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04/05/08 American Legion Buffalo, MN
04/05/08 Ritz Theatre Minneapolis, MN 04/11/08 Schubas Tavern Chicago, lL 04/22/08 The Red Stag Minneapolis, MN 05/06/08 Elks Theatre Rapid City, SD* 05/07/08 Filling Station Bozeman, MT* 05/08/08 The Loft Missoula, Montana* 05/09/08 Neumos Seattle, Washington* 05/10/08 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR* 05/13/08 Bottom of the Hill SF, CA* 05/14/08 Knitting Factory Hollywood, CA* 05/16/08 Belly Up Aspen, Colorado* 05/17/08 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO* 05/18/08 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO* 05/19/08 The Slowdown Omaha, NE* 05/22/08 Schlachthof Wiesbaden 05/23/08 Gebaude 9 Köln 05/24/08 Moritzbastei Leipzig 05/25/08 Lido Berlin 05/26/08 Treibhaus Luzern 05/27/08 Fri-Son Firbourg 05/29/08 Orangehouse München 05/30/08 Patronaat Haarlem 05/31/08 Vinylbaren Malmö 06/03/08 Kinky Star Ghent 06/26/08 Triple Rock Minneapolis, MN [*] with Cloud Cult
Discography
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I'm the first to admit my shameless devotion to the Minneapolis music scene, but Kid Dakota deserves special consideration. The product of singer / songwriter / guitarist/ engineer / all-around- dynamo Darren Jackson on guitar, keyboard and vocals, Kid Dakota also features drummer Ian Prince (formerly of Houston and the Dames and currently of Story of the Sea). Jackson, a South Dakota native, is also a producer in his own right, running a recording studio built into his house, where he has worked on albums by the Owls, Ice Palace and Vicious Vicious.
Kid Dakota's third album "A Winner's Shadow," released March 11th, is an impressive effort that, while it could never be called poppy, on some occasions manages to just barely flirt with catchy refrains that - no joke - actually had me singing to myself as I woke up a few days ago. The album opens as an eerie pulse with "New York System" and howls a ballad with "Stars" before delivering a knockout punch with the distorted twang of "Chutes and Ladders," and despite the up-tempo vigor with which the album opens, it gradually progresses into a sort of sleepy despair, often lyrically evoking images of a cold but vibrant cityscape, all culminated with final tracks "Downhill" and "Fallout." Both are wails in the dark which particularly justify Darren Jackson's frequent vocal comparison to Thom Yorke. It is this voice which has provided (as all evidence indicates) the haunting soundtrack to my dreams these past few nights.
 Blurry drumming in every photo: Kid Dakota at the Turf Club March 28th. ♥ photograph by Andrew |
Having recently caught Kid Dakota's live show, my respect for this band has become open admiration. Ian Prince is a beast on drums. There's just no other word for it. Beast. Pulling double-duty that evening drumming with Story of the Sea makes his superhuman energy all the more impressive. Those two definitely dial up an intensity in their live shows that could never truly be appreciated in a recording. Don't let that keep you from picking up this album, though - just do yourself a favor and see them live as well.
04/04/2008 02:06:16 Andrew my♥posts 
kiddakota.com myspace.com
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