Not to rehash what I’ve said in other outlets, but I can’t avoid it. I am looking forward to seeing The Little Ones at the 7th Street Entry with an excitement that I tend to reserve for bands I have followed for much longer. Initially basing my weekly intuition on the headliners, Ra Ra Riot, from the moment I listened to the new Little Ones EP, a smile grew on my face and the irritations of my day had pretty much disappeared. They utilize a hybrid of summery super-pop, with multiple layers that build handsomely, all alive with jangly guitars and keyboards that are definitely an important element of their sound. If they turned up the sunniness even slightly, they’d be in bubblegum territory. - Jen Paulson
I recently tossed about the idea of what a blog band might be with a friend, we ultimately decided that the slight should be abolished. The term has come to represent something rather bleak, a group who starts off strong only to disappoint with lackluster depth. Latest to be dubbed such, Jacksonville’s Black Kids, look to buck the trend by turning their fantastic four song EP into a full length release with July’s upcoming Partie Traumatic. Until then, the band is co-headlining a tour with Cut Copy, both setting up for a show this Tuesday at the 7th Street Entry. - Chris DeLine
First Avenue: Wednesday, May 7 - 7:30 doors $19.50 18+
DeVotchka is a band that is hard to define - while they often get categorized as “indie/gypsy,” their influences run much wider - Flamenco, Mariachi, Eastern European folk, Music Hall, and more! They are currently touring in support of one of the better album releases so far this year, A Mad and Faithful Telling. With four multi-instrumental musicians on stage they are sure to put on an amazing show that will undoubtedly feature hefty doses of violin, tuba, theramin, and the timeless wail of Nick Urata. Out my top five favorite shows of all time, two featured DeVotchka. I can almost guarantee that this show will be great. - Jon Behm
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. In this edition Nick Leet, from the Minneapolis-based quartet High on Stress, describes the evolution of “Cop Light Parade.” Written by Leet and performed with Ben Baker, the song underlines his story underlines importance of continually searching for ideas before describing the events that eventually influenced the song. “Cop Light Parade” is scheduled to be included on High on Stress’ forthcoming September release.
I wrote most of the lyrics to this song in a van between Chicago and Omaha. I was on a tour with Brad Senne and Charley Dush that we called the “Magical Misery Tour.” I noticed along the way that Brad and Charley would grab their notebooks and write song ideas out as we went. All my life I’ve noticed that when I’m out of my day to day routine I do my best work so I figured I’d give it a shot too.
When we were in Chicago we spent the day downtown walking around and record shopping. When we finished we needed to get back to the train and get to our show. As we were walking back to the station I realized that people around the train station all walked around with their heads down staring at the ground so people wouldn’t hassle them which made it difficult to ask for directions. It was interesting to me how scared people seemed and I wondered how much life people missed while staring at the ground. That got me thinking of all the other ways that people waste their lives while they are too blind to see the good that is in front of them. People spend a lot of time watching television and reading the news which is just saturated in negativity, body counts, child abuse, Paris Hilton and realized it’s very hard to keep your head up and be happy when you’re surrounded by negativity.
The last verse of the song is about a girl I used to know. She was the kind of person who was a lot of fun to hang out with but as time went on I realized that half of what she said wasn’t adding up. She was a really sad and lost person and although there were bright things happening around her she couldn’t see it. I’m not sure whatever happened to her. - Nick Leet
The presence of the symphonic metal giants in Arch Enemy playing a small club is awesome enough, add to that mammoth Dark Tranquility, a potato, some carrots, and bam, you got a metal stew on baby! The Greek powerhouse of Firewind along with Divine Heresy both round out the bill, giving it more of a feel akin to that of a stadium-sized rock show (or at least the Myth) than one at a venue more suited towards garage rock bands. Pack your bags, throw on your Maiden t-shirts and skip out of school early kids, this all ages show is one not to be missed. - Chris DeLine
The White Rabbits are playing on Wednesday night at the 400 Bar, and it should be a pretty damn good time. Their upbeat “honkytonk calypso” music is a step above a lot of what much of indie rock is offering these days and the guys put a lot of energy into their live shows. I am not sure if the club’s stage will fit their two drum kits and gazillion band members, but I am sure that they will make something work. Expect a tightly packed house, sweat-inducing temperatures, and wildly dancing hipsters. Get drunk at home beforehand because the drinks are expensive. - Jon Behm
Of course the big show this week is Soundset ‘08 in the Metrodome parking lot on Sunday. But since everyone probably already knows about that (and its hip hop karaoke after-party at First Ave.), let me promote another cool hip hop show. Thursday at the Dinkytowner, Florida’s Sol.iLLaquists of Sound will be playing. I have yet to catch one of their shows, but everyone I’ve talked to says that they’re one of the most exciting live acts in hip hop - expect some live MPC magic, progressive politics and a whole lot of energy. - Kyle “El Guante” Myhre
Metrodome Parking Lot: Sunday, May 25 - 11:00 am Gate $25
Possibly the biggest local show of the year, Soundset 2008 celebrates not just national hip hop and rap but all likes of local talent, at least sixteen local acts helping round out the bill. That being said - the big guns are taking the stage as well: Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, Dilated Peoples…even if the show delivers brief Warped-Tour style mini-sets this is an absolutely insane lineup that every local hip hop music fan should be going nuts about. - Chris DeLine
