Dark Dark Dark and Dosh at Cedar Cultural Center on 12/27/08

By: David de Young
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Dark Dark Dark - Photo by Jenn Barnett Dark Dark Dark    “It’s been a really great year,” Dark Dark Dark banjoist Marshall LaCount announced towards the beginning of their set at the Cedar Cultural Center Saturday night.  LaCount went on to say that it was also great to be home, an understandable sentiment considering the band had been on tour in Eur...

Todd Menton CD Release with Lehto & Wright at Cedar Cultural Center on 12/18/08

By: David de Young
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Todd Menton w/ Savage Aural Hotbed at the Cedar - Photo by David de Young Music fans from Minnesota and parts beyond are familiar with Todd Menton from his time spent as Boiled in Lead’s lead singer as well as from his prolific solo career and participation in the folk duo Martz & Menton.  A Boiled in Lead show in the late ‘80s may well have been my first show at First Avenue aft...

Christine Rosholt CD Release show at Dakota Jazz Club on 12/17/08

By: Kristine Lambert
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Christine Rosholt - photo by Ann Marsden Wednesday evening, the Dakota Jazz Club was warm and inviting.  It provided a much-needed shelter during Christine Rosholt's release show for her new CD Lipstick-Live at the Dakota Jazz Club.  Having already begun the first set when we arrived, the venue was completely full and there was hardly a table to be found.  Finding our way...

Podcast: Nikki Schultz Interview and Performance on 12/17/08

By: David de Young
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   Nikki Schultz (at left) and members of her band in the "HowWasTheShow studios" HowWasTheShow's David de Young talks to West Bank musician Nikki Schultz and the members of her band in the Artists Series Podcast for December, 2008. In addition to discussion, this 41 minute program includes exclusive live performances of "Ruins," "Float To Sea" and a debut of...

Trailer Trash's Trashy Little Xmas Family Show at The Guthrie Theater on 12/14/08

By: David de Young
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 Trailer Trash at the Guthrie - Photo by Jenn Barnett (click photo for full set)  When I announced I’d be attending the Trailer Trash Trashy Little Xmas Family Show at the Guthrie, some people told me they thought “Trailer Trash” and “Family Show” were a contradiction in terms. I’m here to tell you emphatically it’s just not true!    T...

Heiruspecs CD Release Show at First Avenue on 12/13/08

By: Donette Ambrosy
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Heiruspecs - Photo by Alexa Jones It's difficult to say who deserves more credit for the warmth generated on an otherwise cold Minnesota night at the Heiruspecs CD release party at First Avenue on Saturday night; Heiruspecs, or their enthusiastic fans.  Heiruspecs, for their part, naturally heated things up with their killer grooves, smart lyrics, and string of crowd-pleasing guest...

Podcast: HowWasTheShow/Minneapoliscast CD Reviews for December 2008 on 12/12/08

By: Bob Longmore, Tony Thomas, Jen Paulson, Pat O'Brien, David de Young, Stacy Schwartz
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HowWasTheShow's David de Young talks to Pat O'Brien, Tony Thomas, Bob Longmore, Jen Paulson and Stacy Schwartz about recent and upcoming Minnesota Music releases for December, 2008. Heiruspecs – “Lenses” (http://www.myspace.com/heiruspecs) – Selected by Jen Paulson The Tisdales – “Box of Wine” – (http://www.myspace.com/wearethetisdales) – Selected by Tony Thom...

P.O.S. Video Shoot on 12/10/08

By: Dan Haugen
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 P.O.S. publicity photo from his MySpace page. Call it our "audition."   Several dozen P.O.S. fans, myself included, proved Wednesday night they were Minnesotan enough to serve as extras in a music video for the punk-rapper's upcoming album, Never Better.   The album, P.O.S.' third full-length, is due out Feb. 3 on Rhymesayers. He and his crew have been ke...

The Bitter Spills at 331 Club on 12/10/08

By: David de Young
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"Baby" Grant Johnson - Photo by David de Young Wednesday evening while many Twin Citians were still debating whether to go to the Oasis concert as they heard reports of scalper prices falling lower and lower until they were below face value, I was already making my way to the 331 Club.  The words of wisdom that it’s “more important than the decisions you make in life is the...

The New Standards Holiday Concert at Fitzgerald Theater on 12/6/08

By: David de Young
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The New Standards and friends at the Fitzgerald - Photo by Steve Cohen If only all the holiday fare people will attend this season could be as fun and heartwarming as this show.  If only they could all feature what’s surely one of the best cover bands on earth, Minnesota poet laureate Robert Bly reading his poetry, and Matt Wilson singing “McArthur Park.” That’s unfortuna...