Life Goal: Achieved!

When I started Bert Records in the late 1990's, the first question people asked was "Why Bert?" Often people speculated that it had to do with Sesame Street or the engineer depicted in Scott Adams' comic. Sometimes, Hall-of -Famer-to-be Bert Blyleven would be mentioned. My response to these guesses: "No, No, No."

This led to the second question, "Okay then, who is Bert?" For purposes of suspense, I skip now to the third question, "Why Bert?"

"I call it Bert Records after my Uncle Bert because he has a happy dog. I can think of no better measure of contentedness than having a happy dog." (This still holds true today.)

Bert Records was a record label that by design broke even financially, and if I had felt there was a financial opportunity out there, I might have made Bert Records bigger, and pursued things on a larger scale, but the overall essence of Bert Records, at least to me, was always contentedness. Through Bert Records, I wanted to achieve contentedness. Thus, I named my little enterprise 'Bert Records' because my Uncle Bert had a happy dog.

So here we are, toward the end of the first decade of the 2000's. Monica and I throw a small party. Lots of musicians show up, talk, make up songs and have have a good time. One of them (a non-drinker, no less) is too tired to go home and spends the night in our basement on the day bed. We go to breakfast down the street and he tells me, "I am jealous of you. You have the happiest dog."

By the best standard I can can come up with, I have achieved my goal of contentedness.

Life Goal #1. Achieved.

The Makes Nice @ Triple Rock

The Makes Nice played the Triple Rock on Monday night. Because they wear suits, I compared them to the Beatles. Larry and the Caveman said, "Not the Beatles. They remind me of early The Who." The band describes themselves much better than I do. Josh, Aaron and Jack are excellent musicians who could play on much larger stages, and have.

MC/VL, local rappers with Beastie Boys accents, played next. They struck me as more noisy than fun, but I don't feel qualified to judge them. I can vouch that "Birthday Suits" were good. This Minneapolis two piece punk band is touring with Peelander-Z, who closed the night.

As with their Turf Club show, Peelander-Z started with an elaborate introduction which included the rolling of a carpet to the stage. The guitar player, in all red, had dragon wings. The rest of the band plus the merch lady from Tokyo wore outfits suitable for Pokemon characters.

Audience participation started with the first song. Toward the end of the show, the entire The Makes Nice group was recruited to the stage. The yellow Peelander -Z character grabbed and dragged Josh to the stage and gave him his guitar. The Peelander-Z drummer displayed cue cards saying "Drummer wanted" on one side and "Bassist wanted" on the other. Jack, The Makes Nice drummer, was recruited with the least fuss. Aaron struggled with Peelander-Z the most before giving in and playing bass. The Makes Nice told me that indeed they continued the Peelander-Z music and were not playing air guitars. For most of the song, The Makes Nice were playing the instruments, while Peelander-Z focused on the stage show. The transition was seamless.

I was surprised by the excellent turn-out. Minneapolis was happening on a Monday night. Then, the Makes Nice headed on to Milwaukee.

Monica and the Molecules, Tuesday August 28

On youtube

Molecule Caffeine unwittingly married a band. You can see for yourself on youtube or livejournal or live in person. The next show is Tuesday, August 28 at Big V's. Monica and the Molecules will be the middle band.

Signed:


Monica's friend's photo page: here.

My favorite band

My favorite national record reviewer just posted about my favorite band (and the best man at my wedding): here.


Dave and Jeff

Without a License

Gee As In Jesus played Saturday at Grumpys in NE Minneapolis for the Art A Whirl. As the show concluded, Jesus Gee took a call, apparently from God. "Was it a collect call?" "No. Heaven has plenty of cash with Falwell there."
"Gee as In Jesus" trailer to Mar Har's film

More attempted humor:
Pitchers moisten baseballs to make the ball dart more. They eat spicy food before the game. When their noses run, they wipe their noses and then the baseballs. Most people think it's spit, but it's-not.

Steeplejack, June 2, 400 Bar

From: Andy Sullivan
To: Ben, meleck, Nathan
9:59 am (13 minutes ago)
Attention Minnesota Rockers:

How to describe your favorite 20th century country-punk band?

Like Halley's Comet, appearing rarely to blaze across the firmament with a sublime incandescence?

Or like athelete's foot, a burning sensation that flares up on an all-too-often basis?

Rejoice! For in 2007, the correct analogy is the second one!

Your enthusiastic response to our February performance has rashly inspired us to book a full-on rock show for Saturday, June 2.

We'll be playing at the 400 Bar, the site of many past Steeplejack triumphs. Cover charge is laughably cheap at $5. We think it has to do with global trade -- Ticketmaster's being undercut by some new outfit in China. Either that or sunspots.

For this gig, Ben, Andy and Meleck will be joined by original 'Jack bassist Nate Link.

To whet your appetite, we've placed OUR ENTIRE RECORDED OUTPUT free for your downloading pleasure up on the Interweb.

At andysullivan.com/steeplejack, you can download our 1996 debut "Kitchen Radio," along with the four EPs we recorded for Bert Records in 1998 and 1999 -- "Songs for Swingin' Lovers," "Falling in Love with Steeplejack," "Post-Action Blues" and "The Great Datescapade."

Much of this music has been unavailable, as our first label went out of business and the Bert CDs sold out quickly when they were first released.

You'll find radio hits like "Panning for Gold" and "Valentine," live warhorses like "Southbound" and "Warming You Up" and deep cuts like "The Salesman" and "Loring Pond."

Download them, post them elsewhere, burn them to disc and sell them on Hennepin Avenue, we don't care.

You won't hear newer material from Ben and Andy's solo albums which we'll play live. For that, we urge you to visit your favorite download site like iTunes, or CDBaby/Andy or CDBaby/Ben for an old-fashioned disc.

WHAT: Steeplejack, with opening act Flock of Doug
WHERE: 400 Bar, Minneapolis West Bank
WHEN: Saturday, June 2. Doors 8 p.m., music starts at 9 p.m.

--
andysullivan.com

Andy Sullivan/Ben Connelly, Acadia, Saturday, February 10

City Pages Preview
My review of Andy Sullivan, Private Wars
Andy Sullivan's Blog Entry about the show
Update: Andy Sullivan's Blog Entry, The Tundra has been Rocked

From: andy
Subject: Andy Sullivan, Ben Connelly, Steeplejack this Saturday
Date: February 5, 2007 9:41:17 AM CST
To: benconnelly

Minnesota rockers:

Andy Sullivan and Ben Connelly will show off their new songs and Steeplejack will show off their old ones at the Acadia Cafe this coming Saturday night. We hope you'll be there.

Both Andy and Ben released CDs last year, and will play solo sets featuring their new material. After that they'll play a set of their would-be Steeplejack classics with rhythm section Meleck Davis and Leonard Madsen. The show begins at 9 p.m. sharp.

Andy's new record, "Private Wars," draws on his experience as a Washington reporter to paint a distinct portrait of post-9/11 America. Recorded in a Chicago loft with his metalhead brothers, it's shot full of heavy guitars, echoing handclaps and a distinct paranoid humor. Check it out at www.andysullivan.com.

Ben's latest release, "Over You," features more of the laser-sharp songwriting and ace acoustic guitar playing that have marked his post-Steeplejack career. This time he spent big bucks to record in a fancy studio, so he sounds slicker than Justin Timberlake. Find out more at www.benconnelly.com.

Both CDs are available through iTunes and CDBaby.

WHAT: Ben Connelly, Andy Sullivan, Steeplejack
WHERE: Acadia Cafe, 1931 Nicollet Ave S. (Nicollet and Franklin), Minneapolis www.acadiacafe.com
WHEN: Saturday, Feb 10 at 9 p.m. SHARP.

--
www.andysullivan.com

"Intelligently crafted, serious-minded tunes" -- The Onion

Andy Sullivan is Here

Andy Sullivan’s most recent CD is “Private Wars”. The genre is “rock music.” I like the guitar and piano. I like the lyrics. The production is great, but what I really like is that the CD has a hobbyist attitude. Forget any pretexts. Let’s play what sounds good to us. Let’s have fun.

In the early 1990’s, Andy played banjo and was an alt country and roots music bar star in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He was one of my favorites. I judge that his current sound-- rock music with a ton of infuences-- dates from the late 1990’s, when the bars were not quite as full. Andy used to identify as an underappreciated rock star. He was “The Invisible Man”. Now, Andy is a successful journalist and hobby rocker. “Don’t It Feel Good”, about drugs for jocks, was probably written after a few interviews.

The NPR hit, “The Internet is Changing Everything” is about the exhuberence of running into Alan G. or Karl Rove in the course of an average day, when you are from Maine. It is about arriving. It is about “New Transmissions” on my radio.

Andy has arrived. Andy is going to keep writing for Reuters and keep writing his music. Subscribe to his blog at http://AndySullivan.com if you want to read excellent writing. You should also listen to Andy Sullivan’s excellent CD, “Private Wars”.

Twin Cities Music

I have returned to the Minnesota music scene after five years away. It almost seems I was never gone.

The Bert Records people are still my favorites. Gee as In Jesus played an icy night at the Triple Rock to close 2005, and gave a great performance, to an enthusiastic crowd. I’m told that a Midnight Evils/ Gee As In Jesus show, last Fall, set the Entry record for beer sales. Bill Patten still plays Dustys alternate Saturdays and, except for the token Neil Diamond parody, is exceedingly tasteful. Autobody Experience has a new recording, “Forgotten Lots”, and gave an excellent CD release show at the History center. Scott Yoho is the nicest person you will ever meet. I caught traditionalist accordionists Dan Newton at Lee’s Liquor and Urban Hillbilly Quartet at the Turf Club. My friends in the pop band, Chinch Bugs have also put on some entertaining shows.

Other bands from five years ago are still around, and still worth seeing. Keyboardist Mark Mallman is manic as ever. Rockers Mighty Mofos still have more energy than anyone but Mallman. Art rockers Rank Strangers stand up nicely. Faux Jean still sends me e-mails and still hits the high register. They played a not so great show at the Varsity and a good show at the Hexagon. Hip hoppers, Atmosphere, seem to still be a big thing, though I haven’t caught them. Beatifics are still playing pop, with Chris Dorn now booking the Hexagon. I haven’t caught my favorite old folkers, Koerner and Glover, but that will soon be corrected.

Melodious Owl is hyped by old scenesters as the top new local band. Their New Year’s Eve all ages Entry show was well attended and the kids like them. Their haircuts would play well in Japan. Think New Wave, circa 1980. The Gleam, the top new band of 2005 per one of the weeklies, is also fine and much like Violent Femmes.

The best local band, not around five years ago, is The Deaths. They play original music in a hodgepodge of styles from country rock to psychodelia, all of which would fit into a 1967 time machine. The Deaths covered Spinal Tap; not one song, but the whole “This is Spinal Tap” LP. The bass player, who dressed as a passable Derek Smalls, told me that they practiced four times-- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday-- for their Friday performance. I’ve seen lots of covers, but never seen a band dress up for Halloween to cover an entire album. We saw The Deaths again and heard no Spinal Tap, so don’t think of them as a cover band. From what I can tell, they are the best new Twin Cities band of the last five years.