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danwilsonmusic.com
Earlier this week, Twin Cities-based trio Semisonic released their video for “You’re Not Alone”, the group’s first new song in nearly 20 years. The single is the title track of their forthcoming five-song EP You’re Not Alone, set for release September 18, 2020, via Pleasuresonic Recordings/Megaforce Records.
Like many of us, you might only know Semisonic for their hit song, “Closing Time”. Singer and songwriter Dan Wilson had a long fruitful career as a solo artist and songwriter for other musicians. After a long hiatus, the band reunited in 2017 and continues to play on and off once in a while. With the new You’re Not Alone, it’s apparent that with the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to use their time in isolation to be creative and produce new music together.
Dan Wilson, talking about the new song and video, “For the new Semisonic video, 'You’re Not Alone,' we began with memories of childhood in the woods. Filmmaker Phil Harder creates a fable of the woods, the city, a distant beach, and a young boy who places a message in a bottle and sends it on a long journey. Inspired partly by Richard Powers' devastatingly beautiful novel, 'The Overstory,' partly by the paintings of Tomas Sanchez (one of which is featured on the sleeve of the single), and partly by the profound isolation we are experiencing during the pandemic, the video reflects the hopeful message of the song.”
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thesocialanimals.com
Duluth’s Social Animals recently announced that they are doing an exclusive 14-hour live stream on July 31, 2020, in partnership with The Allen Ginsberg Estate and Non-Profit HeadCount.
Their new track, “Something to Keep Me Awake” came out yesterday (July 17) on Rise Records. Recorded pre-COVID-19 at Chris Carrabba’s home studio (Dashboard Confessional)… but somehow the song’s message about change and struggle fits right in with the state of the world today.
The music video featured footage of the band on their European leg of their tour with Ash (which was cut short due to the pandemic).
Dedric Clark (vocals, guitar) adds:
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jonathabrooke.com
Minneapolis, by the way of Massachusetts, folk singer Jonatha Brooke, recently released her 14th album The Sweetwater Sessions on July 10, 2020, via Bad Dog Records.
If you’re a Joss Whedon fan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse), you may recall Brooke’s music on his shows.
The single from the album, “Glass Half Empty”, is a tribute to Kevin Gilbert (who died in 1996). Brooke said, “I wrote this song when my friend – the brilliant young musician Kevin Gilbert - died suddenly. We’d been on tour together for much of the previous year. I’d sing on a couple of tunes during his set, he’d sing with me on mine. In fact his drummer Nick D’Virgilio became a longtime friend and touring pal, and, strangest best full circle, is the drummer on this record, this tune. I was in Berlin when I found out Kevin was gone. We stayed up late in a tiny bar, toasting him. A kind of Irish German wake. It’s still kind of shocking that he’s gone. I sure was angry at the time. I think this song has all those complicated feelings in it. He went out quick, and “We’re still around, trying ‘til we get it right!”
Since COVID-19 prevented touring, Brooke will be making live streams from her home on Facebook and Instagram - “The Kitchen Covid Concerts” - every Monday at 2pm CDT.
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rebeccanichloson.com
I know, we all miss live concerts. We can’t wait for things to return to normal… but in the meantime, non-profit The Cedar Cultural Center will be hosting a few live streams and recordings, they are calling “Art in Physical Isolation”.
Typically, the Cedar does two shows a week, but now shifted to once a month, due to staffing and the shut-down due to COVID-19.
Anyway, one of the artists they wanted to commission was local singer/songwriter Rebecca Nichloson, who played a 45-min set called “Blooming Season: Reflections on Isolation, Yearning & Love”
According to the Cedar, “We were incredibly excited to welcome Rebecca as the first artist to perform on The Cedar's stage since we shut down due to COVID. It was a unique experience to be back in the hall again and see music performed on that beloved stage to an empty room. Though we know watching this program isn't the same as spending a night in the hall for a concert, we hope you join us tonight for a different kind of special experience and enjoy tuning into a show at The Cedar from your own cozy space.”
You can watch the full program at YouTube. If you like what the Cedar is doing, especially because all the musicians are paid for their performances, they are asking for a donation of $10 to cover the costs of the programming.
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