Info for the Reader’s Readers

My Music Blog for the week of November 23, 2011

By: Jeannette Madden

Hello fellow music lovers! My name is Jeannette Madden and welcome to my first ever music blog for the High Plains Reader. I have written about music for the Reader on and off for three or so years and have now been blessed with this blog where I can share my thoughts, ideas and information regarding all types of music. And more than anything, I welcome your input. Please do not just share your likes and dislikes, tell me WHY they are your likes and dislikes. Do you have a favorite band or artist you want to tell me about? Please do! Do you have questions or concerns about an artist or band? Ask away! I will do my best to find the answers.

Let’s start this entry by talking about Austra, a band playing the Aquarium Friday night, November 25 in support of their debut album “Feel It Break”. I’m listening to the track “Lose It” as I write this and all I can say is WOW. They sound like a poppier version of Florence + the Machine and I love it! The three members of Austra are Torontonians Katie Stelmanis, vocalist/pianist/etc (ex-Galaxy), Maya Postepski, drummer (ex-Galaxy, currently TRUST), and Dorian Wolf, bassist (ex-Spiral Beach). Austra was named a Stereogum’s “Band to Watch” in March of this year and its obvious why. Stelmanis’ vibralto has a fresh, timeless sound and seeing Austra live looks to be amazing. I hope to catch their show Saturday night, November 26 at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis so I’d welcome comments from those who see them Friday night at the Aquarium. Listen to “Lose It” on SoundCloud by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/cm4vm9s and as always, let me know what you think!

I’d also like to tell you about San Antonio’s Girl In A Coma, who are currently on tour supporting their November 1 release “Exits & All The Rest”. Their bio says they’ve “sewn together an incredibly unique mix of punk, blues, rockabilly, and good old fashioned rock & roll” and while I agree, I would throw in a smattering of The Cults “Go Outside”. They have a super interesting sound and you can see and hear it on their new song “Smart” by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/7l2u7dg “Girl” is made up of Jenn Alva, Phannie Diaz and Diaz’s little sister Nina and was signed to Blackheart Records by Joan Jett herself. I’m catching their album release show at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis Monday, November 21. I’m super excited and I’ll let you know all about the show next week.

Finally, let’s talk Chicago’s own Scattered Trees, a band that, for all intents and purposes, ended until lead singer Nate Eiseland’s dad passed. Eiseland wrote the lyrics and the band came back together to create the songs that would result in their newest release “Sympathy”. My favorite song from “Sympathy” is “Love and Leave”, which you can see and hear by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/7ybdfhx The song’s caption reads “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the boys of Scattered Trees capture a princess. Unfortunately, one of them falls in love.” Trust me, you have to see this video. They describe their live show supporting “Sympathy” as deeply powerful and I’ll be seeing them Saturday night, November 26 when they play the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis along with one of my favorite Chicago bands, The Lull. I hope to do stories on both Scattered Trees and The Lull in the near future.

That’s it for this week. I’ve included information regarding each of the bands and shows below for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to contact me with comments, concerns or questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or on twitter @HPRJeannette. Have a fabulous week!

WHO: Austra
WHEN:  Friday, November 25
WHERE:  The Aquarium 9:00 pm doors 9:30 pm show
INFO:  21+ $10 Advance tickets can be purchased at Orange Records and http://tktwb.tw/uMCJGP

And for those of you in the twin cities –

WHO:  Girl In A Coma
WHEN:  Monday, November 21
WHERE:  7th Street Entry at Historic First Avenue, downtown Minneapolis 7:00 pm doors
INFO:  18+ $10 in advance $12 at the door

WHO:  Scattered Trees
WHEN:  Saturday, November 26
WHERE:  7th Street Entry at Historic First Avenue, downtown Minneapolis 8:00 pm doors
INFO: 18+ $8 in advance and at the door

MORE INFO: First Avenue/7th Street Entry, 701 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-332-1775