This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Billings Park, CD reviews, Sunrise Survivors and ... GO, C-I, GO!

Remember: Sunday is Veterans' Day.

Until then, munch on these words, fellers:

"Dan Jandl: From the Land of Ice and Snow" -- Danny's a photographer from Crosby, Minn.; and he's kind of amazing. (I'm just tryin' to put it down for my hometown....)

"CD Reviews: New Releases from Neal Peterson, Mac Lethal and Cliff Eberhardt" -- "Yay" on Mac and Cliff. Neal still has some work to do before he receives that coveted accolade.

"Discover Duluth: Billings Park" -- True to that "in and around the region" clause in my contract, this weekend's installment of "Discover Duluth" actually comes from *ahem* Duluth's southernmost neighborhood.

Also, I had the opportunity to snap a few shots for Jana's story about the Sunrise Survivors, "Conversation, Coffee and Comfort," which was a lot of fun.

A&E FYI: The Blood Brothers call it quits

This came through the wire today:

Dear Friends,

After 10 years of making music as The Blood Brothers, we have made the collective decision that our time together has come to an end. We feel extremely fortunate to have spent such a deeply memorable and amazing part of our lives with each other. At this point, however, we feel it's best that our futures move forward on separate paths. We'd like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the bands we've played with, individuals who have helped us make our records, and fans who have come to our shows and picked up our music throughout the years. Your friendship, support and love hold such a profoundly special place in each of our hearts. We hope that the memories you attach to our music are as fond as those you have given us. Thank you and take care, we'll miss all of you.

Love,
The Blood Brothers

If you're unfamiliar with the group's work, take a listen to the MP3s on their Web site. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Nasty Little Man.

(Photo courtesy of Nathan Martin.)

A&E FYI: Angie Stevens to perform at Beaner's Thursday night

That's right; Denver songstress Angie Stevens will return to Beaner's Central tomorrow night.

The lowdown: Cincinnati's Jack Redell and South African-born singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov open. Show's at 7. Cost is $5. For more information, visit www.angiestevens.com.

To read what I had to say about her "Stand Up Girl" EPs -- which I wrote in conjunction with her last visit to the Twin Ports -- click here.

Got any hot A&E tips? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com. (Remember, sharing keeps hell hot!)

MIX TAPE REVIEW: CMJ New Music Monthly Issue 151

Each month's CMJ New Music Monthly (aka "The Best Magazine You Ever Heard") includes a handy-dandy mix tape, and each month I review its contents.* (Or at least have the best intentions to.... LOL)

(Links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s provided wherever available.)

1. Beirut - "A Sunday Smile"
Right away I thought Rufus Wainwright knockoff, but, then, "artsy-fartsy" quickly came to mind. Like the group's earlier records, I think they're going for that "recommended if you like Neutral Milk Hotel" point of reference a little too much.

2. PJ Olsson - "A.D.D. (People Stop Running)" (listen here)
From the man who brought us the delectable "The Whistle Song" comes another safe-for-even-gramma pop shiner. (In the best way possible, of course.)

3. Castanets - "This is the Early Game"
Sleepy, country-tinged Bob Dylan throwback ... pass.

4. Eldar - "I Remember When"
Oh, boy, a "magical" piano odyssey ... ugh. For fans of Vanessa Carlton or Keri Noble -- but you can forget about all the sass and I'm-cuter-than-thou 'tude.

5. Mud - "Should've Known" (listen here)
Hey, remember the mid-'90s, when every single female-fronted group sounded like Compulsion? Well, so does Mud.... Heck, even the band's name is unimaginative! (I'm sorry to sound so bitter tonight, but I've heard better CMJ mix tapes. Much better.)

6. Mason Proper - "Life's Cornucopia"** (some MP3s available here)
Now we're onto something. Fresh off a performance at the Monolith Festival at Red Rocks (where they were joined by personal faves Cloud Cult), Mason Proper is quickly becoming the new indieground "it" band. And I can see why; this has "Don't Tell a Soul" written all over its beautiful melodies and moody, midtempo atmospherics.

7. The Dirty Secrets - "Five Feet of Snow"
Hey, what do you know? Just in time for the Northland's first display of "the white stuff." Recommended if you like the Killers -- and I really, really mean that. One smarmy question, though: A Killers knockoff group ... so soon?

Nevermind, disregard that last comment: I'm really starting to dig "Five Feet of Snow." I don't want the Dirty Secrets hating yours truly from the get-go.

8. The Forms - "Red Gun"
For fans of Pinback or any one of Rob Crow's assorted outfits. Pretty decent.

9. Blood Red Sun - "All at Once" (listen here)
The best of early-'80s pop rock meets the best of late-'90s college rock. Rick Springfield meets Creeper Lagoon, if you will. I'm impressed so far.

10. Little Birdy - "Come On, Come On" (listen here)
Timing reminiscent of early Weezer, and the synths are warm and inviting, but the female vocalist is a little too cover band-sounding. She needs to do a little more to stand out, I guess.

11. Ben Jelen - "Where Do We Go" (listen here)
Jelen is a talented singer/songwriter for sure, but a little too safe and predictable for my tastes. (The strings are a nice touch, though.)

12. The Shapes - "Escape from New York"** (some MP3s available here)
Yes! The raw rock 'n' roll sound w/o all of that unnecessary bloodshed. (Coming soon on an upcoming "DTAS," believe you me.)

13. Tulipomania - "The Bum"
This is awful ... just awful. I don't even know what they're going for -> it's that awful.

14. Demetra - "Beam Me Up (Scotty)"** (some MP3s available here)
Remember what I said about Little Birdy's singer? Take that and multiply it by, like ... a lot.

15. The Panda Band - "Sleepy Little Deathtoll Town"
Very cool -- I'm in love with the Panda Band! Like the Weakerthans, the Eels and fellow countrymen Augie March combined, but much, much poppier. My new favorite group of Aussies (well, after the Avalanches, that is).

16. Shotgun Honeymoon - "13" (listen here)
If INXS was reinvented as an indie rock group. (I know; it's like, Whoa, what's with all the Australia references?! he he he)

17. Fruitkey - "Stand" (listen here)
OK, remember what I wrote about Mud. (No, it's not what you're thinking....) This, too, has mid-'90s female-fronted action revival written all over it, but Fruitkey does so by way of the Amps/the Breeders/Throwing Muses. Much, much cooler.

18. Macon Greyson - "Minnesota Weather Map" (listen here)
Pandering to the locals -- both by composition title and by the fact that this kind of sounds like a bad Mr. Highway 61 impersonator fronting a less-quirky Giljunko (early Little Black Books, perhaps?).

19. Biography of Ferns - "John the Barber"*** (pictured)
Definitive "DTAS" fodder. This group definitely has a lot of potential.

20. Eskimo Joe - "Black Fingernails Red Wine" (listen here)
For fans of the Standard, late-period R.E.M., Live (before they really started sucking...).

21. The Matt Truman Ego Trip - "Industry Standard"** (listen here)
Hey, you like "Nuggets"? Really, you do??

22. Modico - "Hills"** (free MP3s here)
Sort of aggressive power pop straight outta Oklahoma.

23. Two Loons for Tea - "Marietta"
All you need to know: On the Two Loons for Tea Web site, you'll find a contest called "Show the World Your Monkey." Do you really even want to know? Not really....

*And, no, I'm not kidding ... this is my life. (However sad it is!)
**Denotes OurStage contest winner.
***Denotes CMJ SonicBids Spotlight winner.

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 51: A world begins where the road ends

Hey there. Hi there. Ho there!

This right here is the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul." Like those that came before it, it is a mix tape of the "most awesome-est" caliber ... and I only wish I were kidding.

Like usual, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Also, too, please be advised that I am, first and foremost, a dumbass.

Mahalo!

Matt

(Questions? Comments? Want one of your band's songs to be considered for an upcoming awesome mix tape? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

1. Northern State - "Better Already"
The girls in Northern State are "all grown up," returning with a sound influenced by (as far as I hear it) the post-punk sheen of Seattle's Pretty Girls Make Graves.

2. Sloan - "The Best Part of Your Life"
The late-period-Beatles worship never ends with these guys, but that's OK because -- let's face it -- Sloan's early affinity for American grunge music was only going to get them so far. (To get this "Never Hear the End of It" bonus track, sign up for a free "My Stash" account at YepRoc.com.)

3. Nada Surf - "See These Bones"
If this leadoff single is any indication of what we can expect from its respective album, "Lucky" may as well be renamed "The Weight is a Gift, Pt. 2." Hey, there's still time ... the album's not supposed to ship until '08. (These comments may come across as "jerky," but, believe you me, I have all the love in the world for Nada Surf ... I'm just saying that if any Nada Surf album should have a sequel, it's "The Proximity Effect." That album all but got me through 2002.)

4. New Pornographers - "Showstoppers" (demo vers.)
That's how talented these Great White North guys (and gal) are: This is almost more invigorating than the final, polished-up studio version.

5. Frank Black and the Catholics - "Somethings I Can't Get Used To"
Why ever was this perfectly beautiful rocker relegated to being-on-an-album-hardly-anyone-has-ever-heard status? (Hint: Do yourself a favor and seek out "Snake Oil.")

6. The Standard - "You Will"
Underrated to the most tragic extreme. In a perfect/McMatt(hew R.) world....

7. Foghat - "Terraplane Blues"
Dearest people who select the songs I rock out to on "Guitar Hero": "Slow Ride" was definitely the highlight of "Legends of Rock," but will you not consider this out-of-this-world cosmic groover for the next installment of your ever-so-awesome game series?

By the by: Is there a support group I can join ... maybe one created for people who enjoy pretending to be rock gods a little too much? I mean, I kind of sprained my wrist trying to beat Rage Against the Machine's* Tom Morello on the "hard" setting this weekend -- that ain't right.

8. The Darkness - "English Country Garden" (listen here)
Oh, and while you're at it, why don't you stop hating the Darkness and also include this heavenly rocker on "Guitar Hero IV: Half of Yous Guys Buying These Games are Probably Bitter Rock Critics Who Never Learned How to Play a Real Instrument."

9. John Fogerty - "Don't You Wish it was True"
10. Eddie Vedder - "Far Behind"
Hey, Billy Corgan, these two songs are proof that solo albums don't have to suck.

Bitter? Who's bitter?!

(p.s. You'll probably be hearing this a lot in the coming weeks, but "Far Behind" may be the greatest song recorded since "Intervention." It'll be a dead heat between Arcade Fire and Ed Ved come the end of the record-buying year.)

11. Les Savy Fav - "Comes and Goes" (listen to some LSF tunes here)
Les Savy Fav may not be the most consistent band, but, man, when they're on, they're on. That said, "Comes and Goes" does not -- by any means -- rock. It's more of an experiment in "balladry." Very, very interesting.

12. Okkervil River - "Unless it's Kicks" (listen here)
I don't know where this "new" Okkervil River came from, but I sure am grateful. (For whatever reason, I could never seem to get into "Black Sheep Boy.")

13. Tangier 57 - "Beethoven Five"
From communist Duluth with love.

Err, I mean: It's not a band, it's a vibe.

14. Atmosphere - "Lyndale Avenue User's Manual"
Slug ... Ant: Do either of you two ever sleep?

15. Thurston Moore - "Fri/End"
This brings me right back to "A Thousand Leaves." (p.s. Did anyone else see Sonic Youth touring for that album in Minneapolis -- with Helium opening?)

16. The 1900s - "When I Say Go" (listen here)
Piano-y goodness. Amen.

17. Fitzgerald - "And All I Got was this Lousy T-Shirt" (some free MP3s here)
So far my favorite Pawn America "find" this year. Every single Fitzgerald track is infectious (in the good way ... not in the Holiday Center way).

18. Stars - "Midnight Coward" (listen here)
Stars sit alone on a planet not all that close to Earth ... kind of like Space Boy, if you think about it.

19. Broken Social Scene presents ... Kevin Drew - "Fucked-Up Kid" (listen here)
Kevin Drew doesn't need that "Broken Social Scene presents ..." before his name; his music has the legs to stand on its own. "Aww...." (How cute, I know. LOL)

20. Radiohead - "Faust Arp"
Personally, the jury's still out on "In Rainbows," but this one at least caught my attention right away.

21. Electrelane - "To the East"
Is it impossible to be both epic and laidback at the same time?

22. Band of Horses - "Is There a Ghost?"
I wasn't trying to be cheesy or anything, but I listened to this record on repeat this Halloween. What a killer song. It's like one part Built to Spill and two parts My Morning Jacket -> how great is that?

*I purposely chose not to associate his highness with the mediocre "pap" that is Audioslave.

A&E FYI: UWS opens theater season with black comedy ‘The Dead Guy’

University Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is set to open its 2007-2008 season with the black comedy “The Dead Guy,” by Eric Coble.

The show will be staged Nov. 8-10 and 16-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.

All performances will take place in the Manion Theater, located in the Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center on Catlin Avenue and Nineteenth Street on the UWS campus. (For maps and directions to campus, click here.)

“The Dead Guy,” which contains adult language and situations, is a new script that takes a satirical look at reality television by following the ultimate premise for a show: find a “loser,” give him a million dollars to spend however he’d like in one week, then, at the end of that week, have viewers decide on the best way to kill him on live television.

This show features a unique collaboration between University Theatre and University Video Production. There will be live television cameras following the action onstage and projecting moments from the show up on a live television monitor.

Tickets for all University Theatre productions are $10 for adults, $8 for students and $1 for UWS students with a valid ID. Discount rates of $5 per person are available for groups of 10 or more.

All tickets can be reserved by calling the University Box Office at (715) 394-8380.

University Theatre is a co-curricular activity of the Department of Communicating Arts Department of the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

~Image and text courtesy of University Theatre. Photo information: Reality TV makes your dreams come true, or so Eldon Phelps (Greg Anderson) believes as he finds himself in Disneyland with two hookers (Amanda Hanson and Katharine Wallin) in this scene from “The Dead Guy,” opening Thursday at UWS.

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Three sweet (supersweet!) CDs and some assorted odds and ends

Hey there. Hi there. Ho there.

Just a friendly reminder that tonight, at Thirsty Pagan in Superior, the Buffali will be playing a set at 8. (The Buffali are coming? ... The Buffali are coming!)

Anywho, here's how I spent my week:

"CD Reviews: Three Albums that will Restore Your Faith in Recorded Sound" -- As far as records go, you have to give it up for Best Friends Forever's "Romance Conflict Adventure," Buck 65's "Saturation" and the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank's "Sing!" What a good week to be an album reviewer!

I also did some photos for "Elections Right Around the Corner" and "Deer Hunters Out in Force this Weekend"* -- and my Web story "DECC Official Responds to Parking Lot Break-Ins" is still available to read for free.

*This isn't something I support -- by any means -- but, hey, maybe my cute deer picture will turn a few hunters away from the dark side ... or not.