Song of the Day: “Nothing Prevails” by Information Society

Posted on 05/19/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged freestyle, Information Society, Minnesota, Paul Robb, synthpop.

Information Society (Photo by Jonathan Shelgosh)

One of electronic music’s most influential bands, Information Society (or INSOC as they are affectionately known) return with ODDfellows (via Hakatak International (digitally on Aug. 6).

The band recently released a single, “Nothing Prevails,” for which they produced a video.

Snapshots: Heart Bones @ Metro Gallery — 3/10/20

Posted on 03/16/2020 by ambienteye in Live Review and tagged A Giant Dog, dance, Har Mar Superstar, Heart Bones, Metro Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, synthpop.

Heart Bones perform at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Katherine Gaines)

Heart Bones might be the least pretentious band in existence. They hop on stage looking like somebody’s embarrassing parents in their matching khaki shorts, and walk away sweating through their own faces on their T-shirts.

On a recent night at the Metro Gallery, Heart Bones danced to their hearts’ content.

Live Review: Trampled by Turtles @ Baltimore Soundstage — 2/22/20

Posted on 03/03/2020 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Baltimore Soundstage, bluegrass, folk, Minnesota, Trampled by Turtles.

Trampled by Turtles performs at Baltimore Soundstage on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)

What separates one band from the next might be the degree to which it challenges itself within the confines of whatever genre it is pigeonholed — and exercising creativity while respecting particular forms and traditions of your craft isn’t always easy.

For going on two decades, Duluth, Minnesota-based Trampled by Turtles has earned a reputation in the studio and on the road for testing the upper limits of bluegrass power and tempo while simultaneously honing the sweetest harmonies to ever come out of the Zenith City.

Live Review: Nicholas David @ 9:30 Club — 12/17/19

Posted on 12/23/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, funk, Minnesota, Nicholas David.

Nicholas David performs at 9:30 Club on Dec. 17, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Nicholas David, a finalist on the third season of NBC’s The Voice, brought some soul to DC when he opened for Samantha Fish at the 9:30 Club recently.

Live Review: The Cactus Blossoms @ Pearl Street Warehouse — 10/18/19

Posted on 10/22/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, folk, Minnesota, Nalinee Darmrong, Pearl Street Warehouse, The Cactus Blossoms.

The Cactus Blossoms perform at Pearl Street Warehouse on Oct. 18, 2019. (Photo by Nalinee Darmrong)

What’s classic has a vintage, but not everything old is a classic. Lots of music released in the ’50s and ’60s doesn’t rise to the level of classics. But the close harmonies of the Everly Brothers, a clear precedent for The Cactus Blossoms, certainly rise to the status of classics.

Great vocals, great songwriting, great playing are classic, and The Cactus Blossoms demonstrated their classic qualities in a recent show at Pearl Street Warehouse.

Live Review: Charlie Parr @ Black Cat — 10/10/19

Posted on 10/14/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Black Cat, blues, Charlie Parr, folk, Minnesota.

Charlie Parr (Photo courtesy the artist)

With a soulful voice and skilled resonator guitar playing, Charlie Parr recently held the crowd at the Black Cat at rapt attention. He briefly tuned his guitar before opening with the Ray Charles classic “C.C. Rider,” remarking, “We had a such a nice time on the way down, I thought this thing would be in better spirits.

Preview: The Cactus Blossoms @ Pearl Street Warehouse, 10/18/19

Posted on 10/09/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, folk, Minnesota, Pearl Street Warehouse, The Cactus Blossoms.

The Cactus Blossoms (Photo courtesy High Road Touring)

The Cactus Blossoms, fronted by brother duo Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Friday, Oct. 18, supporting their acclaimed new album, Easy Way.

Preview: Charlie Parr @ Black Cat, 10/9/19

Posted on 10/01/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Black Cat, blues, Charlie Parr, Minnesota.

Charlie Parr (Photo courtesy Red House Records)

Singer-songwriter Charlie Parr released an eponymous new album, a collection of new songs and new studio versions of classics and audience favorites from throughout his career on Sept. 27 via Red House Records. He’s been touring his personal brand of folk blues, and he makes another stop at Black Cat on Wednesday, Oct. 9, to play his songs.

Live Review: Low @ Metro Gallery — 9/11/19

Posted on 09/13/2019 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged Alan Sparhawk, dreampop, Low, Metro Gallery, Mimi Parker, Minnesota, slowcore, Steve Garrington, Sub Pop.

Low wows a sold-out show at the Metro Gallery on Sept. 11, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

It may seem strange talking about a band that hails from Duluth, Minnesota, but there’s a feeling I get when I see them perform that makes it feel like they’re from here — Baltimore, that is. Possibly the first time I saw them was right across the street from the Metro Gallery, where they performed to a sold-out crowd Wednesday night.