W♥M (Archive)

Artists Against the Marriage Amendment

Gabe Douglas with Nathan Miller and Danny O'Brien Read More Artists Against the Marriage Amendment Local Minneapolis bands have come together to help raise money to fight a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the Marriage Rights. The bill would effectively ban same-sex marriage for couples in Minnesota; we want you to vote "NO" to the November bill.

"All you need is love, love is all you need" seems to be the overwhelming message last night from all the local musicians on stage.

To give you a little background, last May, Minnesota Senate passed an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage. The amendment ("Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota") under revision H1613.0 will be in the ballot this November 2012.

Minnesota United For All Families, is just one of the organization hoping to defeat the bill. They did the smart thing, instead of making it a gay/lesbian/transsexual issue; they are making everyone's issue. The message is this: if you love someone, why is it only legal if they're the opposite sex.

Dan Rodriguez was the MC, taking care of all the introductions and keeping everyone on a tight ship. Because of at least ten performers, they had to limit everyone to just three songs. As musicians stay and leave and joined on each other's songs, you get the impression that everyone knows and respect each other … like it was one big happy singing family.

Ari Herstand with the Farewell Circuit

Roster McCabe is on the road and couldn't make it to the show; instead, the band recorded a video message for us. The first actual performer was Ari Herstand. He tells us that he's a transplant from California and his experience with the dreaded car impound lot through his songs. He had some help with Dan Danny O'Brien (from the Farewell Circuit) and Rodriguez for his second song, and for his last song, he had a movie he specifically put together for the marriage amendment.

Dessa Darling was there, but she didn't perform, instead just commented about how it is just common sense to support same-sex marriage. She's followed up by O'Brien and DJ House as The Farewell Circuit. They are normally a five-piece band, but they did just fine with two guitars. Herstand would later return the favor by appearing on a Farewell Circuit song.

David Booth was the musician who came up with the idea of putting on this charity event. O'Brien joined on stage for his final song, "Kiss".

Alison Scott with Chris Koza and Kevin Bowe

Kevin Bowe said it took him five years to write his latest album, which he sang "Falling Satellites" with Alison Scott. Scott would stay and had help from Bowe and started her three-song set with a cover of TLC's "Waterfall". Apparently she's been working on a covers album, with the help of Chris Koza for their duet of Elliott Smith's "Waltz #2". Koza would stay on to perform his three-song set. He ended with his band, Rogue Valley's "Shoulder to Shoulder".

Gabriel Douglas (of The 4onthefloor) had help from Nathan Miller on the lap steel slide guitar. He ended his little set with "Great Escapes", a song that I think was about Duluth.

Ellis with Chastity Brown

Ellis with Brown

I've never heard of Ellis before, but what I heard, I really liked. She started off with "Blackbird", from her 2008 album, Break the Spell. She had Chastity Brown on for "I Belong Here Next to You" and ended with "Right Now".

I think the best combination of the night is with Brown and Joe Horton (of No Bird Sing). It was like soulful folk with rhymesayer-type hip hop poetry.

For the grand finale, David Booth, with mostly everyone involved, came on stage to sing The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love".

As you can see from the photographs, these are all different artists from different genre, working together. To paraphrase Joe Horton's message, what if someone made a law to forbid this? Keep those thoughts in mind with this law about restricting the freedom to be married to who you love. Minnesotans United for All Families wants Minnesota to be the first state to oppose this marriage amendment bill (which essentially is an anti-same-sex marriage bill). You can register and pledge to vote NO on mnunited.org.

From left to right: DJ House, David Booth, Nathan Miller, Chris Koza, Gabriel Douglas (not seen), Dan Rodriguez, Danny O'Brien, Ellis, and Alison Scott, at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (04/12/12)

 

vu () ♥ mnunited.org

Minneapolis Shows (April 2012)

Read More Minneapolis You remember That Dog's song, "Minneapolis"? I love it.

Below are some bands on the W♥M Calendar, what this means is that one of us will be in attendance and writing a review of the show. If you would like to have us see your band, we are located in Minneapolis, Sydney (Australia), and Manchester (UK).

PS, I normally cover most/all of the Minneapolis shows, but for the next couple of months, I will be getting help from Amy and Emily.

MINNESOTA ARTISTS AGAINST THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
mnunited.org/April12

Local Minneapolis bands have come together to help raise money to fight a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the Marriage Rights. The bill would effectively ban same-sex marriage for couples in Minnesota; we want you to vote "NO" to the November bill.

All proceeds go directly to Minnesotans United for All Families, a non-partisan organization that works to educate the public on why marriage rights matter and how the amendment poses a threat to our community. Here are some of the bands to donate their time and talent to play for you: Chris Koza of Rogue Valley, Chastity Brown, Gabriel Douglas of The 4onthefloor, Ellis, Ari Herstand, Joe Horton of No Bird Sing, members of The Farewell Circuit, Alison Scott and more, including a special video message from Roster McCabe and a cocktail hour toast from Dessa Darling of Doomtree. Local musician, Dan Rodriguez, will host the evening.

Where: Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN
When: Thursday April 12, 2012 from 6pm –10pm
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, all ages welcome
Online: mnunited.org/April12

SPECTRALS
spectrals.co.uk

I've previously mentioned Spectrals before, it looks like Louis Jones will be bringing his pop/surf-rock/oo-wop/garage rock to the states. Hopefully, if it all works out, Amy will be covering his appearance at First Avenue on 4/16.

His debut album, Bad Penny, is loved by various critics. BBC is calling it "terrific stuff from a songwriter of any age", while Pitchfork said "It's music pleasant enough to carry intergenerational appeal, characterized by a youthful spirit but rooted in a classic sound." Folks, he's 21 years old.

US Tour Dates:

4.03 - Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA 4.04 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco 4.05 - Slims - San Francisco, CA 4.06 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR 4.07 - Neptune - Seattle, WA 4.09 - Venue - Vancouver, BC 4.11 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT 4.12 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO 4.13 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO 4.14 - Granada Theatre - Lawrence, KS 4.16 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN

4.17 - Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI 4.18 - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI 4.20 - Metro - Chicago, IL 4.21 - Rhinos - Bloomington, IN 4.22 - The Magic Bag - Ferndale, MI 4.23 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY 4.25 - Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON 4.26 - Corona Theatre - Montreal, QB 4.27 - Higher Ground - South Burlington, VT 4.28 - Boston University College - Boston, MA 4.29 - Pearl Street Nightclub - Northampton, MA

FRANKIE ROSE
missfrankierose.com

You may remember that we love Slumberland Records.

Frankie Rose (the drummer from Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, and Vivian Girls) will be doing some live dates for her Interstellar album (released in the US on February 21st, UK got the album last week).

The album got rave reviews, including from Pitchfork with an "8.5 Best New Music".

Her tour dates marked with (*) is with Dive:

Thu-Apr-05 Philadelphia, PA Northstar Bar * Fri-Apr-06 Arlington, VA Artisphere Sat-Apr-07 Baltimore, MD Golden West * Sun-Apr-08 Richmond, VA Strange Matter * Mon-Apr-09 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 * Tue-Apr-10 Atlanta, GA 529 * Thu-Apr-12 Oxford, MS Cats Purring Dude Ranch * Fri-Apr-13 Dallas, TX Club Dada * Sat-Apr-14 Austin, TX Red 7 * Mon-Apr-16 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room * Wed-Apr-18 San Diego, CA Soda Bar * Thu-Apr-19 Los Angeles, CA The Satellite * Fri-Apr-20 Santa Cruz, CA Crepe Place *

Sat-Apr-21 San Francisco, CA Brick & Mortar* Mon-Apr-23 Portland, OR East End * Tue-Apr-24 Vancouver, BC Biltmore * Wed-Apr-25 Seattle, WA Barboza * Thu-Apr-26 Missoula, MT Badlander * Sat-Apr-28 Fargo, ND Aquarium * Sun-Apr-29 Minneapolis, MN 7th St Entry* Mon-Apr-30 Chicago, IL Township * Tue-May-01 Detroit, MI Magic Stick * Wed-May-02 Toronto, ON The Shop * Thu-May-03 Albany, NY Valentine's * Sat-May-05 New York, NY Mercury Lounge

WE ARE AUGUSTINES
weareaugustines.com

I first heard about Brooklyn based We Are Augustines last September, with their debut album Rise Ye Sunken Ships. At the tim, Rolling Stones was calling them "Bands To Watch in 2011".

Since then, they band associated themselves with UK bands, including touring with Glasvegas (which we covered) and now, it looks like they are hanging out with Band of Skulls (who we also covered). I guess by sheer association, they should be good, or at least W♥M would like.

We Are Augustines are playing at Fine Line Café on April 4th.

Mar 28 The Met Providence Mar 30 Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto Mar 31 Théâtre Corona Montreal, Quebec Apr 2 Saint Andrews Hall Detroit Apr 3 House of Blues Chicago Apr 4 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis Apr 6 Ogden Theatre Denver, Colorado Apr 7 The Complex Salt Lake City Apr 9 Neptune Theatre Seattle Apr 10 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver Apr 11 Dante's Portland

Apr 12 The Fillmore San Francisco Apr 15 Empire Polo Club Indio Apr 22 Empire Polo Club Indio May 3 Dingwalls London, GB May 5 Live At Leeds Festival May 6 Hare and Hounds Birmingham May 9 O2 Academy Liverpool May 10 Captain's Rest Glasgow Jul 7 BALADO KINROSS Jul 15 Henham Park Southwold

BROWN BIRD
brownbird.net

I was told that Providence, Rhode Island-based duo Brown Bird (MorganEve Swain and David Lamb) are coming to Minneapolis, opening for Trampled By Turtles on April 24th at the 7th Street Entry. Did I read that right? There is NO WAY Trample by Turtles would even play a tiny venue like 7th Street, having seen them sell out its bigger brother First Avenue without a sweat. According to First Ave's calendar, Horse Feathers are the headliner.

Just to clarify, they are supporting Trample by Turtles, but later in May.

3/30 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant* 3/31 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant* 4/1 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom* 4/2 - El Reno, OK - Centre Theater 4/4 - Oxford, MS - The Lyric* 4/5 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues* 4/6 - Austin, TX - Stubb's* 4/7 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues* 4/10 - Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum Theater* 4/11 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot* 4/12 - Stateline, NV - Montbleu Resort* 4/13 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore* 4/14 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore* 4/17 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow's* 4/18 - Arcata, CA - Arcata Theater* 4/19 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater* 4/20 - Bend, OR - Midtown Ballroom* 4/21 - Seattle, WA - Showbox* 4/24 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry+ 4/25 - Madison, WI - High Noon+ 4/26 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall+

4/27 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark+ 4/28 - Grand Rapids, MI - Founders+ 4/29 - Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe+ 5/2 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore+ 5/3 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground+ 5/4 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse+ 5/7 - New Haven, CT - Café Nine+ 5/9 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom+ 5/16 - Lawrence, KS - Granada# 5/17 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theatre# 5/18 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre# 5/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot# 5/21 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern# 5/22 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Music Box# 5/24 - Yosemite, CA - Strawberry Festival 5/25 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ball Room# 5/26 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue# * supporting Yonder Mountain String Band # supporting Trampled By Turtles + supporting Horse Feathers

I Am Not A Game Read More Ty Segall Ty Segall was the headliner, who came on stage with double sunglasses…

TY SEGALL & WHITE FENCE
ty-segall.com

Okay, their tour dates are actually until May, but I'm putting them down in this tour preview.

We've mentioned Ty Segall a few times, including seeing them at NXNE last year.

It looks like he's back, this time, teaming up with White Fence (who we previously written about). Ty Segall & White Fence is basically Segall and Tim Presley, but with a full band (with Sean Presley and Mikael Cronin). Their album, Hair, will be coming out April 24th via Drag City Records.

White Fence is playing with the Shins at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium (4/22) and the previously mentioned Woodsist Fest (8/4).

All dates below are Ty Segall & White Fence, unless (*) where note, which Segall is playing solo

4-13 Gambier, OH- Kenyon College* 4-15 Oberlin, OH - Oberlin College* 5-2 San Francisco - Independent 5-3 Portland, OR - Star Theater 5-4 Vancouver, BC - Waldorf Hotel 5-5 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey 5-6 Missoula, MT - The Palace 5-8 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry 5-9 Madison, WI - High Horse Saloon 5-10 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall 5-11 Detroit, MI - Lager House 5-12 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern

5-13 Montreal, QC - Il Motore 5-14 Portland, ME - Space Gallery 5-16 New York, NY - Webster Hall 5-18 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's 5-19 Raleigh, NC - King's Barcade 5-20 Atlanta, GA - Earl 5-21 Nashville, TN - The End 5-22 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone 5-23 Little Rock, AR - Whitewater Tavern 5-24 Houston, TX - Walter's 5-25 Austin, TX - Mohawk (outside)

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Afro-Punk at the Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09)

Saul Williams - Convict Colony Saul Williams Saul Williams ♥ The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09) Tour Dates 10/26/09 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick 10/27/09 Chicago, IL @ Double Door 10/30/09 Phila, PA @ Theatre Living Arts 10/31/09 Northampton, MA @ Pearl ST 11/01/09 Washington, DC @ Black Cat 11/04/09 Atlanta, GA @ The Loft 11/05/09 Orlando, FL @ The Social 11/06/09 NOrleans @ House of Blues 11/08/09 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre 11/10/09 SF, CA @ The Independent 11/11/09 SBarbara, CA @ Velvet Jones 11/12/09 San Diego, CA @ Delta Room 11/13/09 Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy 11/15/09 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theate 11/16/09 Seattle, WA @ Neumos 11/17/09 Vancouver, BC

Inspired by the 2003 documentary "Afro-Punk", the website of the same name, Afropunk.com, brings together all kind of culture and lifestyle. That company is also behind a series of tour dates with headliner Saul Williams, with a special guests joining on and off tour (I did notice that one of the original black-in-rock Living Colour will be joining on for a few dates!)

Afro-Punk is necessary about punks, it seems to also inherited punk attributes, such as its attitude and DIY mentality. So what we all witness last night was basically a very interesting mix of music genre, art, and lifestyle, in one show. One thing for sure is that all the acts on the bill is high-energy and, you can tell, in love with music.

The whole tour is being sponsored by Converse shoes and Bud Light (which was a bit ironic since the majority of the audience seems to be underage the legal drinking age). Throughout the night, MC Tchaka Diall (myspace) kept us entertained by throwing out T-Shirts and introductions.

Kicking it all off was Dearling Physique (official / myspace). Having already seen the band a few times already, I can already expect a funky outfit and even funkier dance moves. Well, in addition to those things, singer Dominique Davis also brought props on stage! Peacock feathers and a birdmask, that looks like it was from the imagination of Grant Morrison.

No Bird Sing (official / myspace) seems to me to be from the same school as Atmosphere and Eyedea & Abilities. I thought they were very good, especially on their last song of the set, "Ars Poetica".

The most punkish sounding band on the bill was American Fangs (official / myspace). Lots of movement and high energy, definitely a great band to see live. Don't believe me? Check out their song "My 2 Richards" at Vimeo. Their debut EP is $5 at, which the touring people claimed is "your new favorite EP".

CX Kidtonik & Tchaka Diallo (myspace) basically warmed up the audience with two or three songs before Saul Williams (official / myspace) joined them on stage with the rest of the touring band. For those who aren't familiar with Williams, he started as a spoken word poet (which he also incorporate between his songs during the show). In 2001, he made his first cross over to the world of music, and since then have worked with Trent Reznor, KRS-One, De La Soul, among others.

Although there were some excellent songs played during his set, I'll have to say that the highlight for me was his rendition of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday", sort of appropriate for that Sunday evening. As for the encores, I believe the first one was "Surrender", followed by "a new song" and "Raised to be Lowered".

But just when you thought the show was over, CX and Diallo came on stage to do some improv music as the few audience that remain gathered around to see what they're doing.

Overall, a very eclectic mix of bands. If the Afro-punk tour is coming through your area, check them out. The least you can do is download FREE Afro-punk compilation at downloads.afropunk.com.

Below are photographs from Erik Hess, our latest addition to the W♥M family.

Dearling Physique at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09) ♥ Photoset from Erik Hess

No Bird Sing at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09) ♥ Photoset from Erik Hess

American Fangs at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09) ♥ Photoset from Erik Hess

Saul Williams at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (10/25/09) ♥ Photoset from Erik Hess

 10/26/2009 23:06:54 ♥ vu () ♥ afropunk.com ♥ myspace.com/afropunk