A(n) Interview with An Horse

Tags

An Horse, Band Interview, Brand New, First Ave, Husker Du, Indie, Indie Music, Kate Cooper, Minneapolis Music, River's Edge Festival, St. Paul

The lovely Kate Cooper of An Horse helped us out by letting us dig her brain for her deepest and darkest secrets behind her musical genius.  Canada bound, this Australian duo is making a quick stop at River’s Edge Festival on June 23rd in St. Paul to perform and take in the local scenery.

Working with her band-mate at a local record store, An Horse decided to take the leap and do what they knew best: make music.  With only one US tour date in their near future, make sure you stop by River’s Edge in St. Paul and check out what this duo has to offer.  From what we know, you won’t be sorry!

Where did the name “An Horse” come from?  Kate, we understand it was your idea?
My sister used to live next door to me and she once told me that an before h was correct in some cases. Anyways it became a big joke between us. One day she gave me a jumper with An Horse sewn into it. People used to ask me if it was a band before it was. When Damon and I decided to start a band we needed a name and just used An Horse.

What is one thing you want your fan base to know about you?
I eat a lot of chocolate everyday. A lot. I am serious about it. Good chocolate.

What would you say to the local music fans that have yet to dabble in An Horse?

I eat a lot of chocolate.

Where do you draw inspiration for your songs?

 Everywhere I think. Most days things jump out at me. I guess a lot of inspiration comes for reading be it a book or the news or emails from friends.

Do you have a pre-show routine? If so, what does it entail?

Not really. Damon likes to eat chocolate too. He doesn’t like to eat too much before playing, I on the other hand am always hungry.

What is the craziest things you’ve seen from your fans?

We have some awesome fans. Nothing strikes me as crazy. Our fans are cool. Way cooler than us.

Who are you most likely going to wait around backstage for after their performance at River’s Edge?

I will wait for Damon to get off stage and that’s pretty much it for waiting for someone. However I want to watch the Scissor Sisters play. I like their new record. It’s fun. I am also super pumped to see Brand New play. We are touring with them in Canada over Summer and I can’t wait.

When people find out you’re from Australia, what is one of the first things they ask you? What is the most annoying thing people ask? (PS: is the toilets flushing the opposite way thing true?)

It really depends. Some people ask where that is, others ask me if I know (insert some random person’s name here), some people ask me about Vegemite (which I love and eat everyday). It doesn’t annoy me. I understand what it’s like to be interested in far off lands. And I don’t think the water doesn’t go down the drain (or toilet) in the opposite direction. Google the Coriolis effect. It affect the directions of cyclones but not small bodies of water.

How often do you guys get back home?  Do you still visit the record shop where you first met?

We were just recently in Australia playing some shows. The record store closed just as An Horse started to get busy. Fortuitous perhaps…I don’t know. It was a sad day. The other guy we worked with at the store opened his own store called Kill the Music. I love that store and try and visit when I am home.

What is the up-and-coming news for An Horse?  Can we expect a new album/single/tour sometime in the near future?

We are touring in Canada in summer with Brand New. Damon and I are very excited about that. Apart from that we are just writing a new record.

Rapid Fire Questions

For those who dig An Horse, they might also like:
Coffee and or chocolate.
Where are you most likely grabbing late-night grub after a show?
It depends where we are. If there is a Vietnamese or Thai place we will hit that. More often than not it’s shitty pizza.
Do you have a favorite Minneapolis-based band or artist? Who is it?
Husker Du!
Twitter or Facebook?
A real book.
Beer or Liquor?
Beer.
Bus, Bike or car?
Bike.
Celebrity you’d like to go on a date with?
Kristen Scott Thomas but I don’t want to go on a date. I just want to hang out with her. She is wonderful. I don’t need to go on a date.
Favorite venue to play?
Oh wow…umm 9:30 club in DC, Metropolis in Montreal, the Zoo in our hometown of Brisbane. First Avenue!
Do you have a day job?  If so, what do you do?
I write songs.
Minneapolis or St. Paul?
I don’t want to cause tension however, one of my closest friends was born in St. Paul so I have to go with that…BUT honestly I love them both.

Mayer Hawthorne at First Avenue

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Dap Kings, First Ave, First Avenue, Hall & Oats, How do you do, Indie, Indie Music, Mayer Hawthorne, Mowtown, MPLS, MPLSmusic, oldies, Soul Train, The Stepkids, The Walk

Can we talk about Mayer Hawthorne for a minute? Good, because right now he’s one of my favorite subjects. Caught his show Friday night, May 18 at First Avenue and I would say it left me speechless but in 45 years that hasn’t happened, it was close thought, very very close. First, I really enjoyed the medley of Motown songs that was played in between The Stepkids set and Mayer’s. From all appearances, I wasn’t the only one in the crowd that did. I applaud First Ave for their awesome choice of in-between sets music.

The first thing that struck me when Mayer came onstage was the backdrop. It was a big neon broken heart with an M on one side of the crack and H on the other, straight off the “How Do You Do” album cover. I loved it. The stage lighting was something out of Soul Train and reminded me of the Dap Kings and when Mayer came onstage the crowd went wild. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a crowd in First Ave roar like that and I’ve been to a lot of shows there…except for Prince, of course

Mayer’s look reminded me of the Verizon nerd guy from a couple of years back, but with a bow tie and Nike high tops. Mayer is soul from the top of his head to the tip of his toes regardless of his onstage moves and and the crowd absolutely loved him, just ate him up. His band was fantastic and their matching suits just added to the Motowness of the show.

I was impressed because he played his hit single “The Walk” three or four songs in instead of saving it for an encore like I expected. Over all, Mayer played quite a few love songs and the crowd loved it. People were slow dancing, which I had never seen on the floor of First Ave and when he played Hall & Oates “You Make My Dreams” even I was a little overwhelmed.  The evening wrapped up with a fabulous tribute to the 80′s and I left feeling warm, happy, and like I just attended the best party ever with a thousand of my high school friends.

The Cave Singers and the 4onthefloor

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4onthefloor, 7th street entry, Charlie Daniels, Derek Fudesco, First Ave, First Avenue, Indie, Indie Music, Indie Rock, Marty Lund, Minneapolis, MPLS, MPLSmusic, Pete Quirk, Rock, The Cave Singers

It’s been awhile for posts but tonight I change that so here’s to catching up and talking about some great music starting with The Cave Singers in the 7th Street Entry and The 4onthefloor in the First Avenue Mainroom on the same night, Friday April 13.  Along with lots of other great bands playing in the twin cities that night, I was especially excited to see The Cave Singers because I’d done a story on them last year but their show had been cancelled due to illness.  I snuck into the Entry during their second song, having just come from Maplewood and the fun. show and I was darn glad to be there. It was packed, hot and people were enjoying the show.

Most of what I saw of guitarist Derek Fudesco was his long hair shining under the red Entry lights as he sat on a stool and played while rocking back and forth.  Vocalist Pete Quirk sand like he was having a conversation with his song and had a lot of excitement for his music.  I couldn’t see drummer Marty Lund but this band is so in synch I assumed he was as into it as his cavebros, as they call themselves.  Quirk does a lot of hand clapping, it was nice to see him so into his music and it made it seem even more like I was sitting on a front porch on Whidbey Island, Washington or camping with close friends at Mt. Rainer.  For a band with three guys their sound was full, thoughtful and interesting.

The 4onthefloor was great.  I was popping back and forth between the Entry and the mainroom and as usual, the crowd was fired up for The 4onthefloor.  It was packed in the mainroom just like the Entry but one of the things I love about First Avenue is I can always find somewhere to stand where I can still see the stage.  They reminded me of mountain men meet Minneapolis hipsters meet the chainsaw massacre and they were full throttle, foot stomping, hell yeah! from start to finish.  The lead singer was like Charlie Daniels with a hard, evil twist…and a smiley face If you like PBR drinking hard rocking men that run every song into the ground until it just can’t be played anymore, The 4onthefloor are your guys.

The Stepkids & Mayer Hawthorne – First Ave

Tags

1950's music, Cities 97, First Ave, Jamiroquai, Kool108, Mayer Hawthorne, MPLS, MPLSmusic, oldies, Prince, The Fine Line, The Four Tops, The Stepkids, Twin Cities

The Stepkids

The Stepkids performance at First Ave was like watching a porno: you sometimes didn’t know what you’re watching but you knew you enjoyed it.

Three grown men with long hair dressed in all white, having a slideshow projected on them (as well as the wall behind them) gave us a show that I could only describe as unique and fresh.  Falsetto harmonies that reminded me of a mix of Jamiroquai and their own take on rock, The Stepkids provided something different than the crowd at First Ave was expecting.

With the acid rock group in full effect, and overcoming a little bit of technical difficulties (which they regrouped gracefully as if nothing ever happened), you could see the crowd getting into this new up-and-coming group and what they had to offer.  When the kick peddle on the drum set breaks and a group has the ability to finish, tell some jokes, get it fixed and roll like it was nothing is very impressive.  On top of that, to play music, harmonize and get the crowd into it like The Stepkids did, makes me want to come back and see more.  Highly suggested if they are rolling through your town.  Entertaining show with great music to back it up.

Mayer Hawthorne

How do I explain one of the most entertaining shows of the year?  Nothing I will write will do this show justice as me and a sold out crowd at First Ave received a show as good as it gets.

Starting the show with a comment about using the same backstage toilet as Prince (yes, us Minnesotians love hearing about us), Mayer Hawthorne connected with the crowd and had us, all of us, eating out of his hand all night.

With a sound coming out of the 1950′s, Mayer Hawthorne made his music look simple, fun and real.  I wasn’t alive to see groups like The Four Tops perform, but I can only imagine how much I would have enjoyed it after seeing Mayer Hawthorne at First Ave.  Simple dances to fun music, it was like the people at First Ave knew to play those Kool108 ‘oldies’ songs between sets just to get us going.

I would love to see Mayer Hawthorne perform in a bigger venue and it seems as if that is where he is heading.  Originally selling out The Fine Line and moving to First Ave, I think his show could be big enough to make a move to a bigger venue.  There were 2-3 songs that could have been cut out of the set (to which myself and the people around me seemed to get a little antsy) but I fully understand that he was there to perform the best set he could give.  Giving us here in MPLS an almost two-hour set is something that I would not have expected, but rather enjoyed.

Father John Misty with Har Mar Superstar – 7th Street Entry

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7th st. entry, 7th street entry, Father John Misty, First Ave, Fleet Foxes, Har Mar Superstar, J. Tillman, Minneapolis, MPLS, MPLSmusic, Music Scene PDX, Prince, Rock, Sub Pop Records, Tillman

Just a few days after MusicScenePDX was able to enjoy the crooning of Father John Misty, we here in the land of Prince were able to enjoy the musical arrangement of what we can only describe as: Musically Ingenuous.

There is something to say about seeing a how a local or national act comes in and plays at the historical First Ave (even the smaller, yet equally historical stage) and Father John Misty lived up to what we were asking for.  There haven’t been many places who haven’t caught on to the J. Tillman’s (yes, that J. Tillman from Fleet Foxes) new act and all the reviews have been good.  Mine won’t be much different with the exception that I was completely drawn in and amazed at just how good Father John Misty was.

With a band that could live up to Tillman’s energy on stage, Father John Misty tore up what Har Mar Superstar started.  With confidence and experience, Tillman gave Minneapolis a show that they were not expecting.  Loud, on key, tight and did I mention loud, Father John Misty created a set that many of us wanted to hear more of.  Tillman and Father John Misty are a no-nonsense, let us rock your face off, if you don’t like us you can leave, original style of rock that most bands can only try and fake.

Tip to the wise, if Father John Misty is headed your way, see them…just don’t stand too close to the speakers.

Har Mar Superstar -

I was only able to catch what I can assume was the second half of their set (3.5 songs) but what I saw, I don’t think I could forget if I even wanted to; not in a bad way.  A band all over the place and playing music that couldn’t be stuck into one genre, Har Mar Superstar gave 7th Street Entry something they were not use to.

Look, if I saw anyone from Har Mar Superstar walking down the streets, there is no way I would say to myself, ‘I bet that dude is in a band.’  More like: ‘I bet that dude is a train conductor or elementary school janitor’ and I mean that in the nicest way possible.  Musically, Har Mar Superstar was completely unique and something I had never been offered in live music before.  Would I see them again, honestly, yes.

Midwest Music Festival Report Day 1

Tags

4onthefloor, Acoustic Cafe, Appollo Cobra, Bethany Larson and the Bees Knees, Boats vs. Manatees, Bruce Springsteen, Charlie Parr, Dibs, Dibs Cafe, Ed's, Ed's NoName Bar, First Ave, Gree Room Music Scource, Indie, Indie Music, Indie Rock, Jefferson Event Center, Koo Koo Kangaroo, Maudin, Melismatics, Michelle Lynn and the Bad Passengers, Midwest Music Festival, Minnesota, Natalie Merchant, Rogue Valley, Unity Park, Wake Up Bedhead, Winona Arts Center

Started the evening with a stripped down version of Rogue Valley.  Chris Koza, Linnea Mohn and Peter Sieve played a set at Ed’s NoName Bar (Happy 5^th Anniversary Ed!).  The stripped down version brings out more of the vocal interplay between Chris and Linnea, a pleasant change of pace for someone who has seen a lot of Rogue Valley shows.  Missed their end of the evening event at the Masonic Temple but it looked like a gorgeous room.

Next I took in Michelle Lynn and the Bad Passengers at the Acoustic Café.  Michelly sounds a lot like Natalie Merchant but with a more rocking style.  A nice litte three piece outfit, I bet they do quite well here in Winona.

Next show was the legendary Charlie Parr back at Ed’s.  It incredible the depth of sound that Charlie can produce with his guitar.  Adding in some washboard and a log (basically a log with some cow bells played with wooden spoons) Charlie was the pleasant surprise of the night and the crowd really got into it, I did not know that there was a fair amount of slam dancing at his shows.  Definitely the highlight of the night.

Last show of the night was one of my favorites, 4onthefloor at the Jefferson Event Center.  First thing to know is that if you end up at the back door and they ask if you are with the band it is easier to just say yes.  After seeing them last Friday at their sold-out First Avenue show we were definitely ready to rock with them again.  This crowd was not as familiar with their music as other shows 4onthefloor shows we go to but it still was a great sing along event with some great people.  All the 4onthefloor classics plus a little Bruce Springsteen thrown in for good measure.

Today’s shows include:

• Koo Koo Kangaroo at 1:45 at Unity Park
• Wake Up Bedhead at 6:30 at Dibs Cafe
• Boats vs. Manatees at 7:00 at Ed’s NoName Bar
• Bethany Larson and the Bees Knees at 8:00 at the Winona Arts Center
• Melismatics at 9:30 at Dibs
• Maudlin at 10:30  at Dibs
• Apollo Cobra at 12:00 at Ed’s NoName Bar

The shows at Dibs are being currated by our friends at Green Room Music Source, nice job with a great lineup.  Full report tomorrow.

Past Local Artist of the Week – The Boys N’ the Barrels

Tags

Bluegrass, BNTB, Boys N' the Barrels, country, First Ave, Indie, Indie Music, Minneapolis, MPLS, MPLS Music, Music Scene MPLS

The Boys N’ the Barrels

If there is any kind of music more American then Bluegrass, we here at Music Scene MPLS have yet to hear it.  When was the last time you saw someone playing the washboard?  Yes, we said: the washboard (played by the top ranked washboard player in the five state area: Mike Wavinak).  There is something about the singing harmonies of The Boys N’ the Barrels that sucked us in and kept us begging for more.

Playing festivals across the great state of Minnesota, The Boys N’ the Barrels love sharing their passion for Bluegrass with anyone who wants to be reminded of their American roots.  Banjo picking, fiddle dancing, bass slapping music, The Boys N’ the Barrels give you a feeling deep from within that most people will not know what to do with.  If it’s your first time, relax, they have their regulars to show you how to hoedown like it was 1880′s America.

Musically, The Boys N’ the Barrels have the talent to outshine any of the other bands on the bill.  Instead, you often see them grab someone from another band for a guest appearance in one of their final songs.   The Boys N’ the Barrels are what true musicians strive to be: passionately in love with performing.  It is a complete joy to watch a set in which The Boys N’ the Barrels are playing and bring us all back to a time of ‘True Americana.’  Do us a favor, take a night off and check them out…more than once.

FACEBOOK
BAND PAGE
TWITTER: @boysnthebarrels

Trampled By Turtles with These United States and Erik Koskinen – First Ave

Tags

Black Keys, Blind Melon, Erik Koskinen, First Ave, First Avenue, Folk music, Indie, Indie Music, Indie Rock, John Prine, Live Music, Mayor R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MPLS, Muisc, Pretty Girls, RT Rybak, Temple of the Dog, The Allman Brothers, These United States, Trampled by Turtles

Erik Koskinen -

First Impression: Trucker hat, jeans, button up shirt with a dress coat and I thought, “what the hell, couldn’t be worse than Nickelback.”  I was wrong to judge because Erik Koskinen stole the whole show (including TBT – which I will get to).  With lyrics like John Prine and a that southern guitar sound like The Allman Brothers, Erik Koskinen completely stunned me (and yes I just compared him to legends John Prine and The Allman Brothers).  “Pretty Girls”, which he played second in his set, is going to catch on, be picked up and it’s going to take off.  Erik was joined by TBT for the last song of his set, to which he stood out as the lead musician on stage and completely sucked me in.

Make sure you check out Erik Koskinen any chance you have to see him cuz pretty soon, he’ll be headlining at Frist Ave. This was only the second time I have purchased an album directly after hearing someone perform (see The Staves).

These United States –

I am someone who likes to be surprised by what I hear, so I usually don’t check out bands before I go see them.  That being said, I was told These United States was a folk-rock group from out east: Okay, I’m ready.  These United States controled the crowd playfully and showed their true passion for performing through their whole set.  Having “guest spots” by TBT members come on and perform with them only made them seem like a band that I would want to see again (everyone loves when two bands come together – See Temple of the Dog). These United States are very strong performers and very comfortable with who they are.

Musically, at first I felt as if they were a mix between some of the not-so-well-known and earlier Blind Melon stuff with a mix and simplicity of some off-beat Black Keys stuff.  That being said, after the set was done, there was something there saying, ‘well, that was a little generic.’  I couldn’t really put my finger on why I felt that way, but I think that’s just how I’ll wrap this up.

Trampled by Turtles -

The highly anticipated headlines for the night.  I’d give them a “C” if I was grading their performance.  Sure, they jumped on stage with the other two opening acts (to which they both outshined TBT), but when it came to their own performance I was just, bored I guess.

Yes, they have made a name for themselves and yes they have a great album, but watching them perform live just didn’t do it for me.  They took about a minute between each song, lights completly dimmed, nothing going on: literally silence (except for the “woo” and “play your one hit” from the crowd).  I felt as if I was listening to an album where the group “hides” a song after the last song and you have to wait around for 2-3 minutes in silence as if the group was trying to be sneaky.  Well that was a bit long-winded, but F-it, I was a little annoyed that it happened EVERY song.

Musically, they boys can play.  Lord only knows how they can play the fiddle and banjo that fast and for that long.  But, I get it: every song sounded the same.  Sure, they slowed it down for a couple and featured their talented musicians, but overall, I truely wasn’t impressed.

Would I give them another shot?  Sure, maybe at an outdoor festival but last night at First Ave, I was just bored with what Trampled by Turtles had to offer.  The highlight of their set, was when Mayor R.T. Rybak introduced TBT then crowd surfed while the band just stood there and watched (which kind of made me feel awkward – I mean, play something, anything…not just silence again).  There ya go, if I had to sum up the way this set made me feel: Socially awkward and bored.

Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps with Retribution Gospel Choir – First Ave

Tags

Caoline Smith, Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps, Duluth, First Ave, First Avenue, Minnesota, MPLS, Retribution Gospel Choir, Rock, Rock N' Roll

Retribution Gospel Choir-

There are a few bands out there who aren’t scared to fully come out and rock like they are ACDC from the 1980′s.  Retribution Gospel Choir is one of those bands who I knew nothing about but enjoyed the journey they took me on.  To me, they almost sound like the kind of band whose music should be on a soundtrack for a movie.  RGC have that hard beat followed by the consistent guitar rift and solid vocals that makes them solid when it comes to live performances.

They were there to perform for a crowd that may or may not have known who they were, but came out with guns blazing.  A Minnesota local band, Retribution Gospel Choir really have the talent to make it big, so catch them before it happens.

Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps-

In an opposite tone from RCG, Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps have their own idea of what live music should be: and it works.  The vocals outshine just about anything else on stage and for me, that was good enough.  The basic set up of the band and a Buddy Holly look a-like on the drums had me wondering just how detailed Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps could be.  Turns out, they showed me just how many different sounds one band could give in a set.

Another Minnesota Native, Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps are always a show to catch when they return home.  Something about the simplicity of their music turns around and sucker punches your ear drums as if to say, ‘hey, check this out.’

Past Artist of the Week – Roster McCabe

Tags

First Ave, local, Local artist of the week, local music, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Music, Minnesota, MPLS, MPLS Music, Music Scene MPLS, Roster McCabe

This simple band made up of five young men from multiple musical backgrounds have come together to create a sound that the Twin Cities has grown to love and enjoy.  The music Roster McCabe produces is raw, original and unlike any other band that the Twin Cities currently has to offer.

This fun-loving band doesn’t care where there name falls on the bill for the night, they will rock you in such a funky/reggae sound that you can’t help but start dancing.  With a touch of soul music as the backbone of their guitar solos, Mike Daum has the skill to combine multiple varieties of music into one solo then bring it back around  and let someone else take the lead.  The chemistry of this band is so unique that you’d think these guys were brothers. Roster McCabe has such a tight and well put together sound that you might have expected them to have been playing together for 10+ years.

No matter what city Roster McCabe is playing in, their crowd seems to draw big numbers and those numbers seem to know every word to every song.  How Roster McCabe has stayed relatively local is beyond our guess, but thankfully the Twin Cities get’s to enjoy them a little longer.

If you haven’t, take a chance and go to a show.  If you have, take another chance on these sly cats.  They can play and we’re not kidding, will get you to dance (and we’re not dancers).  Their tours take them around the country so even if you’re out and about, make sure you check in on their tour dates and follow them on Twitter (@RosterMcCabe)to keep up with their fun adventures!