From Bouncer Fighter to Yer Cronies: First Ave. Showcases the Best New Bands of 2008
Once again it has come time for music critics to look back on the past year and create endless lists of who did what in 2008, from “Top Indie Christmas Records” to “Best Songs by Bands Named after Animals.” In that spirit, every year Minneapolis’ First Avenue nightclub and the University of Minnesota’s Radio K partner to survey local media, bands, and venues to determine the best new local bands of the previous annum. In a tradition that is now in its 20th year, First Avenue then hosts a showcase of the chosen bands, giving them extra exposure as well as a much-deserved celebration for their accomplishments. While the lineup changes every year, it is a testament to the depth of the local music scene that the level of talent has always remained consistently high.
This year’s Best New Bands showcase takes place in the First Ave mainroom on Wednesday the 14th of January. First on the bill is Bouncer Fighter, a favorite off the local Anti-Civ record label. They are a proggy punk outfit that affects a happier disposition than is generally typical of the genre. Though Bouncer Fighter’s arrangements are skittery rollercoaster rides, lyrically the songs evince a sunny outlook on life. As they should: two of the bandmates are the proud parents of a baby boy.
Bouncer Fighter: MySpace
Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles and Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps are two bands that both have been compared to one another a great deal. Both Smith and Michelle have uniquely pitched voices that have drawn comparisons to the likes of Billie Holiday and Karen Dalton. Where Smith’s folk tunes are a bit more restrained, poppy, and confessional; Michelle’s jams are wild bouncy romps through Americana and Gypsy territory. If you need a more concrete way to tell the difference: Smith will be the one playing a banjo, while Michelle fronts her band on a ukulele.
Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps: MySpace
Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles: Purchase | Twitter | MySpace
The Dynamiters are a patchwork crew that could have been formed as a City Pages “Picked to Click” support group for former local bands. The group contains members of Die Electric, Selby Tigers, and Monarques, all of whom have won or placed in that “cursed” contest at some point in the past decade. The Dynamiters rock it pretty hard without much pretension or futzing about. “Drums + bass + guitar = rock” is an equation that has withstood the test of time, and this band is no exception to the rule.
The Dynamiters: Official | MySpace
Another new band that has some faces that aren’t actually “new” to the scene is Lookbook. The New Wave inspired electronic duo consists of Grant Cutler (of Passions) and Maggie Morrison (of Digitata). The synthesizer has come back in a big way this year, and Lookbook is the Twin Cities’ answer to the M83s and Longwaves of the world.
Lookbook: MySpace
While the Best New Band showcase hasn’t historically been as kind to local hip-hop as it perhaps should have been, this year’s choice of Kristoff Krane is a solid one. Not many local MCs worked harder than Krane in 2008. His emotional, experimental fusion of pop and rap has been gaining him praise across the genre divide, and his debut release This Will Work for Now was lauded as one of the year’s best local albums.
Kristoff Krane: MySpace
Rounding out the list are up and coming indie rockers Yer Cronies, whose Band-of-Horses-meets-Radiohead style of alt-country/electronic experimentation put them on a skyrocket flight to the top of many critics’ lists last year. In addition, no band seems to be as popular with the young ladies who have been packing the all-male band’s shows all year long.
Yer Cronies: Official | MySpace
As anyone who has ever tried to create a comprehensive “best of” list knows, there is never any possible mix that is going to please absolutely everyone all of the time. First Avenue’s showcase is no exception, but regardless, few will disagree that the show represents many—if not most—of the past year’s most promising musical debuts. With the modest price tag of $7 (one dollar per band), there is absolutely no reason why any local music lover shouldn’t be present and accounted for.
[This preview was originally published on 01/07/2009 by TC Daily Planet and has been republished with permission.]
I don’t even know that it would be considered a shift, but last year’s BNB seemed more diverse… we saw Black Audience… Muja Messiah jumped up on stage with M.anifest during his set, A Night in the Box… Gay Witch Abortion… just a lot of different stuff that you’d never see together anywhere else.
Nothing against any of the bands this year, cause I’m a big fan and they didn’t choose who they’re playing with – but with such a diverse pool of local talent, this lineup seems a little too white-bread for me.
I agree very much. I will be there and like all of the bands playing…but I almost wish they could make it ten bands and have shorter sets or something. I think all of these bands are deserving, but it doesn’t paint the scene with as diverse as it is.
Yeah, I agree. I like these guys but there are plenty other bands that are just as deserving. It’s a tough call
I see what you all are saying about the line-up, but it promises to be a good night. At least for me because I’ll be playing viola with Bouncer Fighter, so we’ve got a new sound and new songs.
And for the record, Isabel and Caleb’s baby, Charlie, is actually a girl.
Whoops, my bad. Sorry, the name threw me
while i agree with the comments about the diversity of the lineup… diverse doesn’t mean better.
if the point of the BNB show is to showcase truly the best “new” bands from the past year or so, then it shouldn’t make a difference if it was filled with hip hop, if that truly was what made up the best local bands that year.
again, not saying these would be my list for the best bands of 2008 (although 2 or 3 would), i just don’t really get diversity for the sake of is all
just my . 02
I’m sorry if my original implication came across as diversity for diversity’s sake. The rest of it comes down to personal taste – I’d rather see seven “different” bands than the seven “best” bands.
fair enough… but isn’t the show called “Best New Bands”? ;P
I agree there could have been more bands but post Lucy Michelle the crowd did thin I don’t think people could do 10 bands. The bands did play more upcoming stuff also throwing out what got them to First Ave. Maybe, it was how they did the line up I thought Caroline and Lucy back to back while great for the show should have finished the concert and left people excited for the next year.