Crooked Fingers, led by former Archers of Loaf lead singer Eric Bachmann, are in the midst of a nation-wide tour in support of the band’s recently released album Forfeit/Fortune. And while on tour, Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine was able to ask a few quick questions on Bachmann - touching on his decision to release Forfeit/Fortune without a label, what he learned while living in his van a few years back and who he’s most excited to play with as the tour rolls on.
Chris DeLine: With Forfeit/Fortune, you’ve decided to forgo a label and release and distribute the album yourself. What sort of feedback have you received in terms of sales thus far from the select indie record stores that were selected to sell the album?
Eric Bachmann: It’s a bit too soon to tell. At this point, because we’re on tour, I suspect the majority of sales are from shows. A few folks I know who work at record stores say that it’s selling well, but I haven’t seen numbers and won’t for a while… (more)
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Imagine if you will, if one day you heard that Tina Fey had left SNL and created a moody experimental pop album? Would you be surprised? This is essentially what happened with Juana Molina, the one-time star of hit Argentinean sketch comedy show Juana y Sus Hermanas (Hilarious if you understand Spanish). And for the past twelve years Molina has given up comedy to pursue her musical career. Though in her native country she still might be better known for Juana, here is the U.S. she is rapidly becoming known as a premiere musician and songwriter. (more)
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With Black Ice, AC/DC returns with a release full of typically straightforward songs about fighting, women and rock ‘n roll; the band’s fourth record since 1990 and its fifth in a row to kick off with the album’s lead single. Not being one to break out of the mold that it’s created for itself the album gives further evidence that AC/DC’s perpetual song is still its key ingredient for success. At fifteen songs and nearly fifty-six minutes the album is the band’s longest studio recording however, raising the question, in AC/DC’s thirty-fifth year of existence is another album of new material that sounds pretty much like every other AC/DC album honestly necessary? (more)
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Twin Cities:
— The Millionth Word have announced a CD release show, playing with the God Damn Doo Wop Band and Double Bird at the Hexagon Bar Friday, Oct. 24.
The Millionth Word “I Wish You Could See My Home (So Exciting)” (mp3)
The Millionth Word “Ratings” (mp3)
— Jon Behm reviews Jamie Lidell’s recent show at Varsity Theater. (link)
— Cloud Cult will be heading East in November. (link)
— Rift Magazine profiles Junkyard Empire. (link)
— Perfect Porridge interviews Nyteowl. (link)
— The Melismatics recently performed in The Current’s studio. (link)
(Inter)National:
— “Dear Sir or Madam, This law firm represents W. Axl Rose. I am authorized to act on his behalf with respect to his intellectual property rights. It has come to our attention that a website hosted by you contains links to stream songs from Gun N’ Roses’ recent concert.” So on and so forth. I share this because after seventeen years of unrealized promises and retaliatory threats, a date has now been set: Chinese Democracy, Best Buy Exclusive, November 23, 2008 (though I’ll believe it when I see it). And as anyone with a sense of curiosity, a computer and an internet connection can tell you, some of the new songs are OK - but for the most part they’re far from sounding like the apex of a project a decade and a half in the making. (link)
— Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello and Soulfly’s Max Cavelera are teaming up for an as-yet unnamed project. (link)
— “Ladies and gents…a first in my 20 years as a Root….I got stumped, I cannot drum and sing ‘AMILLIEAMILLEAMMILLIEAMILAMILAMILAMILA…’ at the same time, never in my life have I ever prayed for a moment to pass.” ?uestlove on providing backup vocals while drumming as Lil Wayne joined The Roots on stage for “A Millie.” (link)
Local Concert Highlights:
— The Magnetic Fields @ State Theatre
(Official) (MySpace) (Wikipedia)
— Cold War Kids & A.A. Bondy @ Fine Line Music Cafe
Cold War Kids “Something Is Not Right With Me (09/19/2008)” (mp3)
A.A. Bondy “American Hearts (04/11/2008)” (mp3)
(CWK Official) (CWK MySpace) (CWK Wikipedia) (AAB MySpace)
— Talib Kweli, David Banner & Little Brother @ First Avenue
(TK Official) (TK MySpace) (TK Wikipedia) (DB Official) (DB MySpace) (DB Wikipedia) (LB MySpace) (LB Wikipedia)
Daily Audio Downloads:
— Kyle Andrews “Sushi” (mp3)
— Kyle Andrews “Wavering Between The Real and Abstract” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Drew Danburry “I’m Pretty Sure” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
— DJ Schmolli “Busy Fuckin’ in the Bushes” (mp3)
(Oasis vs. Sean Paul vs. Fergie vs. House of Pain vs. Faith No More vs. Kelly Clarkson vs. Jay-Z)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Estate “Write To Make (Gigamesh remix)” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
— The Heaven Seventies “Morning Light Part 2 (remix)” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Jape “Strike Me Down (Friendly Fires remix)” (mp3)
(MySpace)
— Mercury Rev “Senses on Fire (Fujiya and Miyagi remix)” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace) (Wikipedia)
— The Orion Experience “Sugar” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
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photo: Jon Behm
From late August through the first week of September, the Twin Cities played host not only to the visiting Republican National Convention delegates, but to a vast array of protesters, musicians, artists and organizers as well. Artists of all stripes came together as a response to the RNC - from nationally and internationally recognized acts like Rage Against the Machine, dead prez, Billy Bragg, Michael Franti, Mos Def and the Coup, to local luminaries like I Self Divine, Low, P.O.S., Haley Bonar, Atmosphere, and many, many more. I even performed at a good half-dozen shows.
And this alliance -activists alongside artists -is to be applauded. The potential for cooperation between the activist community and the arts community is huge, and it’s a relationship that has to be cultivated.
Like all relationships, however, it has to be continually worked on. If taken for granted, by either side, it will fall apart. If artists and activists cannot work together in a healthy, organic, and above all effective way, their partnership is doomed - potentially to disaster, but almost certainly to irrelevance. (more)
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Twin Cities:
— Prince continues to play when he wants where he wants. (link)
— CYSTSFTS reviews Dosh’s Wolves and Wishes. (link)
— The Current is sharing a few recent in-studio performances by Ray LaMontagne, Jamie Lidell and Aaron Espe.
(Inter)National:
— CBS says NoBama to No Age. (link)
— Foo Fighters take aim at John McCain’s party for its unauthorized use of “My Hero.” (link)
Local Concert Highlights:
— Kristoff Krane @ Eclipse Records
(MySpace)
— Nobot, Ah Venice, The Sextons & Tentacle Boy @ Hexagon Bar
(N MySpace) (S MySpace) (T MySpace)
— Overkill @ The Rock
(Official) (MySpace) (Wikipedia)
— Starfolk, Patches and Gretchen & The Tisdales @ Turf Club
(P&G MySpace)
Daily Audio Downloads:
– DJ Zebra “Oasis ‘69″ (mp3)
(Oasis vs. Serge Gainsbourg)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Hacienda “She’s Got A Hold On Me” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
— The Illuminoids “Son of Phantom Ain’t Easy” (mp3)
(Justice vs. David Bowie vs. Soulwax)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Pheugoo - Feel My Bleeding Love” (mp3)
(Robbie Williams vs. Leona Lewis)
(Official) (MySpace)
— Wilderness “Stand The Test of Time” (mp3)
(Official) (MySpace)
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