Monitoring: Haley Bonar - "No Sensitive Man"

Haley Bonar got her big break at the age of 20, when Low frontman Alan Sparhawk watched her play at an open mic in Minneapolis and invited her to open for his band. A chance meeting or destiny incarnate? Bonar's work over the past 10 years has argued for the the latter, spanning four full-length records, a notable collaboration with Andrew Bird on his Armchair Apocrypha LP and a punk side-project called Gramma's Boyfriend. After announcing her upcoming album Last War with the debut of it's atmospheric title track, the singer's latest single, "No Sensitive Man," is a throwback to her alt-country roots. Atop a rough-and-tumble guitar line augmented by brooding synths, Bonar expresses her distaste for guys who tear up when she plays them her latest tune. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I've got something in my eye...

Last War will be released by Graveface on May 20.

Album Review: Dosh - Milk Money

It seems like ages have passed since the release of Martin Dosh’s last solo record, 2010’s Tommy, but that’s only because the successive years have been a productive time for the Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist. In 2011 he released a tour-exclusive record called Silver Face (now available online) that illuminated his creative process, collecting a variety of discarded beats and musical sketches in various states of completion. In 2012, Dosh returned to the studio with longtime collaborator Andrew Bird, providing drums on Break it Yourself as well as the companion record Hands of Glory. He also demonstrated his straight-ahead rock chops, jumping behind the kit with the Minneapolis band the Cloak Ox for a pair of records. Dosh’s Facebook page was periodically updated with videos of improvised tracks he performed in his basement. Last February, he collaborated with Wilco percussionist Glenn Kotche, composing a 25-minute piece for a performance at the Walker Arts Center. In short, he’s kept busy.

Amid all of his other projects, Dosh found the time to record his new album, Milk Money. According to the liner notes, he’s been working on it in fits and starts since January of 2011. It’s his first release for Graveface Records, marking Dosh’s departure from LA label Anticon, which has issued all of his previous solo releases. The album is also devoid of instrumental contributions from the likes of Mike Lewis and Jeremy Ylvisaker, who have fleshed out Dosh’s past three records both in the studio and on the road.

Monitoring: Whirr - "Swoon"

Hailing from the Bay Area, Whirr understands how to harness the moody ambience of the shoegaze style without losing its cinematic scope. On "Swoon" (culled from their upcoming Around EP) the group channels a sound that falls somewhere between that of Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, layering waves of woozy guitar on top of a thunderous, resolute rhythm. The nebulous voices of Kristina Esfandiari and Loren Rivera act as a persistant textural presence, anchoring the track as it builds toward a series of climactic, euphonious choruses. Bolstered by a six-piece line up, Whirr produces a big sound with an equally large payoff.

Around will be released by Graveface on July 7. Whirr will be on tour in August.
 

Dirt Cheap Guide to SXSW 2013

Yes, it's THAT time of year again. RSVP links are hitting Twitter, inboxes are filling up with releases from PR companies you've never heard of and wistful think pieces are beginning to crop up all over the web. It's the week before SXSW and if you're a fan of music (or popular culture in general), you've been hearing about the year's biggest music orgy with increasing regularity for the past two months. Hopefully you've made up your mind about whether or not you'll be heading down to Austin, TX next week (if not, you better hurry up and request a few days off from work, and a few more to recover from the resulting hangover).

This year marks my third trip down south and, as usual, I'm heading into the city-spanning festival without an official badge or wristband. Unless you're an industry type who needs access to every single showcase or want to see Justin Timberlake perform an intimate show in an abandoned tortilla factory, you simply don't need those exorbitantly priced credentials. And get this: even if you do pony up for one, you'll probably still have to wait in some lines (which will transform you into one of the grumpiest assholes in all of Austin).

Austin Bound

We're already a week into March, which means that SXSW is officially a little less than a week away. Traditionally, this is a week in which I furiously scour music blogs, squirming with jealousy at the bounty of quality live music happening just over 1000 miles away. This year, I'll be joining in the music industry's mass exodus to Austin, TX to drop in on a portion of the week's festivities.

I've never been to Austin before, so I'm excited to experience the city firsthand. I'm certainly interested in any place whose two major food groups seem to be barbecue and Mexican cuisine. Initially I was a bit worried about diving into the festival without any official credentials, but the amount of free shows and parties I've stumbled upon thus far is staggering. The past few weeks have been a deluge of e-mailed invitations and hasty RSVP's—at this point I'm just trying to narrow my list down.

I'm looking forward to catching up with the folks in Santah, who are heading down to Texas fresh off of several weeks of recording for their latest EP. The Graveface Records showcase on Friday night will also be a priority for me as I've been wanting to catch Dreamend live for some time now and am curious about what the Appleseed Cast's latest material sounds like. On Saturday, the Mess With Texas Party looks like the day's best bet, featuring sets from the likes of the Dodos, Strange Boys, the Fresh and Onlys, DOM, Surfer Blood, Deertick and the Dead Milkmen (!) at a drive in theater in Austin. If I can drag myself out of bed on Sunday, I'll definitely be hitting the Panache Annual Hangover Party to catch sets by Turbo Fruits, Surf City, Fergus and Geronimo, Suuns and White Mystery. It's going to be an endurance test, but one I'm happy to submit to.

I'll be doing my best to document as many of the sets I see as possible and report back once it's all over, much like I did at CMJ this past Fall. For up to the minute dispatches, keep an eye on my Twitter feed as I'll likely be chronicling my journeys (and taco consumption) there. See you in Austin!

Graveface holds raffle to recoup flood damage

I live right down the street from Graveface Records, an independent label run out of Logan Square that has released albums from acts like Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Appleseed Cast and Hospital Ships. Last month when severe storms hit Chicago, Graveface headquarters flooded and most of their stock was destroyed. Thanks to an insurance loophole, none of the lost product is covered, which means no compensation for anything that was destroyed or damaged. I think most people would just give up, but the guy who runs Graveface is digging in and looking to the fan community to help keep the label alive.

Donations are being collected in the form of a multi-tiered raffle which offers the chance to win increasingly awesome prizes, the more money you decide to give. Everyone who donates at least $10 gets an instant download of rare/unreleased Graveface Records tracks, including the instrumental version of Black Moth Super Rainbow's Eating Us. Higher donation levels enter you in raffles to win album test printings, rare posters, instruments, props and—oddly enough— a cup of Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart's urine. Those who donate $25 or more get at least one random Graveface release as a thank you gift, in addition to entry in the corresponding raffle. Check out the full details over on the donation page.

It's certainly a nice way of rewarding fans for supporting the continued existence of this label, and an opportunity that you shouldn't pass up. I'll be putting my name in the running for that aforementioned cup of urine, although I kind of hope I end up with something a little bit more practical. If you've ever enjoyed a Graveface release, or just consider yourself a fan of innovative, original music, please consider making a donation over on the label's website.