W♥M

Mess Esque at 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (09 June 2022)

Read More Mess Esque Australian duo Mess Esque (Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann), are on tour in support of their self-titled debut album (via Drag City). The tour will stop by Minneapolis at 7th Street on June 9th. … Zak Sally Zak Sally, local artist (and former bassist for Low and Enemymine), discussed the new book with Daniel Clowes. It wasn’t really so much about the actual book, but more like a casual conversation of how he first met Clowes …

Australian duo Mess Esque headlined the 7th Street Entry on Thursday night, June 9.

Opening the show was Gold Minefield, the new music/jazz/experimental project from Duluth-native musician/comic artist Zak Sally (from The Hand and formerly of Low). We first encounted Zak Sally as a comic book artist, in March 2016, when he introduced and had a casual conversation with cult writer/artist Dan Clowes.

According to the recording notes, Gold Minefield features guitarist Ben Durrant, bassist JG Everest, baritone saxophonist Matty Harris, drummer Ryan Lovan, and baritone guitarist Zak Sally.

Gold Minefield basically played one long song called “ Gold Minefield”. 

Mess Esque started life when the Mick Turner and Helen Franzmann got together to create two albums, Dream #12 and their self-titled debut on Drag City.

Franzmann, when not in Mess Esque, create music under the stagename McKisko, bringing her quiet Joni Mitchell-esque to Mess Esque.

Meanwhile, Mick Turner is from Dirty Three, which is famous for incorporating dynamic sound with open-ended/improvisational music.

The two brought their unique music knowledge to create Mess Esque, a band that is very shy and quiet, with a soundtrack background and with lyrics that are thoughts and dialogue.

Remaining tour dates:

6/10/22 The Back Room at Colectivo Milwaukee WI
6/11/22 The Hideout Chicago IL*
6/13/22 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco CA

*w/ AZITA

GOLD MINEFIELD

Mess Esque

Mess Esque

Mess Esque

Mess Esque at 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (09 June 2022)

 

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

The Handsome Family at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (07/19/13)

Tour Dates 7/22 - Chicago, IL @ Pritzker Pavillion^ 7/24 - St. Louis, MO, @ Off Broadway* 7/25 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop* 7/26 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners* 7/27 - Athens, OH @ The Union* 7/28 - Ann Arbor @ The Ark* ^ Free Show * w/ Danny Barnes Read More The Handsome Family The Handsome Family is currently in the middle of a U.S. tour in support of their album Wilderness, out now on Carrot Top Records. They are stopping in Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center with ex-Scissor Girls' Azita …

The Handsome Family just kicked off their summer tour at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, in support of their latest album, Wilderness.

AZITA

Opening up the show was Azita, from Chicago. She spend her entire set behind the Cedar's piano, which had a tall back, so she had to play in an awkward position with her back to some of the crowd. She commented that the Cedar was supposed to provide her with a mirror so she can see the audience, which by the time she played "It's Understanding", the mirror was brought out.

She did a few songs from last album, Year, which was released last year on Drag City Records, including the previous song, "Passengers", and her set closer "Opening". Making up the rest of her set were songs from 2009's How Will You?, "In The Vicinity" from 2004's Life on the Fly, and a cover of Big Star's "Take Care".

As for the Handsome Family, they are a real-life married couple (Brett and Rennie Sparks), and they play country and western music. Looking over their set, they seem to have little stories that went along with each of their songs. For instance, "The Bottomless Hole" (which started their set), is about finding a hole in their backyard, or "So Much Wine" is about a Christmas event, or "In the Air" is about Rennie's grandmother who is afraid of bridges. It's fun to hear little stories and insights to their songs, which you can only really hear at a live show.

When not singing about stories and events, The Handsome Family seem to have a thing for nature and animals (particularly birds - check out the poster artwork, and their songs Woodpecker and Owls). Although I would confessed I liked the upbeat and funny song called "Octopus", from their latest album, Wilderness. Incidentally, this is also the title of Rennie's book, which I am assuming would make a great companion to the album.

Anyway, check out The Handsome Family on this currently on tour for Wilderness.

The Handsome Family at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (07/19/13)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ www.handsomefamily.com ♥ azita.info

Family Bands: Can't live with them, but we can't live without them

Read More Family of the Year 80's band Frankie Goes to Hollywood once sang about 'Two Tribes' and when the SoCal-based Family of the Year/Mowgli's tour rolled into the packed Triple Rock Social Club Saturday night…

FAMILY OF THE YEAR
familyoftheyear.net

The W♥M family like Family of the Year, having covered their appearance in New Orleans and in Minneapolis, where John noted that the band offers "feel good vibes and melodies".

The Californian band is back on the road to do quite a few Summer festivals, appearing at Minneapolis Basilica Block Party next Friday and again at the beautiful Varsity Theater in September.

See tour dates below:

07/09/13 Saint Catharines, ON Mansion House
07/10/13 "RBC Bluesfest"
07/11/13 "Festival D'ete de Quebec"
07/12/13 "Basilica Block Party"
08/02/13 "Lollapalooza Aftershows"
08/03/13 "Lollapalooza"
08/09/13 "Squamish Music Festival"
08/10/13 "107.7 The End Summer Camp"
08/17/13 "94.1 Presents Scion's Bonzai Bash"
08/23/13 "Jackson Hole Live"
09/07/13 "Launch Festival"
09/14/13 "KTCL's Big Gig"
09/21/13 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
09/24/13 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
09/26/13 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
10/01/13 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
10/02/13 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
10/04/13 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall
10/08/13 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
10/10/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza
10/11/13 New York, NY Irving Plaza
10/12/13 Philadelphia, PA Theatre Of The Living
10/13/13 Silver Spring, MD Fillmore Silver Spring
10/16/13 Charlotte, NC Fillmore Charlotte
10/17/13 Atlanta, GA Center Stage Theater
10/18/13 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
10/20/13 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
10/22/13 Houston, TX House Of Blues
10/23/13 Houston, TX House Of Blues
10/24/13 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
11/01/13 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
11/06/13 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
11/07/13 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
11/09/13 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
11/10/13 Vancouver, BC Venue

THE FAMILY RAIN
thefamilyrain.com

The Family Rain recently announced their tour in support of their debut EP, Pushing It, coming out last month (June 17th), via Vertigo/Virgin EMI. The tour hits the Summer festivals, plus extra side shows.

Confirmed tour dates:

07/06/13 Festival deBeschaving Netherlands
07/12/13 2000 Trees, Cheltenham
07/13/13 Hyde Park London
07/18/13 Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
07/19/13 Truck Festival, Steventon
07/27/13 Secret Garden Party, Huntingdon
08/11/13 Summerwell Festival, Romania
08/16/13 Soundrive Festival, Poland
08/17/13 Pukkelpop Festival, Belgium
08/23/13 Leeds Festival
08/25/13 Reading Festival
10/21/13 King Tuts, Glasgow
10/22/13 Reds Bar, Northumbria
10/23/13 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
10/24/13 Queens Social, Sheffield
10/25/13 Ruby Lounge, Manchester
10/26/13 Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
10/28/13 Thekla, Bristol
10/29/13 Library @ Institute, Birmingham
10/30/13 Heaven, London
10/31/13 Komedia, Bath
11/01/13 O2 Academy, Oxford
11/02/13 Joiners, Southampton
11/03/13 Concorde 2, Brighton

THE HANDSOME FAMILY
handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family is currently in the middle of a U.S. tour in support of their album Wilderness, out now on Carrot Top Records.

They are stopping in Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center with ex-Scissor Girls' Azita Youssefi.

Tour dates:

7/19 - Minneapolis, MN at Cedar Cultural Center
7/20 - Madision, WI, @ High Noon Saloon
7/22, - Chicago, IL @ Pritzker Pavillion^
7/24 - St. Louis, MO, @ Off Broadway**
7/25 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop**
7/26 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners**
7/27 - Athens, OH @ The Union**
7/28 - Ann Arbor @ The Ark**

* w/ Sean Rowe
^Free Show
**w/ Danny Barnes

FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF ELLIOTT SMITH
facebook.com/nonamenumberone

Friends and Family of Elliott Smith is celebrating Smith's 44th birthday with "No Name #1: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Elliott Smith" and raising money for various charities. No Name #1 takes place in four cities, naming Portland, New York, Los Angeles, and Austin. If you live in those cities, you certainly need to check out these shows.

Details below:

08/04/13 - Portland, Oregon
Venue: Doug Fir Lounge
Host: Gus Van Sant
Featuring: members of Grandaddy, plus very special guests.
Charity: Outside In

08/06/13 - Los Angeles, California (Elliott's 44th birthday):
Venue: Largo
Host: Jon Brion, with special friends
Charity: Free Arts for Abused Children

08/09/13 - Austin, Texas
Venue: Scottish Rite Theater
Host: Jody Denberg
Featuring: Members of Grandaddy, Lil’ Cap’n Travis, David Garza, plus many other very special guests.
Charity: The SIMS Foundation

08/10/13 - New York, New York
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Host: Rhett Miller
Featuring: Chris Thile, Mary Lou Lord, plus many other very special guests.
Charity: New Alternatives for LBGT Homeless Youth

THE FAMILY CREST
thefamilycrestfamily.com

Tender Loving Empire Records just signed their first non-Portland band: The Family Crest.

The Family Crest is based out of San Francisco and features six core members and "several hundred additional members". You guessed it: they're orchestra-rock.

Look for TLE to release Headwinds EP on July 30th… then a full length called Beneath the Brine.

Hear "Love Don't Go" now:

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com