certain sound that’s consistent, but playful enough that it never gets old. Somewhere between elements of '80s synth, modern electronic, and shoegaze, they create an atmosphere appealing to both the soul and the body: haunting and catchy."
If you weren't convinced, I cannot get enough of On An On. I chatted them up late after the show, and they're the most wonderful people. Overall, that whole day and all that led up to it makes for one big highlight of 2015.
3. Gospel Machine, Your Holy Ghost
There are few experiences more inspiring than seeing Gospel Machine live. In a time when we all desperately need more soul, more heart, and more bass (Jimmy Osterholt, everybody), these five deliver. And they may just deliver you.
Gospel Machine made this album because they wanted to, and because they needed to - rather, it needed to be made. Lead vocalist Jayanthi Kyle is a vision in voice and in sight, who led all on a journey of joyful spirit at the release show at the Cedar Cultural Center this past fall. Co-writer Wes Burdine may appear more humble, but all together these musicians make something more than music: a movement. Truly a machine, these five have made something old into something new. Luckily they're just pulling out of the station, and man, I'm on board.
Gospel Machine made this album because they wanted to, and because they needed to - rather, it needed to be made. Lead vocalist Jayanthi Kyle is a vision in voice and in sight, who led all on a journey of joyful spirit at the release show at the Cedar Cultural Center this past fall. Co-writer Wes Burdine may appear more humble, but all together these musicians make something more than music: a movement. Truly a machine, these five have made something old into something new. Luckily they're just pulling out of the station, and man, I'm on board.
Corey Gaffer Photography
4. Greycoats, Adrift
It’s a no-brainer that Greycoats’ latest release, Adrift, should attract a good deal of attention. It’s the third album created by a band comprised of four veteran musicians, with a loyal and adamant fan base, based on the eternal concept of space and time, recorded and produced by the band itself. At a point in time when just getting positive press coverage or a quality write-up is itself almost enough to solidify a band’s existence, that same simple act doesn’t do this group justice.
The presence that this four-piece holds in Minneapolis and Saint Paul extends far beyond the stage. Whereas some bands struggle to focus on either their day or night gigs, while attempting to supplement the other, Greycoats is a power team: professionals from dawn through dusk, the end product betraying no sign of sacrifice for one side or the other.
While it builds and drives, rocks and rolls, Adrift is a mellow fare for the ear overall. Its openness allows for the sounds to breathe, to be heard individually, for the mind to float among them. So while you could call it energetic, Greycoats’ latest appeals to something more than the body, as it declares love for the moon and the worlds beyond – instead of proclaiming desire for the physical. In experiencing this album, it calls for body, mind, and soul. The question is, will you answer?
Full review originally posted at Riftmagazine.com
The presence that this four-piece holds in Minneapolis and Saint Paul extends far beyond the stage. Whereas some bands struggle to focus on either their day or night gigs, while attempting to supplement the other, Greycoats is a power team: professionals from dawn through dusk, the end product betraying no sign of sacrifice for one side or the other.
While it builds and drives, rocks and rolls, Adrift is a mellow fare for the ear overall. Its openness allows for the sounds to breathe, to be heard individually, for the mind to float among them. So while you could call it energetic, Greycoats’ latest appeals to something more than the body, as it declares love for the moon and the worlds beyond – instead of proclaiming desire for the physical. In experiencing this album, it calls for body, mind, and soul. The question is, will you answer?
Full review originally posted at Riftmagazine.com
5. Gramma's Boyfriend, PermIt's a long-standing tradition that I dislike Halloween. But not this year - at least not on Friday night. Dressing up in the most fabulous of ghoulish and grotesque garb, Haley Bonar and crew spirited the crowd to a new dimension this past October at their release show for Perm. The humor which they incorporate into their grungy, post-rock tunes is joyous, yet dark. It's poppy, but only in concept, with the core of their music grounded in the loud mash of instruments and rhythms raucous enough to raise the dead. Gramma's Boyfriend reminded me that taking risks every once is a while is definitely a good thing. |  |
 | 6. Strange Names, Use Your Time WiselyIf you saw me bobbing and dancing in my car on my commute this year, it was likely to Strange Names' latest release. They've got a lot to say, but I really just love the way they say it. The pop in this record could put Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber to shame. And while they moved out of state to NYC to hone the band and this record, Minnesota still proudly claims them for our own. |
7. Taj Raj, Night Speech
Full of lush instrumentals and harmonic vocals, Night Speech is cinematic in a present and grounded way, using instruments more familiar to a rock band than an orchestra. Burwell on vocals and guitar is joined by Chris O’Hal on guitar, Jake Wallenius on drums and percussion, Jake Pavek on piano, rhodes, and organ, and Mark Kartarik on bass, to fill a lineup that was present for every step of the process in making this album. Their combined talents and influences converge in a mature and connected sound, in which all the elements make sense as a whole. At times it hints of rock, at others it breathes country or Americana, and then moments of piano and string ballads or late 70’s classic rock break through for a locally unmistakable, but versatile sound.
Night Speech communicates a uniquely personal and yet universal experience. It’s full of talent, of long pondered thoughts, of deliberation and spontaneity, and most importantly, 11 tracks that claim the right for a thorough and repeated listen. Speaking through old themes and modern experiences, Taj Raj has made an album for the ages. Emerging from years without a new release, Burwell observes that it’s “[been] a slow burn… [but] the glow has gotten bigger and bigger.” And even though just a few weeks past, Taj Raj played their final show as a band at the 331 Club, this release and their legacy will fail to fade from the Twin Cities.
Full review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Night Speech communicates a uniquely personal and yet universal experience. It’s full of talent, of long pondered thoughts, of deliberation and spontaneity, and most importantly, 11 tracks that claim the right for a thorough and repeated listen. Speaking through old themes and modern experiences, Taj Raj has made an album for the ages. Emerging from years without a new release, Burwell observes that it’s “[been] a slow burn… [but] the glow has gotten bigger and bigger.” And even though just a few weeks past, Taj Raj played their final show as a band at the 331 Club, this release and their legacy will fail to fade from the Twin Cities.
Full review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
photo by Jordan Nimlos
8. Bora York, Secret Youth
They’ve been teasing us for a while now, releasing singles here and there – as far back as a year ago, with “Let Loose,” and “Leagues.” Minneapolis-based five-piece Bora York (Rebekah Bartels [vocals], Chris Bartels [vocals, guitars, keys], Brian Seidel [guitars], Bjorn Nilsen [drums], Jamie Kauppi [bass]) has finally released their second full-length album, Secret Youth, following their 2013 release of Dreaming Free. Collaborating with talented names such as Matthew Call, Josiah Kosier, Charlie Wirth, and Cory Wong, this brainchild project of Chris Bartels radiates the energy of many. It’s unabashedly a pop album, with the heart of an indie rock geek; which makes for a stellar party-playlist pick, road trip mix, or live performance.
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
photo by Mark Kartarik
9. Jacob Pavek, Illume
The masters aren’t all dead. And if you’re a fan of Amélie, you’re in luck. Jacob Pavek has composed the next soundtrack of the decade, or rather, one of the best modern classical albums on this side of the globe. A small genre, to be sure, but no less of one. Amidst a scene, and a nation, bursting at the seams with every variation on indie rock, Pavek explores the wordless side of a contemporary LP.
Following 2012’s release Bloom, a collage of 15 short tracks for piano and cello, Illume plays a line closer to the traditional full-length, with a stream of 11 tracks for piano and violin. Influenced by other modern artists such as Nils Frahm, Olafur Arnalds, and Philip Glass, Pavek takes full advantage of a compositional medium which allows for blind interpretation, instead of telling a specific story. While titles hint at themes, or perhaps certain occasions, the listener draws their own meaning from each piece. Lyrics be damned, the emotional capacity of these tunes is something to be rivaled with.
Pavek is no stranger to other genres, as he is a member of Minneapolis’ beloved Taj Raj as well as A Piano In Every Home, but this multi-disciplinary musician has finally released an album worthy of his own personal vision. Partnering with equally talented Ottman, Pavek has created not only a work of music, but a work of art. Illume’s beauty and restorative power make it a unique stand-out in the Twin Cities, and a musical contender on a global scale.
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Following 2012’s release Bloom, a collage of 15 short tracks for piano and cello, Illume plays a line closer to the traditional full-length, with a stream of 11 tracks for piano and violin. Influenced by other modern artists such as Nils Frahm, Olafur Arnalds, and Philip Glass, Pavek takes full advantage of a compositional medium which allows for blind interpretation, instead of telling a specific story. While titles hint at themes, or perhaps certain occasions, the listener draws their own meaning from each piece. Lyrics be damned, the emotional capacity of these tunes is something to be rivaled with.
Pavek is no stranger to other genres, as he is a member of Minneapolis’ beloved Taj Raj as well as A Piano In Every Home, but this multi-disciplinary musician has finally released an album worthy of his own personal vision. Partnering with equally talented Ottman, Pavek has created not only a work of music, but a work of art. Illume’s beauty and restorative power make it a unique stand-out in the Twin Cities, and a musical contender on a global scale.
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
10. Strange Relations, Centrism
Minneapolis three-piece Strange Relations just released their latest single, “Drift,” after their first full-length, Centrism, earlier this year. Led by Casey Sowa (drums, vocals), this local talent includes contributors Marisa (Maro) Helgeson (bass, synth, vocals) and Nate Hart-Andersen (guitar) to make a now Twin Cities indie mainstay. Strange Relations’ first EP, Ghost World, was only released in 2013, but since they have become well known for their honest, open, and creative presence in the local scene. Sharing the stage with many local and national acts over the past few years, they have grown consistently.
Now with an LP under their belt, their beloved presence is expanding, and their musical ambitions solidified. While Strange Relations may appear at first more a typical indie shoegaze band with jangly guitars, hazy vocals, energetic drums, and intimate songwriting, it’s the initial source of those sounds – the brain – where they set themselves apart. Strange Relations takes undesirable times and turns them into battle cries, discussions, and proud personal declarations.
As they say of Centrism, “There’s nothing to hide behind.” Strange Relations’ thoughts, opinions, and desires come easily to the forefront through both music and conversation. An admirable trait, to be sure; to communicate freely about what one has experienced and what has been made of it.
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Now with an LP under their belt, their beloved presence is expanding, and their musical ambitions solidified. While Strange Relations may appear at first more a typical indie shoegaze band with jangly guitars, hazy vocals, energetic drums, and intimate songwriting, it’s the initial source of those sounds – the brain – where they set themselves apart. Strange Relations takes undesirable times and turns them into battle cries, discussions, and proud personal declarations.
As they say of Centrism, “There’s nothing to hide behind.” Strange Relations’ thoughts, opinions, and desires come easily to the forefront through both music and conversation. An admirable trait, to be sure; to communicate freely about what one has experienced and what has been made of it.
Review originally posted on Riftmagazine.com
Honorable Mention: Humans Win! Studio
Humans Win! Studio has a strong foundation to build and push the boundaries of what recording and producing music can mean for the industry, and do for the hungry audience who listen to it. Actively seeking talent, and developing the abilities of those who they work with, Humans Win has been, and continues to maintain an integral role in cultivating the Twin Cities music scene. Lance Conrad and Taylor Lewin help musicians aspire to and achieve their goals, while maintaining ambitions of their own.
Okay so, they're a studio and not a band, so they don't quite qualify for a nomination. Yet they have recorded, engineered, and produced some of the best albums in Minneapolis and beyond this year, and should be recognized. I interviewed them this fall and it's my favorite feature that I had the chance to write in 2015.
You can read the full feature on Riftmagazine.com.
Okay so, they're a studio and not a band, so they don't quite qualify for a nomination. Yet they have recorded, engineered, and produced some of the best albums in Minneapolis and beyond this year, and should be recognized. I interviewed them this fall and it's my favorite feature that I had the chance to write in 2015.
You can read the full feature on Riftmagazine.com.
Runner-ups!
| LPs Al Church, Next Summer A.M. Stryker, The Lion's Share The Awful Truth, Lakewater Black Diet, The Good One Chris Koza, In Real Time Hot Date, For Lovers Low, Ones and Sixes Melody Olson, Controlled Burn Murder Shoes, Daydreaming Natalie Lovejoy, Hiding in the Light | EPs Ancient Mariner, Ancient Mariner Candid Kid, Turtleneck Carbon Handshake, Pulp Life The Dirty Banks, Coda Fox & Coyote, Boardinghouse Grand Courriers, Grand Courriers Good Night Gold Dust, Good Night Gold Dust Har-di-Har, we are | they are Treading North, Canopy Warehouse Eyes, Prisms |
>> And if you missed it, be sure to check out last spring's feature, Get to Know: 5 Emerging Twin Cities Bands!
Did I miss your band's release? Want to get on next year's list?
My ears are always hungry for new music. Hit me up at [email protected].
Reviews are based on my availability and interest.
My ears are always hungry for new music. Hit me up at [email protected].
Reviews are based on my availability and interest.
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