While many of you huddled in your homes running the furnace, stove, and possibly an open fire in the living room to keep warm, there were many hardcore music fans who braved the bone-chilling temps to attend "The Best New Bands of 2007 Showcase" at First Avenue.

Any time someone says "Best Of..." anything, I always ask who sponsors the event. In this case, Radio-K and City Pages. Like last year, the lineup was diverse and non-offensive, with the exception of the name of one band; "Gay Witch Abortion" which is only fun to say because it should offend everyone. Anyway, here's my take on the bands:

To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie - Music to listen to as your overdose takes hold, and your life slips away from you. As they said in a recent interview: "We're more surprised by the number of people who get it than those who don't." I didn't. Maybe if they had played at a summer outdoor concert near running water, I would have enjoyed it more. Reminded me too much of Snowpony; dreary, sludgy soundscapes, drowning in reverb. They aren't untalented, though. Check out their video rolling around on the internet somewhere, it's hella cool.

A Night In the Box - Reminded me a bit of Scissor Sisters, minus the queer disco thing. (Um, I meant that as a compliment.) Violin, banjo(!), acoustic guitar and drums, with a whole lot of soul. Do yourself a favor, go over to their myspace and listen to "The Hustle" and see if you can avoid tapping your feet. Their myspace lists them as "Bluegrass / Folk Rock / Indie" but they forgot "Kick Ass".

Black Audience - Gospelish bluegrass with soul, although their myspace lists them as: "Zouk / A'cappella / Acoustic". Talented, and laid-back. Lots of band members playing in the half-round, including a banjo and one of those hand-drum-things you usually only see at Renn Fest.

M.Anifest - I'm probably the last person to ask whether a rapper is 'good' or not, but I can tell you this: M.anifest is quite the wordsmith, with a positive message. He isn't into "chick-slap-rap" or gangsta crap. His album "Manifestations" made 5th best in Star Tribune's Top Local Albums of 2007. His show relied on audience participation and call/answer which the crowd was too shy or chilled to deliver. M.Anifest had the energy and delivered the goods, but the crowd simply wasn't responsive.

Gospel Gossip - I will often get 'swept up' in a bands performance, but I can't remember the last time I got this pulled in, like a make-out session that goes farther than you wanted it to, but turns out to be an amazing experience... Sorry, I was drifting off there, but Gospel Gossip has a great live chemistry, sometimes pretty/shiny but not sugary, trippy but not really psychedelic, and much more energy than their myspace songs will tell. I have to see them again. Definitely the most "ON" of all the bands in the Showcase.

Mouthful of Bees - The drummer (Katelyn Farstad) was Really Really Fucking Impossibly Good. The songs...not so much.

Gay Witch Abortion - With a name like that, you better stand up, and you better stand out. They did. Its amazing to see two guys make so much noise. With only drums and a guitar that sounded like it was run through no less than six Superfuzz Bigmuff petals, they were by far the highlight of the evening for me. Imagine Prong with very few lyrics and a kind of freeform-style song structure. You cant. Thats why you should go see them live. Much like Vampire Hands from last year, I think this is a live band, and I wouldn't count on any recorded medium to capture their energy.

The bands that kicked all ass this year brought Energy to the stage. Gospel Gossip and A Night In The Box proved they didn't need to be loud or angry to do it. Gay Witch Abortion proved you don't even need a whole band or lyrics to do it. Good work, and another group of bands to catch live in 2008...

Art Is Resistance
-Zero

Labels: Concert, Cool Event, Minneapolis Event, music reviews, Ubercool, year-in-review