Tracker Pixel for Entry

All about that Twinkie Jiggles

Music | December 5th, 2014

Photo by Meredith Westin

It’s OK, you can call him Twinkie Jiggles, Sean McPherson says. The bassist for Minneapolis hip-hop acts Dessa and Heiruspecs says he got the nickname while handing out Twinkies at baseball games in high school, and he wore a shirt that said jiggles on the back. He was the game’s DJ/emcee.

He likes the name. So much so that he titled his own project after it: Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra. A four-piece arrangement of the band, which will include vocalist Linnea Mohn of Rogue Valley, will perform at the HoDo Lounge this Thursday, Dec. 11.

We call it an “arrangement” because the Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra’s debut record, “Too Big To Fail,” features a number of musicians, including talents like singer/songwriter Chastity Brown, keyboardist Devon Russell and drummer Joey Van Phillips.

While McPherson has been a creative force in the music of Heiruspecs and Dessa, Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra is his first project where he is the sole lead composer and director.

“As a writer, it’s really different because I’m sort of controlling close to the whole of the project,” McPherson said. “Obviously when you are working with other musicians, you don’t want to take over from what they are contributing, but in this gig, it’s very much like, ‘Hey, here’s the music, here’s what is sort of expected.’”

This project is especially different for McPherson because the lyrics are not sung by a rapper, like in his other two projects. Instrumentally, the music has elements of hip-hop mixed with ‘70s-soul-inspired, Laurel Canyon-esque pop tunes.

“So in my mind, I’m sort of like, if you like Dawes and you like Sharon Jones, and you don’t mind J-Dilla, or something more super rap, I hope this will work for you,” McPherson said.

Marketing his music has proved to be interesting, because McPherson typically uses Dessa or Heiruspecs shows as a place to handout flyers. “A lot of times people are just like, ‘Whaa – what are you doing? … Are you Dessa?’” he said, laughing.

“You have to really make that leap of faith here. Man, I really like Drive-By Truckers, but if Drive-By Truckers’ bassists came, would I be like, ‘Oh, the bassist for Drive-By Truckers!’? I get that.”

In any case, McPherson, as a well-tuned, well-versed and well-weathered musician, certainly had something in him to write an entire record – a record with appealing hooks, hip instrumental schemes and relatable lyrics – outside of the music he already helps write for his other groups.

“Because for so long I’ve been sort of an armchair critic, where I’ve been like, ‘Oh if I put out some solo shit, it would be better. If I put out some solo shit, that would be really good,’” he said. “But’s it’s just kind of like, to join the conversation, you have to put out releases and get them critiqued, and get better and get stronger. So in my mind I’m just like, now I’m in the conversation. I have a record.”

Those interested can listen to the entire “Too Big To Fail” LP by visiting Twinkiejiggles.bandcamp.com. Also a new Twinkie Jiggles demo is available here: https://soundcloud.com/twinkiejiggles/achilles-demo.

Sidenote: Sean McPherson also co-owns and writes trivia questions for Trivia Mafia, the most popular bar trivia company in Minnesota. Our own Fargo Brewing Company hosts Trivia Mafia every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

IF YOU GO:

Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra

Thurs, Dec. 11, 8 p.m.

HoDo Lounge, 101 Broadway

No cover, 21+

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonLocal groups will speak out against current and projected federal budget cuts in downtown Fargo this Saturday, April 26. The Red River Valley chapters of Fearless and Indivisible will lead a protest from…

By Prairie Rose Seminolems.prairierose@gmail.com I was a child who walked behind my parents into classrooms and kitchens, spaces of song and prayer, where teachings lived in the air and settled on my shoulders. I didn’t yet have…

Saturday, May 3, 7 p.m.-MidnightPlains Art Museum, 704 1st Ave. N., FargoDon’t miss the art party of the year! What goes on at the gala? There’s a silent art auction with music by Low Standards and DJ Star IV, hors d’oeuvres…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIt’s no secret that there are folks among us who make our communities a more vibrant place through both their actions and means of creative expression. Heck, you could be one of them yourself.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comThere is a big difference between ears and legsOur English language adds words to dictionaries every year because there are more than 6,000 languages on earth and we do communicate with friends and…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comRyan Coogler goes big and bold with “Sinners,” a sweaty, bloody vampire movie set in 1932. The filmmaker stuffs this universe with enough ideas to serve a limited-series season of episodic…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com I remember when I was young, probably 11 years ago. One morning I was not feeling well because of my period. After I got ready to go to school, I went back to bed and it was hard to get up…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…