W♥M (Archive)

Ada Jane: Under

Read More Ada Jane The environment is conducive to rock shows of yesteryears. Bands like Ada Jane thrive, while the occasional indie rube flounders, unsure of how to respond to such course temperaments.

When a music critic describes an album as “[musician’s] most personal project to date,” it can mean one of two things: 1). This is literally a quote from the press material, or 2). The critic identifies a thematic transition, which usually refers back to the artist’s personal life and is indicative of something overcome or resolved. Under, the latest release from Minneapolis rockers Ada Jane, is working through some serious issues and we’re invited along for the ride.

The album is somewhat of a departure from Ada Jane’s earlier work. As I mentioned before, this is not a band too concerned with ambiguity, musically or lyrically (bona fide Minneapolis rock, ya’ll!).

Their music is appealing for its assertive delivery, smart, sincere lyrics, and singer Matt Marka’s “play-like-it’s-your-last-show-ever” charisma (an attitude that’s often lost on younger generations). That being said, Under demonstrates the band’s desire to meander a bit, exploring the soft underarm tones of vulnerability. Sprinkled amongst the rock-out standards are songs like “Climb Down” and “Late Late Nights,” incidental music for that blurry instant between your last drink and the inevitable navel-gazing that follows. “Climb Down” is practically a lullaby for its sweet demeanor and sad bits of prose: “There’s a boy who wants to be forgiven / A girl that wants to keep on living in her stormy skies.” I’m reminded of those special moments when Paul Westerberg unplugged and gave us stark self-portraits like “It’s A Wonderful Lie.” Marka’s lyrics tackle equally introspective themes: financial woes, passing time, and in a sense growing up. Under is very much a “grown ups” album, full of simple questions with complex answers, candid but never wallowing. While Ada Jane subscribed to the school of Rock early on, we like this understated—dare I say, personal—side to rock ego. Stream the album in its entirety via Bandcamp.

For those of you that collect ancient relics, hard copies of Under can be purchased locally (Minnesota) at Electric Fetus and all Twin Cities Cheapo locations, and globally through CD Baby (AJ’s got you covered!). For more information visit Ada Jane’s official website or Facebook page.

lara () ♥ www.adajane.com

A (Minneapolis) Love Story: Ada Jane @ the 400 Bar 5.6.11

Discography [2006] Never Been Better [2009] Again... Again Read More Ada Jane Matt Marka is one of those semi-elusive musicians—the kind whose name strikes a familiar chord even if you’re not quite sure why…you…know…him...

The 400 Bar in Minneapolis is neither for the faint of heart nor for the discriminatory intellectual. Similar to the 7^th Street Entry—a glorified parents’ basement—the modest venue operates on a “no frills” philosophy. Drinks are cold, bathrooms have soap, and, on a good day, the air conditioning trickles lukewarm rivulets of air, just enough to deflect body heat-induced paralysis. Those fair-skinned urbanites craving tropical cocktails will likely be disappointed not only by the bar’s buttoned-down aesthetic, but also by the absence of tropical cocktails.

That being said, within the 400 Bar’s peeling walls, there exists an undeniable energy. The environment is conducive to rock shows of yesteryears. Bands like Ada Jane thrive, while the occasional indie rube flounders, unsure of how to respond to such course temperaments. Friday’s show proved the latter point, as Ada Jane took the stage to a merry gang of rock fans, young and old alike. While the youth crowded near the front, starry-eyed in collegiate wonder, the old folk sat back, perhaps remembering a time of Husker Du amidst a cloud of sweaty nonsense. This is both band and bar’s appeal: a total lack of pretense. The age disparity between fans is enough to construct a brand new beer-guzzling human being yet everyone interacts beautifully—bonded by the shared love of rock.

Matt Marka writes sharp, pragmatic lyrics, set to the infalliblebuzz of guitar drivenmelody. It’s a timeless recipe and, simply put, it works.More importantly, this is not a band of amateurs. These fellas are seasoned musicians and they know how to put on a solid rock show. While their contemporaries fiddle around with synth and laptops and electronic doo-das, Ada Jane keeps it real: plugged in and turned up. Way up. As I mentioned before, 400 Bar shows are not for the faint of heart. While I screamed inane observations to my concert companion, it quickly became obvious that The Point in the Grand Scheme of Things was not to preserve my hearing. No, it is a rare individual that exits an Ada Jane show thinking to himself “boy, I wish my eardrums were a tad more shattered.”

Pre-show I chatted with Marka briefly about their recent West Coast tour. Besides an underwhelming stint in Omaha*, the singer seemed happy with the turnout. With dates in San Diego, L.A. and San Francisco, to name a few, it’s easy to imagine Ada Jane melting the silicon hearts of California with their Midwestern brand of rocking out. Of course, it’s always nice to come home, and ‘home’ was the unofficial theme of the night, as the band returned to familiar ground. Marks said it best on “Right Wrong” (Again, Again): [I] just want to see your face at the end of each night, is that so wrong?” Perhaps standing before a crowd of loyal fans is just the kind of unconditional love every rocker hopes for at the end of his night. At the very least, a cold drink in a bar where ‘rock’ is still synonymous with sincerity.

For the latest Ada Jane news as well as tour highlights, visit their official Website / Facebook / Myspace. Read a review of the band’s 2009 release Again, Again HERE.

*Let’s be honest, no surprises there. Or, should I say—no one was Oberst-ing with enthusiasm. Hey-o!

lara () ♥ www.adajane.com

The Next Two Days

Here's your guide on what's happening in Minneapolis in the next two days.

FRIDAY                     
Ada Jane
Lara is covering Ada Jane at the 400 Bar. You can read more about Ada Jane here. Excerpt:

Matt Marka is one of those semi-elusive musicians—the kind whose name strikes a familiar chord even if you’re not quite sure why…you…know…him. Ninety percent of the Minneapolis music scene is covered in this amnesiac fog.

Meat Puppets
I am heading over to First Avenue to cover Meat Puppets. I don't think they need an introduction, these guys have been around since the 80s, but I first only heard of them during the Grunge-thing with their 1994 album, Too High to Die. Although the band broke up in 1996, they are now back together. As you recall, I wrote that they were together in 2009, when they had just released Sewn Together.

Their 13^th album, out last month on Megaforce Records, is called Lollipop. They will appear at First Avenue tomorrow, I'll be there to cover them. Full tour dates listed below.

May 6 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN * May 7 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO * June 8 - The Blue Light - Lubbock, TX June 9 - Santa Fe Brewing Co. - Santa Fe, NM June 10 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM June 11 - The Clubhouse - Phoenix, AZ June 14 - Casbah - San Diego, CA June 15 - Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA June 16 - Echo - Los Angeles, CA June 17 - Independent - San Francisco, CA June 18 - Humboldt Brews - Arcata, CA		June 20 - Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WA June 21 - Crocodile - Seattle, WA June 22 - Doug Fir - Portland, OR June 23 - Neurolux - Boise, ID June 25 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT June 26 - Abbey Theater - Durango, CA June 29 - Bluebird - Denver, CO June 30 - Record Bar - Kansas City, MO July 1 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE July 9 - Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI . w/ Slightly Stoopid *

Jonathan Richman
He is playing over at Triple Rock. We covered him last year, but unfortunately, I do not have anyone covering this event. I also don't have much details about his new tour dates, he doesn't really have a web pressence! I know he's old school, but, really, would it hurt to have a website ? What I have below:

Fri 05/06/11 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club
Sat 05/07/11 Madison, WI Orpheum Stage Door Theatre
Sun 05/08/11 Chicago, IL The Hideout
Tue 05/10/11 Indianapolis, IN Radio Radio
Wed 05/11/11 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
Thu 05/12/11 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
Fri 05/13/11 Nashville, TN The 5 Spot
Sat 05/14/11 Nashville, TN The 5 Spot
Sun 05/15/11 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone Cafe
Tue 07/12/11 San Francisco, CA Make Out Room
Wed 07/13/11 San Francisco, CA Make Out Room
Thu 07/14/11 San Francisco, CA Make Out Room

SATURDAY                  
Free Comic Book Day
The first Saturday of May is Free Comic Book Day! I try and make it to my local comic book store every year, but to be honest, I go to the comic store every other week. This year, you can pick up a Green Lantern Heroclix, which looks very cool. More details at freecomicbookday.com. I'll be looking out for The Tick free comic (I love Ben Edlund).

Lynhurst
I'm sending a few people over to the Dakota Jazz Club at 11pm to see Lynhurst for $5. I might head over there after I'm done seeing Arrington De Dionyso. You can read our previous articles on Lynhurst here.

No matter how young they look, these musicians are already seasoned professionals. Matt and Jake were regularly performing gigs before reaching their teens and Mari, the youngest, wasn’t too long to follow. What amazed me watching them play at such a young age is how comfortable and confident they looked on stage. Their debut album is no different.

Arrington De Dionyso
If you keep up, I find this guy's music so interesting because it's all sung in Indonesian, and he's really into paintings and stuff. I'm hoping to see him at the Turf Club on Saturday - and I'm also hoping to pick up a few 7" or artwork (I guess I'll see what's for sale when he comes here, also depending on my small budget to see what I can afford...).

Below is his tour schedule:

May 6, 2011 - Kansas City, KS - Riot Room May 7, 2011 - St. Paul, Minnesota - Turf Club May 8, 2011 - Dubuque, Iowa - TBA May 9, 2011 - Chicago, Illinois - Empty Bottle May 11, 2011 - Ann Arbor, Michigan - Arbor Vitae May 12, 2011 - Youngstown, Ohio - Cedar's Lounge May 14, 2011 - Albany (or Troy), New York - TBA May 15, 2011 - Boston, MA - BATV May 16, 2011 - Biddeford, Maine - Oak & the Ax May 18, 2011 - Brooklyn, NY - Issue Project Room May 19, 2011 - Baltimore, MD - Windup Space		May 20, 2011 - Washington, DC - Comet Pizza May 21, 2011 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch May 22, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA - TBA May 25, 2011 - New York, New York - Cake Shop May 26, 2011 - Providence, RI - Pawtucket May 27, 2011 - Lowell, Massachusetts - 119 Space May 28, 2011 - East Hampton, MA - Flywheel May 29, 2011 - Buffalo, NY - with Steve Baczowski May 30, 2011 - Buffalo, NY - Voice workshop Jun 1, 2011 - Bloomington, Indiana - House show - Jun 2, 2011 - Indianapolis Museum, IN

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Ada Jane on Tour

Discography [2006] Never Been Better [2009] Again... Again Read More Ada Jane Matt Marka is one of those semi-elusive musicians—the kind whose name strikes a familiar chord even if you’re not quite sure why…you…know…him. Ninety percent of the Minneapolis music scene is covered in this amnesiac fog.

Minneapolis rockers Ada Jane return to the stage this spring with a West Coast tour that kicks off in Omaha, NE (henceforth referred to as the “Wet Coast” for its intoxicating historical significance).  With multiple stops in California, one can only imagine that these boys of noise have a single objective: show those groovy surfers that Minnesota GETS IT DONE, hardcore*.

Ada Jane West Coast Tour(more dates TBA)

• Apr 16 2011 - 9:00PM
  The Pizza Shoppe Collective- Omaha “Wet Coast” NE
• Apr 17 2011 - 9:00PM
  Lion's Lair- Denver, CO
• Apr 20 2011 - 9:00PM
  Redwood Bar- Los Angeles, CA
• Apr 21 2011 - 9:00PM
  Alex's Bar- Long Beach, CA
• Apr 22 2011 - 7:00PM
  Jose's Undrground Lounge- Monterey, CA
• Apr 24 2011 - 7:00PM
  Kimo's- San Francisco, CA
• Apr 26 2011 - 8:00PM
  Kern River Brewing Co.- Kernville, CA
• Apr 27 2011 - 12:00PM
  Fresno St. University- Fresno, CA
• May 05 2011 - 8:00PM
  UW Stout memorial student union- Menomonie, WI
• May 06 2011 - 9:00PM
  400 Bar- Minneapolis, MN
• May 07 2011 - 9:00PM
  What's Up Lounge- Mankato, MN

For the official scoop, visit the band’s Website / Myspace / Facebook (you know how it works, kids).  Stay tuned for a review of the 400 Bar show in May!

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_KkAN7tTSo

lara () ♥ www.adajane.com

Ada Jane at the 400 Bar, Minneapolis (8/21/09)

Ada Jane - Down the Highway Ada Jane Tour Dates 11/06/09 Arlene’s Grocery - NY 11/17/09 University of Duluth/MN Duluth Discography [2006] Never Been Better [2009] Again... Again See Also Ada Jane http://weheartmus... One of the benefits of living in a small city is incest. Not literally, but definitely artistica...

vxting ♥ art by vu

Let me tell you: street parking is insane on a Friday night on Cedar. I thought I was late at 9 o'clock, even though the first band, the Thundercats-loving Magic Black Pumas (myspace.com), didn't go on until closer to 10. Off topic: there are no pumas in the original Thundercats crew.

The Escape Artists (myspace.com), previously known as MonthNumberColor, where singer Collin, through the power of his Three Wolves T-Shirt, tells us that he is "a mysterious loner who knows how to 'howl at the moon' from time to time."

Ada Jane Setlist ♥ 400 Bar, Minneapolis (8/21/09)

Ada Jane (adajane.com / myspace.com) seems comfortable on stage at the 400 Bar. I get the impression that they've frequently play or have attend shows here. Their fans seems to be an army of young dancing women, which is obviously a bonus.

Since this is a CD release party, they basically play the entire the new album, Again... Again, live - with the exception of "Near Mrs". Bonus "classic" songs from their Never Been Better album was also played: "On Your Level", "The Wayside" and "Show 'Em Your Teeth".

The highlight of the show was Dan on horns for "Down The Highway", and drummer Charlie Wilson singing on, I believe for the song "The Right Wrong".

Again... Again was recently released on CD and downloads, please refer to Lara's review. I couldn't quite figure out how their flashy website adajane.com (there's no information on how to buy the new album under the "merch" section), but thankfully there's always amazon. I see on their tour information that they are playing Arlene's Grocery in New York, which I discovered is actually not a grocery store.

 08/22/2009 11:42:18 ♥ vu () ♥ adajane.com ♥ myspace.com/adajanemusic 

Ada Jane – Again…Again

Ada Jane - Down the Highway Ada Jane Tour Dates 08/21/09 400 Bar- Minneapolis (CD release show) w/ The Escape Artists and Magic Black Pumas Minneapolis 11/17/09 University of Duluth/MN Duluth Discography [2006] Never Been Better [2009] Again... Again See Also The Replacements http://weheartmus... The Replacements were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979. The band wa...

Ada Jane – Again…Again

One of the benefits of living in a small city is incest.  Not literally, but definitely artistically.  Minneapolis is swarming with incestuous (creative) relationships.  If you’ve spent any number of years amongst the artists and the vagrants you know that referencing Prince and Bob Dylan is so “cherry in the spoon” (read: insert foot in mouth).  I suppose this same rule could be applied to any other small-yet-culturally-vibrant U.S. city, but who cares.  This is Minneapolis; we’re called the “mini apple” for a reason, and it ain’t our apple pie.

Matt Marka is one of those semi-elusive musicians—the kind whose name strikes a familiar chord even if you’re not quite sure why…you…know…him.  Ninety percent of the Minneapolis music scene is covered in this amnesiac fog.  You can’t blame the listeners:  local artists love to work with other local artists, and so, over the years, the lines blur and “side projects” multiply and keeping current is nearly impossible (unless, of course, you run a music blog, and then, by default, you know everything).  Marka’s been an active member of the local scene for at least a solid decade.  He’s shared the stage with national acts including Evan Dando, the Heartless Bastards, Soul Asylum, as well as studio collaborations with local faves JoAnna James and Chris Koza, to list a few.  Presently, he fronts Ada Jane, a four-piece rock outfit reminiscent of Minnesota rock-fathers Hüsker Du and the Replacements.  In 2006 Ada Jane released Never Been Better; nearly three years later, the band has new members, a new album, and, most importantly, new polish.

Again…Again combines all that we love about bona fide Minneapolis rock: sincere lyrics, catchy riffs, potential to disable ears, horns, and enough growl-singing to be convincing without sounding Battle of the Bands. Remember the good days, before musicians went soft and started playing glockenspiels?  Ada Jane remembers.  Again opens like a persuasive Thomas Hobbes yelling at you:  “Every time I cop a stance someone’s waiting behind me pulling down my pants / sealed with a kick in the ass” (“Go”).  Life is brutish and short and Marka has no qualms with laying on the ugly truth...Thick.  “Near Mrs” is a veritable bummer.  “Winding Down” feels like congestive heart failure.  Thankfully, for our health, Again ups the tempo when the mood is down (you can’t rock out while crying).  One of the stronger tracks, “Down the Highway,” starts with a shade of surf-noir, followed by what can only be described as “prowl pace*,” then come the horns, eventually reaching sticky, messy, oh Lord climax (2:05), finishing with more horns and cuddling.  Don’t ask me for a cigarette after, I’m quitting.

Ada Jane is Matt Marka, David Strahan (guitar), Matt Reimers (bass), and Charlie Wilson (drums).  Again…Again is scheduled for August issue.  Apparently the band is quite the live act.  They’ve been likened to Bruce Springsteen, which is a confusing comparison, as the only Springsteen visual I can mentally summon is this.  Bum-hugging jeans?  Check.  Shirt sleeves rolled to conceal packs of cigarettes (and also to reveal packs of muscle)?  Check (check).  Strangely hypnotic arms swings?  Check.  Courteney Cox?  Check.  I can’t speak of any similarities, so you’ll just have to hold out for the August 21^st CD release show at the 400 Bar.  It’s worth noting that the 400 Bar hosted the release of Never Been Better, three years ago, almost to the day (Aug. 26, 2006).  Minneapolis is good to her musicians, despite the occasional backlash.  But that’s neither here nor there.  For more information on the band, visit their website or Myspace.  Keep posted to www.400bar.com for ticketing information (the show hasn’t been announced yet).

 

* Vocal cadence that may inspire one to arch the back, arms extended and palms to the floor, while slowly bouncing, as though hungry for any number of things:  love, blood, brains, knowledge.

 07/27/2009 22:38:26 ♥ lara (/lara206.vox.com) ♥ adajane.com ♥ myspace.com/adajanemusic