Music

“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 Europe and the U.S. since before Halloween and spent a good chunk of 2008 on the road. MORE »

When Stanley Kipper, Chico Perez, and Joel “Family Man” Arpin got together as the nucleus of One World—a 1991 fusion of R&B, soul, and Latin rock culled straight from the old San Francisco sound—they couldn’t’ve had the first idea what they’d wind up doing for Twin Cities music. Surely, they thought they were just starting a band, not forming the genesis of five outstanding acts. MORE »

It’s been quite a year in the Twin Cities, and the Daily Planet has been on the scene. With the help of our media partners and our tireless citizen journalists, in 2008 we published over 10,000 articles, blog entries, photos, and event listings. When we saw that the Minnesota Independent had tallied their top ten most-read articles for the year, we were inspired to check the stats and see what articles Daily Planet readers found most fascinating in 2008. MORE »

This week’s picks

Thursday, January 1
Swing by your local video store to rent a copy of Wall-E, the animated film that’s shaping up to be the surprise critical favorite of 2008.

Friday, January 2
“While some bands find Rock ‘N’ Roll after taking the most circuitous path possible,” writes Jon Behm, “Nightinghales take a straight path from A to B minor.” Catch them tonight at the 331 Club, where Dwight Hobbes praises the courteous barstaff—who don’t “saunter over with a kiss-my-grits disposition like they’re doing you a favor to let you spend your bread.” MORE »

By now, your New Year’s hangover ought to have scabbed over, leaving only the residual memories of the festive fool-making you most likely participated in. This weekend feel free to take it easy with some cool art exhibits or a burlesque show; or keep partying with plenty of rockin’ live music. Whatever you do, we wish you a wonderful beginning to a wonderful new year! MORE »

You can’t beat Sunshine Behavior when it comes to solid alternative rock. Back in the days of the genre’s origin it was called L.A. rock. As in the Byrds (when Roger McGuinn went by Jim), Love, bands like that. Later outfits like Gin Blossoms slapped a bit of edge on it, but it’s the same beautifully romantic rock—complete with sardonic angst. Sunshine Behavior can hardly play enough shows to suit their following. Wherever they take the stage—the Fine Line, The Cabooze—a rapturous mob ensues. Sensibly so. Like I said, nobody does it better than the boys in Sunny B. The roster is Jimmy Lyback (bass), Jeremy Krueth (drums), Harley Wood (vocals) and Justin Schommer (guitar). Everybody here has chops to burn. Once these guys go national, they’re going to blow a lot pretenders right straight out of the water and seriously revitalize the scene. Lyback talks about Sunshine Behavior. MORE »

Talk about a night of mixed blessings. I showed up last month at Babalú, in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, to catch Wenso Ashby featuring Zsamé. Except it didn’t: feature Zsamé, that is. The illustrious lady of song for some reason wasn’t going to be there. What the hell? I buckled up and decided to see the glass as half-full. I’d still catch me some Wenso Ashby and, for the first time, see his henchman—ace sax player Willie Moore—in action. Ashby had extolled Moore’s abilities to the point where I was ready to see Moore just to keep Ashby from bending my ear about him anymore. MORE »

by Jay Gabler, Culture Bully