that rock show i saw last night – red pens

Last night, for the umpteenth time (how many times are in an umpteen?) I saw my favorite local band of late, Red Pens.

This duo’s fuzzed out swirling guitar matched with tightly rhythmic drumming falls somewhere in between the blueprint shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine and the spastic catchiness of the Pixies without sounding derivative of either.

Here’s the song that the cool radio stations in town have been pumping.

Hung Out

and here’s another one that I just really like

Blue Lighters

and here they are featured on All Things Considered the other day

You can get their debut record “Reasons” on iTunes, Amazon & finer Twin Cities record shops

**UPDATE** This just in, Pitchfork likes them too!

that rock show i saw last night – the weakerthans + rock plaza central

On a night when there were at least a half dozen rock shows I wanted to see (the trouble with living in a city with so many terrific local groups), it was a no-brainer I’d end up standing near the stage at the Triple Rock Social Club watching one of my all-time favorite groups, The Weakerthans.

But first… Openers and fellow Canadians, Rock Plaza Central started things off with a terrific if hard to categorize set.  They have a sound at times reminiscent of Bonnie Prince Billy, The Louvin Brothers and Neutral Milk Hotel.  Let’s call it (very) Dark Americana  coupled with a sharp sense of humor.  A great way to warm up for the main event.

The last time I saw The Weakerthans was at Webster Hall in NYC, a mammoth venue with terrible sound.  The place has some cool and unique features throughout its cavernous layout, but not the best place to see a group like The Weakerthans.  One of the big plusses of moving to a smaller city is seeing great bands in more intimate venues.  Such was the case last night at a completely sold out Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, home of great sound, great sight lines and amazing vegetarian meatloaf (seriously, soooo good [even the most carnivorous among us agree]).

Frontman John K Samson is easily among my favorite lyricists alongside the likes of Blake Schwarzenbach, Craig Finn (who also sites Samson as a favorite) and Bob Dylan. Dude can write as well as pen a catchy tune.

Aside from the excellent music, a couple between song highlights included Samson (jokingly) threatening to beat up a guy who made frequent requests for the Propaghandi (Samsons former band) song Ska Sucks (apparently this song is requested at a large percentage of Weakerthans shows [It's the Freebird of Weakerthans shows!]).  Samson also demonstrated his new found mastery of sliding the pick up and down the guitar string.  Maybe you had to be there…

In any case, great show.  Check both these bands out if you ever have the chance.