Here's some exciting news: Tom Horgen is working on a story for his Nightlife column about the 15 best bartenders in Minneapolis, one of whom is my homeboy DJ at Azia. I was talking to DJ last night at the bar (obviously) and he said he was a little surprised to get the interview call this week. He was also less interested in answering Horgen's questions about bartending and more interested in getting a nod to his band's CD release party tonight at the 400 Bar.
Ask and you shall receive, I guess:
Reimenschneider: "There's no shortage of bands copying the Flaming Lips these days, but a new band called Hojas Rojas makes a pretty good go of it on its debut CD, "Kill Me I Love You." A bit twangier than the Lips, the group also has some pretty sweet romantic melodies. Release party is tonight at the 400 Bar."
I'll be at the show tonight, in case anyone wants to swing by and buy me a $2.00 PBR.
The column also has yet another classic quote from the very quotable Erik Appelwick, in a blurb regarding him leaving The Hopefuls to devote more time to Tapes 'N Tapes. From the column: "Appelwick will continue playing gigs with his other act, Vicious Vicious, he said, "'because I can't really break up with myself.'"
If you haven't seen Tapes 'N Tapes yet (but want to), your perfect opportunity is coming up next Saturday, July 22nd. They're playing what will surely be an amazing gig at First Ave, with The Plastic Constellations, Kill the Vultures, and Stnnng.
I'm on a music roll, here. Just one more thing and then I'm done: Sound Unseen 2006 is in August this year rather than October (that's, like, next month!). I'm super duper f*cking excited for the Pixies film (check out the trailer). I also really wanna participate in the band vs. fan bowling tournament, complete with a screening of "The Big Lebowski". I bet the First Ave lost concert footage film will be really awesome, too.
Okay, off to work. I'll be spending about 4 hours today at a client's house on Lake Minnetonka, staring longingly at the lake from the indoor side of giant picture windows, hating on everyone that zips by on innertubes and waterskis because they're building up savage tans while I have to buy $60.00 accelerator/bronzer at Captive Tan just so I have something to show for the 2 hours of actual sun I get a week.
Bitches.
I can only assume that it's current bartenders, and not all time. Because we know who'd top *that list.
Posted by: Bexley | July 14, 2006 at 10:26 PM
Jake?
Posted by: MOM | July 15, 2006 at 07:12 AM
Jerry!
Although, Jake would make my top five list of the hottest bartenders in Minneapolis. I'm sure Jerry would agree.
Posted by: Alexis | July 15, 2006 at 01:43 PM
Is it possible to be "copying" the Flaming Lips, when they are practically a "tribute band" themselves?
If a new prog-rocker hits the scene, you could just as easily accuse them of copying King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, The Alan Parsons Project, Pink Floyd, or any of a number of prog-rock acts from the 70s and, in most cases, be no less accurate.
Don't get me wrong, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" is one of my favorite 10 albums from the past decade. I'm just sayin' is all.
Posted by: Dave | July 15, 2006 at 07:36 PM
Isn't Pink Floyd the first example of Shoegaze?
I kid!
but seriously, aren't they?
What will all the shoegazing kids do now that Syd Barrett has past away?
Posted by: jaime | July 16, 2006 at 02:20 AM
Isn't Pink Floyd the first example of Shoegaze?
I kid!
but seriously, aren't they?
No.
Even if you don't see any merit in Pink Floyd's music (in which case, you have my pity), the correct way to talk trash about them is to call it "Space Music." That's what people who hated on them called it back in the late 60s & early 70s.
Of course, the new-age radio show "Music From The Hearts of Space" changed the meaning of the term a bit. Now it's what people who actually like electronic atonal meandering call their favorite music. Go figure.
Now, all moody prog-rockers, including the shoegazers as well as the likes of The Flaming Lips and Radiohead, owe their very existence to Pink Floyd, but don't mistake the genres with their influences.
Do yourself a big favor: Dust off a copy of "Dark Side of the Moon". They are everywhere. Sit down for 45 minutes and listen to it in a dark room with the volume up loud enough that you can clearly hear the dude saying "I've been mad for fucking years" in the beginning intro.
Don't watch "Wizard of Oz" with the sound down, don't get high, don't do anything else but relax in a comfortable chair and listen to to the whole damned thing. If you have any taste at all, you will suddenly realize why the term "art rock" had to be invented, just to describe THIS ALBUM.
Just sayin', is all.
Posted by: Dave | July 18, 2006 at 12:34 AM
Geez, Lex, how could I forget your favorite bartender Jerry from Stasius? Where is he now? Oh, I agree with Dave's comments about dusting off a copy of Dark Side of the Moon...
Posted by: MOM | July 18, 2006 at 06:43 AM
i totally saw the Pixies premiere @ SXSW.
the 2 less famous Pixies were there.
it was pretty sweet.
Just sayin', is all.
Posted by: chuck | July 18, 2006 at 03:14 PM
Sure, I go away for a few days and I miss the first-ever prog discussion on Girl Friday. I guess I was too busy singing "A Trick of the Tail" at Staraoke on Sunday (can you believe they have that?).
Posted by: Simon | July 18, 2006 at 04:52 PM