DEBUT OF MICHELLE LYNN TRIO

The modest crowd still around for the second half of Michelle Lynn's headlining set at the Root Note on Saturday witnessed the beginning of a new chapter in the musician's career. For the first time, Michelle was joined on stage (for nearly an hour) by Matt Olson (Brahman Shaman, Reaview Mirror, Objective Subject) on drums and Adam Ptacek (Rearview Mirror, Morgan Handle, Objective Subject) on bass and back up vocals.

Michelle recently began the recording process for her next album Twisted Logic at Matt's Ghost in My House Studio. The trio has spent some time jamming & working on the new songs and that is largely what they performed together in La Crosse on Saturday. Their chemistry was undeniable and it helped them get through any rough spots. Michelle's guitar work can be very rhythmic at times and the drums certainly complement that. The added instrumentation also frees her up to experiment with various approaches to the instrument. She recently purchased an electric guitar and her new acoustic is lighter & smaller than the last one.

Below are videos I filmed of Multiverse from Pre-Echoes and Rotating Your Saviors from the forthcoming Twisted Logic. Look for more collaborations between these three in the future. Should they form a band Shuggypop? Well, it looks like they already have.

THANKS FOR BEING OUR BETHANY

Bethany DeLine and her amazing 5-piece backing band seemed to have the packed crowd at Friday's Driftless Music Showcase at Acadia Cafe in the palm of their collective hands. As Eli Hamann (whose photos from the show appear in this post) wrote on his Qwerkshop Photo Blog: "There was great energy being generated on and off the stage during the show, which created a very palpable connection between the audience and the band."

I would agree. Not only does Bethany write fun and interesting music, she is a performer--no, an entertainer. She sings! She smiles! She tap dances for Pete's sake! The crowded room understood that ans was totally silent and focused on the stage for the majority of her set. Now, the Acadia is one of my favorite venues in town, but it is not known as a listening room. Seldom do acts captivate there like she did with her band on Friday and I can image that is quite a satisfying feeling. But what makes me want to thank Bethany for being her quirky, Canadian self is that, (unlike the crowd at DEMO's Dan Wilson show at Acadia, where everyone was also quiet) nearly everyone got up at the end to give the entertainer a rousing standing ovation.

So here for you, I have the video below that I filmed of the Bethany DeLine band performing Thanks for Being My Benjamin from Friday's show. You're Welcome.

BIRDS OF VIRGINIA

The thoughtful folks in Minneapolis alt-country act Birds of Virginia sent me a copy of their debut album Trees at Dusk in advance of their appearance at the Driftless Music Showcase at Acadia on Friday. Recorded by Chad Weis at the Devil's Workshop Sound Studio in Minneapolis, the album is sonically impressive. As the songs (and their superb production value) grew on me, I was curious to see how their material would stand up live at Acadia, particularly with drummer Mike Bybliw unable to perform....Well, any doubts I had flew out the door along with singer Leonard James' smooth tenor by about halfway through the first verse of Stilt of Tomorrow, the perfect scene-setting opener for their set and album.

Mature songwriting, lush vocal harmonies, and adage-laced lyrics keep things fresh from start to finish and make Trees at Dusk the kind of album that is well-suited for long drives and focused listening. The sort of warm neo-folk found in tracks like Soul vs. Meat and Trains Across My Past makes it easy (for me) to make comparisons to Fleet Foxes or Sea Change-era Beck. Although after experiencing the Birds of Virginia live, I think a more accurate description of their spirit & sound would be Neil Young. The confident vulnerability of James' voice in songs like Irresistable Force and Girl From Myanmar also calls to mind Minneapolis' own crooner Matt Wilson (of Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours).

You can purchase Tress at Dusk via CD Baby HERE and stream the album via the widget below. Check out the video below of Drink Yourself to Even from Friday's Driftless Music Showcase. Be sure to keep your eyes on this group! I think this is a very strong statement for a debut release--So here's to clear skies ahead for the Birds of Virginia.

MICHELLE LYNN DIGS DEEP FOR SECOND SUPPER

Michelle Lynn is profiled in this week's Second Supper in a piece titled "Michelle Lynn looks deep inside for her third album" put together by Anna Soldner. Well written and insightful, the feature is an excellent snapshot of where Michelle is currently at artistically:

“I’m going to give myself a year to play as many shows as I can, make another album, and look at every hour of my day and see how it relates back to music."

The best part in my opinion is a quote from Michelle's producer and PT drummer Matt Olson / Brahman Shaman:

"She has a drive and passion for music that is only evident in the purest of artists," he says. "In other words, she eats, sleeps and breathes her art, and I know that not a day goes by where she is not journaling ideas, playing guitar and striving to use music to interpret and communicate both the tangible and intangible aspects of the human experience."


Read the entire article HERE

MICHELLE LYNN INTERVIEW on 95.7 THE ROCK

Michelle Lynn stopped by the 95.7 The Rock studios in downtown La Crosse on Thursday March 11 to chat about, and play a few songs from, her new album Pre-Echoes for the Post Modern. You can listen to the entire interview portion of the broadcast below via THIS link. Be sure to catch Michelle live in La Crosse on March 20th at the Root Note!

WINONA MUSIC FEST JUL 30-31 SEEKING SUBMISSIONS

It looks like a new non profit music festival is hitting Winona, MN this summer. Sponsored by the Americorps and various grants, it will take place over two days on July 30-31 and feature over 50-60 bands at various venues around Winona.

Organizers are billing the festival as an opportunity to bring together the music community while also attracting more diverse music to Winona. They are currently taking submissions via the web-form HERE or by contacting Jenna Cameron at booking@midwestmusicfest.org

SPRINGBOARD'S MUSIC CAREER WORKSHOP

I'll be one of the panelists talking about my career path and answering questions this Saturday at MacPhail Center for Music for a workshop / discussion with high school students & parents on considering an education and life in music. The workshop is presented by the fine people at Springboard for the Arts and is free with online registration HERE.

I'm looking forward to this discussion. One of the aspects is letting parents and students know that there are numerous other avenues in music other than being a performer and the diversity of the panel reflects that. Joining me in the the elegant Antonello Hall (click HERE for a 360 degree tour!) will be Solange Guillaume, Colleen Buckman, Janice Feinberg, and Mankwe Ndosi. Springboard's Program Manager Noah Keesecker will be moderating. See you then!

BETHANY DELINE WILL MAKE YOU SMILE

Vocalist, uke-player, and tap dancer Bethany DeLine has assembled a backing band for her upcoming performance at the Driftless Music Showcase at Acadia Cafe on Friday, March 19th. It will be very interesting to hear her minimalist, dance-inducing anti-folk in full band form. Her warm, slightly talkative, Kimya Dawson-style vocals define her delightful sound, while highlighting clever, fun-loving lyrics, as well as instrumentation that often includes the clap of tap shoes in the percussion section.

Bethany's earnest, yet tongue-in-cheek approach is supplemented by a clear knack for design and art direction. Check out some of her artwork (including the self-portrait to the right) HERE. View all of her very artful music videos HERE. Download her recent EP, the Garden Level Sessions, for free HERE. Stream the EP and watch the video for I'd Rather Be Famous on Your Fridge below.

"THE COLDEST HOUR" BY AKAI IS ACTUALLY QUITE WARM

Akai was kind enough to give me a copy of their debut album, The Coldest Hour, after their performance at the Driftless Music Showcase on February 19th. The eight-piece ensemble immediately commanded the room's attention with an intense set of sweeping alt-pop. (Scroll down for a video I shot of their performance). Thankfully the nuance and warm energy of their live show is well represented in this recording.

The album's opening tracks smoothly introduce the band's key strengths: male-female dual vocals, expansive textures, and incredibly diverse instrumentation. Gradually building a thick wall of sound, the lush vocal harmonies and layered lead lines in When the Sun Goes Down showcase songwriters Hiromi and Robbie Matsumoto's keen ability for arrangement. On the other hand, the epic gang vocals at the end of Breath evoke the best of the Arcade Fire, harnessing the spontaneous while also tastefully celebrating the unnecessary.