The Wake

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

In my pursuit of the new Xiu Xiu album, I stumbled upon another gem released in the same week.
Vampire Weekend’s official full-length debut has taken the spotlight in a big way over the past two weeks. Their eponymous album represents a textbook example of Internet hype controlling a band’s fortunes.

Vampire Weekend mixes a poppy, new-wave sound with West African influences, and features heavy
keyboards and rhythmic instrumentation. Pitchfork Media, the (outgoing?) Official Soviet Opinion of the
“indie” community, has praised the work highly with an 8.8 rating. However, hype for hype’s sake is a
double-edged sword, and the band has fallen from the graces of more than a few blogs after its initial two weeks. …

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Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down
We Brave Bee Stings and All

While separation of vocalist and band usually indicates a level of pomposity, Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down is one of the few legitimate exceptions. Thao’s name is detached from the slick and surgical backing band Get Down, Stay Down because she is the commanding sound of the group. Her voice and guitar define the bouncing indie-pop elements of this Virginia-based group, melodies that shine on We Brave Bee Stings and All, their first release with Kill Rock Stars.

Immediately, in the first track “Beat (Health, …

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Photo By David Brothers

It was the third night of Crispin Glover’s presentation of his film What Is It? at the Oak Street Cinema, and there was a large turnout to see the eccentric actor-director in person. Vitamn Magazine and the Minnesota Film and TV Board sponsored the event. As the lights dimmed, there was a rustle of the curtain, and Crispin Hellion Glover walked onstage to a burst of applause.

The evening began with Crispin Glover’s Big Slide Show, featuring narrative readings from selected slides of eight books performed by Crispin Hellion Glover. It began with passages from Concrete Inspection and continued with Rat Catching and What It Is and How It Is Done, along with five others. The Big …

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Twin sisters Tegan and Sara stopped at the Pantages Theater on Nov. 30, amidst an extensive tour of the United States. During a stop in Carrboro, North Carolina, Sara took time out from her busy schedule to discuss everything from Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla to National Public Radio. The duo has been touring in support of their great new album, The Con. If you happen to hit up Australia this December, you can catch the girls down under. Otherwise this is as close as you’re going to get.

The Wake: So you guys are currently in Carrboro, North Carolina. Ever been there before?

Sara: We have been here once before. I don’t really remember the show. It was a really long time ago.

The Wake: How has the trip across America been so far?

Sara: The tour …

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Photo by Scott Tuska

A few hundred yards off the eastern shore and onto the frozen Medicine Lake lies a village of sorts. In a way, this village resembles the ice fishing communities that often dot the lakes during the winter. Instead of grime-covered trucks, quasi-public urination, and Coors Light cans, there are art car taxis, receptacles for empty beers, and one giant robot ride. Why hell, it is the fifth annual Art Shanty Projects!

This twist on a quintessentially Minnesotan past time presents a challenge for local artists and performers: create something that is interesting in construction and purpose while keeping spectators warm. But the primary concern for artists is the drive for interactivity. This is destination-art after all, and last year’s projects …

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Between the years 2004 and 2007 the Drive-By Truckers maintained the same line-up for the first time in their nearly ten-year existence. While guitarists and vocalists Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley remain the core of the band based in Athens, Geor., drummers, bassists and others have come and gone and returned.

Brad Morgan has been a constant behind the drums since 2001, while bassist Shonna Tucker joined the group before 2004’s The Dirty South. Guitarist and singer Jason Isbell recorded three albums with the group, starting with 2003’s Decoration Day.

But in April 2006 Hood announced that Isbell would be leaving the Truckers to pursue a solo career. After three years and two albums the line-up would change again.

Courtesy Drive-By Truckers

They wasted no …

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Despite touring perpetually throughout their musical career, Against Me! still managed to release a critically acclaimed punk album last year, one that was nominated for several album of the year awards. New Wave, the band’s sixth release in their decade long career, has inspired a slew of new tour dates across the country, including a show at the Target Center with The Foo Fighters on February 27th. The Wake’s own Deniz Rudin caught up with Warren Oakes, Against Me!’s drummer, for an interview:

Warren Oakes: Hello?

The Wake: Hey, I’m glad I caught you.

O: Yeah, I’m actually in the middle of bowling right now, how’s it going?

W: It’s going good, how much time do I have to talk to you?

O: Whatever you need, I’ve got …

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Dalia - Treetops and Telephone Wires

From the first track on Treetops and Telephone Wires, Dalia’s acoustic sounds draw listeners in for a soft and powerful musical treat. Dalia is the indie solo project of Minneapolis artist Jeni Kozicky, who released Treetops and Telephone Wires in December. Each track features something unique. Although the majority of the songs are solo tracks, Dalia does not limit herself to being another solo-acoustic artist.

“Alley Distribution” features Sean Anon, adding a catchy rhythm and hip-hop flair to the otherwise acoustic song. Later in the album, “The Hum” features New MC, combining New MC’s hip-hop sounds and Dalia’s smooth singing and acoustic guitar. One might question the combination of acoustic …

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Black Mountain - In The Future

Do you ever dream of traveling back in time and experiencing a different era? Pressing play on Black Mountain’s ironically titled sophomore album, In The Future, is comparable to strapping into the front seat of the DeLorean and being whisked away into the mind-blowing 1960’s.

The opening track “Stormy High” features powerful guitar riffs imitating those of legendary Black Sabbath. Hard rock fans will be pleased to be offered an alternative from the trend of upbeat mainstream melodies and delivered to the classic sound of raw guitar and forceful drumming. The hard sound is replaced through the middle of the album as the percussion becomes lighter, matching the softer guitar …

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MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

With blood, adrenaline and testosterone spewing from its every orifice, MC5’s Kick Out the Jams is quite possibly the most appropriately titled album in the history of appropriate album titles. The band’s call to “Kick out the jams, Mother Fuckers,” jumps past the cliché “take no prisoners” to floor you with 40 minutes of unremitting rock.

Kick Out The Jams was recorded at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom in late 1968. The album was recorded before a live audience, so MC5’s sound could feed off the crowd’s energy and break the confines of studio. The result is a work comprised of the energies of both the crowd and the band. Combined with …

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The Hip Hop Live show, in First Avenue’s Main room on the 11th, showcased three MCs; Brother Ali, Ghostface Killah, and Rakim. Though from drastically different backgrounds, the three artists share a bond through a common, continuing the fight for the survival of Hip Hop as vital music and a respected art form. It’s an uphill battle these days. Hip Hop over the last 8 years has slowly eroded into lack luster MCs with glossy images and major labeling backing. Fortunately, there are those who still believe. Acts like The Roots, Living Legends, Atmosphere and Del the Funky Homosapien, are carrying the genuine Hip Hop torch, and First Avenue is always the place to catch these fleeting opportunities in the flesh. Openers, The Rhythm Roots Allstars begun the night with some of their original …

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Tegan and Sara - The Con

To tell you the truth I’m not sure which one is Tegan, or for that matter who Sara is. Yes, I have seen some captioned picture of them being all cute and stuff, but I still can’t identify their voices as unique entities. However, when the twins join together in their pseudo-harmonies, I become mystified as to why it sounds so good. On their fourth full-length album, The Con, the sisters’ Quin early output of Lilith Fair rock and 80s wannabe riffs is a distant memory. Their sound has been expanded and refined with some outstanding production and the best writing of their career.

Produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Christopher Walla, …

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Coming from a middle-class suburb, walking around campus and seeing thick-rimmed glasses, scarves, vintage sweaters and leggings typically emblematic of pretentious indie rock kids makes me nostalgic for the Insane Clown Posse and Slipknot T-shirts clouding my high school memories.Throwing on Victory Records’ The Autumn Offering’s new CD is like taking a step back to simpler times – like 9th grade. Fear Will Cast No Shadow, the Florida metalcore band’s third studio album, wait for it…doesn’t suck.When working in one of the most culturally denigrated genres of music (behind pop country and ska), to create an album with some artistic merit is a pretty big accomplishment. In fact, being a metalcore band works to The Autumn Offering’s advantage. Instead of having to focus on lyrics (just throw in some blood and dying imagery), the quintet …

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To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - The Patron

I recently created a sandwich. I call it the Spumonty Cristo because it is derived from a sandwich recipe called the Monte Cristo, served at Grandma’s restaurant on Washington. Music by The Patron has the same air of nonsensical compatibility as my sandwich. The Spumonty Cristo calls for two pieces of lightly toasted bread, sliced deli ham, two pieces of marble jack cheese, and a healthy portion of raspberry preserves spread on one side (better served warm). Despite how incompatible these ingredients might sound, I eat at least one Spumonty Cristo on a daily basis. The Patron is the first full-length …

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The Pantages was packed with people of all ages excited to see the band Stars perform. The band threw roses and praises from the stage. The lobby was bustling and the merch table was flooded. “Last time we played in Minneapolis, about 45 people showed up,” Torquil Campbell told the crowd, which promptly erupted into cheers and applause.Stars is touring for their new album, In Our Bedroom After the War. Opening with “Take Me to the Riot”, the single from their new album, the band carried the energy of that song through the rest of the show. The setlist for the show was composed mainly of songs from In Our Bedroom, broken up nicely with older fan favorites like “Elevator Love Letter”, “One More Night” and “Soft Revolution”. At one point, the stage lights were …

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